Counting Stars, Tumbling Asteroids, and China's Space Breakthroughs

• Estimating Stars in the Milky Way: Astronomers estimate that our galaxy contains around 100 billion stars, a number that evolves as observational techniques improve. By studying luminosity and mass, scientists refine these estimates, revealing the complexities of counting stars from within our own galaxy.
• Asteroid Rotation Dynamics: New research uncovers why some asteroids spin smoothly while others tumble chaotically. The study highlights the impact of collisions and internal friction, demonstrating how size and composition influence an asteroid's stability and rotation.
• China's Space Program Updates: China's Tiangong Space Station is bustling with activity, having recently completed its fourth spacewalk and preparing for the Shenzhou 21 mission. Additionally, the Tianwen 2 probe is on its way to collect samples from Near Earth asteroid Kamo Oalewa, marking significant advancements in China's space exploration efforts.
• Mysterious Dark Object Detected: Astronomers have detected a dark object through its gravitational effects, potentially a rogue black hole or neutron star. This groundbreaking discovery utilizes microlensing to observe how the object's gravity warps light from distant stars, offering new insights into dark matter and galactic structures.
• For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTubeMusic, 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 and Avery signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and exploring the wonders of our universe.

✍️ Episode References
Milky Way Star Estimates
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)
Asteroid Research Insights
[European Space Agency](https://www.esa.int/)
China's Space Missions
[China National Space Administration](http://www.cnsa.gov.cn)
Dark Object Detection
[Astrophysical Journal](https://iopscience.iop.org/journal/0004-637X)
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)

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