S27E121: Barnard's New Neighbour, Hera's Asteroid Mission, and the Sun's Fiery Ring

SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 121
*A New Planet Discovered Orbiting Barnard's Star
Astronomers have discovered a new exoplanet orbiting Barnard's Star, the closest single star to the Sun. This newly found planet, Barnard b, has about half the mass of Earth and completes an orbit around its host star every three Earth days. Located 5.96 light-years away, Barnard's Star is a small red dwarf in the constellation Ophiuchus. The discovery was made using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope and has sparked interest due to its low mass and proximity to its star. The study also hints at the existence of three more potential exoplanets in the system, although additional observations are needed for confirmation.
*ESA's Hera Mission Launch
The European Space Agency's Hera mission is set to launch, aimed at exploring the aftermath of NASA's DART mission impact on the asteroid Dimorphos. The mission will provide detailed analysis of the impact site and the asteroid's composition, mass, and structural changes. Hera will also deploy two cubesats, Milani and Juventus, to perform close-up observations and experiments. The mission is crucial for understanding how to protect Earth from potential asteroid threats in the future.
*Spectacular Annular Solar Eclipse
A stunning annular solar eclipse, known as a "ring of fire," has been witnessed by people across the eastern and southern Pacific, as well as parts of South America. The eclipse, which occurs when the Moon is slightly further from Earth, left a bright ring of sunlight visible around the Moon's silhouette. The event was best viewed from Easter Island and parts of Argentina and Chile, with partial views seen in other regions including Bolivia, Peru, and New Zealand.
00:00:00 - This is spacetime series 27, episode 121, for broadcasts on 7 October 2024
00:00:47 - Astronomers have discovered a planet orbiting Barnard star, the closest single
00:04:48 - European Space Agency's Hera planetary defence mission slated for launch today
00:08:40 - NASA's Dart spacecraft crashed into the dimorphos asteroid in 2022
00:12:11 - The people of the east and South Pacific and South America witnessed an annual solar eclipse
00:14:07 - Scientists have developed a new drug delivery system for type two diabetes
00:17:02 - Women are turning to psychics to find out if their husbands are cheating
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