Weekly Space Hangout - Apr. 8, 2016: Space News Roundup!

TL;DR

Navy resumes celestial navigation training for backup, fascinating stories of stellar observations, and mission updates.

Transcript

yeah people should not be up at that hour well but remember it's a it's a whole circular world right and like people live in different parts of the world and so what's what's not a good hour for you is a perfectly good hour for somebody else but yes okay people shouldn't be up and talking about science on television at that hour um I'm sure the peo... Read More

Key Insights

• 🛰️ The resurgence of celestial navigation training by the Navy highlights the importance of backup navigation methods in potential satellite failure scenarios.
• 💁 Alma Observatory's observations of protoplanetary disks shed light on the early stages of planet formation, providing valuable information for planetary scientists and astronomers.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why has the Navy decided to resume celestial navigation training for its officers?

The Navy is bringing back celestial navigation training as a backup in case of GPS failure, ensuring navigational reliability in future scenarios.

Q: What insights have recent observations from the Alma Observatory provided regarding protoplanetary disks?

The high-resolution observations offer a closer look at the structure of protoplanetary disks around young stars, potentially shedding light on the process of planet formation.

Q: How has the Akatsuki Venus Orbiter overcome challenges and what are its current mission updates?

Despite initial setbacks, the Akatsuki Venus Orbiter has confirmed instrument functionality and revised its orbit position, paving the way for further scientific exploration of Venus.

Q: What significance do these observations hold for astronomers and planetary scientists?

The observations provide crucial information for understanding the formation of planets, offering insights into the environments where planets develop and the factors influencing their evolution.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The Navy reinstates celestial navigation training as a backup in case of GPS failure, citing concerns regarding potential issues with satellites.

• Recent high-resolution observations from the Alma Observatory provide insights into protoplanetary disks of young stars, offering a deeper understanding of planet formation.

• Updates on the Japanese Akatsuki Venus Orbiter overcoming challenges with orbit position and confirming instrument functionality for further scientific exploration.