Celestial Spotlight: A Cosmic Hand, Uranus’s Hidden Moon & Space’s Week Ahead

Introduction

Welcome to another exciting week!

Sorry for the long wait

Best image of the week

The spotlight image this week is NASA’s breathtaking “Cosmic Hand” — a massive and intricate nebular structure shaped by the pulsar B1509‑58, spanning approximately 150 light‑years. The image blends X‑ray data from the Chandra Observatory with new radio observations, revealing glowing jets and finger‑like features that disappear in radio wavelengths. At its center lies a rapidly spinning neutron star just 12 miles wide, generating magnetic forces trillions of times stronger than Earth's. Surrounding it, the supernova remnant RCW 89 shows patchy emissions across multiple spectra. This composite is the most detailed view ever captured of this unique formation, offering valuable insight into pulsar–supernova interactions and cosmic particle behavior.

Last week news

• Monday (Aug 18): The UK government announced plans to bring the UK Space Agency under direct government control, aiming to streamline support for its £16 billion space sector and positioning Britain to compete for Europe’s first orbital launch from domestic soil.

• Wednesday (Aug 20): NASA’s DART mission, which successfully altered asteroid Dimorphos’s orbit by 33 minutes back in 2022, was revisited. Insights highlighted the mission’s enduring significance in advancing planetary defense capabilities.

• Thursday (Aug 21): The Pentagon's X‑37B spaceplane embarked on its eighth mission from Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX launcher. This reusable, unmanned spacecraft continues to test advanced technologies like laser communications and quantum navigation under classified conditions.

• Friday (Aug 22): Scientists at University College London cautioned about the unchecked rise in air pollution from rocket launches. Emissions, particularly from mega‑constellations, are increasing atmospheric soot and CO₂, with warming effects up to 500 times greater than ground sources. They called for stronger global regulations.

• Saturday (Aug 23): The James Webb Space Telescope confirmed a new, small moon orbiting Uranus, provisionally named S/2025 U1. At about 10 km across and nestled within Uranus’s inner rings, this discovery showcases JWST's powerful ability to reveal fine details in our solar system.

Upcoming events

• August 24: SpaceX will launch the 33rd Dragon cargo mission (CRS‑33) to the International Space Station. The resupply mission is currently scheduled for the early hours of the 24th.

• August 24: A NASA sounding rocket mission, TOMEX+, originally planned for the same day, has been postponed due to unfavorable weather and sea conditions. A new launch date is being evaluated.

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