Category: Space

Astronomers in Chile have produced the most detailed map yet of how stars move in the Milky Way’s central bulge, offering new clues about how our galaxy’s core formed and evolved.

Led by Claudia Quezada of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, the team combined data from several major telescopes, including the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT), to track the speed and direction of more than 23,000 stars near the galactic center.

The Milky Way’s bulge, a dense mass of old and metal-rich stars at its center, contains nearly one-third of all the stars in the galaxy. It has long puzzled astronomers because of its odd, peanut-like shape and complex rotation. Earlier studies showed that stars in this region move in cylindrical patterns, rotating as a solid structure, but large gaps in the data, especially near the dusty galactic plane, left the picture incomplete.

To fill those gaps, Quezada’s team analyzed new observations taken with MUSE, an instrument on the Very Large Telescope (VLT) that can separate the light of individual stars in crowded areas.

They also drew on earlier datasets from the GIBS and APOGEE surveys, which measure stellar velocities and chemical compositions. The researchers added nine new MUSE fields close to the Milky Way’s plane, within 150 parsecs of its center, capturing details that earlier surveys had missed.

Because the galactic center is packed with stars that overlap in telescope images, the team built a custom data-processing tool called PHOTfun, written in Python. It models each star’s shape and brightness to separate it from its neighbors. A companion tool, PHOTcube, extracts individual spectra from MUSE’s data cubes.

Both programs are freely available to other astronomers and have already proven more effective than older software at removing interference from the infrared sky.

Using this new pipeline, the researchers measured radial velocities and calculated velocity dispersions, which show how much that motion varies within a region. The final dataset covered 57 fields across longitudes and latitudes of up to 10 degrees around the galactic center.

Their findings confirm that the Milky Way’s bulge rotates cylindrically, meaning that stars at the same distance from the center move at nearly identical speeds, no matter their height above or below the galactic plane. This supports the idea that the bulge grew from the galaxy’s disk billions of years ago, when gravitational instabilities caused it to buckle and form a bar-shaped structure.

However, the new velocity dispersion map revealed several updates. The “wing-like” flares that earlier maps showed near the plane are gone, replaced by a smoother, boxier shape. The central peak, where stellar motion is most chaotic, now appears thinner, extending about 280 parsecs vertically and reaching speeds above 140 kilometers per second.

Astronomers are debating what causes this peak. It could come from the Milky Way’s dense nuclear cluster, a region holding about 30 million solar masses within just a few parsecs, or from stars moving along elongated orbits in the central bar. Simulations suggest that the bar’s angle relative to our line of sight naturally increases the apparent motion, making an extra mass concentration unnecessary.

The data also hint at differences between the galaxy’s metal-rich and metal-poor stars. Richer stars are more tightly bound to the bar, while poorer ones form a rounder, more spheroidal component. Separating future velocity maps by chemical composition could show whether these groups move differently, revealing more about the Milky Way’s early mergers and growth.

The new map is not meant to make dramatic discoveries but to refine what we know. The models now fit the data to within 10 percent accuracy, a notable improvement over previous efforts. Astronomers say these results will help test theories of how galaxies like ours evolve, since the Milky Way is one of the few where scientists can measure individual stars in such detail.

Upcoming observations with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the European Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) are expected to build on this work, allowing scientists to measure age and metal gradients within the bulge. Those details could show whether today’s bar and bulge formed entirely from disk stars or if early mergers played a larger role.

Source: New kinematic map of the Milky Way bulge

A piece of suspected space debris from a recent Chinese rocket launch crash-landed near the mining town of Newman in Western Australia on October 18, 2025, sparking an investigation by local and federal authorities. The large cylindrical object, still smoking when discovered by miners, is believed to be part of a rocket’s upper stage that survived reentry before slamming into the desert landscape.

Police quickly sealed off the area after miners reported a metallic structure lying across a remote road, still radiating heat from its descent. The object, roughly the size of a large barrel, showed signs of intense thermal damage: charred carbon fiber, warped metal, and streaks of melted resin. No injuries were reported.

Early inspections by experts from the Australian Space Agency and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau confirmed the debris was not from an aircraft. Instead, it matched the characteristics of a composite over-wrapped pressure vessel (COPV), a type of high-pressure tank used to store gases or propellants on rockets. These tanks are built to withstand extreme vibration and temperature changes during launch and sometimes endure the heat of reentry without fully burning up.

Space archaeologist Alice Gorman identified the object as likely belonging to the upper stage of China’s Jielong 3 rocket (AKA Smart Dragon 3), which launched in late September 2025 carrying a batch of commercial satellites. Dutch satellite tracker Marco Langbroek independently confirmed the likelihood, noting that the object’s design and reentry path aligned with data from the Jielong 3 mission.

The Jielong 3, developed by China Rocket Co. under CASC, is part of Beijing’s expanding program to provide rapid, low-cost satellite deployment. However, as with many modern rockets, not all components disintegrate on reentry. Lightweight carbon fiber composites can survive the fiery descent, especially when shaped to resist aerodynamic heating.

During reentry, most spacecraft fragments vaporize from frictional heat exceeding 1,500 degrees Celsius. But carbon fiber COPVs are resilient; their reinforced layers protect the inner metal liner from melting. Analysts believe the object tumbled as it fell, preventing any single side from taking the full heat load, which may explain why it landed mostly intact.

Australia’s wide and sparsely populated interior has become a frequent landing site for uncontrolled reentries. In recent years, parts of SpaceX and Indian rocket stages have been found in rural areas or along western beaches. The country’s 3 million square miles of open terrain make it a likely target zone for falling debris.

NASA estimates that more than 36,000 objects larger than a softball currently orbit Earth, with millions of smaller fragments traveling at speeds of up to 28,000 kilometers per hour. Collisions between satellites and old rocket bodies increase this count each year, raising concerns about safety in orbit and the risk to populated areas during reentries.

European Space Agency director Josef Aschbacher, visiting Australia earlier this year, said that with global launch activity tripling over the past decade, the world must adopt stricter end-of-life measures for rockets. Many experts, including Gorman, argue for mandatory reentry planning, ensuring upper stages are either guided into the ocean or equipped with systems that help them burn up safely.

Western Australia Police are leading the current investigation, supported by the Australian Space Agency and local mining authorities. Teams are collecting samples for chemical and isotopic testing to trace the object’s manufacturing origin. Results are expected to confirm whether the debris indeed came from China’s Jielong 3 mission.

If verified, the incident could open diplomatic discussions about liability under the United Nations Outer Space Treaty, which holds launching states responsible for damage caused by their space objects. Similar cases in the past have prompted international calls for better space debris management.

For now, the scorched tank remains secured in a police storage facility in Newman. It stands as another reminder of how our growing presence in space occasionally leaves traces on Earth, sometimes falling back to remind us of the risks of orbiting above.

The race for control of Earth’s orbit is accelerating as the United States, Russia, and China expand military activity in space. Russia and China have been testing close-proximity maneuvers that mimic attack formations, while the US is developing a new space-based defense system known as the Golden Dome. The shift signals growing tension in low-Earth orbit, where satellites are becoming both strategic assets and potential targets.

In recent months, US officials have tracked several Russian satellites performing complex proximity operations, a move viewed as preparation for offensive and defensive actions in orbit. These tests involve one satellite shadowing another at close range, capable of jamming signals or altering a target’s course.

In early 2025, the US Space Command confirmed that multiple Russian spacecraft circled a target satellite at altitudes near 300 miles, using short thruster bursts to maintain position.

The same pattern appeared in 2024 when Russia’s Cosmos 2576 followed a US imaging satellite along a shared orbital path. Though no collisions occurred, these rehearsals build the precision skills needed for space combat. Analysts say they demonstrate how Russia is training to disable or disrupt rival satellites without open conflict.

China is following a similar path. Its Shiyan and Shijian satellites have been conducting synchronized maneuvers in low-Earth orbit that US officials describe as simulated dogfights.

In 2024, three Shiyan-24C and two Shijian-6 satellites performed complex rendezvous maneuvers, coming within meters of each other in coordinated tests. The exercises reportedly involved grappling arms and laser systems being studied for anti-satellite roles.

China’s satellite fleet has grown rapidly, with more than 1,000 active satellites in orbit, second only to the US. The country launched 66 rockets in 2024, many carrying surveillance payloads and prototype space-defense systems. The Pentagon has also raised concerns about Chinese work on directed-energy weapons designed to disable satellites by overheating their sensors.

In response, the US is building the Golden Dome, a space-based missile and satellite defense system announced by President Trump in May 2025. With a $175 billion budget, it combines space-based sensors and interceptors capable of tracking and neutralizing intercontinental missiles and hypersonic weapons from orbit. The system is being managed by Space Force General Michael Guetlein, who said the goal is to provide global coverage using a constellation of hundreds of satellites.

Initial trials in Alaska have shown progress in detecting mock missile launches. SpaceX is reportedly among the contractors being considered to help deploy the Golden Dome network, given its experience managing large constellations through Starlink. Full deployment could take a decade, but early prototypes are already being tested in classified programs.

Critics warn that the Golden Dome could accelerate the weaponization of space, breaking long-standing norms established by the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which designates space for peaceful use. China has already condemned the plan, calling it a threat to international stability. Analysts fear the system could push other nations to expand their own offensive programs.

Astronomers are also worried about the growing number of satellites and debris that threaten visibility from Earth. Past anti-satellite tests, such as China’s 2007 strike that produced more than 3,000 debris fragments, have already made some orbital regions dangerous. Russia’s 2021 test added 1,500 more pieces, many still in orbit today.

Debris clouds can reflect sunlight and disrupt astronomical observations. Large constellations like Starlink already interfere with deep-sky imaging, and the addition of weaponized systems could make the problem worse. Missions such as the European Space Agency’s Euclid telescope rely on clear skies to map billions of galaxies. Increasing orbital clutter could limit the data they collect.

Scientists warn that continued satellite conflicts could trigger the Kessler syndrome, a chain reaction of collisions that renders parts of orbit unusable for decades. The UN has called for a moratorium on debris-generating tests, but enforcement remains weak. With new systems like Golden Dome and rival nations stepping up military drills, the race for orbital dominance is tightening.

For now, astronomers and defense experts agree on one point: if diplomacy fails to catch up with technology, the next frontier of conflict may be fought above our heads.

China’s Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric project, is not only generating electricity and controlling floods but also affecting the Earth’s rotation. Completed in 2006 along the Yangtze River in Hubei Province, the dam holds 39 billion cubic meters of water. Scientists say this massive shift in weight slightly changes the planet’s daily spin.

Spanning more than 2 kilometers, the Three Gorges Dam produces 22,500 megawatts of electricity. The reservoir, large enough to fill Lake Mead 20 times, also serves as flood control. Beyond these benefits, the dam’s construction and operation have a measurable effect on Earth’s rotation because of the mass of water it holds at 31 degrees north latitude.

The physics behind this change is straightforward. Earth rotates like a spinning top. When mass is redistributed closer to the poles, the planet’s spin slows down. Filling the reservoir moved roughly 40 trillion kilograms of water northward. This change increases the Earth’s moment of inertia, causing days to lengthen slightly.

NASA scientists have tracked the impact. Their measurements show that each day now lasts 0.06 microseconds longer. While this is an extremely small amount, it is significant enough for astronomers and geophysicists, who monitor changes in Earth’s rotation using atomic clocks and GPS satellites.

These measurements place the dam’s effect in perspective. Natural events, such as the 2004 Sumatra earthquake, shortened days by 2.68 microseconds, while climate-related ice melt adds around 1.7 milliseconds per year. Human constructions are now on a scale that can influence planetary motion, adding to natural shifts.

The dam’s influence extends beyond Earth’s spin. About 1.3 million people were relocated due to the reservoir, and ancient archaeological sites were submerged. At the same time, it cuts carbon emissions by an estimated 100 million tons each year, a positive step for climate mitigation. However, silt accumulation behind the dam and downstream ecological disruption remain challenges that engineers and environmentalists continue to address.

For scientists and stargazers, even tiny shifts in Earth’s rotation matter. Tracking these changes helps refine calculations for satellite navigation, astronomical observations, and climate studies. The Three Gorges Dam provides a clear example of how large human projects now interact with global systems in measurable ways.

The dam shows that human activity can influence fundamental planetary processes. While the effect on daily life is minimal, it is a reminder that engineering projects of this scale reach beyond their immediate goals, subtly shaping the planet’s dynamics and providing valuable data for science and observation.