Astronomy and Planetary Science Thread

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXdbffgTMVs

0:00 Nothingness is not empty - vacuum explained
2:30 Virtual particles and quantum foam
5:20 New study and a major breakthrough - detection of virtual particles
6:30 How this was discovered
8:50 What is this for? Implications for physics
11:30 Conclusions and important of quantum physics
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Papers:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09917-9https://academic.oup.com/nc/article/2025/1/niaf011/8127081?login=false
Theoretically matter could be created, if enough energy is pump into quantum foam...
 
NASA Anomaly Review Board Investigates MAVEN Loss of Signal [Mar 4]

A NASA anomaly review board, convened in mid-February, is evaluating the recovery efforts undertaken for the agency’s MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) spacecraft orbiting Mars. The spacecraft was last heard from on Dec. 6. The board also will assess the probable current state of the spacecraft and the likelihood of its recovery.
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Betelgeuse and astronomy news
https://phys.org/news/2026-03-massive-star-supernova.htmlhttps://phys.org/news/2026-03-universe-oldest-stars-clue.htmlhttps://phys.org/news/2026-03-binary-star-population-cluster-ngc.htmlhttps://phys.org/news/2026-03-lvk-gravitational-candidates.htmlhttps://phys.org/news/2026-03-world-biggest-astronomy-camera-universe.htmlhttps://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Dark_star_theory_links_JWST_early_universe_anomalies_999.htmlhttps://forum.cosmoquest.org/forum/...iverse-s-most-extraordinary-construction-sitehttps://www.spacedaily.com/reports/...universe_plasma_flowed_like_a_liquid_999.html
The habitable zone
https://phys.org/news/2026-03-interplanetary-habitable-zone.htmlhttps://phys.org/news/2026-03-civilizations.htmlhttps://www.spacedaily.com/reports/...ky_exoplanets_from_harmful_radiation_999.html
Solar strikes and Mars
https://phys.org/news/2026-03-nasa-eclipse-megamovie-full-solar.htmlhttps://phys.org/news/2026-03-esa-mars-orbiters-solar-superstorm.htmlhttps://phys.org/news/2026-03-nasa-maven-evidence-lightning-mars.htmlhttps://phys.org/news/2026-03-mars-orbiter-captures-craters-planet.html
Not sure I agree with this
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/how-saving-earth-could-ruin-orbithttps://forum.cosmoquest.org/forum/...uture-meals-in-space-will-require-human-waste
On reality
https://scitechdaily.com/is-reality-an-illusion-new-theory-challenges-modern-physics/
Asteroids
https://phys.org/news/2026-03-killer-asteroid-kilometers.htmlhttps://www.spacedaily.com/reports/...pens_view_of_their_origins_and_risks_999.html
Lunar farming
https://phys.org/news/2026-03-scientists-successfully-harvest-chickpeas-moon.htmlhttps://forum.cosmoquest.org/forum/...printing-could-build-future-bases-on-the-moonhttps://www.spacedaily.com/reports/...uld_obscure_clues_to_origins_of_life_999.htmlhttps://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Lunar_impacts_limit_late_delivery_of_Earth_ocean_water_999.htmlhttps://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Ancient_impact_may_explain_moons_contrasting_sides_999.html
Hidden technosignatures?
https://phys.org/news/2026-03-technosignatures-turbulent-plasma-blur-ultra.htmlhttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/science...ried-contacting-Earth-decades-scientists.html
 
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Astrum has a new video out about how the shape of a new supernova was recorded for the first time last year:


We’ve finally seen a star exploding in real time.
▀▀▀▀▀▀
For the first time, we have a front-row seat to one of the most violent events in the universe: a supernova. But there’s a catch - the shape of the explosion was not what we expected. In this video, we investigate the inner workings of the blast to find out what’s really going on inside.
▀▀▀▀▀▀
0:00 We Saw a Supernova
5:09 Type II Supernovae
7:56 Collapse
8:44 Shockwave
9:42 Explosion
11:40 Polarisation Patterns
14:14 Neutrinos
15:36 Jets
16:57 SN 2024ggi
20:15 Catching More Supernovae

▀▀▀▀▀▀

References:
“Unique Shape of Star’s Explosion Revealed Just a Day After Detection”, via eso.org https://astrumspace.info/starexplosion
“An Axisymmetric Shock Breakout From the Type II Supernova 2024ggi”, via science.org https://astrumspace.info/sn24ggi
“Scientists Capture the Moment a Supernova Rips Open Its Star”, via sciencealert.com https://astrumspace.info/supernovarip
“Type II Supernovae”, via imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov https://astrumspace.info/type2supernova
“Explosion Mechanisms of Core Collapse Supernovae”, via arxiv.org https://astrumspace.info/corecollapse
“Neutrinos From Type II Supernovae: The First 100 Milliseconds”, via adsabs.harvard.edu https://astrumspace.info/neutrinostiming
“Jets Driven Feedback Mechanism”, via academic.oup.com https://astrumspace.info/jetsfeedback
“Introduction to Polarised Light”, via microscopyu.com https://astrumspace.info/polarisation
“ESO’s FORS2 Instrument”, via eso.org https://astrumspace.info/fors2manual
“Neutrinos as Causes of Supernovae”, via mpg.de https://astrumspace.info/neutrinocause

▀▀▀▀▀▀
Credits:
Writer: Julia Masselos
Video Editor: Alan Parry
Researcher: Shourya Shrivastava
Script Editor: Damaris McColgan
Thumbnail Designer: Peter Sheppard
Publishing Lead: Georgina Brenner
Production Manager: Raquel TaylorEdit Producer: Poppy Pinnock
Head of Astrum: Jess Jordan
Creator of Astrum: Alex McColgan

With special thanks to:
NASA/ESO/ESA

#Astrum #Space #Supernova
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European Space Agency

JUST IN: Asteroid 2024 YR4 will not impact the Moon in 2032!

New observations from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope have confirmed that the object will pass safely at a distance of more than 20 000 km.

This result was made possible by a close collaboration between ESA’s NEOCC, NASA’s CNEOS, and the Webb mission.

http://esa.int/Space_Safety/Planetary_Defence/Asteroid_2024_YR4_will_not_impact_the_Moon
Credit:
@NASA, @ESA_Webb, @csa_asc, @stsci , M. Micheli (ESA NEOCC)
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https://twitter.com/x/status/2029586705829818654
View: https://twitter.com/esa/status/2029586705829818654
 
There is contradictory news that I3/ATLAS changing it's trajectory toward Jupiter.
Possible past closer by Jupiter as expected.

Sadly most of that news are from Avi Loeb, not a very believable figure...
 
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Dr. Becky has a new video out about the Big Bang Lithium deficit (Very small quantities were created in the brief nucleosynthesis stage along with Helium and IIRC even smaller trace quantities of Beryllium):


The Big Bang Theory is nearly perfect, except for one glaring problem - where is all the lithium? According to the theory predictions there should be over three times as much lithium in the Universe than we’ve found with our observations. So is this a case of we’ve been looking in the wrong place for all this lithium and we just haven’t found it yet, or is there something wrong with the predictions that the Big Bang Theory makes for what happened in the first 3 minutes of the Universe’s life?​
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Fields (2011 review) - https://arxiv.org/pdf/1203.3551https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...https://arxiv.org/pdf/1203.3551&v=5fZas1BFu1I
Cyburt, Fields & Olive (2008)- https://arxiv.org/pdf/0808.2818https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...https://arxiv.org/pdf/0808.2818&v=5fZas1BFu1I
Dring et al. (1997) - https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev....iop.org/article/10.1086/304738&v=5fZas1BFu1I
Spite & Spite (1982) - https://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/p...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...d.edu/pdf/1982A%26A...115..357S&v=5fZas1BFu1I
Dunkley et al. (2009) - https://arxiv.org/pdf/0803.0586https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...https://arxiv.org/pdf/0803.0586&v=5fZas1BFu1I
Hammache et al. (2013) - https://arxiv.org/pdf/1312.0894https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...https://arxiv.org/pdf/1312.0894&v=5fZas1BFu1I
Nollett et al. (1997) - https://arxiv.org/pdf/astro-ph/9612197https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev.../arxiv.org/pdf/astro-ph/9612197&v=5fZas1BFu1I
Borisov et al. (2024) - https://arxiv.org/pdf/2403.15534https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...ttps://arxiv.org/pdf/2403.15534&v=5fZas1BFu1I
Uzan et al. (2003) - https://arxiv.org/pdf/hep-ph/0205340
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Watch next: All the evidence we have for dark matter - • All the evidence we have for dark matter |... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbE8B7zggUg&t=107s
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00:00 Introduction
01:10 How much Lithium does the Big Bang theory predict?
06:07 How we measure the amount of Lithium with telescopes
10:36 Possible solution I - the astrophysics is wrong
11:48 Possible solution II - the predictions are wrong
12:37 Possible solution III - the physics is wrong
17:50 Bloopers
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https://twitter.com/x/status/1992945632609271861
View: https://twitter.com/esascience/status/1992945632609271861?s=20
[Nov. 24]

#Voyage2050 is also picking up:

A large-class mission to Enceladus is under study
A medium-class mission will be chosen by mid-2026 from three candidates
A selection process began in 2025 to identify mission candidates for the mid 2030s & early 2040s https://science.esa.int/web/cm25/vision

#CM25 4/
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https://www.science.esa.int/web/cm25/vision

The M7 mission candidates
Studies of three candidates for the next Medium-class mission slot (M7) are ongoing, with one planned to be selected in 2026 for detailed study prior to adoption into the Science Programme, which is scheduled for 2028.

THE CANDIDATES ARE:

M-Matisse: Mars Magnetosphere ATmosphere Ionosphere and Space weather SciencE

Plasma Observatory: Earth’s plasma environment

THESEUS: Transient High-Energy Sky and Early Universe Surveyor to study high-energy cosmic events
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ESA's highlights for 2026 [Dec. 15]

M7 selection and ARRAKIHS adoption
date pending
ESA's Science Programme Committee will announce the decision on selection for the medium mission (M7) launch opportunity from candidate missions M-Matisse, Plasma Observatory and Theseus.
More information: ESA - Final three for ESA’s next medium science mission
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DART’s smash into Dimorphos ejected so much material from the binary asteroid system that it changed Didymos’ orbit around the Sun by 0.15 seconds.

NASA: “This marks the first time a human-made object has measurably altered the path of a celestial body around the Sun.”
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NASA Solar System

Having an impact on the effort to protect Earth: In 2022, NASA's DART mission tested a technique for deflecting a hazardous asteroid by impacting tiny Dimorphos. Now, new research reveals that DART also changed the orbit of its larger companion, Didymos. https://go.nasa.gov/3MYP5Ix
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https://twitter.com/x/status/2030004080320401643
View: https://twitter.com/TylerG1998/status/2030004080320401643
 
https://twitter.com/x/status/2031439129473343975
View: https://twitter.com/NASASpox/status/2031439129473343975


NASA’s Van Allen Probe A to Re-Enter Atmosphere [Mar 9]

NASA’s Van Allen Probe A is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere almost 14 years after launch. From 2012 to 2019, the spacecraft and its twin, Van Allen Probe B, flew through the Van Allen belts, rings of charged particles trapped by Earth’s magnetic field, to understand how particles were gained and lost. The belts shield Earth from cosmic radiation, solar storms, and the constantly streaming solar wind that are harmful to humans and can damage technology, so understanding them is important.

As of March 9, 2026, the U.S. Space Force predicted that the roughly 1,323-pound spacecraft will re-enter the atmosphere at approximately 7:45 p.m. EDT on March 10, 2026, with an uncertainty of +/- 24 hours. NASA expects most of the spacecraft to burn up as it travels through the atmosphere, but some components are expected to survive re-entry. The risk of harm coming to anyone on Earth is low — approximately 1 in 4,200. NASA and Space Force will continue to monitor the re-entry and update predictions.

Originally designed for a two-year mission, the Van Allen Probes A and B launched on Aug. 30, 2012, and gathered unprecedented data on Earth’s two permanent radiation belts — named for scientist James Van Allen — for almost seven years. NASA ended the mission after the two spacecraft ran out of fuel and were no longer able to orient themselves toward the Sun. 

[...]

When the mission ended in 2019, analysis found that the spacecraft would re-enter Earth’s atmosphere in 2034. However, those calculations were made before the current solar cycle, which has proven far more active than expected. In 2024, scientists confirmed the Sun had reached its solar maximum, triggering intense space weather events. These conditions increased atmospheric drag on the spacecraft beyond initial estimates, resulting in an earlier-than-expected re-entry.
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Marco Langbroek

The Van Allen Probe A, aka RBSP A, is about to reenter into our atmosphere. Here is our current Tudat reentry forecast. Challenging case due to high orbital eccentricity and lack of frequent orbit updates.
Forecast updates at reentry.langbroek.org
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Jonathan McDowell
@planet4589
·
Updated Space Force reentry prediction from Van Allen Probe A: sometime between 0250 UTC Mar 11 (20 min from now) and 2050 UTC Mar 11. Reentry will be somewhere in the latitude band 10S to 10N.
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https://twitter.com/x/status/2031558401973457263
View: https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/2031558401973457263



Jonathan McDowell
@planet4589
New Space Force orbit for Van Allen Probe A , epoch 1440 UTC [6 hours ago], 113 km perigee, 952 km apogee. No updated reentry estimate
1:57 PM · Mar 10, 2026
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https://twitter.com/x/status/2031597148072996908
View: https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/2031597148072996908



Jonathan McDowell
@planet4589
New Space Force orbit for Van Allen Probe A, epoch 1925 UTC [9 hours ago] : perigee 110 km, apogee 850 km.
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https://twitter.com/x/status/2031474642456564087
View: https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/2031474642456564087
 
Hydrogen for habitability?
https://phys.org/news/2026-03-hydrogen-atmosphere-exomoons-habitable-billions.html
An upper limit for radiation belts
https://phys.org/news/2026-03-upper-limit-planetary-belt-intensity.html
More Exo-world news
https://phys.org/news/2026-03-astronomers-rare-evidence-planets-colliding.htmlhttps://phys.org/news/2026-03-astrophysicists-valuable-metals-space-colliding.html
A magnetar is born
https://phys.org/news/2026-03-astronomers-capture-birth-magnetar-link.html
Circling
https://phys.org/news/2026-03-oval-orbit-black-holeneutron-star.html
Astronomy today
https://phys.org/news/2026-02-closer-stars-fink-french-tool.htmlhttps://phys.org/news/2026-03-sun-stellar-twins-galaxy-center.htmlhttps://phys.org/news/2026-03-galaxy-group-motion-slower-expansion.htmlhttps://phys.org/news/2026-03-deep-underground-telescope-ghosts-stars.html
On spacetime
View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0azOaCJaYGo&pp=0gcJCcUKAYcqIYzv
 
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Our Sun may seem like the center of the universe to us, but it’s actually on the move, orbiting the Milky Way galaxy at a speed of nearly half a million miles per hour. That’s fast, but it’s nothing compared to a recently discovered star runaway that’s blazing a trail across the cosmos.

This stellar speedster, known as CWISE J124909+362116.0 (J1249+36 for short), is a low-mass star, or L subdwarf, that’s not only hypervelocity but potentially on a trajectory to escape the Milky Way altogether.
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https://www.earth.com/news/runaway-...potted-trying-to-escape-our-milky-way-galaxy/
 
Jonathan McDowell
@planet4589

Just before I retired, the public affairs team at the @CenterForAstro did a sort of exit interview with me that is now available as a podcast.
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https://twitter.com/x/status/2031815216502091899
View: https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/2031815216502091899



Mar 10, 2026 Cosmos For All
It's our first episode of Cosmos For All, the podcast about astronomers and astronomy brought to you by the Center for Astrophysics, the largest institute for astrophysics research in the world!

And who better to kick off our podcast than the legendary CfA astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell.

He joins hosts Philippe Reekie and Christine Buckley to reflect on his 50-year career, which spans a range of research topics, including black holes, quasars, and the role of dark matter in the universe. And, of course, he muses about the three decades he spent on the CfA-operated iconic NASA Chandra X-ray Observatory.

McDowell fondly talks about his "side quest" to document space debris, track its atmospheric impacts, and advocate for a future with responsible satellite use. And we end with the human side of astronomy: What makes it so fascinating? Why do we do it? When will we find the first real evidence of alien life?

Join us for this very special discussion on the importance of coffee, collaboration, and curiosity in doing real science. And be sure to listen to the end to find out McDowell's favorite Doctor (Who)!


Cosmos For All: Where the brightest stars in astronomy take on the biggest questions in the universe.

Produced by the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, comprising the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and the Harvard College Observatory.
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View: https://youtube.com/watch?v=S19cFldc6ow
 
Flyaway said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/2031474642456564087
View: https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/2031474642456564087
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Down
https://phys.org/news/2026-03-nasa-science-satellite-plunges-earth.html
Another blow to science
https://www.space.com/space-explora...elescope-cancellation-on-agency-mismanagement
Crater
https://www.space.com/stargazing/me...till-revealing-new-secrets-50-000-years-later
In the news
https://www.livescience.com/space/can-you-see-earths-shadowhttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/cheops-discovery-defies-planetary-formation-ruleshttps://thedebrief.org/whats-hidden...covery-about-our-latest-interstellar-visitor/https://www.earth.com/news/cosmic-i...nel-connects-our-solar-system-to-other-stars/https://forum.cosmoquest.org/forum/...mely-energetic-chaos-of-a-neutron-star-mergerhttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/how-jagged-moon-dust-could-support-future-astronautshttps://forum.cosmoquest.org/forum/...77-the-early-universe-was-hot-dense-and-soupyhttps://forum.cosmoquest.org/forum/...-part-4-we-finally-turned-on-the-porch-lightshttps://forum.cosmoquest.org/forum/...tact-more-likely-for-seti-s-project-hail-maryhttps://www.universetoday.com/artic...-a-climate-problemits-an-industrial-nightmarehttps://www.universetoday.com/artic...ful-particle-accelerators-were-here-all-along
Dyson sphere
https://www.universetoday.com/artic...make-dyson-bubbles-and-stellar-engines-stable
Light sail
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/researchers-create-a-nanoengineered-light-sail-that-wont-melthttps://www.universetoday.com/articles/starshade-concept-could-reveal-earth-like-exoplanets
 
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Michel Van said:
news on Arrokoth
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Thanks, Michel Van. Towards its end, this interesting YouTube video mentions that (presumably due to the efforts of Alan Stern and his team) the newly in-service powerful telescope at the Vera Rubin Observatory will do 30 hours of observations in 2026 of the space just beyond the speeding New Horizons probe, searching for a suitable third flyby target. I had not heard this news. From Chile, constellation Sagittarius will best be visible in August. I hope something is found, so that the plucky probe can intercept and study it.
 
Exo-worlds
https://phys.org/news/2026-03-tess-super-earth-exoplanet-orbiting.htmlhttps://phys.org/news/2026-03-class-molten-planet-abundant-sulfur.htmlhttps://phys.org/news/2026-03-lowest-density-super-puff-planet.html
Neutrino find
https://phys.org/news/2026-03-ultra-high-energy-neutrino-linked.htmlhttps://phys.org/news/2026-03-ai-elucidation-nuclear-explosive-neutron.html
Asteroid discoveries
https://phys.org/news/2026-03-ryugu-asteroid-samples-dna-rna.htmlhttps://phys.org/news/2026-03-large-craters-clues-asteroid-psyche.htmlhttps://phys.org/news/2026-03-asteroid-bennu-rugged-surface-baffled.html
Old stars
https://phys.org/news/2026-03-extremely-rare-generation-star-ancient.html
Aerobrake concerns:
https://phys.org/news/2026-03-titan-entry-lab-flag-nitrogen.html
Perhaps hexanitrogen retropropulsion could alleviate things.

On shock waves
View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vWOWn93okm0&pp=ygUOVGhlIGFjdGlvbiBsYWLSBwkJxQoBhyohjO8%3D
 
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publiusr said:
Perhaps hexanitrogen retropropulsion could alleviate things.
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How? It doesn't exist as a practical propellant. Fusion could alleviate things too. There are many pie in the sky ideas that could solve the world's problems.
 
Scientists have confirmed that the Silverpit crater has an extra-terrestrial origin:


Scientists have finally confirmed that an asteroid struck the North Sea around 43–46 million years ago, creating the Silverpit crater beneath the seabed. New seismic data and mineral analysis revealed shock-formed crystals proving a cosmic collision. The impact likely triggered a massive tsunami and left behind one of the rare underwater asteroid craters on Earth.​
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Paperlink : https://www.nature.com/articles/s4146...https://www.youtube.com/redirect?ev...com/articles/s41467-025-63985-z&v=TMZ3Gz8Ogqg
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Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:02 DISCOVERY
03:41 SCIENTIFIC IMPORTANCE & THEORIES
06:29 IMPLICATIONS & WHAT’S NEXT
09:25 Outro
09:49 Enjoy
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