ScientistPankaj: This Week In Space podcast: Episode 123

Monday, August 12, 2024

This Week In Space podcast: Episode 123 — The Mighty Perseids

Perseids and northern lights excite Stargazers worldwide | Space Quiz! Who first studied the concept of gravitational waves? | This Week In Space: Episode 123 - The Mighty Perseids

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August 12, 2024

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The Launchpad

Perseids and northern lights excite Stargazers worldwide

(Mike Wickersham)

In a breathtaking display of nature's beauty, skywatchers worldwide witnessed a rare natural event: the Perseid meteor shower coinciding with the northern lights.

Full Story: Space (8/12)

Space Quiz! Who first studied the concept of gravitational waves?

Learn the answer here!

This Week In Space: Episode 123 - The Mighty Perseids

(TWiS)

On Episode 123 of This Week In Space, Rod Pyle and guest host Isaac Arthur talk with astronomer Steve Fentress about the Perseids meteor shower. Each year, there are a handful of impressive meteor showers, and one of the largest and best this year will be the Perseids. The quarter moon will set just before midnight, when the shower activity peaks, and if you're in a dark spot expect to see maybe 50-60 shooting stars per hour.

Full Story: Space (8/9)

Skywatching

Got clouds? Watch the Perseid meteor shower live online

(Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

If you missed the Perseids last night or are unable to look for them in person, check out this free livestream hosted by astrophysicist Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project. The livestream uses the project's all-sky camera, giving you a front-seat view of the dark skies over Maciano, Italy, weather permitting of course.

Full Story: Space (8/12)

Spaceflight

Rocket Lab launches sharp-eyed private radar satellite

(Rocket Lab)

Rocket Lab launched its 10th mission of the year on Sunday (Aug. 11), sending aloft an Earth-observing radar satellite for the California company Capella Space. An Electron vehicle lifted off from Rocket Lab's New Zealand site on Sunday at 9:18 a.m. EDT (1318 GMT; 1:18 a.m. on Aug. 12 local New Zealand time).

Full Story: Space (8/11)

Science & Astronomy

Small black holes could play 'hide-and-seek'

(NASA)

Binary pairings of small black holes could be used by astronomers in a cosmic game of "hide-and-seek" to hunt much larger, yet more elusive, supermassive black hole binaries. The technique could, therefore, help solve the mystery of how supermassive black holes grew so fast in the early universe.

Full Story: Space (8/11)

SpaceX

Falcon 9 rocket launches record-tying 22nd time

(SpaceX)

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched for a record-tying 22nd time on Sunday night (Aug. 11), sending aloft two satellites that will provide broadband coverage in the Arctic region.

Full Story: Space (8/11)

Technology

Origami-inspired robots could help build habitats in space

(Jie Yin, NC State University)

Engineers from North Carolina State University (NC State) have created a plastic cubed structure that can transform into more than 1,000 configurations using only three active motors. In theory, their design - which was largely inspired by the paper-folding art of origami - offers a more efficient way to send assembly structures into space, where the robot could then "transform" to serve various purposes

Full Story: Space (8/11)

Star Wars

Marvel's Darth Vader and Princess Leia rule the galaxy

(Marvel Comics)

Here's one more reason to hope summer and its insufferable Mustafar-like heat quickly fades into the cooler days of autumn as Marvel Comics launches "Star Wars: Darth Vader #50." This jumbo-sized final issue showcases art by Italian illustrator Raffaele Ienco that wraps up veteran writer Greg Pak's historic run on the title.

Full Story: Space (8/12)