The Stellar Survey for July 6 - July 12
The Stellar Survey for July 6 - July 12
Earth’s core has slowed its spinning “dramatically”, say scientists. | As usual: there is no need to panic! I AM SURE EVERYTHING IS FINE!
Have you caught the solar eclipse bug? Are you European and/or rich enough to finance a trip? | Here are some tips for planning your trip to see the 2026 eclipse in Northern Europe. (As for me, it will probably take me until 2044 to save up to go see the next total eclipse in Vancouver. #FreelanceLife forever, amirite?)
The asteroid Apophis will pass by Earth in 2029—and NASA will have satellites ready to study it. | It won’t wipe us out, and some days I wonder whether that’s actually a good thing. I bet Lyz Lenz concurs.
Here’s a glimpse at what the Gateway lunar space station will one day look like! | I feel like having Joel Kinnaman on the station would make it even more enticing. (In the best possible way, not in the Elon-Musk-deserves-to-go-to-Mars-and-stay-there kind of way.)
A rapidly spinning “extreme” neutron star has been discovered by a US Navy research intern. | Who says internships are boring and thankless?
An Edmonton doctor is set to become the first commercial astronaut! | YEG, represent!
When stars twinkle they make music. | Mozart knew what he was on about.
Scientists have designed a spacesuit that can turn urine into drinking water. | Apparently it was inspired by the stillsuits in Dune. (See: science fiction, just out here shaping the weft of the world.) If Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya aren’t asked to model the suits for a shoot, I am going to be very upset.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket experienced a “rare anomaly” in its latest mission. | Look, it’s Elon Musk and a failure to launch joke. In other news, I’m twelve years old.
Related: SpaceX now has a “mega-constellation” of more than 6100 operational satellites orbiting our planet right now. SpaceLitter, in action. | I don’t feel particularly bad about ridiculous jokes in the face of this, especially when they fall to the Earth and cause damage.
Shooting star lovers, rejoice! | The Perseids will soon be back in action! Humanity’s (well, mine: how’s that for hubris) favourite meteor shower will peak at the end of July and last into August.
Hubble has found a massive black hole close to Earth—in fact, the closest yet. | A hop, skip, and 18,000 lightyear jump away.
Attention, sci-fi nerds: Jonathan Frakes (aka Commander Riker, aka Number One, aka everyone’s favourite director!) has been brought on to direct the TV adaptation of Paul Preiss’s Arthur C. Clarke’s Venus Prime novels.
And finally: check out these photos of everyone’s favourite neighbourhood main sequence star. | Big thanks to astrophotographer Mark Johnston, aka @azastroguy! Isn’t our sun just a beauty?
