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Rare Fireball Dazzles California Skies, SLO County Among Sightings
17 days ago•Source: San Luis Obispo Tribune
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37.22 min•18 days ago
NASA's Methalox Boom: Florida Tests Gauge Rocket Safety
NASA is conducting controlled detonation tests of methane-oxygen fuel (methalox) at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida to measure blast radius, concussion, and shrapnel distances for rocket-safety purposes. The program unfolds in three series, escalating from about 100 pounds to 2,000 pounds, then up to 20,000 pounds of fuel, with SpaceX having done its own testing but NASA pursuing its independent safety verification (and a bit of spectacle) before any full-scale launches.
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Elon Musk Signals SpaceX Shift: From Mars Settlement to a Moon-Based City
Ars Technica•2 months ago
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Space Reproduction Put on Hold as Experts Warn of Safety Risks
A new report in Reproductive BioMedicine Online warns that reproducing in space is far from safe due to radiation, microgravity, and lunar dust, which may affect fertility, pregnancy, and offspring. It calls for a global ethical framework, better shielding, medical countermeasures, and advanced assisted reproduction tools before any long-duration missions, effectively delaying space births until safeguards are in place.
Meteor Causes Shaking and Loud Booms Over NYC and NJ
A loud boom heard in parts of New Jersey and New York City was likely caused by a meteor fireball flying about 49 miles above Upper Bay near Jersey City, traveling at 34,000 miles per hour, and disintegrating 29 miles above Midtown Manhattan. NASA's Meteoroid Environments Office confirmed the event, while the US Geological Survey found no evidence of an earthquake. No meteorites were produced, and there were no reported impacts to the city.
Meteor Explodes Over NYC, Causes Shaking and Loud Booms
A meteor exploded over Manhattan after flying over the Statue of Liberty at a speed 58 times faster than a Boeing 737, causing loud booms heard in New York and New Jersey. NASA and other authorities are uncertain if the booms were caused by the meteor or military activity, but no damage or injuries were reported. Despite the dramatic event, many New Yorkers remained unfazed.
"Strong Solar Flares Trigger Radio Blackout Warnings"
Multiple sunspot regions on the Sun are currently active, producing strong solar flares that have caused radio blackouts on Earth. NOAA's space weather forecasters are monitoring these regions closely as the Sun approaches its Solar Maximum. The new GOES-19 satellite, set to be operational by spring 2025, will enhance solar storm forecasting capabilities.
Astronauts Capture Mysterious Glowing Orbs and Red Sprites from Space
NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick captured a photo of glowing blue orbs, known as red sprites, from the International Space Station. These orbs, caused by thunderstorms off the coast of South Africa, are a rare atmospheric phenomenon that appear above storms due to lightning. The photo, taken on June 3, offers a rare glimpse of these high-altitude lightning events, which are difficult to capture from Earth. NASA encourages citizen scientists to contribute their own photos of sprites to the Spritacular database for research purposes.
"Sun's X-Class Flare Causes Radio Blackouts and Auroras"
A powerful X-class solar flare erupted from sunspot AR3738 on July 13, 2024, causing shortwave radio blackouts across Australia, Southeast Asia, and Japan. Despite the flare's intensity, it did not produce a coronal mass ejection, meaning no significant geomagnetic activity is expected.
"Are New Galaxies Still Forming in the Universe?"
While the initial process of galaxy formation from protogalaxies and dark matter seeds is over, new galaxies are still appearing today through ongoing star formation and mergers of existing material. However, the rate of new galaxy formation is slowing due to the accelerating expansion of the universe driven by dark energy.
Webb Telescope's New Image Confirms Star Formation Theories
The James Webb Space Telescope has captured images of a dozen newborn stars in the Serpens Main nebula emitting gas jets in the same direction, a phenomenon never seen before. This discovery could provide new insights into star formation and the role of magnetic fields in aligning these jets. Further studies are planned to understand the chemical composition of the star-forming region.
NASA Confirms SpaceX Debris Found in North Carolina
NASA confirmed that the burned debris found in Western North Carolina is from a SpaceX spacecraft, bringing relief to Mike Wooten, who discovered the debris in his yard. Wooten expressed his amazement at the rarity of such an event and hopes it will increase space awareness. He is willing to return the debris to NASA or SpaceX for research purposes.
Astronaut Jeanette Epps Shares Breathtaking Space Photo of Central New York
NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps, a Syracuse native, captured a stunning photo of the Finger Lakes region from the International Space Station, showcasing Syracuse, Rochester, Lake Ontario, and northern New York State. Epps is part of the NASA SpaceX Crew-8 Mission, which is conducting over 200 scientific experiments.