Nearby super-Earth sparks habitability interest & Auroras from orbit highlight space weather - Space News (Jul 13, 2026)

Galaxies Missing Their Dark Matter & Hera Heads To DART Aftermath - Space News (Jul 15, 2026)

Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - Prezi: Create AI presentations fast - https://try.prezi.com/automated_daily [https://theautomateddaily.com/api/v1/go/prezi?edition=SPACE&lang=en&src=notes] - Effortless AI design for presentations, websites, and more with Gamma - https://try.gamma.app/tad [https://theautomateddaily.com/api/v1/go/gamma?edition=SPACE&lang=en&src=notes] - KrispCall: Agentic Cloud Telephony - https://try.krispcall.com/tad [https://theautomateddaily.com/api/v1/go/krispCall?edition=SPACE&lang=en&src=notes] Support The Automated Daily directly: Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/theautomateddaily [https://buymeacoffee.com/theautomateddaily] TODAY'S TOPICS: GALAXIES MISSING THEIR DARK MATTER - ASTRONOMERS ARE EXAMINING GALAXIES THAT APPEAR TO CONTAIN LITTLE OR NO DARK MATTER, RAISING FRESH QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW GALAXIES FORM AND WHETHER DARK MATTER IS TRULY UNIVERSAL. THIS JULY 15, 2026 SPACE NEWS STORY HIGHLIGHTS A MAJOR COSMOLOGY PUZZLE WITH BIG IMPLICATIONS FOR MODERN ASTROPHYSICS. HERA HEADS TO DART AFTERMATH - ESA'S HERA MISSION IS APPROACHING THE ASTEROID SYSTEM ALTERED BY NASA'S DART IMPACT, SETTING UP THE NEXT MAJOR CHAPTER IN PLANETARY DEFENSE. THE MISSION WILL HELP SCIENTISTS MEASURE WHAT CHANGED AFTER HUMANITY'S FIRST REAL ASTEROID DEFLECTION TEST. STARSHIP FLIGHT 13 NEARS LAUNCH - SPACEX IS PREPARING STARSHIP FLIGHT 13, THE NEXT TEST OF ITS FULLY REUSABLE HEAVY-LIFT ROCKET DESIGNED FOR FUTURE MOON, MARS, AND LARGE-PAYLOAD MISSIONS. THE UPDATE MARKS ANOTHER KEY MOMENT IN THE FAST-MOVING RACE TO BUILD NEXT-GENERATION LAUNCH SYSTEMS. NASA TRACKS WESTERN HEAT DOME - NASA'S LATEST EARTH OBSERVATORY COVERAGE SHOWS A SEVERE HEAT DOME OVER THE WESTERN UNITED STATES, USING SPACE-BASED DATA AND ATMOSPHERIC MODELING TO MAP DANGEROUS TEMPERATURES. THE STORY SHOWS HOW SPACE SCIENCE SUPPORTS REAL-WORLD CLIMATE AND EXTREME WEATHER MONITORING. EUROPE BOOSTS SPACE ECONOMY SPENDING - ESA'S 2026 SPACE ECONOMY REPORT SAYS EUROPEAN SPACE BUDGETS HAVE RISEN ABOUT 12 PERCENT TO ROUGHLY 13.5 BILLION EUROS. THE INCREASE SIGNALS STRONGER PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN SPACE TECHNOLOGY, EARTH OBSERVATION, EXPLORATION, AND STRATEGIC INFRASTRUCTURE. Episode Transcript Galaxies Missing Their Dark Matter First up, astronomers are taking a closer look at galaxies that seem to contain little or no dark matter. That's a big deal because dark matter is one of the core ideas in modern cosmology, the invisible mass thought to help hold galaxies together. If some galaxies really are dark-matter-poor, it could mean galaxy formation is messier and more varied than expected, or that some special processes can strip dark matter away. Either way, this is exactly the kind of odd result that pushes science forward. Hera Heads To DART Aftermath Next, in planetary defense, ESA's Hera mission is getting ready for a major milestone later this year as it approaches the Didymos-Dimorphos asteroid system. This is the same target where NASA's DART spacecraft deliberately slammed into Dimorphos in 2022 to test whether an asteroid's path could be changed. Hera's job is to inspect the aftermath up close, measure the impact site, and help scientists understand how effective that deflection really was. It's a practical step toward making asteroid defense more precise and more reliable. Starship Flight 13 Nears Launch In launch news, SpaceX is preparing for Starship Flight 13, with liftoff expected in just over a day from the time of the latest update. Starship is the company's giant fully reusable rocket system, built to eventually carry large payloads and potentially crews to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The headline here is not just one launch, but steady progress through repeated testing. Each flight helps engineers learn more about how to make a super-heavy rocket reusable, dependable, and ready for more ambitious missions. NASA Tracks Western Heat Dome Back on Earth, NASA's Earth Observatory has released new imagery and analysis showing a powerful heat dome over the western United States. Using the Goddard Earth Observing System, NASA mapped the extreme temperatures tied to a high-pressure system that trapped heat over the region. Several places in states including Utah, Montana, and Wyoming saw record-breaking temperatures. It's a strong reminder that space-based observation isn't only about distant planets and galaxies; it also helps us monitor dangerous conditions here at home. Europe Boosts Space Economy Spending And finally, Europe's space sector just got a significant vote of confidence. ESA's new 2026 Space Economy Report says European space budgets have increased by about 12 percent, reaching roughly 13.5 billion euros. That kind of growth matters because budgets shape what gets built, what gets launched, and what science gets funded. For listeners, the takeaway is simple: Europe is investing more heavily in space, which could mean more missions, more technology development, and a stronger role in global space activity. Subscribe to edition specific feeds: - Space news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/4cLLrdt] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/4jN8Dui] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_space] Spanish [https://theautomateddaily.com/space_es/feed.xml] French [https://theautomateddaily.com/space_fr/feed.xml] - Top news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/3PTvdUF] Spanish [https://apple.co/3ECCMgk] French [https://apple.co/4hmcxbB] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/3ZYXAW2] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/414h4JD] French [https://spoti.fi/3Di0jDe] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_news] Spanish [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_news_es] French [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_news_fr] - Tech news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/3RYWbg4] Spanish [https://apple.co/4i0WqRM] French [https://apple.co/4bEAXMm] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/3S089pG] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/3EE2Fwv] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/3DlObRE] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_tech] Spanish [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_tech_es] French [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_tech_fr] - Hacker news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/48QWyzj] Spanish [https://apple.co/4ke9jtE] French [https://apple.co/41E1qFd] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/45zD1kf] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/4hF8h81] French [https://spoti.fi/3QY26Ak] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hacker_news] Spanish [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hacker_news_es] French [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hacker_news_fr] - AI news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/3M6Tg1o] Spanish [https://apple.co/4315L7Y] French [https://apple.co/3DkZbPb] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/3tzOfrz] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/416m40q] French [https://spoti.fi/41HuJGW] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hackernews_ai] Spanish [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hackernews_es_ai] French [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hackernews_fr_ai] Visit our website at https://theautomateddaily.com/ [ https://theautomateddaily.com/] Send feedback to feedback@theautomateddaily.com Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheAutomatedDaily] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-automated-daily/] X (Twitter) [https://x.com/automated_daily]

ELT Construction Reaches Major Milestone & Hubble Webb Reveal Black Hole - Space News (Jul 14, 2026)

Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - Invest Like the Pros with StockMVP - https://www.stock-mvp.com/?via=ron [https://theautomateddaily.com/api/v1/go/stock_mvp?edition=SPACE&lang=en&src=notes] - Prezi: Create AI presentations fast - https://try.prezi.com/automated_daily [https://theautomateddaily.com/api/v1/go/prezi?edition=SPACE&lang=en&src=notes] - SurveyMonkey, Using AI to surface insights faster and reduce manual analysis time - https://get.surveymonkey.com/tad [https://theautomateddaily.com/api/v1/go/survey-monkey?edition=SPACE&lang=en&src=notes] Support The Automated Daily directly: Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/theautomateddaily [https://buymeacoffee.com/theautomateddaily] TODAY'S TOPICS: ELT CONSTRUCTION REACHES MAJOR MILESTONE - THE EXTREMELY LARGE TELESCOPE HAS REACHED A MAJOR CONSTRUCTION MILESTONE IN CHILE, BRINGING ASTRONOMERS CLOSER TO A NEW ERA OF EXOPLANET AND GALAXY OBSERVATIONS. THIS SPACE NEWS UPDATE EXPLAINS WHY THE ELT MATTERS FOR THE FUTURE OF GROUND-BASED ASTRONOMY. HUBBLE WEBB REVEAL BLACK HOLE - ASTRONOMERS USED ARCHIVAL HUBBLE DATA AND FOLLOW-UP OBSERVATIONS FROM THE JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE TO IDENTIFY A STELLAR-MASS BLACK HOLE. THE DISCOVERY HIGHLIGHTS HOW OLD DATASETS AND NEW INSTRUMENTS CAN WORK TOGETHER TO UNCOVER HIDDEN OBJECTS IN SPACE. FALCON 9 MARKS 600 REUSES - A FALCON 9 STARLINK LAUNCH IS SET TO MARK THE 600TH BOOSTER REUSE ACROSS SPACEX'S FLEET, UNDERLINING HOW ROUTINE REUSABLE ROCKETRY HAS BECOME. THE MISSION IS ANOTHER SIGN THAT LOWER-COST, HIGH-CADENCE LAUNCH OPERATIONS ARE RESHAPING ACCESS TO ORBIT. STARSHIP FLIGHT 13 TARGETS JULY - SPACEX IS NOW TARGETING NO EARLIER THAN JULY 16 FOR STARSHIP FLIGHT 13, THE NEXT MAJOR TEST OF ITS FULLY REUSABLE HEAVY-LIFT SYSTEM. THE UPDATE SHOWS HOW RAPIDLY ITERATIVE LAUNCH TESTING IS DRIVING THE FUTURE OF DEEP-SPACE TRANSPORTATION. ISS LAUNCHES AND STATION SCIENCE - RUSSIA IS LAUNCHING A NASA ASTRONAUT AND TWO COSMONAUTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, WHILE CHINA HAS RETURNED SCIENCE SAMPLES FROM ITS OWN STATION. TOGETHER, THESE STORIES SHOW HOW HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT IS BECOMING BOTH MORE INTERNATIONAL AND MORE MULTIPOLAR. ROMAN TELESCOPE NEARS AUGUST LAUNCH - NASA'S NANCY GRACE ROMAN SPACE TELESCOPE IS IN FLORIDA PREPARING FOR AN AUGUST 2026 LIFTOFF. AS THE AGENCY'S NEXT FLAGSHIP OBSERVATORY, ROMAN IS EXPECTED TO TRANSFORM STUDIES OF DARK ENERGY, EXOPLANETS, AND THE INFRARED UNIVERSE. TORIFUNE, EXOPLANETS, AND DARK SKIES - NASA'S ASTRONOMY PICTURE OF THE DAY SPOTLIGHTS THE DOUBLE-LOBED ASTEROID TORIFUNE, WHILE NEW CHATTER AROUND A NEARBY EXOPLANET SUGGESTS IT MAY BE MORE EARTH-LIKE THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT. ADD IN JULY'S DARK-SKY NEW MOON WINDOW, AND THERE IS PLENTY FOR SKYWATCHERS AND PLANET HUNTERS TO FOLLOW. Episode Transcript ELT Construction Reaches Major Milestone First up, one of the biggest long-term astronomy projects on Earth has crossed an important threshold. The Extremely Large Telescope, under construction in Chile, has reached a major milestone, a reminder that the next generation of observatories is steadily coming together. When the ELT eventually begins science operations, it is expected to sharpen our view of exoplanets, distant galaxies, and some of the deepest questions in modern cosmology. Hubble Webb Reveal Black Hole In orbital astronomy, NASA says astronomers have identified a stellar-mass black hole by combining archival Hubble observations with follow-up work from the James Webb Space Telescope. That is a powerful example of how discoveries do not only come from brand-new data. Sometimes the breakthrough happens when scientists revisit older observations with better tools, better models, and a fresh question. Falcon 9 Marks 600 Reuses On the launch front, SpaceX is preparing a Falcon 9 mission carrying 29 Starlink satellites, and this flight is expected to mark the 600th booster reuse across the Falcon fleet. That number is more than a statistic. It shows that reusability is no longer a dramatic experiment but a normal part of launch operations, with major implications for cost, cadence, and the overall pace of activity in low Earth orbit. Starship Flight 13 Targets July Meanwhile, SpaceX's bigger ambition is also moving forward. The company is now targeting no earlier than July 16 for Starship Flight 13, the next integrated test of its heavy-lift system. Even before liftoff, schedule updates like this matter because each test adds to the picture of how quickly fully reusable deep-space transport is maturing, and how realistic those longer-term lunar and Mars plans may become. ISS Launches And Station Science Human spaceflight is active on multiple fronts today. Russia is launching a NASA astronaut and two Roscosmos cosmonauts to the International Space Station, another sign that ISS cooperation continues even in a complicated geopolitical era. At the same time, China has returned scientific experiment samples from its own space station, showing that low Earth orbit research is expanding into a more globally distributed system of laboratories. Roman Telescope Nears August Launch Looking ahead, NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is now in Florida as it prepares for a planned August launch. Roman is designed to survey huge areas of the sky in infrared light, complementing the deeper but narrower view of Webb. That means it could become one of the most important tools of the next decade for studying dark energy, mapping galaxies, and finding new exoplanets. Torifune, Exoplanets, And Dark Skies And finally, a lighter but still fascinating astronomy note. NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day features Torifune, a double-lobed asteroid whose shape hints at a violent and messy history of collisions and reassembly in the solar system. Add to that a nearby exoplanet, about 25 light-years away, that may be more Earth-like than scientists once thought, plus the dark skies of a July new moon, and it is a good moment to remember that space news ranges from giant observatories to tiny worlds and the possibility of familiar ones beyond our own. Subscribe to edition specific feeds: - Space news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/4cLLrdt] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/4jN8Dui] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_space] Spanish [https://theautomateddaily.com/space_es/feed.xml] French [https://theautomateddaily.com/space_fr/feed.xml] - Top news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/3PTvdUF] Spanish [https://apple.co/3ECCMgk] French [https://apple.co/4hmcxbB] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/3ZYXAW2] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/414h4JD] French [https://spoti.fi/3Di0jDe] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_news] Spanish [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_news_es] French [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_news_fr] - Tech news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/3RYWbg4] Spanish [https://apple.co/4i0WqRM] French [https://apple.co/4bEAXMm] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/3S089pG] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/3EE2Fwv] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/3DlObRE] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_tech] Spanish [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_tech_es] French [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_tech_fr] - Hacker news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/48QWyzj] Spanish [https://apple.co/4ke9jtE] French [https://apple.co/41E1qFd] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/45zD1kf] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/4hF8h81] French [https://spoti.fi/3QY26Ak] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hacker_news] Spanish [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hacker_news_es] French [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hacker_news_fr] - AI news * Apple Podcast English [https://apple.co/3M6Tg1o] Spanish [https://apple.co/4315L7Y] French [https://apple.co/3DkZbPb] * Spotify English [https://spoti.fi/3tzOfrz] Spanish [https://spoti.fi/416m40q] French [https://spoti.fi/41HuJGW] * RSS English [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hackernews_ai] Spanish [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hackernews_es_ai] French [https://bit.ly/the_automated_daily_hackernews_fr_ai] Visit our website at https://theautomateddaily.com/ [ https://theautomateddaily.com/] Send feedback to feedback@theautomateddaily.com Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheAutomatedDaily] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-automated-daily/] X (Twitter) [https://x.com/automated_daily]

Nearby super-Earth sparks habitability interest & Auroras from orbit highlight space weather - Space News (Jul 13, 2026)

Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - SurveyMonkey, Using AI to surface insights faster and reduce manual analysis time - https://get.surveymonkey.com/tad [https://theautomateddaily.com/api/v1/go/survey-monkey?edition=SPACE&lang=en&src=notes] - Prezi: Create AI presentations fast - https://try.prezi.com/automated_daily [https://theautomateddaily.com/api/v1/go/prezi?edition=SPACE&lang=en&src=notes] - KrispCall: Agentic Cloud Telephony - https://try.krispcall.com/tad [https://theautomateddaily.com/api/v1/go/krispCall?edition=SPACE&lang=en&src=notes] Support The Automated Daily directly: Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/theautomateddaily [https://buymeacoffee.com/theautomateddaily] TODAY'S TOPICS: NEARBY SUPER-EARTH SPARKS HABITABILITY INTEREST - ASTRONOMERS HAVE REPORTED GLIESE 3378B, A NEARBY SUPER-EARTH ABOUT 25 LIGHT-YEARS AWAY THAT SITS IN ITS STAR'S HABITABLE ZONE. THE DISCOVERY ADDS A COMPELLING NEW TARGET IN THE SEARCH FOR POTENTIALLY LIFE-FRIENDLY WORLDS AROUND RED DWARF STARS. AURORAS FROM ORBIT HIGHLIGHT SPACE WEATHER - A NEW NASA ASTRONOMY PICTURE OF THE DAY SHOWCASES A DRAMATIC AURORA TIME-LAPSE CAPTURED FROM ORBIT. THE IMAGERY OFFERS A VIVID REMINDER THAT SPACE WEATHER IS BOTH BEAUTIFUL AND IMPORTANT FOR UNDERSTANDING EARTH'S MAGNETIC SHIELD. COMMERCIAL LAUNCHES KEEP RAPID SPACE CADENCE - A FALCON 9 STARLINK MISSION AND PREPARATIONS FOR STARSHIP FLIGHT 13 SHOW HOW ROUTINE AND AMBITIOUS COMMERCIAL SPACEFLIGHT NOW COEXIST. TOGETHER THEY REFLECT THE GROWING TEMPO OF REUSABLE LAUNCH SYSTEMS AND ORBITAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEPLOYMENT. SCIENCE MISSIONS ADJUST, BEGIN, AND ENDURE - ESA'S SWARM SATELLITES ARE PREPARING FOR AN ORBIT-RAISE CAMPAIGN, SMILE HAS REACHED ITS SCIENCE ORBIT, AND SWIFT HAS GAINED A RESCUE MISSION BOOST. THESE UPDATES SHOW THAT SPACE PROGRESS IS NOT ONLY ABOUT LAUNCHES, BUT ALSO ABOUT SUSTAINING AND EXTENDING VALUABLE MISSIONS. POLICY CALENDARS SHAPE SPACE PRIORITIES - HEARINGS, CONFERENCES, AND INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE SESSIONS CONTINUE TO SHAPE HOW SPACE PROGRAMS ARE FUNDED AND GOVERNED. SPACE POLICY REMAINS A CRITICAL BACKDROP FOR EVERYTHING FROM MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS TO LUNAR EXPLORATION. JULY SKY OFFERS PLANETS AND COMETS - JULY 2026 SKYWATCHING GUIDES POINT TO BRIGHT VENUS IN THE EVENING, MARS AND SATURN BEFORE DAWN, AND GOOD COMET VIEWING UNDER DARK SKIES. IT'S A STRONG MONTH FOR CASUAL OBSERVERS AND A GREAT REMINDER THAT SPACE NEWS CAN ALSO BE SEEN WITH YOUR OWN EYES. Episode Transcript Nearby super-Earth sparks habitability interest First up, one of the biggest science stories of the day: astronomers have reported a planet called Gliese 3378b orbiting a red dwarf star only about 25 light-years from Earth. It's estimated to be around 2.3 times Earth's mass, roughly twice Earth's diameter, and it appears to sit in the star's habitable zone, receiving about 90 percent of the energy Earth gets from the Sun. That does not mean it is confirmed to host life, but it does make the planet a very appealing target for future observations focused on atmospheres, water, and long-term habitability. Auroras from orbit highlight space weather Next, NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day is drawing attention with a time-lapse of auroras seen from orbit. The video condenses an hour of motion into about a minute, turning the normally slow shimmer of charged particles in Earth's upper atmosphere into a striking visual story. It's also a useful reminder that auroras are the visible side of space weather, driven by interactions between the solar wind and Earth's magnetic field, with real consequences for satellites, communications, and power systems. Commercial launches keep rapid space cadence In launch news, SpaceX is scheduled to send another batch of 24 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit on Falcon 9. On its own, that might sound routine now, and that is part of the story: reusable launch has made high-cadence orbital operations feel normal in a way that would have seemed extraordinary not long ago. At the same time, attention is building around Starship, with reporting that Flight 13 could open its launch window later this week, showing how near-term operational launches and larger next-generation test campaigns are unfolding side by side. Science missions adjust, begin, and endure There are also several important mission-operations updates worth watching. ESA says its Swarm Alpha and Charlie satellites will begin a minor orbit-raise campaign later this month after more than a decade in service, an adjustment meant to help preserve mission performance even if it temporarily affects data quality. Meanwhile, the joint ESA and Chinese Academy of Sciences mission SMILE has already reached its final science orbit, and NASA's Swift observatory is benefiting from a rescue effort designed to boost its orbit and extend the life of a highly productive space telescope. Policy calendars shape space priorities Beyond rockets and telescopes, the policy calendar remains busy. Hearings, appropriations work, defense-related space events, and international forums continue to shape the budgets, rules, and strategic direction behind space activity. These meetings rarely produce the most dramatic headlines, but they influence which missions move forward, how commercial systems are regulated, and how countries coordinate or compete in areas like lunar exploration, satellite security, and long-term sustainability in orbit. July sky offers planets and comets And finally, if you want something practical from today's space roundup, July's night sky is putting on a good show. Venus is dominating the western evening sky, while Mars and Saturn are visible before dawn, and dark-sky conditions around the new Moon improve the odds of spotting comets like ATLAS and Tempel 2 with binoculars or a telescope. It's also a nice moment to remember that not all space news happens far away in a lab or on a launch pad; some of it is waiting overhead after sunset. 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NGC 474's ghostly shell galaxy & Predawn Moon, Mars, Saturn lineup - Space News (Jul 12, 2026)

Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - Prezi: Create AI presentations fast - https://try.prezi.com/automated_daily [https://theautomateddaily.com/api/v1/go/prezi?edition=SPACE&lang=en&src=notes] - KrispCall: Agentic Cloud Telephony - https://try.krispcall.com/tad [https://theautomateddaily.com/api/v1/go/krispCall?edition=SPACE&lang=en&src=notes] - Invest Like the Pros with StockMVP - https://www.stock-mvp.com/?via=ron [https://theautomateddaily.com/api/v1/go/stock_mvp?edition=SPACE&lang=en&src=notes] Support The Automated Daily directly: Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/theautomateddaily [https://buymeacoffee.com/theautomateddaily] TODAY'S TOPICS: NGC 474'S GHOSTLY SHELL GALAXY - A NEWLY HIGHLIGHTED DEEP IMAGE OF NGC 474 REVEALS FAINT SHELLS AND STELLAR STREAMS AROUND THE ELLIPTICAL GALAXY. THE VIEW OFFERS FRESH INSIGHT INTO GALAXY MERGERS, STELLAR ARCHAEOLOGY, AND HOW DARK MATTER MAY SHAPE THESE GHOSTLY STRUCTURES. PREDAWN MOON, MARS, SATURN LINEUP - SKYWATCHERS ON JULY 11 AND 12 HAD A CHANCE TO SEE THE WANING CRESCENT MOON LINING UP WITH MARS AND SATURN BEFORE SUNRISE, WITH URANUS NEARBY FOR BINOCULAR USERS. IT'S A TIMELY AND ACCESSIBLE ASTRONOMY EVENT THAT HELPS LISTENERS CONNECT WITH THE SOLAR SYSTEM IN REAL TIME. NOAA REPORTS MINOR SOLAR BLACKOUT - NOAA'S SPACE WEATHER PREDICTION CENTER REPORTED AN R1 MINOR RADIO BLACKOUT ON JULY 12, 2026. THE UPDATE SHOWS HOW SOLAR FLARES CAN AFFECT HIGH-FREQUENCY RADIO COMMUNICATION AND WHY DAILY SPACE WEATHER MONITORING MATTERS FOR TECHNOLOGY AND OPERATIONS ON EARTH. TIANWEN-2 STUDIES EARTH QUASI-SATELLITE - CHINA'S TIANWEN-2 MISSION IS NOW CONDUCTING SCIENCE AT ASTEROID KAMOʻOALEWA, A NEAR-EARTH QUASI-SATELLITE WITH AN UNUSUAL ORBIT. THE MISSION ADDS CONTEXT TO TODAY'S HEADLINES BY SHOWING HOW ACTIVE ASTEROID EXPLORATION HAS BECOME IN 2026. DARK JULY SKIES INVITE OBSERVERS - WITH NEW MOON APPROACHING ON JULY 14, MID-JULY OFFERS DARKER SKIES FOR VIEWING THE MILKY WAY AND OTHER FAINT TARGETS. THAT MAKES THIS WEEK'S PLANETARY ALIGNMENT PART OF A BROADER STRETCH OF EXCELLENT OBSERVING OPPORTUNITIES. Episode Transcript NGC 474's ghostly shell galaxy First up, NGC 474. A newly featured deep image shows this elliptical galaxy surrounded by delicate shells and faint streams of stars, giving it the appearance of ripples or wheels made of light. Those structures are the leftovers of past encounters with smaller galaxies, so this isn't just a beautiful picture; it's a record of cosmic cannibalism. For astronomers, features like these help reconstruct how galaxies grow over time and may even offer clues about the invisible dark matter shaping their motions. Predawn Moon, Mars, Saturn lineup Back in our own sky, early risers on July 11 and 12 were treated to a graceful predawn lineup. The waning crescent Moon appeared near Mars and Saturn in the eastern sky, creating an easy-to-spot planetary scene for naked-eye observers, while Uranus joined the grouping for anyone with binoculars or a telescope. Alignments like this are mostly about perspective, not the planets crowding together in space, but they are a great reminder that the Solar System is dynamic and visible to anyone willing to look up before sunrise. NOAA reports minor solar blackout Now to space weather. NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center reported an R1, or minor, radio blackout as of early July 12 UTC. In practical terms, that means solar flare activity was strong enough to cause weak degradation of high-frequency radio communication on the sunlit side of Earth, with occasional dropouts possible for users who depend on those frequencies. It's a mild event, not a major storm, but it's a useful reminder that the Sun is an active star and that even modest solar outbursts can ripple into modern technology. Tianwen-2 studies Earth quasi-satellite For broader exploration context, one of the biggest ongoing mission stories this month remains Tianwen-2 at asteroid Kamoʻoalewa, also known as 2016 HO3. The Chinese spacecraft has reached the small near-Earth object and begun science operations after a long journey, targeting a body whose unusual quasi-satellite orbit keeps it closely linked to Earth's neighborhood. It's a strong example of how today's space activity stretches from deep-sky imaging all the way to robotic fieldwork on small bodies close to home. Dark July skies invite observers And if the recent planet lineup has you in a skywatching mood, the timing is good. With New Moon approaching on July 14, the coming nights should offer darker skies for spotting the Milky Way and other fainter targets, and NASA has also noted this as a favorable window for broader July observing. So today's news isn't only something to hear about; for many listeners, it's also an invitation to step outside and experience the sky directly. 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White House taps Avi Loeb & Starlink launch and sea catch - Space News (Jul 11, 2026)

Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - Prezi: Create AI presentations fast - https://try.prezi.com/automated_daily [https://theautomateddaily.com/api/v1/go/prezi?edition=SPACE&lang=en&src=notes] - Discover the Future of AI Audio with ElevenLabs - https://try.elevenlabs.io/tad [https://theautomateddaily.com/api/v1/go/eleven_labs?edition=SPACE&lang=en&src=notes] - Invest Like the Pros with StockMVP - https://www.stock-mvp.com/?via=ron [https://theautomateddaily.com/api/v1/go/stock_mvp?edition=SPACE&lang=en&src=notes] Support The Automated Daily directly: Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/theautomateddaily [https://buymeacoffee.com/theautomateddaily] TODAY'S TOPICS: WHITE HOUSE TAPS AVI LOEB - THE WHITE HOUSE HAS APPOINTED HARVARD ASTROPHYSICIST AVI LOEB TO LEAD A NEW UFO OR UAP STUDY GROUP, SIGNALING A MORE FORMAL SCIENTIFIC APPROACH TO UNIDENTIFIED AERIAL PHENOMENA. THE MOVE BLENDS SPACE POLICY, PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY, AND EVIDENCE-BASED INVESTIGATION. STARLINK LAUNCH AND SEA CATCH - A SPACEX STARLINK LAUNCH CREATED A DRAMATIC JELLYFISH PLUME OVER THE NIGHT SKY, WHILE CHINA REPORTED A MAJOR REUSABLE ROCKET RECOVERY MILESTONE WITH A SEA-BASED CATCH. TOGETHER, THE STORIES SHOW HOW LAUNCH SPECTACLE AND REUSABILITY ARE RESHAPING GLOBAL SPACEFLIGHT. SPACE MIRRORS THREATEN DARK SKIES - REGULATORY APPROVAL FOR REFLECT ORBITAL'S PROTOTYPE SPACE MIRROR HAS REIGNITED CONCERNS ABOUT ARTIFICIAL BRIGHTENING OF THE NIGHT SKY. ASTRONOMERS WARN THAT LARGE ORBITAL LIGHTING SYSTEMS COULD SERIOUSLY AFFECT DARK-SKY OBSERVING AND SCIENTIFIC DATA QUALITY. EUCLID SPOTS EARLIEST KNOWN QUASARS - ESA'S EUCLID MISSION HAS IDENTIFIED SOME OF THE EARLIEST QUASARS EVER SEEN, INCLUDING A RECORD-SETTING OBJECT AT REDSHIFT 7.77. THESE DISCOVERIES COULD HELP EXPLAIN HOW SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLES FORMED SO QUICKLY AFTER THE BIG BANG. WEBB REVEALS DETAILED CENTAURUS A - NASA'S JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE HAS RELEASED A STUNNING NEW COMPOSITE OF CENTAURUS A USING NIRCAM AND MIRI DATA. THE IMAGE GIVES ASTRONOMERS AN UNPRECEDENTED INFRARED VIEW OF DUST LANES, STAR FORMATION, AND THE GALAXY'S ACTIVE CORE. TIANWEN-2 IMAGES QUASI-MOON KAMOʻOALEWA - CHINA'S TIANWEN-2 MISSION HAS RETURNED THE FIRST CLOSE-UP IMAGE OF EARTH'S QUASI-MOON KAMOʻOALEWA. THE MILESTONE ADVANCES SMALL-BODY SCIENCE AND COULD REVEAL WHETHER THE OBJECT HAS LINKS TO LUNAR OR NEAR-EARTH ASTEROID MATERIAL. NEARBY SUPER-EARTH ENTERS SPOTLIGHT - ASTRONOMERS HAVE ANNOUNCED GJ 3378B, A NEARBY SUPER-EARTH ORBITING IN THE HABITABLE ZONE ABOUT 25 LIGHT-YEARS AWAY. ITS LOCATION AND SIZE MAKE IT AN ATTRACTIVE FUTURE TARGET IN THE SEARCH FOR POTENTIALLY LIFE-SUPPORTING EXOPLANETS. JULY SKYWATCHING BRINGS PLANETARY ALIGNMENTS - NASA'S JULY 2026 SKYWATCHING GUIDANCE HIGHLIGHTS A PREDAWN LINEUP OF THE MOON, MARS, SATURN, AND URANUS, ALONG WITH GOOD VIEWING FOR COMET 10P/TEMPEL 2. IT'S A REMINDER THAT SOME OF THE BEST SPACE STORIES ARE VISIBLE WITH YOUR OWN EYES. Episode Transcript White House taps Avi Loeb First up, a major policy story: the White House has appointed Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb to lead a new UFO, or more formally UAP, study group. Loeb is known both for mainstream astrophysics and for his willingness to explore unconventional ideas about extraterrestrial technology, so the appointment is likely to draw attention. The bigger significance is that the government appears to be framing unexplained sightings as a scientific data problem, not just a security mystery. Starlink launch and sea catch In launch news, SpaceX's Starlink 405 mission lifted off at 03:01 UTC on July 11 and produced one of those striking so-called jellyfish plumes in the night sky. That glowing shape happens when rocket exhaust is lit by sunlight high above Earth while the ground below is still dark. It's visually spectacular, but it also reflects how routine orbital launches have become in the era of megaconstellations. Space mirrors threaten dark skies Meanwhile, China reported a notable reusability milestone with a successful sea-based catch of a reusable rocket stage. Even without every technical detail, the message is clear: reusable launch systems are no longer the signature of just one company or one country. Reusability is becoming a global standard, and that has implications for launch cost, competition, and the pace of access to orbit. Euclid spots earliest known quasars Not all orbital news is good news for astronomy. Reflect Orbital has received FCC authorization for radio operations tied to an 18-meter prototype space mirror, part of a larger concept that could eventually redirect sunlight to Earth at night. Astronomers are warning that if such systems scale up, they could dramatically brighten the night sky and interfere with observations of faint objects, adding a new layer to the debate over how crowded and artificial Earth's skies should become. Webb reveals detailed Centaurus A Turning to deep space, ESA's Euclid mission has identified 31 ancient quasars from when the universe was only around 670 to 800 million years old. One of them, at redshift 7.77, is being described as the most distant quasar yet reported. These objects matter because quasars are powered by supermassive black holes, and finding them so early in cosmic history deepens the puzzle of how black holes grew so massive so fast after the Big Bang. Tianwen-2 images quasi-moon Kamoʻoalewa The James Webb Space Telescope is also making headlines with a new composite view of Centaurus A, one of the closest and most dramatic active galaxies in the sky. By combining near-infrared and mid-infrared observations, Webb can peer through dust and resolve stars, gas, and warm structures near the core in remarkable detail. It's both a beautiful image and a powerful lab for studying galaxy mergers, star formation, and black hole feedback. Nearby super-Earth enters spotlight In planetary science, China's Tianwen-2 mission has captured the first close-up image of Kamoʻoalewa, a quasi-moon of Earth. That means it travels around the Sun, but in a co-orbital configuration that keeps it near our planet over long periods. Scientists are especially interested in whether this object could be a fragment related to the Moon or whether it turns out to be a more typical near-Earth asteroid with a different origin story. July skywatching brings planetary alignments Exoplanet researchers also have a compelling new target: GJ 3378b, a nearby super-Earth about 25 light-years away. It sits in the habitable zone of its star and receives roughly 90 percent of the stellar radiation that Earth gets from the Sun. That does not mean it is definitely Earth-like or inhabited, but it does put the planet high on the list for future atmospheric studies and the ongoing search for potentially life-supporting worlds. Story 9 And finally, if you want a space event you can catch without a telescope the size of a building, NASA's July skywatching guide points to a predawn alignment featuring the Moon, Mars, Saturn, and Uranus around July 11 and 12. The guide also notes darker skies near the July 14 new moon, which should help with viewing Comet 10P/Tempel 2 and the Milky Way. It's a good reminder that even as observatories push to the edge of the universe, the sky still offers plenty to see from right here on Earth. 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