Astronomy Daily: Latest Space News

Latest Episodes:

ISS Back to Full Strength, Artemis 2 Battles Hydrogen Leaks, and Enceladus Goes Electromagnetic Feb 16, 2026

Show notes

• Crew-12 Docks at ISS — The SpaceX Crew-12 mission docked at the International Space Station on Valentine’s Day, restoring the station to full strength after over a month with a skeleton crew. Astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Sophie Adenot, and Andrey Fedyaev join Expedition 74 for an eight-month mission. • Artemis 2 Hydrogen Leak Update — NASA’s “confidence test” on the SLS rocket’s repaired hydrogen fueling seals showed mixed but cautiously encouraging results. March remains the earliest potential launch window for humanity’s first crewed mission to the Moon in over 50 years. • Enceladus: Electromagnetic Powerhouse — A major new study of 13 years of Cassini data reveals Saturn’s tiny moon Enceladus generates Alfvén waves extending over 504,000 km, transforming our understanding of how small moons influence giant planetary magnetospheres. • Catching 3I/ATLAS — Researchers from the Initiative for Interstellar Studies propose a Solar Oberth Manoeuvre mission launching in 2035 that could intercept the interstellar comet, currently heading toward Jupiter for its closest pass on March 16. • Geomagnetic Storm Watch — G1 minor storming is likely today as a coronal mass ejection arrives alongside fast solar wind from a returning transequatorial coronal hole. Aurora possible at higher latitudes tonight. • SpaceX Starlink 6-103 — 29 Starlink V2 Mini satellites launched to orbit in the early hours of today, the 10th orbital flight from Cape Canaveral in 2026. LINKS & RESOURCES: • NASA Crew-12 Docking: https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2026/02/14/spacex-crew-12-docks-to-station-beginning-long-duration-mission/ • Artemis 2 Confidence Test Update: https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions/2026/02/13/following-confidence-test-nasa-continues-artemis-ii-data-review/ • Enceladus Alfvén Wings Study: https://phys.org/news/2026-02-tiny-enceladus-giant-electromagnetic-saturn.html • 3I/ATLAS Solar Oberth Paper: https://www.universetoday.com/articles/a-new-concept-for-catching-up-with-3iatlas • Space Weather Updates: https://earthsky.org/sun/sun-news-activity-solar-flare-cme-aurora-updates/ • Spaceflight Now Launch Schedule: https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ Astronomy Daily is part of the Bitesz.com Podcast Network Website: https://astronomydaily.io Social: @AstroDailyPod
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This episode includes AI-generated content.

Love Is in the Stars Feb 14, 2026

Show notes

Happy Valentine's Day from Astronomy Daily! The cosmos has pulled out all the stops today — from astronauts docking at the space station to a dying star sending the universe a literal heart-shaped Valentine. Plus, the ring of fire eclipse countdown, why eclipses always arrive in pairs, a comet that flipped its spin, a six-planet parade to look forward to, and a chance of aurora tonight.
In this episode:
🚀 SpaceX Crew-12 launched yesterday and docks at the ISS today — a Valentine's Day arrival to end a month of skeleton-crew operations
🌑 Just 3 days until the "ring of fire" annular solar eclipse over Antarctica on February 17th
🌒 Why eclipses come in pairs: eclipse seasons explained — and 2026 has four eclipses across two spectacular seasons
💖 A dying star's cosmic Valentine: Mira A ejects a heart-shaped cloud of gas and dust 300 light-years from Earth
☄️ Comet 41P stuns scientists by flipping its rotation direction — what's behind this mysterious spin reversal?
🪐 Six-planet parade coming February 28 — Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune line up at a civilised hour
🌌 Bonus: Possible Valentine's Day aurora from geomagnetic activity tonight
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Black Hole Born in Silence | Crew-12 Launches | Inside-Out Planets Feb 13, 2026

Show notes

Today on Astronomy Daily: Astronomers have witnessed something extraordinary in the Andromeda Galaxy — a massive star that simply vanished, collapsing into a brand-new black hole without the usual supernova fireworks. We cover the SpaceX Crew-12 launch to the ISS, Europe's powerful Ariane 64 flying for the first time with Amazon satellites aboard, another booster anomaly for ULA's Vulcan rocket, a bizarre inside-out planetary system that defies formation models, and NASA's plan to rescue the Swift observatory from orbital decay. Timestamped Chapters 00:00 — Welcome to Astronomy Daily 01:30 — SpaceX Crew-12 launches to the ISS 04:00 — Star vanishes in Andromeda — a black hole is born 08:30 — Europe's Ariane 64 flies for the first time 10:30 — Vulcan rocket suffers repeat booster anomaly 13:00 — The bizarre inside-out planetary system of LHS 1903 15:30 — NASA's Swift observatory fights for survival 17:30 — Sign-off and how to stay connected Key Links • NASA Crew-12 Blog: nasa.gov/blogs/commercialcrew • Vanishing Star Study (Science): doi.org/10.1126/science.adt4853 • Inside-Out Planet Study (Science): doi.org/10.1126/science.adl2348 • NASA Swift Observatory: nasa.gov/swift • Show Website: astronomydaily.io • Social Media: @AstroDailyPod on all platforms
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China Aces Lunar Abort Test, Viking Life Debate Reignited, and Hubble's Dying Star Feb 12, 2026

Show notes

In today's episode of Astronomy Daily, Anna and Avery unpack six major space stories. China has achieved a crucial milestone in its crewed lunar programme, successfully testing the Mengzhou capsule's abort system at maximum dynamic pressure while also demonstrating SpaceX-style rocket recovery with the Long March 10 first stage. ULA's Vulcan Centaur rocket is set to launch its longest mission yet, delivering GSSAP space surveillance satellites directly to geosynchronous orbit for the US Space Force. We explain why NASA's Artemis 2 Moon mission has remarkably few launch opportunities — just 11 dates across March and April — and what orbital mechanics, solar power constraints, and hydrogen leaks have to do with it. In astronomy news, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has produced its clearest image yet of the Egg Nebula, a pre-planetary nebula offering a rare glimpse of a Sun-like star in its death throes. A provocative new study in the journal Astrobiology argues that the 1976 Viking missions may have detected signs of Martian life after all, with perchlorates masking the organic signatures. And finally, astronomers continue searching for remnants of Comet C/2019 Y4 ATLAS, which spectacularly disintegrated during the 2020 pandemic — but may not be entirely gone. Timestamps [00:00] Introduction [01:30] China's Mengzhou capsule abort test & Long March 10 rocket recovery [05:30] ULA Vulcan USSF-87 launch — GSSAP satellites for Space Force [08:30] Artemis 2 launch windows — why only 11 chances in 2 months [11:30] Hubble's stunning Egg Nebula image — a dying star's final act [14:00] Did NASA's Viking missions find life on Mars? New evidence says maybe [16:30] The mystery of 'dead' Comet ATLAS — could fragments survive? [18:00] Sign-off
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Crew-12 Spy Scandal, AI on Mars & Interstellar Comet's Last Secret? Feb 11, 2026

Show notes

Four astronauts are stuck in quarantine in Florida as weather keeps pushing back the Crew-12 launch — now targeting no earlier than Friday, February 13. We've got the full story, including the remarkable subplot involving a Russian cosmonaut who was quietly removed from the mission in December. Plus: interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is on its way out of the solar system forever, but new data from NASA's SPHEREx and James Webb telescopes reveals it's been carrying a chemical cocktail from another star system — one that's unlike anything we've seen in our own comets. Also in today's episode: NASA let an AI drive the Perseverance rover on Mars for two days straight; new research suggests Earth may have hit a rare chemical jackpot during formation that made life possible; the Ring of Fire solar eclipse is just one week away; and Starship is back on track after the Booster 18 disaster, with Flight 12 targeting a March launch window. In This Episode • SpaceX Crew-12: Three launch scrubs, skeleton ISS crew, and the cosmonaut spy subplot • 3I/ATLAS farewell: SPHEREx detects alien chemistry; JWST finds record CO2-to-water ratio • AI drives Perseverance on Mars — 456 metres without human control • Earth's lucky chemistry: why phosphorus and nitrogen almost didn't make it to the surface • Ring of Fire annular solar eclipse — February 17 over Antarctica • Starship Flight 12: Booster 19 passes cryo tests, March launch window in sight Key Links • Full show notes & blog: astronomydaily.io • NASA Crew-12 mission blog: nasa.gov • NASA SPHEREx 3I/ATLAS data: science.nasa.gov • Universe Today — AI drives Perseverance: universetoday.com • Nature Astronomy — Earth habitability study: nature.com Subscribe & Connect Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. New episode every weekday. Full transcripts, blog posts and show notes at astronomydaily.io
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Solar Fireworks, Crew-12 Countdown, and Venus Hides a Secret Feb 10, 2026

Show notes

In today's episode of Astronomy Daily, Anna and Avery cover five major stories from across the cosmos. SpaceX Crew-12 is targeting Thursday February 12th for launch to the International Space Station, after weather pushed back the Wednesday window. Meet the international crew of four and find out why this mission will run longer than usual. Our Sun has been active overnight, with sunspot region AR4366 firing off four M-class flares including an M2.8 that triggered a radio blackout over the Pacific. We look at what this means for space weather and aurora watchers. A stunning new study from Penn State, published in PNAS, has rewritten how scientists think amino acids formed in asteroid Bennu — and the implications for where life's ingredients can arise in the universe are profound. Italian scientists have confirmed the first lava tube on Venus, using 30-year-old radar data from NASA's Magellan mission. The structure is larger than any lava tube found on Earth, the Moon, or Mars. And finally — could coal be the key to finding advanced alien civilisations? A provocative new paper in the International Journal of Astrobiology makes the case. All stories sourced from NASA, Nature Communications, PNAS, and Phys.org. Links below. Source Links • Crew-12 weather delay: nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation • NSF launch preview: nasaspaceflight.com/2026/02/launch-preview-020926 • Bennu amino acids (PNAS): doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2517723123 • Venus lava tube (Nature Communications): doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-68643-6 • Aliens and coal: phys.org/news/2026-02-advanced-aliens-exoplanets-large-coal.html • Solar activity: earthsky.org/sun/sun-news-activity-solar-flare-cme-aurora-updates Chapters / Timestamps (approximate) • 00:00 — Cold Open • 01:00 — Story 1: SpaceX Crew-12 Weather Delay • 05:00 — Story 2: Solar Flare Activity AR4366 • 07:30 — Story 3: Asteroid Bennu & Amino Acid Origins • 10:30 — Story 4: Venus Lava Tube Discovery • 13:30 — Story 5: Alien Civilisations & Coal Deposits • 17:00 — Close
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SpaceX Shifts to Moon: The New Lunar Space Race Begins | Astronomy Daily Feb 09, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to Astronomy Daily! Today we explore the new lunar space race as SpaceX shifts focus from Mars to the Moon, Europe establishes its Moonport company, and NASA continues Artemis II preparations. Plus, scientists solve the mystery behind auroras, explain Uranus's radiation anomaly from 1986, and SpaceX returns to flight after a brief stand-down.
Join hosts Anna and Avery for your daily dose of space and astronomy news!
---
### Featured Stories
**[00:00] Introduction**
Your hosts Anna and Avery preview today's Moon-focused episode
**[01:15] SpaceX Pivots from Mars to Moon**
- Elon Musk announces strategic shift to lunar settlement
- Moon city achievable in under 10 years vs 20+ for Mars
- Launch windows: Moon every 10 days vs Mars every 26 months
- Alignment with Trump's space policy and Artemis program
- Mars plans delayed but not abandoned (5-7 year timeline)
- History of Musk's changing Mars predictions
**[05:30] Europe's Moonport Ambitions**
- German aerospace company OHB establishes European Moonport Company
- Consolidating lunar mission activities and future infrastructure
- Involvement in ESA's Argonaut lander and Gateway ESPRIT module
- Moon base concept developed with Munich Airport International
- European funding commitments at ESA Ministerial Council
- Italy leads Moon exploration funding at €284 million
**[09:45] NASA Artemis II Progress Report**
- Technicians replace seals after hydrogen leak detection
- Tail service mast umbilical repairs and testing
- Operational changes for next wet dress rehearsal
- Extended countdown hold times for troubleshooting
- Crew training continues: Wiseman, Glover, Koch, Hansen
- March launch window still under consideration
**[13:00] Aurora Power Source Discovered**
- International team solves decades-old mystery
- Alfvén waves act as natural particle accelerators
- Analysis of Van Allen Probes and THEMIS mission data
- Universal model applicable to other planets
- Collaboration between HKU and UCLA researchers
- Applications for Jupiter, Saturn, and exoplanet studies
**[15:30] Uranus Radiation Mystery Solved**
- Voyager 2's 1986 anomaly explained after 40 years
- Co-rotating interaction region (CIR) supercharged radiation belts
- Comparative analysis with Earth's space weather events
- Southwest Research Institute breakthrough
- Implications for future Uranus orbiter missions
- Similar applications for Neptune studies
**[18:00] SpaceX Falcon 9 Returns to Flight**
- Successful Starlink launch from Vandenberg after 5-day stand-down
- 25 satellites deployed to orbit (Group 17-33)
- Booster 1088 completes 13th flight with successful landing
- February 2nd upper stage anomaly explained
- Gas bubble prevented deorbit burn
- FAA clearance after corrective actions implemented
- Starlink constellation exceeds 9,600 active satellites
- SpaceX's 15th launch of 2026
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Cleared for Launch: Crew-12, Mars Organics, and an Interstellar Farewell Feb 07, 2026

Show notes

## In Today's Episode:
- **FAA clears Falcon 9 — Crew-12 launch set for February 11** — The four-day grounding ends after SpaceX identifies and addresses the upper stage engine ignition failure. Fourth upper stage issue in 19 months.
- **NASA study: Non-biological sources can't fully explain Mars organics** — Researchers find that known non-biological processes don't account for the abundance of organic compounds discovered by Curiosity in Gale Crater. The team modelled 80 million years of cosmic radiation exposure.
- **Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS flares while exiting the solar system** — NASA's SPHEREx captures the comet dramatically brightening, releasing water vapour, CO₂, methane, methanol, and organic compounds from beneath its cosmic-ray-hardened crust.
- **UK proposes 30% cut to astronomy and physics research** — The deepest funding cut in a generation threatens early-career researchers and the UK's role in major international projects including the Square Kilometre Array and ESO.
- **New Glenn second stage reuse debate reignites** — Blue Origin's Project Jarvis faces the question: can a reusable upper stage beat expendable manufacturing costs? Bezos calls it a "horse race."
- **Fraggles land at Kennedy Space Center** — Jim Henson's beloved characters star in "Fraggle Rock: A Space-y Adventure," a new live show blending comedy, music, and NASA science.
---
## Links & Sources:
- space.com — FAA clears Falcon 9, Crew-12 launch confirmed
- science.nasa.gov — NASA study on Mars organics
- space.com — SPHEREx observations of comet 3I/ATLAS
- space.com — UK astronomy funding cuts
- arstechnica.com — New Glenn second stage reuse debate
- arstechnica.com / kennedyspacecenter.com — Fraggle Rock: A Space-y Adventure
---
## Connect With Us:
🌐 Website: https://astronomydaily.io
📱 Social: @AstroDailyPod (all platforms)
⭐ Subscribe and leave a review to help other space fans find us!
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Lunar Smartphones, Daytime Comet, and Jetty McJetface's Cosmic Show Feb 06, 2026

Show notes

Episode S05E32 - Friday, February 6, 2026
Welcome to Astronomy Daily! Join hosts Anna and Avery as they bring you the latest space and astronomy news from across the cosmos.
Episode Highlights
Lunar Smartphones: NASA Approves Modern Tech for Space
NASA astronauts will finally be allowed to bring their smartphones on missions, starting with Crew-12 to the ISS next week and the Artemis II lunar flyby in March. After years of using decade-old cameras, astronauts can now spontaneously capture and share moments with iPhones and Android devices, promising unprecedented behind-the-scenes documentation of historic missions.
Comet MAPS: A Potential Daylight Spectacle
Newly discovered Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS) could become visible to the naked eye—possibly even in broad daylight—when it passes within 120,000 km of the sun in early April. This Kreutz sungrazer was spotted farther from the sun than any previous sungrazer, suggesting it might survive its close solar encounter and put on a spectacular show.
Mercury's Best Evening Show of 2026
The elusive planet Mercury is currently offering its best evening viewing opportunity of the year! Shining brightly at magnitude -1.1, Mercury will reach greatest elongation on February 19th, appearing 17 degrees above the western horizon after sunset. Don't miss the stunning pairing with a crescent moon on February 18th!
China Joins Space Data Center Race
China's state-owned aerospace corporation announced ambitious plans for space-based data centers as part of their five-year expansion program. This puts China in competition with SpaceX, Axiom Space, and Google in the race to build orbital computing infrastructure powered by abundant solar energy.
Dark Matter vs Black Hole: What Powers the Milky Way?
Groundbreaking research suggests the Milky Way's core might be powered by a dense clump of fermionic dark matter rather than the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A*. This controversial model explains both central star orbits and the galaxy's rotation curve while mimicking the black hole "shadow" captured by the Event Horizon Telescope.
Jetty McJetface: The Star-Shredding Phenomenon
A supermassive black hole nicknamed "Jetty McJetface" continues to astound scientists four years after shredding a star. The black hole's relativistic jet has grown 50 times brighter since 2019 and is predicted to peak in 2027, making it one of the most energetic events ever observed in the universe—over 100 trillion times more powerful than Star Wars' Death Star!
Resources & Links
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman on X (social media)
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society journal
Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration
Astrophysical Journal
Star Walk 2 app for comet tracking
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Credits
Hosted by Anna & Avery
Produced by the Astronomy Daily team
Season 5, Episode 32
Keep looking up!
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Dark Sky Victory, Jupiter Redefined, and Monster Sunspot Faces Earth Feb 05, 2026

Show notes

Astronomy Daily - S05E31: Dark Sky Victory, Jupiter Redefined, Monster Sunspot
Victory for dark skies as industrial plant near major observatory cancelled • NASA's Juno mission reveals Jupiter is larger and flatter than we thought • 15-Earth-wide sunspot currently facing our planet • Unusual Martian storm reveals subsurface secrets • NASA acknowledges SLS rocket sustainability challenges • How red giant stars destroy their own gas giant planets
Host Anna and Avery discuss six major space stories for Thursday, February 5th, 2026.
Episode sponsored by astronomydaily.io - Your daily source for space and astronomy news
Featured Stories:
• Dark Sky Preservation: Industrial development threatening Canary Islands observatory cancelled
• Jupiter Redefined: Juno mission measurements reveal true size and shape of gas giant
• Solar Activity: Monster sunspot 15 Earths wide faces Earth - viewing safety tips included
• Martian Meteorology: Unusual storm system reveals subsurface features of red planet
• SLS Reality Check: NASA publicly addresses Space Launch System cost sustainability
• Stellar Destruction: Red giants systematically destroy orbiting gas giant planets
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Social: @AstroDailyPod (all platforms)
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