S03E134: Ancient Galaxies Unveiled, DART Debris Mystery, and Polaris' Hidden Spots

Astronomy Daily - The Podcast

Welcome to Astronomy Daily. I'm Anna, your guide on this cosmic journey. Today, we have a thrilling lineup of stories straight from the universe's farthest reaches. We'll dive into the discovery of ancient galaxies that shed light on the early universe, explore potential debris from NASA's DART mission making its way to Earth and Mars, and unveil stunning new images of Polaris, our North Star. We'll also decode the legendary WOW signal and discuss how longer Earth Daily influenced evolutionary milestones. So sit back, relax, and let's embark on this incredible voyage through space and time.
- **Ancient Galaxies Discovered by China's FAST Telescope**: Astronomers using China's FAST telescope have made a groundbreaking discovery—six ancient galaxies teeming with hydrogen. This significant finding not only advances our understanding of the early universe but also highlights the extraordinary potential of modern radio telescopes.
- **NASA's DART Mission Debris**: NASA's DART mission, which stands for Double Asteroid Redirection Test, made headlines when it successfully demonstrated a strategy for deflecting potentially hazardous asteroids using the kinetic impact method. On September 26, 2022, the DART spacecraft collided with Dimorphos, showcasing how we might protect our planet from future asteroid threats.
- **Stunning New Images of Polaris**: Thanks to advancements in telescope technology, recent high-resolution images of Polaris, our North Star, have unveiled a deeper layer of its complexity. Captured by the CHARA Array on Mount Wilson in California, these images reveal large, bright, and dark spots on Polaris' surface, similar to sunspots.
- **Decoding the WOW! Signal**: In 1977, the intriguing WOW signal, a powerful and narrow-band radio signal, was detected by the Ohio State University's Big Ear radio telescope. For decades, the source of this signal remained a mystery. However, recent research led by Abel Mendez from the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo suggests that the WOW signal was likely caused by the transient brightening of hydrogen clouds in space.
- **Longer Earth Days and Evolutionary Milestones**: Recent studies have revealed a correlation between the moon's gradual departure from Earth and the lengthening of our planet's Daily. As the moon drifts away, it siphons off Earth's rotational energy, causing our planet's spin to slow and our Daily to lengthen. Over millions of years, these changes have added up, with days becoming more than 2 hours longer.
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