TYB!
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
April 27, 2026
Comet R3 PanSTARRS Behind Satellite Trails
Can you find the comet? Somewhere through this web of satellite trails is Comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS), a bright visitor passing through the inner Solar System. Now, the orbiting satellites themselves only appear as streaks because of the long camera exposure, over 10 minutes in this case. On the contrary, to the eye, satellites appear as points that drift slowly across the night sky and shine by reflecting sunlight primarily just after sunset and before sunrise. The featured image was taken just before sunrise two weeks ago from Bavaria, Germany. Presently, Comet R3 PanSTARRS is hard to see for even another reason because it is so (angularly) close to the Sun. As the comet rounds the Sun, it will be best seen in coming weeks from southern hemispheree skies, although then it will be heading out to interstellar space and fading. If you haven't yet found the comet, don't despair; please take a closer look just above the image center.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFarkiH6Ab0
Comet Tail Concern, Schumann Resonance Explanation | S0 News and frens
Apr.27.2026
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKZUHULLx0o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNcaoB7be-k (Tamitha Skov: Big Flares with Eruption Eye Candy & A PanSTARRS Photobomb | Space Weather Spotlight 26 April 2026)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRxMlEIJ_mU (Randall Carlson: Unmasking the Narrative - Natural Variability and Climate Politics)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQxsIevdoj8 (Time For Truth: Extreme Storm Chaos: 75 Tornadoes, Floods & Giant Hail Hit the U.S.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vks9ENtTnd8 (John Lenard Walson: 8k moon @moon #moon #technical @x#x # @xfactor #factor)
https://www.themirror.com/news/us-news/map-hurricane-tampa-warning-weather-1809805
https://www.scemd.org/news/may-is-hurricane-preparedness-month-in-sc/
https://headlines.ametsoc.org/2026/04/27/eye-of-the-storm-inside-san-diegos-tropical-cyclone-summit/
https://www.accuweather.com/en/severe-weather/severe-weather-outbreak-with-threat-of-strong-tornadoes-to-intensify-through-monday/1885424
https://meteoagent.com/schumann-resonance-forecast
https://www.tornadohq.com/
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/
https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/earthquakes-volcanoes/news/300807/Volcano-earthquake-report-for-Monday-27-Apr-2026.html
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/
https://spaceweather.com/
https://x.com/AJamesMcCarthy/status/2048119654619484354
https://x.com/StefanBurnsGeo/status/2048586572069753315
they can't show us what's out there yet, it'll break the game
High-Quality Data is Worth a Thousand LLMs in Resolving Ambiguities About UFOs
April 27, 2026
Could artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), large language models (LLM) or natural language processing (NLP) help us figure out the nature of Unidentified Flying Object (UFOs) or Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), by analyzing verbal reports from humans?
Today, I received an email from a group of researchers who stated:
“We’ve been working on a machine learning project that classifies reports from the National UFO Reporting Center by narrative “dramaticness,” essentially modeling the language and content of witness reports to distinguish brief, ambiguous observations from highly detailed extraordinary accounts.
The pipeline combines structured features, free-text NLP, gradient-boosted models, and an LLM baseline, with explainability built in. We see this as a content-side complement to instrument-side efforts like the Galileo Project:
the witness reports are noisy and selection-biased, but they’re also the longest continuous record of public UAP reporting we have, and the language inside them turns out to carry a lot of structure.”
My response clarified the following fundamental points. In scientific research, low significance data is most abundant but is of little use because it is often swamped by noise.
UFOs or UAP are a mixed bag with many reports triggered by human-made or natural phenomena. Humans cannot be trusted as scientific detectors. We need instruments to document the evidence.
This is evident from the legal system, where convicts who were put on death row based on eyewitness testimonies under oath, were later exonerated based on DNA tests.
Among 51 cases of death row exonerations, a study posted here found that 45.9% involved informants, while 25.2% involved erroneous eyewitness identification.
The same level of misinformation is also evident in common reports on car accidents, where testimonies are often full of imagined narratives and wishful thinking. Stories told by different people about the same car accident are different and sometimes contradictory.
Given that there is only one physical reality, they cannot all be correct. Ambiguities are best resolved not by AI/ML/LLM/NLP systems analyzing verbal testimonies, but rather by multiple video cameras observing the car accident.
Since humans know about each other’s story, their narratives are often interwoven and correlated. The fundamental question is whether any of them is right. This is well known to FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association), the soccer worldwide organization.
Instead of consulting the goalkeeper or the numerous fans in the audience and using AI/ML/LLM/NLP to sort through their narratives, FIFA uses advanced camera-based technologies, including Goal-Line Technology (GLT) and Video Assistant Referee (VAR), to confirm goals, offsides, and fouls.
GLT uses 14 high-speed cameras to confirm if the ball crosses the line and sends a signal to the referee within one second, while VAR reviews video footage for overall accuracy.
We can spend a lifetime chasing ghosts based on verbal reports or low-quality data. The Galileo Project under my leadership is focused on getting high-quality data from multiple observing directions, allowing us to infer the distance, velocity and acceleration of objects in the sky.
Without distance measurements, it is difficult to assess how anomalous a moving object is. Having a lot of uncertain information is not of interest to the Galileo Project, irrespective of how advanced the AI/ML system that analyzes it is.
On April 17, 2026, President Trump announced in a speech, accessible here, that the first release of classified UFO files will be coming out very soon.
As I discussed in a previous essay, posted here, the question is whether the released videos will be the most intriguing ones.
Being flooded by blurry videos with no information about the distance of UFOs from the camera will not resolve ambiguities about whether they deviate from the performance envelope of human-made technologies.
When information is limited, intelligence has limited powers. It matters less how advanced the AI/ML/LLM/NLP being used is.
What matters the most is the quality of the data. A picture is worth a thousand words. For the same reason, high quality data is worth a thousand LLMs.
https://avi-loeb.medium.com/high-quality-data-is-worth-a-thousand-llms-in-resolving-ambiguities-about-ufos-dab9bc74c7c0
extra Avi Loeb
https://avi-loeb.medium.com/why-do-we-exist-here-and-now-31454b75ca0f
Chinese spy posed as researcher in spear-phishing campaign targeting NASA to steal defense software
April 27, 2026
A Chinese national posed as a U.S. researcher, tricking NASA staff in a phishing campaign to steal sensitive data tied to defense software and exports.
A Chinese national ran a spear-phishing campaign by posing as a U.S. researcher and tricked NASA employees into sharing sensitive information.
The NASA Office of Inspector General (OIG) and federal partners discovered the scheme that also targeted government agencies, universities, and private firms.
U.S. export controls limit sharing sensitive technology, and NASA’s OIG enforces them to protect critical data and defense-related assets.
Investigators uncovered a long-running phishing scheme in which Chinese national Song Wu impersonated a trusted aerospace professor to trick targets into sharing export-controlled software and source code.
Between 2017 and 2021, he targeted dozens of victims across NASA, the U.S. military, government agencies, universities, and private firms.
“According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the indictment, and other information presented in court:
Song allegedly engaged in a multi-year “spear phishing” email campaign in which he created email accounts to impersonate U.S.-based researchers and engineers and then used those imposter accounts to obtain specialized restricted or proprietary software used for aerospace engineering and computational fluid dynamics.” reads the press release published by DoJ in 2024.
“This specialized software could be used for industrial and military applications, such as development of advanced tactical missiles and aerodynamic design and assessment of weapons.”
While carrying out spear phishing attacks, Song was employed as an engineer at Aviation Industry Corporation of China (“AVIC”), a Chinese state-owned aerospace and defense conglomerate headquartered. AVIC is one of the largest defense contractors in the world.
Song faces charges for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, with up to 20 years per fraud count plus a 2-year sentence for identity theft. He remains at large.
“In September of 2024, following a joint investigation by NASA OIG and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Song was indicted on 14 counts of wire fraud and 14 counts of aggravated identity theft.” reads the press release published by the OIG.
“He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud, and a two-year consecutive sentence if convicted of aggravated identity theft. He remains at large and there is a federal warrant for his arrest.”
NASA OIG warns that export control compliance and vigilance in daily emails are critical to protect sensitive technology.
In the Song Wu case, red flags included repeated requests for the same software, unclear justifications, unusual payments, and attempts to hide identity or bypass restrictions.
By identifying and prosecuting such schemes, OIG helps safeguard research, national security, and economic interests.
“Song Wu is wanted for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft arising from his alleged efforts to fraudulently obtain computer software and source code created by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), research universities, and private companies.” reads the statement published by the FBI on the U.S. Most Wanted List.
“The specialized software could be used for industrial and military applications, such as development of advanced tactical missiles and aerodynamic design and assessment of weapons.”
https://securityaffairs.com/191347/intelligence/chinese-spy-posed-as-researcher-in-spear-phishing-campaign-targeting-nasa-to-steal-defense-software.html
extra NASA
https://www.space.com/astronomy/moon/nasa-wants-to-use-a-fleet-of-moonfall-drones-to-scout-the-lunar-south-pole-we-believe-we-can-do-it
https://science.nasa.gov/get-involved/citizen-science/volunteers-help-nasa-astronauts-record-lunar-flashes/
https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/snow-is-scarce-in-the-upper-colorado-basin/
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/792984-space-consortium-holds-skull-session-at-cape-canaveral-to-boost-aerospace-industry/
https://zeenews.india.com/world/nasa-tracks-two-airplane-sized-asteroids-passing-earth-today-april-27-should-we-be-worried-3041539.html
Watch Atlas V rocket launch 29 Amazon internet satellites to orbit today
April 27, 2026
A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket is scheduled to launch 29 of Amazon's internet satellites to orbit tonight (April 27), and you can watch it live.
The Atlas V is scheduled to lift off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station tonight during a 29-minute window that opens at 8:52 p.m. EDT (0052 GMT on April 28).
You can watch it live here at Space.com courtesy of ULA, or directly via the company. Coverage will begin about 20 minutes before launch.
ULA calls tonight's mission Amazon Leo 6, because it will be the sixth that the company flies to help build out the Amazon Leo broadband constellation in low Earth orbit.
The network, a rival to SpaceX's Starlink internet megaconstellation, will eventually consist of more than 3,200 satellites, if all goes to plan.
It will take more than 80 launches by a variety of rockets to finish assembling Amazon Leo, which used to be known as Project Kuiper. Just nine of these liftoffs have occurred to date.
The Atlas V has flown five of them, SpaceX's Falcon 9 has launched three and Arianespace's Ariane 6 rocket has launched one.
The Ariane 6's tally will increase soon, however; it's scheduled to launch an Amazon Leo mission from French Guiana early on Tuesday morning (April 28).
The first four Atlas V Amazon Leo missions sent 27 of the broadband satellites skyward. Amazon Leo 5, which launched on April 4, boosted that number to 29 and set a new record for the heaviest payload ever flown by an Atlas V in the process — 18 tons.
Amazon Leo 6 will likely tie that mark, as it is also launching 29 Amazon Leo satellites to the final frontier.
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/atlas-v-rocket-launch-amazon-la-06-satellite-mission
https://www.ulalaunch.com/missions/next-launch/atlas-v-amazon-leo-6
https://www.wftv.com/news/local/central-florida-could-see-2-rocket-launches-monday/2YPZIDHRRREV7DT2XJWDMXACXM/
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-falcon-heavy-rocket-viasat-3-f3-launch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYTMd1XYguo
What’s needed to get space nuclear off the ground?
April 27, 2026
For decades, the thrill of space exploration has ignited the imaginations of engineers, scientists, and innovators alike. The dream of expanding humanity’s reach beyond Earth continues to attract the brightest minds, fueling groundbreaking advancements.
As we set our sights on missions that venture farther and last longer in the cosmos, one truth stands out: Nuclear technology is the key to unlocking these bold ambitions.
Its impact goes far beyond any single mission, driving a surge of momentum that not only propels space exploration but also energizes the entire nuclear ecosystem—sparking innovation and growth in an era of unprecedented opportunity.
Building and sustaining that momentum depends on coordinated progress across multiple technical fronts.
Nuclear power and propulsion for space must mature in parallel, with investment in reactors as well as power conversion efficiency, heat rejection, high-temperature materials, instrumentation, testing, and launch-environment qualification.
Advancing these building blocks broadens the range of viable missions and encourages universities, laboratories, and industry partners to contribute in complementary ways.
A national framework that brings these efforts together would further accelerate progress.
Numerous federal agencies already play important roles, and a shared long-term road map—one that clarifies requirements for design, manufacturing, testing, regulatory pathways, and security—would help align investments and create more opportunities for distributed innovation.
This includes strengthening supply chains for special nuclear materials and critical components, and supporting collaborative research and development across government, academia, and industry.
I’ve seen the value of aligned partnerships firsthand.
Over the past eight years, I have worked closely with NASA and other U.S. government agencies on space nuclear initiatives, including more than 100 cold-flow tests on BWXT’s nuclear thermal propulsion engineering demonstration unit at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.
Our work in space nuclear connects directly to advances in fission surface power, advanced fuels, and terrestrial microreactors such as Project Pele and the emerging U.S. Army Janus Program. Each reinforces the others and contributes to a more resilient U.S. nuclear ecosystem.
As the United States looks toward cislunar exploration, deep-space missions, and space-enabled national security, the importance of nuclear propulsion and power continues to grow.
Ensuring it remains a national priority—supported by a coherent road map and sustained investment and a strong workforce—is the most important step we can take to move from promising concepts to operational capability.
Accelerating that momentum will define our leadership for decades to come and is most essential to getting space nuclear off the ground.
https://www.ans.org/news/article-7869/whats-needed-to-get-space-nuclear-off-the-ground/
other Nuclear space
https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/publishing-and-media/general-atomics-selected-for-phase-3-of-u.s.-space-force-enterprise-space-term-1160844
tesseract patterns on the carpet that he's laying on