Superflare Warnings, Binary Stars at the Galactic Core, and Lucy’s Close Earth Flyby: S27E156

Space News Today

SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 156

Superflares: A Century-Long Threat?

A new study warns of the potential for our Sun to unleash superflares, with the threat estimated at once per century. These massive eruptions could engulf the Earth, challenging our understanding of solar behaviour. Evidence from other sun-like stars suggests that such violent solar events may be more common than previously thought, urging caution as we continue to study these phenomena.

Binary Star Discovery Near Galactic Core

Astronomers have identified the first binary star system near Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy. This discovery, made using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope, offers new insights into how stars can survive in extreme gravitational environments. The findings could pave the way for detecting planets orbiting close to this massive black hole.

NASA's Lucy Mission: Onward to Jupiter

NASA's Lucy spacecraft has completed its second close flyby of Earth, gaining a gravity assist to propel it towards Jupiter's Trojan asteroids. This manoeuvre is part of Lucy's 12-year mission to study these ancient celestial bodies, believed to be remnants from the early solar system. The spacecraft's journey promises to unlock new secrets about the formation of our planetary neighbourhood.

00:00 This is Spacetime Series 27, episode 156 for broadcast on 27th December 2024

00:48 New observations suggest our sun may be far more violent than previously thought

05:17 Astronomers detect binary star system near supermassive black hole

08:49 NASA's Lucy spacecraft makes second close flyby of the Earth

10:37 NASA's Lucy mission is heading to the Jupiter Trojans

12:26 Sea ice levels in the ocean surrounding Antarctica reach new record lows in 2023

13:52 A new study claims drinking moderate amounts of wine can ward off heart disease

15:05 There are headlines saying believing in Loch Ness monster makes you less stressed

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✍️ Episode References

NASA Lucy spacecraft

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/lucy/overview/index.html

Max Planck Institute

https://www.mpg.de/en

European Southern Observatory

https://www.eso.org/public/

Kepler space telescope

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/kepler/main/index.html

Nature Communications

https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

British Medical Journal

https://www.bmj.com/

European Heart Journal

https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj

Australian Sceptics

https://www.skeptics.com.au/

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Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/24808034?utm_source=youtube