S03E125: NASA's Viper Moon Rover, James Webb's Black Hole Revelations, and Rediscovering Phosphine

Astronomy Daily - The Podcast

Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your go-to Podcast for the latest news and updates in the world of astronomy and SpaceTime exploration. I'm your host, Andrew Dunkley, filling in for Steve. We've got an exciting lineup today, from NASA's Viper moon rover to the James Webb Space Telescope's black hole observations and more. So sit back, relax, and let's dive into today's top stories.
- **NASA's Viper Moon Rover**: NASA is seeking help from U.S. companies and institutions for a mission involving the Viper moon rover, initially designed to map potential resources like ice at the Moon’s south pole. Although NASA has discontinued Viper, they are open to contributing it to a qualified partner.
- **NASA's Scientific Balloon Programme**: NASA's annual fall campaign for its scientific balloon programme has begun at Fort Sumner, New Mexico. From mid-August to mid-October, eight balloons will be launched, supporting 16 missions across astrophysics, heliophysics, and atmospheric research.
- **James Webb Space Telescope and Black Holes**: The James Webb Space Telescope has been observing supermassive black holes, shedding light on active galactic nuclei (AGN). Recent observations of a black hole in galaxy ESO 428-G14, about 70 million light-years away, revealed polar dust heated by energetic shockwaves from relativistic jets.
.- **Rediscovery of Phosphine on Venus**: About four years ago, scientists announced the discovery of phosphine in Venus's atmosphere, sparking debates about potential life. Recently, using a new receiver on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope, the same team has reaffirmed the presence of phosphine, bolstering their confidence with 140 times more data than the initial detection.
- **ESA's Juice Mission**: ESA's Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer (Juice) is set for a critical lunar-Earth flyby around August 19-20. This double gravity assist will adjust Juice's speed and direction for its journey to Jupiter via been listening.
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