Tag: #Space

Human Interest

Rare Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Makes Closest Approach to Earth on December 19

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS will make its closest approach to Earth on Friday, December 19, marking a significant moment in the journey of one of the rarest cosmic visitors ever observed in our solar system. The comet was discovered on July 1 by NASA-funded ATLAS telescopes in Chile and has since drawn global attention from astronomers and space agencies.

3I/ATLAS is only the third confirmed interstellar object known to have passed through our solar system, following 1I/’Oumuamua in 2017 and comet 2I/Borisov in 2019. Analysis of its trajectory shows that the comet originated from beyond the solar system and will eventually return to interstellar space after completing its passage through the inner regions around the sun.

At its closest approach, the comet will come no nearer than approximately 1.8 astronomical units from Earth, or about 168 million miles (270 million kilometers), according to the European Space Agency. This distance is nearly twice the average distance between the Earth and the sun, ensuring that the comet poses no threat to Earth or any other planet as it passes through the inner solar system.

Despite the safe distance, the flyby is of major scientific interest. Observing the comet near its closest approach allows astronomers to study the dust and gases released from its icy nucleus as it warms under the sun’s radiation. These observations provide rare insights into how comets and planetary materials form around stars beyond our own solar system.

In recent months, several observatories and space agencies have focused their instruments on 3I/ATLAS. New images captured by the Hubble Space Telescope and the JUICE Jupiter probe were released recently, showing the interstellar traveler speeding through the inner solar system. The comet’s passage is also being shared with the public through a free livestream hosted by Gianluca Masi at the Virtual Telescope Project, scheduled to begin at 11 p.m. EST on December 18, weather permitting.

As 3I/ATLAS continues its brief visit, scientists hope the data gathered will deepen our understanding of the building blocks of planetary systems beyond our own, making this fleeting encounter a valuable chapter in the study of interstellar objects.

Human Interest

November 2025 Skywatching Guide: Meteor Showers, Planet Highlights & a Moon–Star Dance

Tanisha Cardozo

November 2025 promises a month of spectacular sights for anyone looking up at the night sky. The month begins on November 5 with the waxing Beaver Moon rising in the evening, its warm glow lighting up early November skies and offering a perfect preview of the month’s celestial treats.

The next day, November 6, the Moon drifts past the Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters. This cluster of delicate blue-white stars appears close to the bright Moon in the early morning hours. Although the Moon’s glow may slightly outshine the stars, binoculars can reveal the cluster in all its splendor.

On November 12, the Northern Taurid meteor shower peaks. Known not for quantity but for quality, Taurids produce slow-moving, bright fireballs that linger in the sky, delighting observers with occasional dramatic streaks of light.

The Leonid meteor shower will follow on the night of November 17–18. With little moonlight to interfere, stargazers can expect 10 to 15 meteors per hour under dark skies. While usually moderate in activity, the Leonids have a history of impressive storms, offering graceful streaks across the night.

November 21 brings a dual celestial spectacle. Uranus reaches opposition, its closest and brightest appearance of the year, visible through binoculars or a small telescope as a tiny pale-blue disk. On the same night, the Alpha Monocerotid meteor shower may surprise observers with sudden, short-lived bursts of meteors, making it a wild-card shower to watch.

November 2025 is a reminder to pause and marvel at the night sky. From the early Beaver Moon to meteor showers, planetary highlights, and the Moon’s dance with the Pleiades, each evening offers the chance to witness the beauty and mystery of the cosmos unfold.

Human Interest

Voyager 1 Sends Signal After 48 Years in Space, Leaving NASA Speechless

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Intern Queeny George M.H , Team Allycaral

America’s National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is known for pioneering space exploration, but even its most seasoned scientists were left speechless recently. The cause? A new signal from the legendary Voyager 1 spacecraft — still active and transmitting after 48 years in deep space.

Voyager 1 was launched in 1977 with a primary goal of exploring the giant planets in our solar system, particularly Jupiter and Saturn. It accomplished that mission with stunning success, capturing some of the most iconic images ever taken of those distant worlds. But the true legacy of Voyager 1 began not with what it photographed, but with where it went next.

After leaving the known planetary orbits, Voyager 1 continued on its path toward the unknown. It eventually crossed a critical boundary known as the heliopause — the outermost edge of our solar system where the Sun’s solar wind meets the interstellar medium. It was here that Voyager’s instruments picked up something unexpected: a rise in both temperature and particle density. This region, dubbed the “wall of fire,” is a turbulent frontier where the calm of our solar system collides with the chaos of deep space.

Despite being powered by less energy than a single LED light bulb — only about 4 watts per scientific instrument — Voyager 1 continues to function. Its radioactive plutonium core steadily depletes over time, but still provides just enough power to keep critical systems alive. Communicating with such a distant spacecraft is a monumental challenge. NASA relies on enormous 230-foot antennas scattered around the globe to receive Voyager’s incredibly weak signals.

The feat is even more impressive considering the craft is more than 15 billion miles from Earth. Every signal takes over 22 hours to reach us. The fact that Voyager is still “talking” at all is a testament to the engineering ingenuity behind it. NASA’s team continues to tweak its systems remotely, optimizing power usage and preserving key instruments so that the data stream can continue for as long as possible.

This latest signal — faint, delayed, yet profound — is another reminder that even decades-old machines can redefine human understanding. Voyager 1 may have started its journey with a camera pointed at Jupiter, but today, it peers into the uncharted vastness beyond, still pushing the boundaries of exploration.

National

Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Arrives in India to a Grand Hero’s Welcome in Lucknow

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Intern Queeny George M.H , Team Allycaral

Indian Astronaut and test pilot Shubhanshu Shukla was welcomed in grandeur upon his return to India, following his successful space mission with the Axiom-4 crew. The streets of Lucknow came alive with celebrations as citizens gathered in large numbers to express their pride and admiration for the astronaut’s remarkable journey. The 39-year-old pilot, who represented India aboard the international space mission, received widespread love and praise, echoing through the heart of his hometown.

Shukla’s mission, launched on June 25, 2025, marked a historic moment for Indian spaceflight. Aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft named Grace, launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the Axiom-4 mission took off in collaboration with Axiom Space, NASA, and SpaceX. Alongside Shukla, the crew included Commander Peggy Whitson from the USA, and Mission Specialists Sławosz Uznanski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. This mission represented the first government-sponsored human spaceflight in over four decades for India, Poland, and Hungary.

Spanning approximately 18 days, the mission concluded with the spacecraft’s undocking on July 14, 2025. During their time aboard the International Space Station (ISS), the crew conducted over 60 groundbreaking scientific studies, exploring areas such as crop growth in space, the behavior of cyanobacteria in microgravity, and the physiological changes experienced by the human body during extended space travel. These experiments were not only critical for future space exploration but also contributed to expanding our understanding of human adaptation to space environments.

The return of Shubhanshu Shukla is more than a celebration of individual achievement—it is a symbol of India’s growing presence in international space endeavors. With the success of the Axiom-4 mission, India takes a proud step forward in global scientific advancement, and Shukla stands as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring scientists and explorers across the nation.

As the city of Lucknow echoed with cheers, banners, and patriotic pride, it was clear that Shukla’s return marked a historic chapter not only in India’s space journey but also in the hearts of millions who look up to the stars with dreams of discovery.

National

Back From Space: Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Meets PM Modi, Discusses India’s Space Future

Tanisha Cardozo

August 19, 2025 – New Delhi: After a successful 18-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 crew, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla returned to India and met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Their conversation marked a significant moment for India’s aspirations in space exploration, centered around the upcoming Gaganyaan mission and India’s proposed Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035.

Shukla expressed confidence that India could lead a collaborative space station in the future, much like the International Space Station led by the US, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada. He noted the global excitement around India’s Gaganyaan mission and shared that his crewmates had requested to attend its launch.

“We have the ability and the position to be in a leadership role in a space station led by India,” Shukla said.

During the meeting, PM Modi recalled assigning “homework” to Shukla — to learn and document everything that could help future astronauts. Shukla shared how even astronauts on the ISS teased him about getting such a special task from his country’s leader. The documentation is expected to be valuable for ISRO’s astronaut training pipeline.

In a symbolic moment, Shukla gifted PM Modi the Tricolour he carried into space and the official Axiom-4 mission patch. The patch features Earth at the center of a pentagon, the four astronauts’ names and national flags, and seven stars representing the continents.

Shukla detailed his experiment in growing crops aboard the ISS in a water-based dish. Sprouting in just eight days, the experiment offered hope not just for long-duration space missions but for food security challenges on Earth.

“Food is a big challenge in space. But this research may help solve problems here on Earth too,” Shukla said.

Describing his physical transformation in space, Shukla said that adaptation is required both while reaching and returning from orbit.

“I was feeling okay but I could not walk… the brain has to rewire,” he explained.

Shukla reflected on how Indian children today see space as a real career option — unlike his own childhood, when India lacked a consistent astronaut programme.

“Children no longer just dream — they know becoming an astronaut is possible,” he shared.

Looking ahead, PM Modi emphasized the need for a strong astronaut pool of 40–50 individuals to support India’s ambitions. Shukla’s insights, training, and documentation are set to play a crucial role in the Gaganyaan mission, scheduled for launch in the coming years.

Shukla, who had been recovering in Houston after landing back on Earth in July, arrived in India to a warm reception at Delhi Airport by Union Science Minister Jitendra Singh and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.

His journey marks not just the return of a national hero, but the takeoff of India’s next giant leap in space.