Episodios

  • "Discover the Celestial Wonders Lighting Up the Skies This Autumn: Planetary Science Shines Across the U.S. and Beyond"

    "Discover the Celestial Wonders Lighting Up the Skies This Autumn: Planetary Science Shines Across the U.S. and Beyond"
    Nov 1 2025
    In recent days, planetary science has been especially vibrant across the United States and internationally, with a combination of new discoveries, ongoing missions, and remarkable phenomena visible from American skies. This October, skywatchers in the U.S. are witnessing rare celestial events such as the conjunction of Mercury and Mars on October nineteenth. Though both planets appear low in the evening sky and can be hard to catch, their closest approach offers a challenging but rewarding sight for dedicated observers, especially in the southwest shortly after sunset. Meanwhile, Venus continues its brilliant display in the pre-dawn sky, and Saturn rises high over North America, standing prominently in Aquarius after opposition, visible most of the night according to Astronomy Magazine.

    NASA highlights October as a month filled with meteor showers and lunar spectacles. The Draconid meteor shower, peaking in the first week, produced up to ten meteors per hour despite the glare of a supermoon. Following that, the Orionid meteor shower on October twenty-first, caused by debris from Halley's Comet, peaks with about twenty meteors per hour visible across the country. NASA encourages Americans to partake in International Observe the Moon Night, an annual event fostering public engagement with lunar science and observation. The supermoon of October sixth, along with a series of lunar occultations, including the Moon passing in front of stars in the Pleiades cluster, drew attention to the changing faces and alignments of our satellite according to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

    Major U.S.-based research initiatives have also made headlines. Carnegie Science in Washington, D.C. announced the discovery of asteroid twenty twenty-five SC seventy-nine, which completes one orbit around the Sun in just one hundred twenty-eight days, making it the second-fastest unique asteroid orbit in the entire solar system. Discovered by astronomer Scott Sheppard using the Dark Energy Camera in Chile, this asteroid was found hidden in the Sun’s glare, a challenge that underscores the ongoing efforts to identify near-Earth objects that may pose impact risks.

    Research into planetary formation received a boost from laboratory experiments at the Carnegie Institution, where scientists found new mechanisms for water creation on planets during their formation. These studies provide fresh insight into how planetary bodies may acquire and retain water, influencing the search for habitable worlds around other stars.

    Globally, China is preparing for the Tianwen-two mission, aiming to sample a quasi-moon and later a comet, showing the expanding international landscape of planetary science. Upcoming U.S. missions include NASA’s EscaPADE, set to orbit Mars, and continued launches in support of future lunar landings. Collectively, these efforts form a pattern of heightened international collaboration and a renewed push to understand planetary systems both near and far, marking autumn twenty twenty-five as a dynamic period for planetary science.

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  • Planetary Science at a Crossroads: Triumph, Uncertainty, and the Fight to Protect NASA's Future

    Planetary Science at a Crossroads: Triumph, Uncertainty, and the Fight to Protect NASA's Future
    Oct 29 2025
    The past week has brought a mix of triumph, uncertainty, and new discoveries in planetary science, especially in the United States, as the field continues to expand our understanding of the solar system and beyond. One of the most striking developments is the ongoing analysis of supernova SN 2025PHT, spotted in the galaxy N G C 1637. Remarkably, the James Webb Space Telescope, known as JWST, captured images of what appears to be the progenitor star before it exploded in July 2025. According to data from the All Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae and follow-up observations by Hubble and JWST, this marks one of the rare instances where astronomers have a clear view of a star both before and after it becomes a supernova, shedding light on the final stages of stellar evolution and the environments in which these cosmic explosions occur.

    Meanwhile, NASA’s ability to conduct planetary science faces mounting challenges due to a U.S. government shutdown, which has left about eighty five percent of the NASA workforce on unpaid leave, as reported by The Planetary Society. Despite the shutdown, recent advocacy efforts by scientists and space supporters have yielded partial victories. The House of Representatives has moved to maintain NASA’s overall budget at twenty five billion dollars, a significant improvement over earlier White House proposals that would have slashed science funding by almost half, with Earth Science programs bearing the brunt. This reprieve has already saved missions like OSIRIS APEX, a spacecraft repurposed to visit the asteroid Apophis in 2027, from cancellation. Yet, the future remains uncertain, with ongoing pressure to defend the science budget and prevent further program cuts.

    In California, the University of California, Santa Cruz, has highlighted how crucial NASA funding is for research and education. According to the university’s annual report, NASA is a top ten source of external research funding, supporting work in astronomy, planetary science, and related fields. Earlier this month, researchers nationwide participated in a Day of Action to advocate for preserving NASA’s science programs, fearing that proposed cuts could jeopardize future missions and scientific progress.

    On the bright side, space missions continue to push forward internationally. China’s Tianwen-2 mission is expected to launch in 2025 on a journey to a near-Earth asteroid and later to a comet, showcasing the global expansion of planetary exploration. In the U.S., a diverse slate of planned missions for 2025 includes NASA’s S P H E R E X and P U N C H, both designed to launch on SpaceX’s Falcon 9, as well as new lunar landers from private companies like Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines, and a potential crewed polar orbit mission by Fram2. However, exact launch dates for many of these remain uncertain, reflecting both the ambition and the instability of the current environment.

    Looking to the night sky, October’s planetary science offerings include the peak of the Orionid meteor shower on October twenty first, which treats observers to about twenty meteors per hour, and the close approach of interstellar comet 3 I Atlas to the Sun by the end of the month, an event observed by the European ExoMars mission. These celestial events serve as reminders of the beauty and complexity of our solar system, even as scientists and advocates work tirelessly to protect the programs that make such discoveries possible.

    The emerging pattern is clear: planetary science in the United States is at a crossroads. While advocacy has helped stave off the worst cuts, the threat to funding looms large. At the same time, missions and observations continue to deliver groundbreaking results, proving the value of sustained investment in exploring our cosmic neighborhood. The coming months will be decisive for the future of American planetary science, as researchers, policymakers, and the public weigh the costs and benefits of looking outward to the stars.

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  • "Planetary Science Thrives Amid Turbulence: NASA Missions Saved, New Discoveries Unveiled"

    "Planetary Science Thrives Amid Turbulence: NASA Missions Saved, New Discoveries Unveiled"
    Oct 25 2025
    The United States planetary science community is experiencing a period of extraordinary turbulence and resilience. The ongoing federal government shutdown has effectively halted most NASA operations with eighty five percent of its workforce furloughed. Political focus remains locked on the shutdown rather than future funding, which has cast real uncertainty over the immediate direction of NASA’s science programs. Despite this disruption, NASA has so far been spared the sweeping layoffs seen elsewhere in the civil service, although this is not the case for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory endured another wave of layoffs last week, losing more than five hundred staff as a direct result of sustained budget pressures and the scaling down of high-profile projects such as Mars Sample Return. This brings the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s total workforce reduction to around twenty five percent since early last year, according to The Planetary Society.

    Amid these setbacks, support for planetary science appears to be growing both in Congress and the public sphere. The beginning of October saw nearly three hundred space science advocates from thirty eight states and the District of Columbia participate in what is described as the largest coordinated space advocacy event in United States Capitol history. Organized advocacy, including a media campaign featuring Planetary Society CEO Bill Nye and members of Congress, has highlighted the strong grassroots backing for investments in exploration and research.

    There is also positive momentum on specific missions. Just before the shutdown, NASA received guidance to continue operating under the House of Representatives’ proposed budget, which maintains NASA’s overall funding at twenty five billion dollars. While this represents an eighteen percent cut specifically targeting Earth Science programs, it is far less severe than the White House’s earlier proposed forty seven percent reduction. As a consequence, the OSIRIS-APEX mission—a repurposed spacecraft now destined for asteroid Apophis in twenty twenty seven—has been officially saved from cancellation.

    On the observational front, October has been a spectacular month for public engagement with planetary science. NASA highlights recent skywatching opportunities including the Draconid and Orionid meteor showers. The Orionid meteor shower peaked around October twenty first, with meteors streaking through the sky as Earth passed through debris left by Halley’s Comet. The Draconids lit up early October nights, though visibility was partially dulled by a bright supermoon.

    Another major discovery announced this week was the confirmation of a new quasi-moon of Earth, designated twenty twenty five PN seven, observed by the University of Hawaii’s Pan-STARRS telescope at Haleakala. This small asteroid moves in a near-synchronous orbit with Earth, making it appear as a second moon from our perspective, though it is technically classified as a quasi-moon and not gravitationally bound like our main Moon. Astrophysicists at Northeastern University note the growing interest in identifying an increasing number of these near-Earth companions.

    Internationally, planetary science remains active, with China preparing to launch its Tianwen 2 mission to collect and return samples from a near-Earth asteroid, and ongoing global efforts to monitor Comet 3I ATLAS. NASA, alongside the International Asteroid Warning Network, has launched its most extensive interstellar object observation campaign yet, targeting 3I ATLAS and confirming that it poses no threat to Earth.

    Even as budget battles and government shutdowns dominate the headlines, the work of planetary scientists continues—with new discoveries, missions saved from cancellation, and dedicated public support shaping a field poised for renewal once uncertainties clear.

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  • Planetary Science in the US: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities Amidst Shutdown

    Planetary Science in the US: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities Amidst Shutdown
    Oct 22 2025
    Planetary science in the United States has faced both significant progress and daunting challenges over the past week, shaped largely by the ongoing government shutdown which has paused most NASA activities and furloughed eighty-five percent of its workforce, according to The Planetary Society. Despite the disruption, there are rays of hope for the future of space science as Congress recently directed NASA to follow the House’s proposed budget through a continuing resolution. While this allocation maintains NASA’s overall funding at twenty-five billion dollars, it includes an eighteen percent reduction for science programs, particularly impacting Earth science. Yet, this marks a notable improvement over the much steeper cuts originally advocated by the White House, as reported by The Planetary Society. Notably, the OSIRIS-APEX mission, operating from the University of Arizona, has survived cancellation and is preparing to study asteroid Apophis, expected to pass unusually close to Earth in 2029. Principal investigator Daniella DellaGiustina explained to Central Florida Public Media that this flyby offers an unprecedented opportunity to observe how a near-Earth object responds to Earth’s gravity, potentially advancing planetary defense efforts.

    While some missions have gained a new lease on life, others face uncertainty. NASA’s Juno probe, which has been orbiting Jupiter since 2016, reached the end of its most recent extension on September 30. With the shutdown immediately following, its scientific operations are likely ended, though no official clarification has been provided. Science journalist Emilee Speck noted that Juno’s legacy will be its resilience in Jupiter’s hazardous radiation environment and its pioneering work involving citizen scientists in data analysis. Meanwhile, NASA’s focus is shifting to the Europa Clipper, which launched in October 2024 and is en route to Europa to explore the icy moon’s potential for life, targeting arrival in 2030.

    In terms of upcoming milestones, NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe, or IMAP, was launched last month and will study the boundary of the heliosphere to better understand the Sun’s protective bubble around our solar system, according to NASA Science. Additionally, the Orionid meteor shower will peak on the night of October 21, providing an impressive celestial show with up to twenty meteors per hour and this year, little interference from moonlight. For planetary observers, Jupiter and Saturn dominate the night sky throughout October, with Venus shining brightly before dawn, as highlighted by The Planetary Society’s astronomical updates. Despite financial and logistical headwinds, planetary science in the United States remains robust and dynamic, propelled by ongoing discoveries, resilient missions, and public engagement in advocacy and exploration.

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  • Headline: "Soaring Achievements: America's Pivotal Role in Planetary Science Exploration"

    Headline: "Soaring Achievements: America's Pivotal Role in Planetary Science Exploration"
    Oct 18 2025
    The United States continues to play a central role in planetary science, with significant developments and public engagement unfolding in October twenty twenty-five. A major highlight has been the record-setting Save NASA Science Day of Action, held on October sixth in Washington, DC, where two hundred fifty advocates from thirty-eight states gathered to push for secure funding for NASA science. This event emerged against the backdrop of months of fiscal uncertainty, work stoppages, and proposed funding cuts that threatened more than forty NASA science and technology projects. Recent congressional actions, however, signaled bipartisan support to reverse these restrictions and maintain investment in the nation’s planetary science efforts. The Planetary Society reported that the advocacy campaign drew widespread attention both within the scientific community and in Congress, underscoring the crucial value of planetary exploration to the country.

    On the mission front, NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe, known as IMAP, successfully launched on September twenty-fourth and is now beginning its work to study the boundary of the solar system’s heliosphere. IMAP carries ten scientific instruments and will gather data that is expected to reshape our understanding of how the solar system interacts with the broader galaxy, according to NASA. Other upcoming launches include the Sierra Space Dream Chaser spaceplane, set for its first mission to the International Space Station from Cape Canaveral, and the Blue Moon Pathfinder mission aboard Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, which aims to return robotic landers to the lunar surface.

    The American public also enjoys a strong connection to planetary science through skywatching events. NASA Science announced several visible celestial phenomena in October, including a prominent supermoon, the Draconid meteor shower early in the month, followed by the Orionid meteor shower peaking on October twenty-first. For those up before sunrise, the planets Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus are visible in the predawn sky. The Saint Louis Science Center is hosting star parties and public telescope viewings, adding a local dimension to national enthusiasm for the night sky.

    Internationally, planetary science headlines included continuing operations on the International Space Station, the approaching total lunar eclipse in September visible from parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe, and Japan’s schedule to send its first HTV-X cargo craft to the space station in late fall. European and private space initiatives such as the Haven One private space station and the ESA Space Rider spaceplane are also moving ahead.

    Researchers in the US contributed to global understanding as well. A Yale-led study revealed that planetesimals, the planetary building blocks, likely formed in the early solar system through successive high-energy collisions, offering new insight into planet formation. The combination of policy advocacy, scientific missions, and community engagement reveals both the challenges and vitality of planetary science in the United States, with strong collaborations and discoveries continuing to shape the world’s knowledge of our solar neighborhood.

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  • "Planetary Science Faces Uncertain Future: Advocates Rally to Protect NASA Funding"

    "Planetary Science Faces Uncertain Future: Advocates Rally to Protect NASA Funding"
    Oct 15 2025
    In the United States, planetary science has faced an intense period of both public engagement and political uncertainty. On October 5 and 6, 2025, hundreds of advocates took part in a coordinated Day of Action across Washington DC as part of the Save NASA Science campaign, responding to proposed White House budget cuts targeting NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. The advocacy movement drew researchers, students, and supporters from thirty-eight states including both large urban centers and rural communities. Many had never before visited Capitol Hill, but chose to come at their own expense because of growing concern about the future of planetary science and space exploration in the country. Coverage from The Planetary Society described how mission teams nationwide have been working under the looming threat of layoffs, loss of internships, and possible mission cancellations in the event that Congress accepts the proposed reductions in the 2026 budget. While the White House Office of Management and Budget has pulled back from its harshest funding proposals, the possibility of thousands of job losses, deep trimming of competitive grants, and the shutdown of active research projects remains if compromises are not reached.

    Despite the budget crisis, the United States has continued several notable planetary science initiatives. Space.com has detailed a busy launch calendar, including a planned September launch for NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe, which will study the edge of the solar system, as well as new missions using commercial spaceplanes such as the Sierra Space Dream Chaser. The United Launch Alliance is set to launch Dream Chaser from Cape Canaveral in Florida, marking the first flight of a winged commercial spaceplane to the International Space Station. Meanwhile, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has highlighted public skywatching events in October, such as the Orionid meteor shower peaking mid-month, offering Americans opportunities to connect with planetary science from their own backyards.

    Amid uncertainty, universities such as the University of California, Santa Cruz, have mobilized to protect fundamental research funding. According to news at UC Santa Cruz, NASA is a top source of funding for research in Earth and planetary sciences as well as astronomy and physics, critically supporting discoveries and educational opportunities. The campus joined the national Day of Action, emphasizing the stakes for both scientific progress and the training of future planetary scientists.

    Across the globe, planetary science highlights this month include ongoing investigations of exoplanets that challenge theories of planetary formation and preparations for several upcoming lunar and Mars missions involving both government agencies and the private sector.

    A key emerging pattern is the growing intersection of grassroots advocacy and planetary science policy in the United States. The outcome of current legislative negotiations will determine the vitality of future exploration, the robustness of the scientific workforce, and the continued US leadership in the international planetary science community.

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  • "Explore the Cosmos: Planetary Science Breakthroughs Captivate the US"

    "Explore the Cosmos: Planetary Science Breakthroughs Captivate the US"
    Oct 11 2025
    Planetary science in the United States has entered a dynamic period, with several landmark missions, celestial events, and groundbreaking research drawing attention over the past week. NASA recently celebrated the successful launch of the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe, known as IMAP, on September 24, 2025. IMAP’s mission is to study the edge of the heliosphere, which is the vast bubble created by solar wind that surrounds and protects the solar system. This probe, launched from the United States, will help scientists better understand interactions between our solar system and the interstellar environment, providing critical insights into how solar and cosmic particles affect space weather and potentially life on Earth, as reported by NASA Science.

    Another major highlight is the ongoing public engagement through October’s International Observe the Moon Night. This global event, spearheaded by NASA, encourages people across the United States and around the world to join in exploring and learning about lunar science. Observers from diverse locations, including schools and public spaces in major US cities, are participating in skywatching events that spotlight the moon’s geology and our renewed efforts in lunar exploration. NASA’s Artemis II crewed rocket and Orion spacecraft preparations, set for viewing in mid-October, are fueling interest in plans to return humans to the Moon, a key step toward deeper planetary exploration according to NASA’s latest news releases.

    October is also marked by spectacular sky events. NASA and Space.com highlight that the Orionid meteor shower, peaking on October 21, will offer a particularly bright display, with meteors resulting from debris left behind by Halley’s Comet. Current estimates suggest up to twenty meteors per hour will be visible, especially in dark-sky areas away from city lights throughout the United States. This follows a recent supermoon and the Draconid meteor shower, both of which have inspired renewed public interest in astronomy this month.

    In parallel to these events, NASA’s Lucy spacecraft captured unprecedented images of the asteroid Donaldjohanson earlier this year and is now en route to explore the Trojan asteroids near Jupiter, advancing our understanding of early planet formation. Meanwhile, the planetary science community is closely watching the ending mission phase of Juno at Jupiter, as well as new research on Mars’ Hellas basin. The Planetary Science Institute recently profiled Barnard Crater on Mars, emphasizing active research on Martian geology.

    Internationally, there was a notable asteroid flyby, which Universe Today reported as the second closest ever observed, reminding us of the value of planetary defense. In Asia, a Chinese satellite launch was completed successfully, demonstrating the global momentum in planetary science. Amid all these developments, patterns emerge of increased international collaboration, rapid advances in spacecraft technology, and growing public engagement driven by both spectacular celestial events and steady progress in missions that reshape our understanding of planetary systems.

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  • "Soaring into the Future: US Leads Charge in Planetary Exploration and Public Engagement"

    "Soaring into the Future: US Leads Charge in Planetary Exploration and Public Engagement"
    Oct 8 2025
    The United States has seen a concentrated wave of planetary science activity in the past week, even amid wider governmental flux. According to SpacePolicyOnline.com, the annual World Space Week, which runs from October 4 to 10, has inspired outreach events and educational programs across the nation, spotlighting American advancements in exploring planets and small bodies. Attention is also centered around NASA’s Artemis program, as NASA reports that its fully assembled Artemis Two Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft will soon be on public display in Florida ahead of crewed lunar test flights. These efforts underscore United States leadership in lunar exploration, with the Artemis Two mission bringing the return of humans to deep space one step closer.

    Meanwhile, planetary science extends beyond the Moon to Mars and the outer solar system. According to Space.com, NASA’s EscaPADE mission to Mars is preparing for launch aboard the Blue Origin New Glenn rocket. This dual-spacecraft mission aims to study how the Martian atmosphere escapes into space, providing crucial context for understanding Mars’ transition from a potentially habitable planet to the cold desert observed today. Blue Origin’s New Glenn is set to launch from Florida’s Space Coast, marking a collaboration between NASA and the commercial space sector that highlights the ongoing shift toward public-private partnerships in U.S. planetary missions.

    A recent study published by Yale University offers new insights into early solar system formation. Led by a Yale planetary scientist, the research suggests that planets were built from patchwork collisions of planetesimals, altering prior theories of gradual accumulation. This patchwork assembly helps explain the diversity observed among planets and asteroids in both the inner and outer solar system, deepening our understanding of planetary evolution and the dynamical environment billions of years ago.

    Looking skyward, NASA’s monthly skywatching guide notes several public observing opportunities relevant to planetary science education. The Orionid meteor shower, sourced from debris left by Halley’s Comet, will peak on October 21, visible throughout the continental United States and reminding observers of the continuous connection between planetary science and celestial events. Furthermore, public viewing events—including those marking International Observe the Moon Night—have drawn enthusiastic participation at museums and parks coast to coast.

    Globally, World Space Week 2025 has coordinated large-scale outreach from Europe to Asia focused on future habitation and exploration beyond Earth. Space.com highlights that research collaborations are growing, with a surge in international missions to the Moon and Mars scheduled for launch late this year and into next. Patterns emerging from this period show a growing reliance on commercial launch partners for planetary missions, accelerated research into planetary atmospheres and formation, and expanding public engagement with planetary science both in the United States and around the world.

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