Artemis II Preparations, Jellyfish Galaxy, and Mars’ Celestial Dance

Highlights:

- Artemis II Preparations: In this episode, we explore the recent collaboration between NASA and the Department of Defence as they conduct emergency simulations for the Artemis II mission. With plans to send four astronauts around the Moon next year, these crucial rehearsals focus on ensuring crew safety during potential launch emergencies, including realistic scenarios using test mannequins.

- ISS Update: We provide an update on the AX-4 mission delay, with good news from the Russian space agency Roscosmos, confirming that a leak on the International Space Station has been repaired. However, the impact on the prospective launch date remains uncertain.

- Jellyfish Galaxy Discovery: Astronomers have discovered a fascinating galaxy, NGC 4858, which resembles a jellyfish with bunny ears. Situated over 300 million light years away, this galaxy is undergoing extreme pressure within the Coma cluster, leading to its unique shape and the phenomenon of fallback.

- Spotting Mars: Get ready for some celestial excitement as we guide you on how to spot Mars this month. From its close encounters with Regulus to a beautiful crescent Moon passing by, we provide tips on when and where to look in the western sky.

- International Space Development Conference: We discuss the upcoming ISDC 2025 in Orlando, Florida, where space enthusiasts will gather to discuss global collaboration in space exploration, sustainability, and planetary defence strategies, featuring notable speakers from the field.

- Dark Matter Insights: Lastly, we delve into the upcoming Nancy Chris Roman Space Telescope, set to launch in 2026. This telescope aims to enhance our understanding of dark matter through gravitational lensing, potentially providing crucial insights into this enigmatic substance and its role in the universe.

For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io (http://www.astronomydaily.io/) . Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTube Music, TikTok, and our new Instagram account! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Thank you for tuning in. This is Anna signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.

Chapters:

00:00 - Welcome to Astronomy Daily

01:10 - Artemis 2 preparations

10:00 - ISS update

15:30 - Jellyfish galaxy discovery

20:00 - Spotting Mars

25:00 - International Space Development Conference

30:00 - Dark matter insights

✍️ Episode References

NASA Artemis Updates

[NASA]( https://www.nasa.gov/ (https://www.nasa.gov/) )

AX-4 Mission Information

[Roscosmos]( https://www.roscosmos.ru/ (https://www.roscosmos.ru/) )

NGC 4858 Research

[Astronomy Journal]( https://www.astronomy.com/ (https://www.astronomy.com/) )

Mars Observation Tips

[Sky & Telescope]( https://skyandtelescope.org/ (https://skyandtelescope.org/) )

ISDC 2025 Information

[ISDC]( https://isdc2025.org/ (https://isdc2025.org/) )

Nancy Chris Roman Space Telescope

[NASA Roman]( https://roman.gsfc.nasa.gov/ (https://roman.gsfc.nasa.gov/) )

Astronomy D