Space News 6th October

Introduction

Welcome to another exciting week!

Content:

1. Best image of the week

2. Last week news

3. Upcoming events

4. Mobile wallpaper

Best image of the week

This Hubble Picture highlights NGC 1672, a barred spiral galaxy located 49 million light-years away in the constellation Dorado. This galaxy showcases a vibrant display of celestial lights: billions of stars illuminate its disc, hydrogen gas bubbles along its spiral arms emit a striking red glow due to radiation from newborn stars, and an active galactic nucleus around its supermassive black hole which emits powerful X-rays, classifying it as a Seyfert galaxy.

Last week news

Will Trump victory affect space exploration?
First and foremost, this newsletter is meant to be scientific, so I won’t dive into whether he will be a good president or not. But. It’s obvious that having one president or another, has drastic differences. But we will keep it to what concerns this newsletter, space.

That out of the way. Elon Musk, is associated with Trump’s presidency. For that reason, I believe that Musk will have a free pass to do whatever he wants regarding SpaceX, Trump has already mentioned that he is going to deregulate many things that are holding innovation back. I think many of the restrictions holding him back, will be removed. That means, that while Trump and Elon get along, we are going to see SpaceX accomplishing even more incredible feats.

As a future aerospace engineer, I’m really intrigued about what is going to occur on the coming years. Hopefully my prediction is right, and we see major improvements regarding innovation.

Virgin Galactic’s Suborbital Research Mission
Virgin Galactic launched its final suborbital mission for the year on November 2, using the VSS Unity spaceplane to carry three research astronauts. Alan Stern, a scientist with Southwest Research Institute, and Kellie Gerardi from the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences conducted microgravity experiments and tested biomedical devices. This marks Virgin Galactic’s growing pivot from space tourism to research, with the company planning to increase scientific flights in 2024​.

Hunter's Moon Eclipse and Jupiter's Opposition
October 28 was a cosmic treat with the Hunter’s Moon and a partial lunar eclipse, where Earth’s shadow partially veiled the full moon for stargazers worldwide. Meanwhile, on November 3, Jupiter reached opposition, glowing brightly in Aries. This annual phenomenon makes the gas giant especially prominent, providing a stellar view for both amateur and seasoned astronomers alike​.

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe: Venus Flyby and Solar Mission
The Parker Solar Probe made a final swing by Venus on November 5 before gearing up for its historic close encounter with the Sun in December. This flyby allows Parker to collect critical data on Venusian atmosphere interactions and to increase its speed for the upcoming solar mission​.

Upcoming events

Lunar Occultation of Venus
On November 9, the Moon will pass directly in front of Venus, causing the planet to “disappear” briefly for viewers in parts of Africa and Europe. This rare event, best viewed with binoculars or a telescope, will showcase Venus’s brilliance against the lunar backdrop​.

Leonid Meteor Shower Peak
The annual Leonids will peak on November 18, with meteors radiating from the constellation Leo. Known for bright and fast trails, this meteor shower will provide a stunning display for viewers in dark-sky areas.

Submissions + Feedback

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Also, it would mean a lot if you shared a topic you want me to cover.