Last September, scientists detected an unprecedented nine-day seismic vibration caused by a melting glacier in Greenland that triggered a massive landslide and a 650-foot mega-tsunami. The tsunami’s waves, trapped in a fjord, created a seiche, an oscillating standing wave, lasting for days. This event, linked to climate change, was so unusual that it initially led scientists to question their instruments. The findings, published in Science, involved a year-long international collaboration of 68 scientists.
Read more at: https://futurism.com/the-byte/scientists-detection-mega-tsunami
A long-lost moon, possibly named Nerio, could explain Mars’ unique shape and extreme terrain, including the Tharsis bulge and other highland regions. Michael Efroimsky of the U.S. Naval Observatory suggests that this moon’s significant mass altered Mars’ shape by raising tides in its magma oceans, similar to how Earth’s moon affects ocean tides. Mars cooled quickly, locking these tidal bulges into its form. This theory is detailed in a paper submitted to the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets and available on arXiv.
Read more at: https://www.livescience.com/space/mars/a-long-lost-moon-could-explain-mars-weird-shape-and-extreme-terrain
We have powerful telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) that offer spectacular cosmic views and insights into the early universe, thanks to decades of engineering and billions of dollars. However, an even more powerful telescope could be created using the sun itself. For perspective, JWST’s 21.3-foot mirror achieves a resolution of one-tenth of an arcsecond, allowing it to see details on a coin 25 miles away. The Event Horizon Telescope, a global network, achieves a resolution of 20 microarcseconds, capturing images of gas disks around black holes.
Read more at: https://www.space.com/sun-gigantic-telescope-with-gravitational-lensing
Moon lovers can celebrate a celestial event this week: a full moon and partial lunar eclipse on Tuesday. Visible in North America, South America, Africa, and Europe, the eclipse occurs as Earth blocks sunlight from the moon. This event features the harvest moon, a supermoon appearing larger and brighter due to its close proximity to Earth. The partial eclipse starts at 8:41 p.m. ET, peaks at 10:44 p.m. ET with 8% of the moon in full shadow, and will be tricky to see until around 10:13 p.m. ET.
Read more at: https://www.yahoo.com/news/supermoon-eclipse-visible-across-north-091052697.html
Saturday, Sept. 14 is NASA’s annual Observe the Moon Night, promoting lunar science, astronomy, and amateur observations. NASA will host live streams, including a Twitch session on Sept. 12, sharing updates on lunar science and the Artemis mission. Events include expert interviews, solar eclipse highlights, and observation tips. The moon will be in a bright waxing phase. Observations can be made with the naked eye, binoculars, or telescopes. Even if weather is poor, participants can engage through online resources, 3D printing, and more. A gallery will allow global participants to share images and discussions.
Read more at: https://www.space.com/nasa-observe-the-moon-night-2024-how-to-celebrate
The Polaris Dawn crew concluded a record-setting commercial spaceflight, preparing for re-entry and a pre-dawn splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico near Key West, Florida. The Crew Dragon capsule, carrying Jared Isaacman, Scott Poteet, Anna Menon, and Sarah Gillis, will fire its braking rockets at 2:40 a.m. EDT Sunday, with splashdown expected around 3:36 a.m. A SpaceX recovery ship will assist post-landing. Launched from Kennedy Space Center, the mission set altitude and non-government spacewalk records. The crew tested SpaceX pressure suits and laser communications with the Starlink satellites.
Read more at: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/polaris-dawn-aims-for-sunday-splashdown-gulf-of-mexico/
In November 2020, a rogue wave lifted a buoy off British Columbia’s coast 17.6 meters high, confirmed in February 2022 as the most extreme rogue wave ever recorded. Such events are thought to occur once every 1,300 years. Rogue waves were considered folklore until 1995 when a 26-meter wave hit an oil platform off Norway. Since then, many rogue waves have been recorded. The Ucluelet wave, while not the tallest, was nearly three times the size of surrounding waves, making it the most extreme proportionally. Physicist Johannes Gemmrich highlighted its unprecedented nature.
Read more at: https://www.sciencealert.com/gigantic-wave-in-pacific-ocean-was-the-most-extreme-rogue-wave-on-record
Two US astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, stranded on the ISS for eight months, expressed mixed emotions as their malfunctioning Boeing Starliner re-entry vehicle departed without them. Despite missing family, they felt “happy and healthy” and were trained to “expect the unexpected.” They appreciated the public’s concern and denied feeling let down by NASA. Initially on an eight-day mission, they were kept on the ISS due to Starliner issues and will return on a SpaceX craft. Both acknowledged Starliner’s problems but believed it could eventually be a viable return vehicle.
Read more at: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgn1125ne3o
NASA’s Watts on the Moon Challenge, aimed at advancing lunar exploration under the Artemis campaign, concludes on Sept. 20 at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland. The challenge seeks innovative power transmission and energy storage technologies for long-duration Moon missions. The prototypes were tested in conditions simulating the lunar environment. Successful technologies could inspire new approaches for cold-resistant batteries and grid resiliency in harsh Earth conditions. Media and the public are invited to the $5 million competition’s finale and awards ceremony. Media should confirm attendance with Lane Figueroa by Sept. 17.
Read more at: https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasas-lunar-challenge-participants-to-showcase-innovations-during-awards/
A partial lunar eclipse and supermoon will be visible across North and South America on Tuesday night and in Africa and Europe on Wednesday morning. The Earth will cast a shadow on the moon, making it appear slightly dimmer and larger due to its closer proximity. This is one of three remaining supermoons this year. No special eye protection is needed, and viewers can use binoculars or telescopes for a closer look. The next notable lunar event is a total eclipse on March 13, when the moon will turn red.
Read more at: https://apnews.com/article/partial-lunar-eclipse-supermoon-ec0ef86aec1e8bf5c8b1a2ea1b104dfd