Buzz Aldrin (born Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr.; January 20, 1930) is an American engineer, former astronaut, and Command Pilot in the United States Air Force. As Lunar Module Pilot on the Apollo 11 mission, he and mission commander Neil Armstrong were the first two humans to land on the Moon.
Aldrin set foot on the Moon at 03:15:16 on July 21, 1969 (UTC), 9 minutes after Armstrong first touched the surface. At least that's what we were told...
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Tags: science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science, science, astronomy, NASA, space, space science, science, Earth, Earth science, science, breaking news, science,
NASA has disclosed the names of four astronauts who will make up the crew for the upcoming mission, Artemis II, which is the next stage in the extensive plan to send humans back to the Moon. The group comprises NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, who holds the record for the longest time spent in space by a woman, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The voyage will not land on the Moon, but it will be the first manned mission to the Moon in over fifty years, and it includes the first woman and the first person of color to go to the Moon. Koch and Glover will also become the first woman and person of color to travel to deep space.
The four Artemis II astronauts. From left to right: Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen, with mission commander Reid Wiseman in front. Image Credit: NASA
According to Senator Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator, "Together we will usher in a new era of exploration for a new generation of star sailors and dreamers — the Artemis generation." Artemis II is following the successful test of Artemis I, which orbited the Moon in late 2022. The mission will last no more than 21 days and is scheduled to launch in November 2024. Moreover, this will be the first astronaut launch from Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center since the Space Shuttle Discovery in 2006.
Artemis II will take humans further than they have gone since Apollo 17 in 1972, flying as close as 10,000 kilometers (6,100 miles) from the far side of the Moon. This mission is the first crewed test flight for NASA’s megarocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), and the Orion spacecraft. The SLS rocket was the most potent rocket ever to launch, outperforming many of NASA’s and beyond’s expectations. The Orion capsule completed more than 161 test objectives, and of those, 20 were added during its flight because of its exceptional performance. Additionally, the European-built service module produced 20% more power and consumed 25% less energy than projected, which is a promising outcome for future missions.
Artemis II will continue to test the rocket and capsule with a crew, ensuring that the systems have demonstrated that people aboard can be safe. Although it will not land on the Moon, the mission will provide vital information for future Moon-landing expeditions and all other crewed deep space missions around the Moon. If Artemis II is successful, Artemis III may see humans land at the Moon’s South Pole, potentially in November 2025.
M94, also known as the Cat’s Eye Galaxy, is a stunning spiral galaxy located in the constellation Canes Venatici. It was first discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781 and later cataloged by Charles Messier. The galaxy is situated approximately 17 million light-years away from Earth, making it a distant but captivating object in the night sky.
One of the most distinctive features of M94 is its prominent ring structure, which sets it apart from typical spiral galaxies. It is classified as a "ring galaxy," characterized by a bright, circular ring of stars and gas surrounding its central core. The cause of this ring formation is believed to be the result of a gravitational interaction with another galaxy in the past, causing waves of star formation to propagate outward in a ring-like pattern.
Inside the ring, M94 exhibits an inner bar structure, which adds to its unique appearance. The bar is formed from the concentration of stars and gas in the central region of the galaxy and is a common feature in many spiral galaxies.
M94 has a high rate of star formation, especially in its ring, leading to the birth of new stars within the galaxy. This phenomenon is a result of the gravitational interactions and compression of gas in the ring, triggering intense starbursts.
The Cat’s Eye Galaxy is relatively bright and easily observable through telescopes and binoculars. Amateur astronomers and space enthusiasts often admire this captivating celestial object for its intriguing shape and distant allure.
As with all galaxies, M94 offers us a glimpse into the vastness and complexity of the universe, reminding us of the endless wonders that lie beyond our own cosmic neighborhood.In a recent study published in the journal Nature Astronomy, scientists reported detecting evidence of a magnetic field on a rocky exoplanet named YZ Ceti b. This planet orbits a star located approximately 12 light-years away from Earth, making it the first possible detection of a magnetic field on a planet outside our solar system. The observations were made using the Very Large Array (VLA) radio telescopes in New Mexico.
"This research shows not only that this particular rocky exoplanet likely has a magnetic field but provides a promising method to find more," study author Joe Pesce(opens in new tab), director of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), said in a statement.
Magnetic fields are a crucial component of a planet’s habitability because they play a critical role in protecting the planet’s atmosphere from the harmful effects of solar radiation. Without a magnetic field, a planet’s atmosphere can be eroded, which can ultimately strip away the protective blanket of gas necessary to support life. Therefore, detecting magnetic fields on planets beyond our solar system is of great interest to astronomers.
"The search for potentially habitable or life-bearing worlds in other solar systems depends in part on being able to determine if rocky, Earth-like exoplanets actually have magnetic fields," Pesce said.
However, YZ Ceti b is not a habitable planet because it is too close to its star and orbits too quickly. As a result, it plows through material sloughing off the star, causing its magnetic field to interact with that of the star’s, which creates bright flashes of energy and radio waves. The radio waves that were observed by the team were an aurora on the star that was likely created by the interactions with the planet.
Although the researchers are not entirely certain whether the aurora is entirely caused by YZ Ceti b or if it is a feature of the star itself, they remain optimistic that these findings could lead to future breakthroughs in the search for habitable alien planets. Study co-author Jackie Villadsen, an astronomer at Bucknell University, believes that this discovery "could really plausibly be" the first detection of a magnetic field on a rocky exoplanet, but notes that additional follow-up work is necessary to confirm that the radio waves are indeed caused by a planet’s magnetic field.
"There should also be an aurora on the planet if it has its own atmosphere," Sebastian Pineda, University of Colorado Boulder astronomer and co-author on the new research, said in the statement.
"This is telling us new information about the environment around stars," Pineda added. "This idea is what we’re calling ‘extrasolar space weather.'"
Overall, the discovery of a possible magnetic field on YZ Ceti b is a significant step forward in our understanding of the characteristics and habitability of exoplanets. The findings could pave the way for further research and ultimately contribute to the discovery of new habitable alien planets.LHS 475 b is a rocky exoplanet roughly the same size as Earth that orbits very close to a small, dim star. And for the first time, researchers are able to study the planet’s atmosphere.
The James Webb Space Telescope has discovered its first new exoplanet, LHS 475 b, an Earth-sized rocky planet. The planet, which is only 41 light-years away, orbits very close to a small, dim star, completing a full orbit in just two days.
The discovery, announced at the American Astronomical Society (AAS) meeting on Wednesday, January 11th, is notable because most exoplanets discovered are large gas giants similar to Jupiter. Most telescopes struggle to detect Earth-like planets because they are much smaller, at less than a tenth of the diameter.
Previous research with NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, another space-based telescope launched in 2018 specifically to search for exoplanets, suggested that this system may contain a planetary candidate. Observations made by JWST in August and September 2022 confirmed the planet’s presence.
The fact that JWST detected this planet indicates that it will be able to detect more Earth-like planets in the future. Furthermore, it should be able to detect their atmospheres, which other telescopes are unable to do with planets of this size.
The ultimate goal of much current exoplanet research is to understand the atmospheres of exoplanets. Astronomers must study the atmospheres of planets in order to better understand whether they are habitable, as this can have a significant impact on factors such as surface temperature.JWST observed two transits of LHS 475 b (in which the planet passes in front of its host star, causing a temporary and very small dip in the star’s brightness), which both confirmed the presence of the planet and allowed the team to calculate its radius.
They also examined its atmosphere using a technique known as transmission spectroscopy, and while they couldn’t confirm what the atmosphere was, they were able to rule out several possibilities. According to the findings, the planet does not have a hydrogen-dominated atmosphere like Jupiter, nor does it have a pure methane atmosphere. It could possibly have a thick carbon dioxide atmosphere like Venus, or it could have no atmosphere at all — having had its atmosphere stripped away by its star.
"Over the next few years, and ultimately decades, the search for life on exoplanets will fundamentally rely on the detailed characterization of exoplanet atmospheres," said lead researcher Jacob Lustig-Yaeger of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory at the AAS meeting. "And the first step on this journey is simply to detect the presence of exoplanet atmospheres."
, the task remains difficult. Because exoplanets are much smaller than stars and reflect much less light, they are rarely directly detected. Instead, astronomers examine host stars for small changes in brightness or motion that indicate the presence of a planet orbiting them.
This summer, the research team plans another JWST observation of the planet, which should help them learn more. And the study demonstrates how effective JWST is for learning about exoplanets:
"Even though we don’t detect an atmosphere in this case, our measurements meet the sensitivity requirements to be able to detect the atmospheres of Earth-sized planets. So it’s a really exciting time," Lustig-Yaeger said. "We’re just starting to scratch the surface of what is possible with JWST."Using data from the JWST, an amateur on Reddit created the first image of the TRAPPIST-1 system. JWST, a telescope so powerful that it makes Hubble look like someone smeared their thumb on the lens, has already taken a long first look at the TRAPPIST-1 system, which will excite exoplanet fans.
Using publicly available data from the JWST, Redditor arizonaskies2022 was able to piece together the first image of the star, potentially while one of its planets was transiting it, though this has not yet been confirmed.
"Both images are public raw data files I found and downloaded from MAST website," Arizonaskies2022 explained on the JWST subreddit. "I did minimal processing neither image is cropped just a little stretch and color."
TRAPPIST-1
intrigues astronomers for a variety of reasons, including the fact that it has seven roughly Earth-sized planets orbiting it, three of which are in the habitable zone. The ultra-cool red dwarf is only 40 light-years away from us, making it easier to study, and it may even contain large amounts of water.
Now that JWST is pointed at it, we may be able to learn more about the planets’ atmospheres, if they have any at all.
"Our goal," principal investigator of a JWST program surveying four of the seven TRAPPIST-1 planets, Olivia Lim, told The Planetary Society, "is to tell whether the planets TRAPPIST-1b, c, g, and h have an atmosphere or not, and to do that, we will try to detect features of molecules such as carbon dioxide, water, and ozone in the transit spectra of those planets."
The findings of these studies
will not only tell us about TRAPPIST-1 and its planets, but they may also help us make educated guesses about other solar systems and where to look for life. For example, if we discovered that rocky planets closer to the star were devoid of atmosphere, possibly due to solar flares from their host stars, we could narrow down in what positions in solar systems are more likely to harbor life.
"This system provides an opportunity to test the concept of the habitable zone outside of the Solar System," co-investigator of a JWST program that will observe TRAPPIST-1h, Jacob Lustig-Yaeger, added to The Planetary Society.
"TRAPPIST-1 is so different from the Sun, and the planets orbit so close to it, that it’s likely that there will be many surprises in our study of this system, and our efforts to understand these surprises will push forward the boundaries of planetary science."
More data and images from teams studying the system are expected soon. Until then, this is our best look at an extraordinary system and one of our best candidates for finding life
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