Weekly Space Hangout - Jan. 23, 2015: SpaceX, Rosetta, and Asteroid Updates! | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

This week's Weekly Space Hangout covers topics such as SpaceX's plan to provide global high-speed internet, the discovery of a changing look quasar, new findings about Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko from the Rosetta mission, and upcoming astronomical events including a triple shadow transit on Jupiter.

Key Insights

• 🌱 Elon Musk's SpaceX continues to make headlines with plans for global satellite internet, receiving a billion-dollar investment from Google and Fidelity.
• 💨 The Square Kilometer Array (SKA) project releases significant research papers, paving the way for detailed study of galaxies and cosmology.
• 🙂 New findings from the Rosetta mission shed light on the composition and structure of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.
• 💦 Discover mission by NASA and Microsoft aims to bring holographic technology to scientists, enabling them to work on Mars virtually.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: What is the main goal of SpaceX's plan to provide global high-speed internet?

The plan is to launch a series of more than 400 satellites to create a comprehensive satellite internet system that offers high-speed, low latency internet access anywhere on Earth.

Q: How are changing look quasars significant for astronomers?

Changing look quasars provide insights into the evolution of quasars and black holes, as well as their effects on the galaxies they inhabit.

Q: What are the key findings from the Rosetta mission about Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko?

The comet's gravity and surface structure differ in different regions, suggesting variations in composition and density. Pits and cracks have been observed, indicating possible erosion mechanisms. The presence of rippled patterns on the surface suggests interactions between the comet's particles and the surface.

Q: When is the upcoming large asteroid flyby scheduled, and what can be expected from it?

The large asteroid is set to fly past Earth on February 9. It will reach a magnitude of around ninth and can potentially be observed with binoculars. There may be opportunities to see its transit in front of the Beehive Cluster in the Cancer constellation.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• SpaceX plans to launch a satellite internet system to provide global high-speed internet.

• A changing look quasar has been discovered, shedding light on the evolution of quasars and black holes.

• Rosetta mission releases new findings about Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, including differences in gravity and surface structure.

• A large asteroid is set to fly past Earth on February 9.