ScientistPankaj: Sun outburst goes 'cannibal' as fast new blob overtakes a slower one

Thursday, November 4, 2021

Sun outburst goes 'cannibal' as fast new blob overtakes a slower one

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November 3, 2021

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The Launchpad

Sun outburst goes 'cannibal' as fast new blob overtakes a slower one

(NASA/ESA)

It's been a busy few days for our sun, which has produced three of the outbursts that scientists call coronal mass ejections (CMEs) since Monday (Nov. 1). CMEs shoot globs of gas and magnetic fields out into space, often from sunspots, which are knots in the sun's magnetic field. On Nov. 1 and Nov. 2, a sunspot designated AR2887 unleashed two of these outbursts. Then, later in the day on Nov. 2, a second sunspot called AR2891 produced a CME as well. That third outburst, it turns out, is moving more quickly than its two predecessors, so it swept through all of one previous CME and part of the other, according to monitors at SpaceWeather.com — hence the moniker "cannibal" CME.

Full Story: Space (11/3)

There are over 300 ways that the new James Webb Space Telescope could fail, NASA says

While NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has faced countless obstacles and delays in its more than decade in the making, the observatory's most difficult days lie ahead in the coming months. About 28 minutes after liftoff, Webb will detach from its launch vehicle and begin "the most complex sequence of deployments ever attempted in a single space mission," according to NASA. This deployment, which will see Webb unfold and unfurl its sun shield once in space, includes quite literally hundreds of "single points of failure," Mike Menzel, Webb lead mission systems engineer for NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, said Tuesday (Nov. 2) during a news briefing.

Full Story: Space (11/3)

Science & Astronomy

An asteroid barely missed Earth last week, and no one knew it was coming

(Andrzej Wojcicki/Getty Images)

An asteroid about the size of a refrigerator shot past Earth last week, and astronomers didn't know the object existed until hours after it was gone. It was a close call (from a cosmic perspective); the space rock's trajectory on Oct. 24 carried it over Antarctica within 1,800 miles (3,000 kilometers) of Earth — closer than some satellites — making it the third-closest asteroid to approach the planet without actually hitting it, CNET reported.

Full Story: Space (11/3)

World leaders pledge a crackdown on methane emissions. Here's how satellites can help.

Satellites will play a key role in helping the world slash emissions of the potent greenhouse gas methane in line with a global pledge introduced by the U.S. President Joe Biden and European Union leaders at the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow this week.

Full Story: Space (11/3)

SpaceX

There are roses in mission control! One family's NASA tradition continues with SpaceX after 30 years

(James Blair/NASA)

For more than 30 years, one Texas family has shown their support for NASA mission control with a simple gesture: sending flowers. Now, with SpaceX launching astronauts from the U.S. once again, the Shelton family is continuing their rosy tradition.

Full Story: Space (11/3)

Technology

Space solar power's time may finally be coming

(John Mankins/Artemis Innovation Management Solutions)

The sun never sets in space. The idea of harvesting solar energy via power-beaming satellites has therefore long intrigued researchers looking for ways to feed an energy-ravenous Earth. That reflection has fomented for decades but is now garnering new looks all over the world: Technologists in the U.S. and China, experts in Japan and researchers within the European Space Agency and the United Kingdom Space Agency are all working to make space-based solar power a reality.

Full Story: Space (11/3)

Honda test-fires prototype engine for reusable rocket

Honda wants to do some serious off-roading. The Japanese carmaker recently announced that it's developing a small, reusable rocket, as part of a larger vision to expand its operations into the final frontier. Work on the launcher began in late 2019, and Honda already has some serious hardware to show for it: a brand-new rocket engine. During a Zoom call with reporters on Oct. 28, Honda representatives showed a short video of the prototype engine performing a combustion test. Everything appeared to go well.

Full Story: Space (11/3)

Star Wars

Watch the first trailer for 'The Book Of Boba Fett' spin-off 'Star Wars' series on Disney Plus

(Disney+)

The first trailer for the standalone spin-off series "The Book of Boba Fett" has arrived and it gives us a lot of reasons to be excited. The new series will debut on the streaming service Disney Plus on Dec. 29 and seems to jump right into action. You may recall at the very end of the Season 2 finale of "The Mandalorian" there was a post-credits sequence where we suddenly found ourselves on Tatooine and inside Jabba the Hutt's palace.

Full Story: Space (11/2)

It's that time of year again where people are excited for Christmas, and Walmart is building anticipation with 20% off a Lego Star Wars advent calendar. The Lego Star Wars advent calendar contains 335 pieces in total and behind each of the 24 doors is one of a Lego minifigure, a Lego figure, a buildable vehicle, weapon or accessory, all of which are inspired by The Mandalorian: Season 2.

Full Story: Space (11/3)