Category: science

NASA’s Perseverance rover which is positioned in the Jezero Crater on Mars, recently observed a remarkable celestial event as the moon Phobos drifted across the Sun. Captured on September 30, this moment offered a rare glimpse into Mars’ sky, where the unique “googly eye” effect of the eclipse unfolded for the rover’s Mastcam-Z camera. The video, released by NASA, illustrates the interplay of Martian moon orbits and provides valuable information on Phobos’ trajectory and its gradual shift towards Mars.

Unexpected Eclipse Creates ‘Googly Eye’ View on Mars

Perseverance, which has been observing Mars’ surface and sky since 2021, recorded the silhouette of Phobos moving rapidly across the Sun’s face from Mars’ western Jezero Crater. Phobos, the larger of Mars’ two moons, created a distinct “googly eye” visual effect as it partially blocked sunlight, a phenomenon not typically visible from Earth. The eclipse, captured on the mission’s 1,285th sol (Martian day), highlights Phobos’ swift orbit, which takes just 7.6 hours to complete a full circle around Mars. Due to its close orbit, Phobos regularly crosses Mars’ sky, allowing for these brief transits which last only about 30 seconds each.

Phobos’ Eerie Path and Future on Mars

Phobos, named by astronomer Asaph Hall in 1877 after the Greek deity associated with fear, measures about 27 kilometres at its widest. Unlike Earth’s larger moon, Phobos appears far smaller in the Martian sky. Its orbit brings it closer to Mars with time, which scientists predict will eventually cause Phobos to collide with the Martian surface within the next 50 million years. Past eclipses of Phobos, also recorded by other Mars rovers like Curiosity and Opportunity, continue to contribute essential data for understanding Mars’ moons and their shifting orbits.

Perseverance’s Mission and Future Mars Exploration

As part of NASA’s Mars 2020 mission, Perseverance focuses on exploring Martian geology and astrobiology. The mission, managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), is the first to collect samples of Mars’ surface material, which are intended to be retrieved in future joint missions with the European Space Agency (ESA). Perseverance’s Mastcam-Z, developed with support from Arizona State University, Malin Space Science Systems, and the Niels Bohr Institute, plays a crucial role in gathering high-resolution imagery to support geological studies. This mission aligns with NASA’s broader objective of preparing for human exploration on Mars, beginning with the Artemis missions to the Moon.

NASA’s
Lunar
Trailblazer
mission
is
set
to
provide
unprecedented
insight
into
the

Moon’s
hidden
water.
Built
by
Lockheed
Martin
and
managed
by
NASA’s
Jet
Propulsion
Laboratory,
this
small
satellite
aims
to
locate,
measure,
and
understand
water
on
the
lunar
surface.
Launching
next
year,
the
Trailblazer
will
play
a
pivotal
role
in
discovering
the
forms
and
behaviours
of
water
in
areas
of
the
Moon
where
it
has
long
been
theorised
but
rarely
observed.

Mapping
Lunar
Ice
and
Water

With
two
scientific
instruments
aboard,
the
Lunar
Trailblazer
will
map
and
identify
surface
water
and
ice
on
the
Moon.
The
High-resolution
Volatiles
and
Minerals
Moon
Mapper
(HVM3)
is
a
sophisticated
infrared
spectrometer
capable
of
detecting
water
in
various
states.
It
can
peer
into
permanently
shadowed
craters,
using
sunlight
reflections
from
crater
walls
to
view
areas
untouched
by
light
for
billions
of
years.
The
second
instrument,
the
Lunar
Thermal
Mapper
(LTM),
developed
by
the
University
of
Oxford
and
funded
by
the
UK
Space
Agency,
will
assess
the
thermal
properties
and
surface
minerals
of
these
regions.
Together,
they
offer
a
dual
perspective
that
promises
to
deepen
our
understanding
of
the
Moon’s
water.

Potential
Impact
for
Future
Exploration

The

findings
of
Lunar
Trailblazer
will
support
future
lunar
missions
by
potentially
locating
accessible
ice
deposits.
This
knowledge
is
critical
for
future
explorers,
who
may
use
lunar
ice
as
a
resource
to
produce
oxygen
or
rocket
fuel.
Studying
the
ice
composition
could
also
reveal
clues
about
the
origins
of
lunar
water,
which
may
come
from
sources
like
comets
or
volcanic
activity
on
the
Moon.
According
to
experts,
lunar
ice
core
samples
could
yield
a
historical
record
similar
to
those
from
glaciers
on
Earth,
shedding
light
on
the
Moon’s
water
origins
and
history.

Preparing
for
Launch

The
mission
began
as
part
of
NASA’s
SIMPLEx
initiative
in
2019,
is
now
in
its
final
preparation
stages.
Having
successfully
completed
environmental
and
operational
tests,
the
Lunar
Trailblazer
will
share
a
launch
with
Intuitive
Machines-2.
Its
lightweight
design,
weighing
only
440
pounds
and
measuring
11.5
feet
when
fully
deployed,
makes
it
ideal
for
planetary
exploration.
With
mission
operations
led
by
Caltech
and
backed
by
JPL
and
Lockheed
Martin,
the
Trailblazer
will
soon
take
on
a
new
phase
in
lunar
science.

Twins
Matthew
and
Michael
Youlden
have
developed
a
unique
language
called
Umeri,
spoken
exclusively
by
them.
The
Youlden
twins,
originally
from
Manchester,
UK,
are
known
for
their

linguistic
abilities,
each
fluent
in
25
languages.
However,
Umeri
holds
a
special
place
in
their
hearts.
They
first
started
creating
the
language
as
children,
and
it
has
grown
into
a
complex
form
of
communication
that
continues
to
connect
them,
even
as
they
now
live
in
different
countries.

A
Personal
Language
Born
from
a
Close
Bond

The
Youldens’
journey
with
Umeri
began
early
in
life,
inspired
by
their
close
relationship
and
exposure
to
various
languages.
Dr.
Nancy
Segal,
Director
of
the

Twin
Studies
Center
at
California
State
University,
notes
that
up
to
40%
of
twin
toddlers
develop
unique
communication
patterns,
often
known
as
“twin
speak.”
This
phenomenon,
described
as
“cryptophasia”
or
“private
speech,”
typically
fades
as
twins
grow
older
and
start
interacting
with
more
people.
Yet
for
Matthew
and
Michael,
their
shared
language
only
grew
stronger,
reflecting
a
bond
that
has
remained
remarkably
close.

A
Language
That
Evolves
with
the
Times

Unlike
most
“twin
languages,”
Umeri
has
expanded
and
adapted
as
the
Youlden
twins
aged.
Their
language
now
includes
modern
words
for
items
like
“iPad”
and
“lightning
cable.”
Their
childhood
fascination
with
languages
led
them
to
study
multiple
tongues,
incorporating
elements
from
each
into
Umeri.
Though
originally
written
in
a
self-made
alphabet,
Umeri
is
now
expressed
in
the
Latin
alphabet
for
ease.

The
Lasting
Impact
of
Umeri
on
Their
Lives

Karen
Thorpe,
a
child
development
specialist,
explains
that
private
languages
among
twins
often
arise
from
deep
personal
connections,
something
not
unique
to
twins
alone.
Despite
living
apart—Michael
in
Gran
Canaria
and
Matthew
in
the
Basque
Country—the
twins
remain
close
through
Umeri.
However,
they
don’t
intend
to
pass
it
on,
seeing
it
as
an
intimate
bond
unique
to
their
shared
experience.

Delivering
a
major
update
on
India’s
space
objectives,

ISRO
Chairman
S
Somanath
announced
new
timelines
for
upcoming
missions,
including
the
ambitious

Gaganyaan
and
Chandrayaan-4
projects.
Speaking
at
the
Sardar
Patel
Memorial
Lecture
held
at
Akashvani,
Somanath,
he
provided
details
on
the
Gaganyaan
mission.
As
per
Somanath,
India’s
first
manned
space
endeavour
is
now
expected
in
2026.
He
revealed
that
Chandrayaan-4,
aimed
at
returning
samples
from
the
lunar
surface,
is
slated
for
launch
in
2028.

The
ISRO
chairman
shared
insights
into
India’s
joint
missions,
specifically
a
collaboration
with
Japan’s
space
agency
JAXA.
This
mission,
initially
referred
to
as

LUPEX
(Lunar
Polar
Exploration),
will
be
designated
as
Chandrayaan-5.
In
this
mission,
India
will
provide
the
lander
while

JAXA
will
supply
the
rover,
a
significant
upgrade
from
Chandrayaan-3’s
smaller
rover.
With
a
much
larger
payload
of
350
kg,
Chandrayaan-5
will
be
equipped
to
conduct
extensive
scientific
research
on
the
Moon’s
surface.

Focus
on
Indigenisation
and
Expanding
India’s
Role
in
the
Global
Space
Market

Addressing
the
audience,
Somanath
told
the
importance
of
self-reliance
in
space
technology,
acknowledging
the
progress
made
in
reducing
reliance
on
imports
but
stressing
that
more
needs
to
be
done.
He
highlighted
ISRO’s
aim
to
raise
India’s
stake
in
the
global
space
economy
from
its
current
2
per
cent
to
10
per
cent
in
the
next
decade.
Somanath
noted
that
this
expansion
would
require
collaboration
across
sectors.
He
encouraged
both
startups
and
established
companies
to
actively
engage
with
the
space
industry.

Private
Sector
Participation
and
Boosting
Innovation
in
Space

Somanath
mentioned
the
increasing
role
of
private
industries
in
India’s
space
sector.He
explained
that
ISRO
has
started
initiatives
to
involve
private
companies
in
space
exploration,
moving
away
from
its
usual
government-led
approach.
Citing
examples
such
as
private
companies
now
being
involved
in
rocket
manufacturing,
he
conveyed
optimism
about
the
emerging
partnership
between
ISRO
and
private
entities
in
India.

India’s
Astronomical
Legacy
and
Path
to
Global
Science
Contributions

Reflecting
on
India’s
contributions
to
astronomy,
Somanath
highlighted
the
country’s
history
of
observing
and
exploring
stars.
He
emphasised
the
significance
of
scientific
missions
like
Chandrayaan-3,
which
achieved
a
soft
landing
on
the

Moon,
as
well
as
Aditya-L1
and
Astrosat,
India’s

space
observatory,
which
have
provided
important
data.
According
to
Somanath,
these
missions
contribute
to
global
scientific
knowledge,
with
Astrosat
alone
having
led
to
hundreds
of
research
papers
and
doctoral
studies.

A
supernova
that
appeared
in
1181
has
been
linked
to
the
Pa
30
nebula
giving
us
a
rare
“zombie
star.”
This
discovery
raises
new
questions
about
how
these
celestial
events
unfold.
Advanced
imaging
techniques
from
the
W.M.
Keck
Observatory
uncovered
unusual
filaments
expanding
from
the
core
of
this
supernova
remnant.
The
supernova,
recorded
as
SN
1181,
was
observed
near
the
Cassiopeia
constellation
and
shone
for
six
months
before
fading.
It
is
one
of
the
few
pre-telescope
supernovae
documented
in
history.

For
centuries,
SN
1181
was
considered
an
“orphan”
because
no
visible
celestial
bodies
were
connected
to
it.
However,
in
2021,
scientists
linked
its
remnant
to
the
Pa
30
nebula,
which
was
first
discovered
in
2013
through
citizen
science
efforts.

The
Zombie
Star

At
the
heart
of
the
Pa
30
nebula
is
the
“zombie
star,”
a
remnant
of
the
original
explosion.
This
star
survived
a
thermonuclear
explosion
on
a

white
dwarf,
which
typically
would
have
been
destroyed.
This
partial
explosion
is
classified
as
a
Type
Iax
supernova.
The
team
of
researchers,
led
by
Tim
Cunningham
and
Ilaria
Caiazzo,
obtained
a
detailed
view
of
the
strange
filaments
that
resemble
dandelion
petals.

Advanced
Imaging
Techniques

Using
the
Keck
Cosmic
Web
Imager
(KCWI),
scientists
first
created
a
3D
map
of
the
nebula.
This
technology
allowed
them
to
measure
the
speed
of
the
filaments,
which
are
expanding
at
about
1,000
kilometers
per
second.
They
noted
that
this
speed
indicates
the
material
has
not
changed
since
the
explosion
in
1181.

New
Insights
into
Supernova

The
research
sheds
light
on
the
asymmetry
of
the
supernova,
indicating
that
the
explosion’s
characteristics
were
unusual.
The
findings
prompt
further
questions
about
the
nature
of
supernovae
and
their
remnants
in
the
universe.

The
European
Space
Agency
(ESA)
is
currently
in
discussions
with

SpaceX
about
the
possibility
of
the
American
aerospace
giant
joining
an
international
initiative
to
tackle
the
ever-growing
issue
of

space
debris.
ESA
has
been
actively
working
to
address
the
escalating
risks
posed
by
orbital
junk,
which
threatens
both
operational
satellites
and
future
space
missions.

ESA
Director
General
Josef
Aschbacher
shared
that
the
agency’s
“Zero
Debris
Charter”
has
received
backing
from
over
110
countries
and
organisations,
with
a
shared
goal
of
halting
new
debris
creation
by
2030.
While
SpaceX
hasn’t
yet
signed
the
charter,
Aschbacher
remains
hopeful
about
progress,
noting,
“We
will
keep
raising
these
issues
because
they
are
essential.”

Understanding
Space
Debris

Today,

Earth’s

orbit
hosts
roughly
18,897
pieces
of
trackable
space
junk,
according
to
Harvard

astronomer
Jonathan
McDowell.
This
debris
includes
inactive
satellites,
rocket
bodies,
and
fragments
from
earlier
collisions.
Although
ESA
doesn’t
regulate
space
activity,
it’s
committed
to
fostering
international
collaboration
on
this
urgent
issue.
“The
fact
that
we
have
the
charter
on
the
table
and
that
partners
are
signing
up
is
very
encouraging,”
Aschbacher
added.

The
Importance
of
SpaceX’s
Involvement

SpaceX,
with
around
6,300
active
satellites
out
of
an
estimated
10,300
in
low
Earth
orbit,
plays
a

significant
role
in
this
discussion.
Its

Starlink
constellation
alone
accounts
for
nearly
two-thirds
of
all
operational
satellites
in
this
region.
New
constellations
from
other
companies,
including
Amazon
and
Chinese
satellite
networks,
are
adding
to
the
congestion,
making
efforts
to
curb
space
debris
even
more
pressing.

Real-World
Implications
of
Space
Junk

The
risks
are
far
from
theoretical.
For
example,
a
recent
incident
saw
a
Chinese
rocket
body
disintegrate
after
a
collision
with
debris,
forming
one
of
the
largest
space
debris
fields
recorded.
Additionally,
past
anti-satellite
missile
tests
by
various
countries
have
compounded
the
problem,
contributing
further
to
the
crowded
orbital
environment.
As
ESA
continues
talks
with
SpaceX,
the
focus
remains
on
ensuring
a
cleaner,
safer
orbit
for
all
stakeholders
in
the
space
sector.