Solar Spectacles, Gaia's Legacy, and Sun's Magnetic Flip: S04E14

0:00 Speaker 1: Welcome to Astronomy Daily.

0:01 Speaker 2: I'm your host, Anna, and we have a great lineup

0:04 Speaker 2: of space news and astronomical wonders to share with you.

0:07 Speaker 1: Today, we'll explore the next.

0:08 Speaker 2: Decade of spectacular solar eclipses, bid farewell to a groundbreaking

0:13 Speaker 2: star mapping mission, and discover why our sun is about

0:16 Speaker 2: to flip its magnetic field. Plus, we'll tell you about

0:19 Speaker 2: an exciting celestial gathering featuring both a comet and multiple planets.

0:23 Speaker 2: Get updates on two private Moon missions, and learn about

0:26 Speaker 2: a special challenge celebrating the Hubble Space Telescopes thirty fifth anniversary.

0:31 Speaker 2: Stay with us for all these fascinating stories and more.

0:35 Speaker 2: Eclipse chasers, get ready to mark your calendars and make

0:39 Speaker 2: those bookings, because the next decade promises some truly spectacular

0:43 Speaker 2: solar shows. Let's explore seven major solar eclipses that will

0:47 Speaker 2: grace our skies between twenty twenty six and twenty thirty four.

0:51 Speaker 2: The first total solar eclipse will arrive on August twelfth,

0:54 Speaker 2: twenty twenty six, treating viewers in Russia, Greenland, Iceland and

0:58 Speaker 2: Spain to up to two minutes and eighteen seconds of

1:01 Speaker 2: totality for the best view you might want to book

1:05 Speaker 2: a cruise near Reikievik, Iceland, though northern Spain offers better

1:08 Speaker 2: chances of clear skies. Twenty twenty seven brings us what

1:12 Speaker 2: might be the most impressive eclipse of the decade. On

1:16 Speaker 2: August second, the Egyptian city of Luxor will experience an

1:19 Speaker 2: incredible six minutes and twenty three seconds of totality. Imagine

1:24 Speaker 2: witnessing this celestial spectacle from the Valley of the Kings

1:27 Speaker 2: or the Temple of Karnak. This eclipse will be visible

1:30 Speaker 2: to an astounding eighty nine million people across southern Spain,

1:34 Speaker 2: North Africa, and the Middle East. Australia gets its turn

1:38 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty eight, with Sydney and the Blue Mountains

1:41 Speaker 2: enjoying nearly four minutes of totality. The show continues into

1:44 Speaker 2: New Zealand's South Island, where places like Queenstown will witness

1:48 Speaker 2: a dramatic sunset Eclipse twenty thirty takes us to Africa,

1:52 Speaker 2: where the Moonshadow will trace a path from Namibia's Skeleton

1:56 Speaker 2: Coast across Botswana to South Africa's Durban before cross the

2:00 Speaker 2: Indian Ocean to reach parts of Australia.

2:03 Speaker 1: This could be your.

2:03 Speaker 2: Perfect excuse for that African safari you've been dreaming about.

2:07 Speaker 2: The following year, twenty thirty one offers something special, a

2:11 Speaker 2: hybrid eclipse. These rare events combine both total and annular eclipses,

2:16 Speaker 2: though you'll need to be on a cruise ship in

2:18 Speaker 2: the North Pacific to catch this one. North America gets

2:21 Speaker 2: its next total solar eclipse in twenty thirty three, with

2:24 Speaker 2: Alaska taking center stage. The timing couldn't be better as

2:28 Speaker 2: it coincides with peak northern light season. Imagine witnessing an

2:32 Speaker 2: eclipse with the possibility of Aurora displays in the same trip. Finally,

2:37 Speaker 2: twenty thirty four's eclipse will cross through Egypt, Iran, and India,

2:42 Speaker 2: offering opportunities to view totality from fascinating locations like the

2:46 Speaker 2: ancient ruins of Persepolis or the Indian Himalayas. Each of

2:51 Speaker 2: these eclipses offers its own unique viewing experience, whether you're

2:55 Speaker 2: watching from ancient temples, remote deserts, or modern cities. Remember

2:59 Speaker 2: that proper planning is essential not just for travel arrangements,

3:03 Speaker 2: but also for safe viewing with certified eclipse glasses or filters.

3:08 Speaker 2: Next up in today's Space News. The European Space Agency's

3:11 Speaker 2: star mapping spacecraft GAIA, has finally closed its eyes to

3:15 Speaker 2: the Cosmos after an incredible twelve year mission. On January fifteenth,

3:19 Speaker 2: the spacecraft that has been meticulously cataloging our Milky Way

3:23 Speaker 2: concluded its data collecting operations, but this is far from

3:26 Speaker 2: the end of its scientific legacy. Throughout its operational lifetime,

3:31 Speaker 2: GIA has studied nearly two billion stars and other celestial objects,

3:36 Speaker 2: creating the most detailed and precise three D map of

3:39 Speaker 2: our local universe ever attempted. The mission's conclusion was inevitable

3:43 Speaker 2: as the spacecraft began running low on the cold gas

3:46 Speaker 2: propellant it needs to maintain its precise spinning motion, using

3:50 Speaker 2: about twelve grams daily since its launch in December twenty thirteen.

3:54 Speaker 2: While Guia may have stopped collecting new data, astronomers are

3:57 Speaker 2: excited about what's still to come. Less than one third

4:00 Speaker 2: of all the spacecraft's data has been published so far,

4:03 Speaker 2: with two major data releases still on the horizon. The

4:07 Speaker 2: next release, known as GR four, is expected before mid

4:11 Speaker 2: twenty twenty six and will showcase five and a half

4:13 Speaker 2: years of observations.

4:15 Speaker 1: This won't just be more of the same.

4:17 Speaker 2: It's expected to surpass previous releases in both volume and quality.

4:21 Speaker 2: Even more exciting is GR five, the final data release,

4:25 Speaker 2: which will contain stellar observations collected over an astounding ten

4:29 Speaker 2: point five years. We'll need to be patient, though, as

4:32 Speaker 2: this massive data dump isn't expected until the end of

4:35 Speaker 2: this decade, with scientists continuing to make discoveries from Gaya's

4:39 Speaker 2: observations well into the twenty thirties. Before its final retirement,

4:43 Speaker 2: Gaya will serve one last purpose as a test subject

4:46 Speaker 2: for scientists working to improve spacecraft and instrument control in space.

4:51 Speaker 2: These tests will be conducted while the spacecraft remains at

4:53 Speaker 2: its observation point between Earth and the Sun. Afterward, it

4:57 Speaker 2: will be moved to a final orbit away from Earth's

5:00 Speaker 2: sphere of influence, ensuring it won't interfere with other spacecraft.

5:03 Speaker 2: This remarkable mission has revolutionized our understanding of the Milky Way,

5:07 Speaker 2: and its impact on astronomy will continue to unfold for

5:10 Speaker 2: years to come. While we say goodbye to Gaya's active mission,

5:14 Speaker 2: its greatest scientific discoveries might still lie ahead in the

5:18 Speaker 2: vast amount of data yet to be analyzed. Our Sun

5:22 Speaker 2: is preparing for a remarkable event, a complete reversal of

5:26 Speaker 2: its magnetic field. This cosmic flip, occurring roughly every eleven years,

5:31 Speaker 2: marks a crucial milestone in the solar cycle, and signals

5:34 Speaker 2: that were halfway through the current solar maximum, the peak

5:37 Speaker 2: of our star's activity. The process isn't like flipping a switch.

5:41 Speaker 2: It's a gradual transition that typically takes a year or

5:43 Speaker 2: two to complete. During this time, the Sun's magnetic field

5:46 Speaker 2: transforms from a simple north south arrangement into something far

5:50 Speaker 2: more complex, before settling into its reversed configuration. When complete,

5:55 Speaker 2: the northern magnetic field will point south and the southern

5:58 Speaker 2: field will point north, actually aligning more closely with Earth's

6:02 Speaker 2: own magnetic field. What drives this magnetic dance. The answer

6:07 Speaker 2: lies in sunspots, those dark regions of intense magnetic activity

6:11 Speaker 2: on the Sun's surface. As new sunspots form near the

6:14 Speaker 2: Sun's equator, they maintain the old magnetic orientation, while spots

6:18 Speaker 2: emerging closer to the poles align with the incoming magnetic direction.

6:22 Speaker 2: This complex interaction gradually pushes the magnetic fields towards the poles,

6:27 Speaker 2: ultimately triggering the reversal. While this might sound dramatic, there's

6:31 Speaker 2: no need for concern here on Earth. The flip is

6:34 Speaker 2: in a sign of impending doom. Rather, it's a natural

6:36 Speaker 2: part of our Sun's cycle. In fact, it might even

6:39 Speaker 2: provide some benefits, helping to shield our planet from harmful

6:43 Speaker 2: galactic cosmic rays by creating a more effective barrier in

6:46 Speaker 2: the solar system.

6:48 Speaker 1: We are seeing increased.

6:49 Speaker 2: Solar activity lately, with powerful solar flares and coronal mass

6:53 Speaker 2: ejections triggering spectacular auroral displays. However, these aren't directly caused

6:59 Speaker 2: by the magnetic flip. They're simply occurring together because we're

7:02 Speaker 2: at solar maximum. Scientists expect this period of peak activity

7:06 Speaker 2: to continue through late twenty twenty four into early twenty

7:09 Speaker 2: twenty six. The timing and strength of this magnetic reversal

7:13 Speaker 2: could give us valuable clues about future solar activity. If

7:17 Speaker 2: the Sun's magnetic field quickly reorganizes itself after the flip,

7:21 Speaker 2: we might be in for an active next solar cycle,

7:24 Speaker 2: But if the process is slow, we could be looking

7:27 Speaker 2: at a relatively quiet period ahead. Either way, this celestial

7:31 Speaker 2: transformation provides a fascinating window into the complex dynamics of

7:35 Speaker 2: our star. Stargazers in the southern hemisphere are in for

7:39 Speaker 2: a double treat this week as we head into an

7:41 Speaker 2: exciting period of celestial observation. Comet C twenty twenty four

7:45 Speaker 2: G three, also known as Atlas, is currently putting on

7:49 Speaker 2: a show in our skies. Following its recent close encounter

7:51 Speaker 2: with the Sun. The comet is now visible during sunset,

7:55 Speaker 2: though catching a glimpse requires some careful timing and positioning.

7:59 Speaker 2: For the those hoping to spot this cosmic visitor, you'll

8:02 Speaker 2: want to look toward the western or southwestern horizon just

8:06 Speaker 2: after sunset. The comet is grazing the horizon almost directly

8:09 Speaker 2: below Venus, making our bright neighboring planet a helpful reference

8:13 Speaker 2: point for locating this more elusive object. While the comet's

8:17 Speaker 2: proximity to the Sun makes it challenging to spot with

8:20 Speaker 2: the naked eye, its solar heated ice is creating a

8:23 Speaker 2: bright tail that adds to the spectacle. Adding to this

8:27 Speaker 2: astronomical display, we're witnessing a rare gathering of planets in

8:31 Speaker 2: our night sky. All the planets except Mercury will be

8:34 Speaker 2: visible simultaneously over the next week, creating a remarkable planetary parade.

8:40 Speaker 2: Venus and Saturn are positioned close to each other near

8:43 Speaker 2: the horizon, while the other planets are scattered across the

8:46 Speaker 2: evening sky. While you'll need a telescope to catch glimpses

8:50 Speaker 2: of Uranus and Neptune, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are

8:54 Speaker 2: all visible to the naked eye. The best viewing conditions

8:58 Speaker 2: are expected as the moon wanes, with this planetary gathering

9:02 Speaker 2: continuing to be visible for several hours after sunset through

9:05 Speaker 2: mid February, and for those patient observers, Mercury will join

9:09 Speaker 2: this celestial reunion by late February, completing the family portrait

9:13 Speaker 2: of our Solar system's major planets. For anyone interested in

9:17 Speaker 2: viewing these celestial events, astronomy apps like skyview or starwalk

9:21 Speaker 2: can be invaluable tools for identifying and locating these objects

9:25 Speaker 2: in the night sky. Just remember to find a viewing

9:28 Speaker 2: spot with minimal light pollution and clear horizons for the

9:31 Speaker 2: best possible experience. Two private lunar landers are embarking on

9:36 Speaker 2: ambitious journeys to the Moon following their successful launch aboard

9:39 Speaker 2: a SpaceX Falcon nine rocket yesterday. The Blue Ghost Lander

9:43 Speaker 2: built by Firefly Aerospace and the Resilience Lander from Japanese

9:47 Speaker 2: company ice Pace are taking different approaches to reach their

9:50 Speaker 2: lunar destinations. Blue Ghost will spend its first twenty five

9:54 Speaker 2: days in Earth orbit, conducting systems checks and collecting data

9:58 Speaker 2: with its suite of ten NASA sside it's instruments. After

10:01 Speaker 2: this initial phase, it will fire its engines to begin

10:04 Speaker 2: its journey to the Moon, reaching lunar orbit just four

10:07 Speaker 2: days later. The lander will then prepare for its touchdown

10:11 Speaker 2: in the mare Chrisium or Sea of Crises, where it

10:14 Speaker 2: aims to operate for one lunar day approximately two earth weeks.

10:18 Speaker 2: During its surface mission, blue Ghost will carry out various

10:21 Speaker 2: scientific investigations before capturing dramatic imagery of the lunar sunset.

10:27 Speaker 2: The mission will continue briefly into the lunar night, gathering

10:30 Speaker 2: crucial data about how Moondust responds to changing solar conditions.

10:34 Speaker 2: From launch to final shutdown, the entire mission is expected

10:37 Speaker 2: to span about sixty Earth days. Taking a more leisurely

10:41 Speaker 2: path to our celestial neighbor is the Resilience Lander, which

10:45 Speaker 2: is following an energy efficient trajectory that will take four

10:48 Speaker 2: months to reach lunar orbit. Before its main arrival, Resilience

10:52 Speaker 2: will perform a lunar flyby in about a month's time.

10:55 Speaker 2: After reaching orbit, the team will spend two weeks preparing

10:58 Speaker 2: for landing in the northern mare Fioris region. Resilience carries

11:02 Speaker 2: five payloads, including a small rover called Tenacious. This eleven

11:06 Speaker 2: pound explorer will venture onto the lunar surface to collect

11:09 Speaker 2: moondust samples. The mission also includes a cultural touch, a

11:13 Speaker 2: small red and white model house called Moonhouse, created by

11:17 Speaker 2: a Swedish artist. You can get more details in yesterday's

11:20 Speaker 2: episode of Astronomy Daily if you'd like to find out

11:22 Speaker 2: more about this novel payload. This marks Icepace's second attempt

11:26 Speaker 2: at a lunar landing, following their first try last year,

11:30 Speaker 2: which ended in a crash. If successful, these missions will

11:34 Speaker 2: join the ranks of Odysseus, which recently became the first

11:37 Speaker 2: private spacecraft to achieve a soft.

11:40 Speaker 1: Landing on the Moon.

11:42 Speaker 2: If you're an avid skywatcher, here's a fun activity you

11:45 Speaker 2: may want to sign up for. In celebration of the

11:49 Speaker 2: Hubble Space Telescope's remarkable thirty five year legacy, NASA has

11:53 Speaker 2: partnered with the Astronomical League to launch an exciting new

11:56 Speaker 2: observing challenge for twenty twenty five. The challenge invites amateur

12:00 Speaker 2: astronomers to explore the cosmos through their own telescopes, focusing

12:04 Speaker 2: on objects that Hubble has studied throughout its mission. Anyone

12:08 Speaker 2: with a six inch telescope and access to dark skies

12:10 Speaker 2: can participate in this year long adventure. Each month, Hubble

12:15 Speaker 2: will release a new list of observable targets, with separate

12:18 Speaker 2: collections tailored for both Northern and Southern Hemisphere observers. The

12:22 Speaker 2: first set of targets is already available, giving stargazers a

12:25 Speaker 2: chance to start planning their observations. This isn't just about

12:29 Speaker 2: personal achievement. There's also a strong community aspect to the challenge.

12:33 Speaker 2: Participants are encouraged to share their passion for astronomy through

12:36 Speaker 2: public outreach, making it perfect for star parties and educational events.

12:41 Speaker 2: Those who successfully spot at least one object per month

12:45 Speaker 2: and conduct one outreach activity will earn a Silver certificate,

12:49 Speaker 2: while more dedicated observers can aim for Gold certification by

12:53 Speaker 2: observing four objects monthly and completing four outreach activities throughout

12:57 Speaker 2: the year. The challenge beautifully ridges the gap between professional

13:01 Speaker 2: and amateur astronomy, allowing backyard astronomers to follow in Hubble's

13:06 Speaker 2: footsteps and experience firsthand some of the incredible celestial objects

13:10 Speaker 2: this legendary telescope has studied over its three and a

13:14 Speaker 2: half decades in space. If you'd like to find out

13:17 Speaker 2: more about the challenge and how you can join in,

13:19 Speaker 2: I'll drop a link into the show notes for you.

13:23 Speaker 2: And that wraps up another fascinating episode of Astronomy Daily.

13:27 Speaker 2: I'm Anna, and I want to thank you for joining

13:30 Speaker 2: me on this journey through the latest developments in space

13:33 Speaker 2: and astronomy. From upcoming solar eclipses to groundbreaking lunar missions.

13:39 Speaker 2: There's never been a more exciting time to keep our

13:41 Speaker 2: eyes on the stars.

13:43 Speaker 1: Stay up to date with all the latest.

13:44 Speaker 2: Space and astronomy news by visiting our website at Astronomydaily

13:48 Speaker 2: dot io.

13:49 Speaker 1: There you'll find our constantly.

13:51 Speaker 2: Updating news feed and can catch up on all our

13:53 Speaker 2: previous episodes. Don't forget to follow us on social media.

13:57 Speaker 2: You can find us as astro Daily Pod on Facebook,

14:00 Speaker 2: x YouTube, YouTube music, and TikTok. Until next time, keep

14:05 Speaker 2: looking up and wondering about the mysteries of our universe.

14:08 Speaker 2: This has been Anna with Astronomy Daily.

14:11 Speaker 1: Day stars, so all star is

14:29 Speaker 2: Star.