ASTRO SPACE NEWS

A DIVISION OF MID NORTH COAST ASTRONOMY (NSW)

(ASTRO) DAVE RENEKE

SPACE WRITER - MEDIA PERSONALITY - SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT ABC/COMMERCIAL RADIO - LECTURER - ASTRONOMY OUTREACH PROGRAMS - ASTRONOMY TOUR GUIDE - TELESCOPE SALES/SERVICE/LESSONS - MID NORTH COAST ASTRONOMY GROUP (Est. 2002)   Enquiries: (02) 6585 2260       Mobile: 0400 636 363        Email: davereneke@gmail.com

 NORFOLK ISLAND 2024 'STARGAZING' TOUR

Nestled amidst the vast expanse of the South Pacific Ocean, Norfolk Island stands as a haven for those seeking to escape the clutches of urban light pollution and immerse themselves in the celestial splendor of the night sky. Far removed from the twinkling metropolises and sprawling suburbs, this remote island boasts one of the darkest skies on Earth, earning it the prestigious Gold Level Dark Sky certification.

As the sun sets and darkness takes over, Norfolk Island becomes an excellent spot for stargazing. The lack of light pollution and the island's warm, clear nights create perfect conditions for observing the celestial wonders. The sky gradually fills with stars, including the mesmerizing Milky Way, making it a paradise for those who love to look up and appreciate the beauty of the universe. 

Join our guided stargazing tour and let an experienced astronomer guide you through the celestial wonders that abound. Learn to identify constellations, from the familiar Orion to the enigmatic Scorpio, each with its own captivating mythology and rich cultural significance.  

Join our guided stargazing tour and let an experienced astronomer guide you through the celestial wonders that abound. Learn to identify constellations, from the familiar Orion to the enigmatic Scorpio, each with its own captivating mythology and rich cultural significance.   Discover the wonders of the cosmos, from the majestic planets of our solar system to the distant nebulae and galaxies. Looking through a powerful telescope on Norfolk Island reveals some cool stuff in the sky. Saturn's rings look like a celestial hula hoop, and the Jewel Box star cluster has colors that'll blow your mind.

But the stargazing on Norfolk Island is more than just looking at cool things. It's an experience that goes beyond just watching—it's about feeling a deep connection with the universe. Standing under the starry sky in the quiet of the island, you can't help but feel small and humble. It's a reminder of how tiny we are in the vastness of the universe. 

Stargazing tours on Norfolk Island aren't just for seeing space stuff. They're a chance to reconnect with yourself, to rediscover the wonder that often gets lost in our busy lives. It's an invitation to slow down, take a breath, and think about the beauty and vastness of the universe, finding comfort and inspiration in its celestial hug.  $2,260  (Conditions Apply)

***BONUS  (From 13/4/24) NEXT 5 BOOKINGS GET A WHOPPING $200 OFF DISCOUNT ...PER PERSON! THIS PROMOTION RUNS STRICTLY FOR THE NEXT 2 WEEKS - Phone/Text Dave on 0400 636 363 or email www.davereneke@gmail.com

FOR BROCHURE /BOOKINGS - ENQUIRIES/COSTS ETC  Australian Mobile 0402 335 005 - Email: norfolkislandstargazing@gmail.com

Astronomers have just spotted a monster on the Sun, and it appears to be getting bigger. One of the largest sunspot groups seen in years is rotating across the Sun and the potential for massive solar flares is considered very high. How big is this monster called AR3664? Sprawling almost 200,000 km from end to end, it is 15 times wider than Earth. Now you can understand why we call it a monster. 

 Sunspot AR3664 has grown so large, it is now rivals the great Carrington sunspot of 1859 in size and visual appearance. To illustrate their similarity, Carrington's famous sketch (to scale) has been added to a NASA picture of today's sun: (see image below). Carrington's sunspot is famous because in August and Sept. 1859 it emitted a series of intense solar flares and CMEs. The resulting geomagnetic storms set fire to telegraph offices and sparked auroras from Cuba to Hawaii.

UPDATE: Giant sunspot AR3664 has now hurled at least four MASSSIVE solar flares directly toward Earth. Their combined arrival this week could spark severe (G4-class) geomagnetic storms with mid- to low-latitude auroras.  If the coming storm were a hurricane, it would be ranked category 4,

Sunspots spawn solar flares. The bigger the sunspot the more powerful the flare. Last year one caused a shortwave radio blackout over western parts of the U.S. and the Pacific Ocean that lasted around 30 minutes. The solar flare was seven times the width of the Earth! It was seen as a bright ultraviolet flash by NASA's Solar satellites. It was classified as an X-flare, the strongest type of solar flare that exists. Solar flare classes increase in strength by magnitude, much as the Richter scale ranks earthquakes. These X-class flares are the biggest you can get and there's probably more on the way!

Solar flares can be pretty damaging because we rely so much now on electronic communication. The sheer electromagnetic power of a really large solar flare could severely damage or destroy any of our communication satellites and overload power stations causing mass blackouts and power outages. Last week we saw solar flares shooting away up to 100,000 kilometres in length!

Most developed countries like Australia are particularly vulnerable because the power infrastructure is highly interconnected, so failures could easily cascade like chains of dominoes. Imagine large cities without power for a week, a month, or a year. The losses could be $1 to $2 trillion, and the effects could be felt for years. So, the next time you get burnt red from being outside too long spare a thought for how powerful that ball of energy is that dominates the daytime sky.

How much energy is in a solar flare? Well, what you are about to read will make you think twice about what we're currently using to power our homes. It's been estimated the most powerful flares have the energy equivalent of a billion hydrogen bombs. Think about that for a moment - enough energy to power the whole world for thousands of years. Still considering solar panels?

The Sun is a star, just like the other stars we see at night only closer at just over 8 light minutes away. We wouldn't be here if the Sun wasn't just the right distance from planet Earth. It produces poem worthy sunsets and releases as much total energy as 1 trillion megaton bombs every second! Wow, that's raw untapped power! By the way, the Sun would hold the earth a million times over! Visit Dave's Website: www.davidreneke.com.

The Largest Star In The Universe – A MONSTER

In the vast expanse of the cosmos, where the boundaries of the known and the unknown converge, a celestial enigma looms large, captivating the imagination of astronomers and the public alike. This enigma is none other than UY Scuti, one of the largest stars ever observed in the observable universe. As the night sky unfolds its celestial tapestry, the sheer scale of UY Scuti becomes increasingly apparent. Dwarfing our own sun by an astonishing factor of 1,700, this behemoth of a star would easily engulf the orbits of Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars if placed at the center of our solar system. Imagine, for a moment, the awe-inspiring sight of a star so colossal that it could swallow our home planet whole, with room to spare.

To truly grasp the immensity of UY Scuti, one must consider its staggering dimensions. If you were to embark on a journey around the star's circumference, you would need to travel a distance of nearly 5 billion kilometres – a journey that would take you over 1,100 years to complete, even at the breakneck speed of a spacecraft. This is a scale that defies our everyday comprehension, a testament to the sheer vastness of the universe.

But UY Scuti's grandeur is not without its perils. This celestial giant is a variable star, meaning its brightness fluctuates over time, a testament to its inherent instability. Astronomers have observed that the star's diameter can vary by as much as 20% over the course of its pulsation cycle, a phenomenon that adds an element of suspense and intrigue to its study.

Beneath the surface of this colossal star lies a power that is truly awe-inspiring. UY Scuti is estimated to be emitting an astonishing 380,000 times the energy of our sun, a staggering amount of power that could potentially overwhelm and destroy any nearby celestial bodies. The mere thought of such raw, unbridled energy is enough to instil a sense of fear and reverence in the hearts of those who gaze upon it.

Yet, despite its immense size and power, the future of UY Scuti remains shrouded in uncertainty. As a red supergiant, the star is nearing the end of its life cycle, and its eventual fate is a subject of intense speculation among astronomers. Will it explode in a cataclysmic supernova, or will it slowly fade into obscurity?

The suspense surrounding this celestial enigma only adds to its allure, drawing scientists and the public alike to unravel the mysteries of this colossal star. As we gaze upon the night sky, let us be humbled by the sheer scale and power of UY Scuti, a testament to the grandeur and complexity of the universe we inhabit. For in the face of such cosmic wonders, we are reminded of our own insignificance, and the profound mysteries that still await us in the vast expanse of the unknown.

China launches historic mission to retrieve samples from far side of the moon

China on Friday launched an uncrewed spacecraft on a nearly two-month mission to retrieve rocks and soil from the far side of the moon, the first country to make such an ambitious attempt. The Long March-5, China's largest rocket, blasted off at 5:27 p.m. Beijing time (0927 GMT) from Wenchang Space Launch Center on the southern island of Hainan with the more than 8 metric ton Chang'e-6 probe.Chang'e-6 is tasked with landing in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the moon, which perpetually faces away from the Earth, after which it will retrieve and return samples.

The launch marks another milestone in China's lunar and space exploration programme."It is a bit of a mystery to us how China has been able to develop such an ambitious and successful programme in such a short time," said Pierre-Yves Meslin, a French researcher working on one of the scientific objectives of the Chang'e-6 mission. In 2018, Chang'e-4 gave China its first unmanned moon landing, also on the far side. In 2020, Chang'e-5 marked the first time humans retrieved lunar samples in 44 years, and Chang'e-6 could make China the first country to retrieve samples from the moon's "hidden" side.

The launch was attended by scientists, diplomats and space agency officials from France, Italy, Pakistan, and the European Space Agency, all of which have moon-studying payloads aboard Chang'e-6.But no U.S. organisations applied to get a payload spot, according to Ge Ping, deputy director of the China National Space Administration's (CNSA) Lunar Exploration and Space Program. China is banned by U.S. law from any collaboration with the U.S. space agency, NASA. 

"The far side of the moon has a mystique perhaps because we literally can't see it, we have never seen it apart from with robotic probes or the very few number of humans that have been around the other side," said Neil Melville-Kenney, a technical officer at ESA working with Chinese researchers on one of the Chang'e-6 payloads. After the probe separates from the rocket, it will take four to five days to reach the moon's orbit. In early June a few weeks later, it will land. 

'Warp drives' may actually be possible someday, new study suggests

A new study provides some theoretical underpinning to warp drives, suggesting that the superfast propulsion tech may not forever elude humanity. Sci-fi fans — especially "Star Trek" devotees — are familiar with warp drives. These hypothetical engines manipulate the fabric of space-time itself, compressing the stuff in front of a spaceship and expanding it behind. This creates a "warp bubble" that allows a craft to travel at incredible velocities — in some imaginings, many times faster than the speed of light.

Evidence for Planet 9 found in icy bodies sneaking past Neptune

More evidence for a hypothetical extra planet lurking in the most distant reaches of our solar system has come to light — and the clues are associated with icy bodies that cross the orbit of Neptune while traversing long, looping paths around the sun.

Planet Nine, as the predicted planet is referred to, was first postulated in 2016 by Caltech's Konstantin Batygin and Michael Brown, the latter having also discovered the dwarf planet Eris in 2005. Their original evidence predominantly focused on the clustering of trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs), which are objects that spend the majority of their orbits farther from the sun than Neptune is. That's quite far. More specifically, the duo had zoomed in on TNOs with high inclinations, meaning the objects orbited the sun at steep angles to the ecliptic plane.

Because the solar system's contents formed from a disk around the sun, we would expect the orbits of everything orbiting the sun to keep relatively close to the plane of that disk. However, some don't — and the team infers this as evidence that Planet Nine's gravity could be pulling the objects out of the ecliptic and bunching them together in highly inclined orbits that share similar "apsides" (closest and most distant points in their orbits around the sun) and which are orientated with a similar tilt away from the ecliptic.

However, some astronomers remained skeptical, arguing that what Batygin and Brown saw as clustering is just an illusion caused by observational bias. The Caltech duo dispute this, and have actually now published a paper that focuses particularly on observations of low-inclination TNOs that don't cluster, but which still have peculiarities.

These icy TNOs are strange because they spend most of their life hundreds of times farther from the sun than Earth is, but their orbits are so elongated that they swoop in and spend a short while closer to the sun than Neptune, which is just 30 times farther from the sun than Earth. "With this work, we looked at objects with long-period orbits but which also strongly interact with Neptune, specifically those that cross Neptune''s orbit," Batygin told Space.com.

This doesn't include every object that crosses Neptune's orbit, to be clear. Pluto is a good counterexample. Like Pluto, the majority of TNOs don't have orbits that are as elongated as the ones included in the team's new research. Rather, most TNOs have trajectories that keep them relatively close enough to Neptune for extended periods of time such that they can be controlled by the ice giant's gravity.

The team, however, concerned itself only with those TNOs that get hundreds of astronomical units away from Neptune's gravitational tides, where Planet Nine can exert influence over them — if it so exists, of course. Because these studied objects come from all directions close to the ecliptic plane, without exhibiting any clustering behavior, the same claim of bias leveled at previous evidence regarding high-inclination, clustering TNOs does not hold.

The studied TNOs, and any on similar paths, don't spend too much time in their orbits; over the course of millions of years the gravity of the azure blue ice giant Neptune inevitably bats them away, scattering them far and wide and sometimes even out of the solar system entirely. This means that whatever is sending TNOs onto Neptune-crossing orbits is doing so continuously. There must be an ongoing process in place to keep the TNO supply replenished. This means that the culprit can't be something that happened in the distant past, like a star passing particularly close by. It has to be something that still exists.

There are two scenarios that could regularly place TNOs on long, looping orbits that cross Neptune's path. One scenario is that of the galactic tide, which is the gravitational tidal force of the Milky Way galaxy all around us acting on objects within the Oort Cloud, which lies far away beyond Neptune. These objects only loosely feel the sun's gravity due to their distance from our host star, but the galactic tide can usher them closer towards Neptune.

The other scenario — perhaps the more interesting one — is that the gravity of Planet Nine is perturbing these Oort Cloud objects enough that they tread closer to Neptune over time.

Batygin and his team — Michael Brown, Alessandro Morbidelli of the Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur in Nice, France, and David Nesvorny of the South-west Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado — performed two sets of simulations using observational data of real, low-inclination, Neptune-crossing TNOs to learn which scenario is more accurate.

One simulation involved a planet with a mass five times that of Earth influencing the TNOs (the simulated properties they used for Planet Nine are derived from the characteristics that best explained previous evidence such as the clustering of the high-inclination TNOs), while the other simulation had no Planet Nine at all and modeled just the galactic tide. Which would be most adept at getting TNOs to pass by Neptune?

The simulations showed that low-inclination TNOs can only regularly penetrate Neptune's orbit if Planet Nine is indeed there to slingshot them. On their own, the eddies of the galactic tides were calculated as too weak to get TNOs past Neptune. Hence, in the galactic tides simulation, the TNOs get to within a certain distance of the sun and no closer — but in the Planet Nine scenario, the TNOs are spread across a range of Neptune-crossing orbits, which matches what we see in reality.

"We show that you can reject the scenario where this is all happening because of the galactic tides with an astonishing degree of statistical significance," said Batygin. "Conversely, the Planet Nine scenario is perfectly compatible with the data."

Batygin likens it to a football (soccer, for you Americans reading) match, where Neptune is the goalkeeper. The galactic tides can shoot the TNOs towards the goal, but not with enough oomph to get them past the goalkeeper. Planet Nine, on the other hand, is like a planetary Harry Kane, regularly shooting the TNOs past Neptune with finesse. "What we see in the data are a bunch of footballs inside the goal," said Batygin. Still, the hunt for the football striker continues.

Later this decade, the Vera Rubin Observatory in Chile will open and begin conducting a nightly, all-sky survey with its 8.4-meter telescope mirror. It will be able to test the evidence for Planet Nine available so far — the clustering of the orbits, the alignment of their orbital planes, their steep orbital inclinations, and the prevalence of retrograde (backwards orbiting) Centaurs. 

Those refer to icy bodies that have come in from the Oort Cloud and which currently orbit among the solar system's outer planets. If any of these are illusions caused by observational biases, then the Vera Rubin observations will reveal them to be. Though conversely, it could strengthen the evidence, and find many more TNOs that exhibit the same potential influences of Planet Nine.

"It will test all of these gravitational lines of evidence with an independent new survey that is not subject to the same biases as the previous ones," said Batygin. It is even possible that the Vera Rubin Observatory will go all the way and actually find the big tamale. "By virtue of its efficiency, maybe — just maybe — it will find Planet Nine," said Batygin. "That would be pretty cool."

China unveils video of its moon base plans, which weirdly includes a NASA space shuttle

The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has released a video of its concept for a lunar base to be developed across the next couple of decades. CNSA unveiled the video on Wednesday (April 24) as part of the country's annual space day celebrations. The project is known as the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) and was jointly announced in 2021 by China and Russia.

China is now leading the moon base initiative and attempting to attract international partners for the endeavor. So far, alongside China, Russia, Venezuela, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, South Africa, Egypt, Thailand and Nicaragua have joined the initiative, according to Space News.

The video shows a number of missions, including surface sample return operations, a lander and rover, and supporting orbital satellites. These correspond to the planned Chang'e-6 and 7 missions planned for launch next month and in 2027 respectively. Together with Chang'e-8, these will form a basic model of the ILRS by around 2028. Next will come communications, power generation and other infrastructure, which will be built on and developed into an expansive, inhabited lunar outpost.

The project is envisioned as a comprehensive scientific experimental base which will host interdisciplinary and multi-objective research activities focusing on lunar exploration and utilization, according to Chinese reports. It will be capable of long-term independent operation, either on the lunar surface or in lunar orbit.

"The moon serves as a starting point, and an international lunar research station will provide a platform for long-term scientific research, work and habitation, paving the way for future human exploration into deeper space. It will serve as a technological, material, and intellectual reservoir, preparing us for future missions to Mars and other distant destinations in space," Wu Weiren, chief designer of China's lunar exploration program, told China Central Television (CCTV) on Wednesday.

Wu says the ILRS will be constructed in two phases. The first will establish comprehensive scientific facilities with basic functions and essential supporting elements around the lunar south pole by 2035. The second phase will set about building a well-equipped and stable facility of considerable scale by 2045. One curious detail of the video is the presence of a retired NASA Space Shuttle appearing to lift off from a launch pad in the background. 

What Would We Do If We Ever Meet E.T.?

A thin layer around the surface of Earth is teeming with life of huge diversity from micro-organisms to plants and animals, and even intelligent species. Up to now, this forms the only known sample of life in the Universe. In the annals of human history, the prospect of discovering intelligent extraterrestrial life has captivated our collective imagination. The age-old question of whether we are alone in the universe has lingered for centuries, but what if we were suddenly able to answer it definitively? In a hypothetical scenario where we can announce our presence to the outside universe, the implications are vast, ranging from the potentially dangerous to the profoundly transformative.

Firstly, the question arises: How would we react to the announcement of our cosmic existence? The initial response would likely be a mix of excitement, curiosity, and perhaps a touch of trepidation. The revelation of intelligent extraterrestrial life would be a paradigm-shifting moment, challenging long-held beliefs about our uniqueness in the vast cosmic expanse. The announcement could foster a renewed sense of unity among Earth's inhabitants as we grapple with the profound implications of being part of a larger cosmic community.

However, with excitement comes caution. The potential dangers of announcing our presence to the outside universe cannot be ignored. The uncertainty surrounding the nature and intentions of extraterrestrial civilizations introduces a level of risk. We would need to carefully consider the impact of revealing ourselves to potentially advanced and unknown entities. Would they view us with benevolence, curiosity, or perhaps hostility? The cautionary approach would involve thorough preparation and the establishment of protocols to navigate potential interstellar encounters.

On the flip side, there's the optimistic view that such an announcement could enhance human life in unprecedented ways. The prospect of open communication with intelligent extraterrestrial beings could revolutionize our understanding of science, technology, and culture. The exchange of knowledge and ideas between civilizations could propel us into an era of accelerated progress and collaboration. It might be the cosmic kickstart we need to solve some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity.

But what evidence do we have that might lead us to make such an announcement in the first place? The search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) has been ongoing for decades, with scientists using various methods to detect signals or signs of alien civilizations. While no conclusive evidence has been found to date, the discovery of potentially habitable exoplanets, the existence of organic molecules in space, and mysterious cosmic phenomena continue to fuel the hope that we are not alone.

Recent developments in astrophysics and the advancement of space exploration technologies have provided us with new tools to explore and understand the cosmos. The detection of exoplanets within the habitable zone, where conditions may support life, has intensified the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Meanwhile, breakthroughs in our understanding of extremophiles on Earth – organisms thriving in extreme conditions – expand the range of possible environments that could harbor life beyond our planet.

As we stand on the cusp of technological advancements that could make interstellar communication a reality, ethical considerations come to the forefront. The decision to announce our presence to the universe would require global cooperation, robust ethical guidelines, and a careful assessment of the potential risks and benefits. The responsibility lies not only with scientists but with governments, international organizations, and the broader public.

In conclusion, the implications of finding intelligent life in the universe and announcing our presence are profound and multifaceted. While the excitement of contact with extraterrestrial civilizations holds the promise of enhancing human life, the potential dangers necessitate a cautious and strategic approach. As we gaze into the cosmic unknown, humanity stands at the threshold of a new era – one where our place in the universe may be redefined, and the secrets of the cosmos await our discovery. 

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'ASTRO DAVE' RENEKE - A Personal Perspective

I've often been asked what I do, where I've been and what sort of activities I've engaged in throughout my 50 years involvement in astronomy and space. Here is an interview i did with Delving with Des Kennedy on Rhema 99.9 recently. 

David Reneke, a highly regarded Australian amateur astronomer and lecturer with over 50 years of experience, has established himself as a prominent figure in the field of astronomy. With affiliations to leading global astronomical institutions, David serves as the Editor for Australia's Astro-Space News Magazine and has previously held key editorial roles with Sky & Space Magazine and Australasian Science magazine.

His extensive background includes teaching astronomy at the college level, being a featured speaker at astronomy conventions across Australia, and contributing as a science correspondent for both ABC and commercial radio stations. David's weekly radio interviews, reaching around 3 million listeners, cover the latest developments in astronomy and space exploration.

As a media personality, David's presence extends to regional, national, and international TV, with appearances on prominent platforms such as Good Morning America, American MSNBC news, the BBC, and Sky News in Australia. His own radio program has earned him major Australasian awards for outstanding service.

David is recognized for his engaging and unique style of presenting astronomy and space discovery, having entertained and educated large audiences throughout Australia. In addition to his presentations, he produces educational materials for beginners and runs a popular radio program in Hastings, NSW, with a substantial following and multiple awards for his radio presentations.

In 2004, David initiated the 'Astronomy Outreach' program, touring primary and secondary schools in NSW to provide an interactive astronomy and space education experience. Sponsored by Tasco Australia, Austar, and Discovery Science channel, the program donated telescopes and grants to schools during a special tour in 2009, contributing to the promotion of astronomy education in Australia. BELOW Is the recorded interview  

INTRODUCING OUR NEW PARTNER & ASTRO SUPPLIER

Many thanks to Peter and the crew at ASTRO ANARCHY Queensland. A New business with the amateur astronomer firmly in mind.  Astro Anarchy has the experience, the stock and the knowledge to set up the first timer, to assist in the development of our hobby for the experienced observer OR cater to any other size need or desire in the field of amateur astronomy. 

ATRO ANARCHY AS OUR SPONSOR: My business partner Peter Davies and I have set up a new Astro Tourism business focusing on the recently 'Dark Sky Town' accredited to Norfolk Island. We call it 'Norfolk Island STARGAZING'. When approached, Pete from Astro Anarchy had no hesitation in organizing and supplying all our Telescopes, Binoculars and associated gear to get started. Nothing was any trouble allowing us more than enough time to set up and become fully operational. He and he and his business come highly recommended for anyone wanting any astronomical gear in Australia.

Web: https://www.astroanarchy.com.au/    Sales: sales@astroanarchy.com.au   Phone: 0412 085 224

'Astro Dave' Is Radio-Active 

Heard On DOZENS Of Stations Weekly - CLICK for past interviews