S03E154: FCC's Satellite Internet Shake-Up, Mysterious Black Hole, and Super Harvest Moon Eclipse

Astronomy Daily - The Podcast

Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: 14th September 2024
Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your source for the latest space and Astronomy news. I'm your host, Anna, and today we'll be covering a range of exciting topics, from FCC's call for more competition in satellite Internet to the discovery of a mysterious black hole. We've got a packed episode ahead, so let's dive right in.
Highlights:
- FCC Push for Satellite Internet Competition: Federal Communications Commission chair Jessica Rosenwursel is advocating for increased competition in the satellite Internet market, taking aim at SpaceX's Starlink dominance. Starlink, Elon Musk's ambitious project, currently controls nearly two-thirds of all active satellites and has launched an impressive 7000 satellites since 2018. Rosenwursel argues that monopolies do not benefit the economy and emphasizes the need for more space actors and companies to develop innovative constellations. This push for diversity could reshape the landscape, potentially leading to more affordable and innovative services for consumers worldwide.
- Discovery of a Low-Mass Black Hole: In a groundbreaking discovery, Chinese researchers have uncovered a low-mass black hole that's breaking all the rules. The team, led by Dr. Zdeněk Sekanina Song Wang from the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, used a combination of radial velocity and astrometry methods to identify this elusive object. This black hole, found in the binary system G 3425, has a mass of about 3.6 solar masses and is challenging our understanding of binary evolution and supernova explosions.
- Partial Lunar Eclipse of the Super Harvest Moon: Get ready for a celestial spectacle, stargazers—a partial lunar eclipse of the super harvest moon is on its way. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, September 17, when the moon will put on quite a show. This eclipse will be visible across most of North and South America, Europe, Africa, and parts of western Asia and Antarctica. Don't miss this super harvest moon lunar eclipse, whether you're watching in person or via online live streams.
- Challenges Facing NASA: A recent report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has highlighted significant challenges facing NASA. One of the main issues is aging infrastructure, with 83% of NASA's facilities having exceeded their design lifespan. Another major concern is underfunding, which has led to a focus on near-term missions at the expense of long-term investments. The report's authors present a stark choice: either increase NASA's funding significantly or cut some of its missions.
- Discovery of a New Giant Planet: Astronomers from the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń have discovered a new planet in the Great Bear constellation. This giant planet, boasting a mass eleven times that of Jupiter, orbits a star known as HD 118203. Its orbit takes 14 years to complete, and its surface temperature is estimated to be a frigid -100 degrees Celsius or lower. This discovery challenges our understanding of planetary formation and evolution.
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