Voyager-1 Is DOWN // Nearby Kilonova // Giant Stream of Stars

TL;DR

Voyager 1 is experiencing computer issues, Hubble Space Telescope is back online, exomoons remain elusive, stunning picture of a supernova remnant, evidence of nearby kilonova, and the potential for communication with whales to teach us about alien communication.

Transcript

hobbles back but Voyager 1 is down an absolutely stunning Supernova picture from web and how talking to whales will teach us how to talk to aliens all this and more in this week's space bites today we've got some bad news and some good news now I'm just going to choose for you we're going to start with the bad news and that is that Voyager one is d... Read More

Key Insights

• 🪘 Voyager 1 is experiencing technical difficulties, highlighting the challenges of maintaining long-distance spacecraft.
• 👻 The Hubble Space Telescope is back online after resolving a gyroscope issue, allowing for continued observations.
• 🤩 The discovery of a stream of stars connecting galaxies offers insights into the dynamics of galactic interactions.
• 👨‍🔬 The search for exomoons continues, with the complexity of detecting them becoming apparent.
• ❓ The James Webb Space Telescope provides stunning images of a supernova remnant, highlighting its capabilities in different wavelengths.
• 🙂 Evidence of a nearby kilonova event has been found in sediment at the bottom of the ocean, shedding light on the origin of heavy elements.
• 🐳 Communication with whales provides insights into potential methods of communicating with extraterrestrial intelligences.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is causing the computer issues on Voyager 1?

The flight data system, responsible for collecting and transmitting data, is sending out a repeating stream of nonsensical ones and zeros. Restarting the spacecraft has not resolved the problem.

Q: How many gyroscopes does the Hubble Space Telescope currently have?

Hubble currently has three gyroscopes, down from its original six. The recent issue was resolved without needing to shut off another gyroscope.

Q: What is the significance of the stream of stars connecting two galaxies?

The stream of stars indicates the presence of tidal forces from interacting galaxies in the Coma Cluster. It presents the possibility of using these "stepping stones" to travel between galaxies in the future.

Q: What is the latest on the search for exomoons?

While there have been two potential exomoons identified, Kepler 1625b and Kepler 1708b, further analysis suggests they likely do not exist. The search for exomoons remains challenging and requires more data.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Voyager 1 is experiencing computer problems, with a repeating stream of ones and zeros. Attempts to restart the spacecraft have been unsuccessful.

• Hubble Space Telescope is back online after resolving an issue with one of its gyroscopes, allowing it to continue observations with its three remaining gyroscopes.

• Astronomers have discovered a faint stream of stars connecting two galaxies in the Coma Cluster, possibly caused by tidal forces from interacting galaxies.

• The search for exomoons continues, with researchers simulating light curves to determine the likelihood of exomoons orbiting planets in other star systems.