SPACERIUM

Launched in 1977, NASA's  Voyager 1  and   Voyager 2  spacecraft have been on an extraordinary journey, venturing beyond our solar system into interstellar space. Designed for a five-year mission to study the outer planets, these probes have far exceeded expectations, operating for over 47 years. However, as their power sources diminish, NASA has begun deactivating certain instruments to extend their operational lifespans. Power Constraints and Instrument Deactivations Both Voyager spacecraft are powered by radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs), which convert heat from decaying plutonium-238 into electricity. These RTGs lose approximately 4 watts of power annually, necessitating strategic shutdowns of onboard instruments to conserve energy. Voyager 1 : On February 25, 2025, NASA engineers deactivated the   Cosmic Ray Subsystem (CRS)  experiment. This suite of three telescopes was designed to study cosmic rays, including protons from the galaxy and...

In the quest to understand the vast diversity of planetary systems beyond our own, the discovery of TOI-6038 A b stands as a significant milestone. This dense sub-Saturn exoplanet, identified by an international team of astronomers led by Sanjay Baliwal from India's Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), offers intriguing insights into planetary formation and migration theories. Discovery and Detection Methods The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) first detected a transit signal in the light curve of TOI-6038 A, a bright late F-type star located approximately 578 light-years from Earth. To confirm the planetary nature of this signal, researchers employed the PARAS-2 spectrograph at the PRL Observatory in India. This collaboration between space-based photometry and ground-based spectroscopy exemplifies the synergy required in modern exoplanet discovery and characterization. Host Star Characteristics TOI-6038 A is a metal-rich late F-type star with an effective temperature...

The Europa Clipper mission, a NASA-led exploration initiative, aims to investigate Jupiter's icy moon Europa, a prime candidate in the search for extraterrestrial life due to its subsurface ocean beneath a thick layer of ice. Scheduled for launch in late 2024, the mission is designed to conduct a series of 49 close flybys over four years, utilizing advanced scientific instruments to analyze the moon's surface and subsurface characteristics. By assessing the moon's habitability, researchers hope to uncover whether conditions suitable for life exist on Europa, which may significantly enhance our understanding of ocean worlds within our solar system and beyond. The mission's scientific objectives include mapping Europa's ice shell, analyzing its composition, and detecting potential geological activity such as cryovolcanism. These investigations are critical in determining if the moon can support life, given that it is believed to harbor essential ingredients like liqui...

  The Sloan Great Wall (SGW) is one of the largest known cosmic structures in the observable universe. It is a massive galaxy filament spanning approximately 1.37 billion light-years in length, making it one of the most extensive and mysterious structures ever discovered. This colossal feature challenges our understanding of large-scale cosmic formations and the distribution of matter in the universe. Discovered in 2003 by J. Richard Gott III and his colleagues using data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) , the Sloan Great Wall remains a subject of interest in cosmology, astrophysics, and large-scale structure formation studies. What is the Sloan Great Wall? The Sloan Great Wall is a filamentary structure composed of numerous galaxy clusters, superclusters, and voids that stretch across vast cosmic distances. Unlike traditional walls or physical barriers, it consists of gravitationally bound galactic structures forming an interconnected web, shaping the cosmic fabric of ...

The universe is a vast and awe-inspiring place, filled with countless galaxies, each with its own unique characteristics and secrets. Among these, NGC 4261 stands out as a fascinating object of study for astronomers and astrophysicists. Located approximately 100 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo, NGC 4261 is a giant elliptical galaxy that has captured the attention of scientists due to its intriguing structure, active galactic nucleus (AGN), and the supermassive black hole at its core. In this blog, we will delve into the details of NGC 4261, exploring its features, significance, and the mysteries it holds. Overview of NGC 4261 NGC 4261, also known as UGC 7360 or PGC 39659, is a massive elliptical galaxy that belongs to the Virgo Cluster, a rich collection of galaxies. Elliptical galaxies like NGC 4261 are characterized by their smooth, featureless appearance and lack of spiral arms. They are typically composed of older stars and contain little interstellar gas or dus...

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is on the verge of achieving yet another historic milestone as it moves closer to the Sun than ever before. Scheduled for December 25, this record-breaking perihelion will bring the probe within approximately 6.2 million kilometers (3.8 million miles) of the Sun’s surface, marking a significant leap in solar exploration. This close approach will allow scientists to gather critical data on the Sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona , unlocking key insights into solar wind, magnetic fields, and the fundamental processes governing our star. Historical Background and Mission Overview Launched on August 12, 2018 , aboard a Delta IV Heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, the Parker Solar Probe was designed to revolutionize our understanding of the Sun. Named after physicist Dr. Eugene Parker , who first proposed the existence of the solar wind, the probe’s mission is to venture closer to the Sun than any previous spacecraft. Over the course of its seven-ye...

The universe is vast and full of mysteries, and one such enigma is the Antlia 2 galaxy , often referred to as the "ghost galaxy" due to its faint and elusive nature. Discovered in 2018 through data from the Gaia spacecraft, Antlia 2 remains a topic of great interest for astronomers and astrophysicists. In this article, we delve into the uniqueness of this galaxy, its formation, the stars it hosts, and other fascinating aspects that set it apart from its counterparts. What Makes Antlia 2 Unique? Antlia 2 is a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, located approximately 420,000 light-years away in the Antlia constellation. What makes it unique is its incredibly low surface brightness, roughly 10,000 times fainter than the well-known Large Magellanic Cloud . Despite its large physical size, comparable to that of the Large Magellanic Cloud, Antlia 2’s faintness had kept it hidden until the advanced data analysis capabilities of the Gaia mission revealed its presence. Another striking...

  Parent Star: PDS 70 Stellar Classification : T Tauri-type Young Star Age : Approximately 5.4 million years Mass : 0.76 ± 0.05 solar masses Spectral Type : K7-M0 Location : Centaurus Constellation Distance from Earth : 370 light-years Planetary System Architecture The PDS 70 system represents a critical astronomical laboratory, featuring: A young protoplanetary disk Multiple planetary embryos Active planetary formation processes Detailed Planetary Characteristics of PDS 70b Fundamental Physical Parameters Mass : 4.2 ± 0.5 Jupiter masses Radius : 2.1 ± 0.3 Jupiter radii Surface Temperature : 1,200-1,400 Kelvin Orbital Period : Approximately 118 Earth years Orbital Distance : 22 astronomical units Orbital Eccentricity : 0.38 ± 0.05 Planetary Interior Structure Core Composition Core Mass : Estimated 10-15 Earth masses Composition : Mixture of rocky materials, metallic elements ...