An international team of astronomers used the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope to uncover evidence of an ongoing merger between two galaxies and their massive black holes when the Universe was just 740 million years old. This discovery marks the most distant black hole merger ever detected and the earliest instance observed in the Universe’s history. Early Universe Black Hole Growth Astronomers have found supermassive black holes, with masses ranging from millions to billions of times that of the Sun, in most massive galaxies, including our Milky Way. These black holes significantly influence the evolution of their host galaxies. However,…
Author: Kanika Sharma
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In early May 2024, Earth encountered one of the most severe solar storms in over two decades, induced by the highly active sunspot AR13664. This sunspot released several X-class flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) aimed at Earth, leading to a geomagnetic storm with a Dst index reaching -412 nT. The storm’s magnitude matched the most intense disturbances since 2003 and caused widespread disruptions in communication and GPS systems. It featured not only powerful X-class flares but also numerous M-class and C-class flares, many of which were associated with halo CMEs—CMEs aimed directly at Earth. Observations from Ground Solar flares,…
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is poised to embark on its ambitious second mission to Mars, following the resounding success of Mangalyaan, its maiden Mars mission. This new venture aims to position India as the third country to successfully land a spacecraft on Mars, joining the exclusive ranks of nations that have achieved this extraterrestrial feat. ISRO’s upcoming mission is set to include advanced technological components, such as a rover and a helicopter, similar to NASA’s Perseverance rover. During a presentation on National Technology Day at the Space Application Centre, new details emerged about the mission’s complex landing strategy.…
The aurora borealis, commonly referred to as the Northern Lights, typically visible in polar regions, recently made a rare appearance in the skies over Ladakh, India. This exceptional sighting occurred in Hanle, above Mount Saraswati, at latitudes of 34-36°N, where such phenomena are usually not seen. The Indian Astronomical Observatory captured this rare event on camera, marking it as a significant observation given the aurora’s typical confinement to higher latitudes around the Arctic and Antarctic. The sighting coincided with a severe (G4) geomagnetic storm, as classified by NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, which is unusual for mid-latitude regions like Ladakh.…
Introduction to SpaceX’s Development Efforts SpaceX, under Elon Musk’s leadership, is actively expanding its Texas facilities. The projects include launching sites, offices, and a shopping center. However, financial issues with construction partners are overshadowing these developments. Delayed Payments Causing Industry Discontent A recent Reuters review highlighted delays in SpaceX’s payment processes. Property records show over 72 liens filed against SpaceX properties since 2019. These liens, amounting to more than $2.5 million, seek compensation for unpaid construction services. Industry Voices of Dissatisfaction The construction industry is growing impatient with SpaceX’s slow payments. For example, Brian Rozelle from Hydroz Energy Services voiced…
Oracle, the prominent US technology firm, is set to increase its artificial intelligence (AI) investments in India. “Oracle brings AI to the enterprise through software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications, AI services, data, and infrastructure,” stated Chris Chelliah, Senior Vice President of Technology and Customer Strategy at Oracle Japan and Asia Pacific. Speaking at the Oracle Data & AI Forum in Bengaluru, he noted, “Our plan for India involves doubling down on investments with a focus on data.” The latest version of the Oracle database, Oracle Database 23ai, incorporates Oracle AI Vector Search and over 300 new significant features. These enhancements simplify AI…
The Eta Aquariid meteor shower, an annual celestial event caused by Earth passing through debris from Halley’s Comet, peaks in early May. This meteor shower is notable for its fast-moving meteors and its origin from one of the most famous comets known, Halley’s Comet. What is a Meteor? A meteor, often referred to as a shooting star or falling star, is essentially space debris—rock and other material—that ignites as it enters Earth’s atmosphere, creating a visible streak of light. These are not actual stars but rather small bits of comet or asteroid material. Meteor showers like the Eta Aquariids occur…
After numerous delays and a series of issues in test flights, Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is poised for its first manned launch. The mission, scheduled to depart from Florida on May 6, will transport NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore to the International Space Station (ISS). This launch represents a significant milestone for the troubled Starliner program. Mark Nappi, vice president and Starliner program manager at Boeing, acknowledged the challenges faced during the spacecraft’s development, especially given its complex nature as a human space vehicle. “Design and development is hard — particularly with a human space vehicle,” Nappi commented in…
India has announced its commitment to Zero Debris or Debris-Free Space Missions (DFSM) by 2030, a pioneering initiative revealed by Shri Somanath S., Chairman of ISRO and Secretary of DOS, during the 42nd Annual Meet of the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) held in Bengaluru on April 16, 2024. The initiative encompasses all Indian space entities, both governmental and non-governmental, and extends an invitation to global space actors to adopt similar practices for the sustainable use of outer space. The DFSM initiative is designed to prevent debris generation across all phases of satellite and launch vehicle operations, including operational…
After a period of uncertainty, NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft is once again transmitting valuable data on its status and health, marking the first time in five months that such information has been received. The historic spacecraft, located more than 15 billion miles from Earth, had stopped sending readable data on November 14, 2023, despite indications that it was still functioning and receiving commands. The issue was traced to a malfunction in one of the spacecraft’s three onboard computers, specifically the flight data subsystem (FDS). This subsystem is crucial as it packages the science and engineering data before transmission to Earth.…
