Cosmic smiley face: How to watch the Moon, Venus, and Saturn align this week
Observers are cautioned not to look directly at the Sun during sunrise, as the intense glare can cause permanent eye damage. Experts advise careful timing and, if needed, the use of appropriate safety equipment.Supermoon ComingAccording to USA Today, Coming on the heels of the smiley face alignment, another celestial event is to occur on Sunday, April 27 — the nearest new supermoon of 2025. Throughout this occurrence, the moon will pass by Earth at a mere 221,917 miles, just about 17,000 miles closer than its norm. Although, it is so close, the new moon will not be visible from Earth, as opposed to its full moon sibling, which usually illuminates the heavens.advertisementFollowing the smiley face alignment, another celestial event will take place on Sunday, April 27 — the closest new supermoon of 2025. During this event, the Moon will pass just 221,917 miles from Earth, roughly 17,000 miles closer than average. However, because it is a new moon, it won't be visible from Earth unlike the more radiant full supermoons.Also Read: Will we ever see it again? Green Comet SWAN likely destroyedMust Watch
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News18
5 hours ago
- News18
Is Earth In Danger? Mystery Object May Be ‘Hostile' Alien Spacecraft Approaching Our Planet
The mystery object is on a stealth path through the inner Solar System, and Earth's fastest rockets aren't nearly quick enough to intercept it A strange object the size of a small city is hurtling through our Solar System, and a team of scientists think it might not be just a comet. In fact, they're toying with a far more dramatic possibility: that it could be alien technology, potentially even 'hostile", hiding behind the Sun. The object, officially named 3I/ATLAS (and earlier known as A11pl3Z), was first spotted on July 1 by a telescope in Chile. Within 24 hours, scientists confirmed it had come from outside our Solar System, making it just the third known interstellar visitor ever recorded, according to Live Science. It's not small either. Estimates say it measures 10 to 20 kilometres wide, making it potentially larger in area than Manhattan, and it's tearing through space at over 130,000 mph (60 km per second). Over the next few months, it's expected to swing past Jupiter, Mars and Venus, before disappearing behind the Sun in late November, out of sight from Earth. Is It Just A Rock Or Something More? A new, non-peer-reviewed scientific paper published on July 16 has turned heads for suggesting that this might not be a comet at all, but an extraterrestrial spacecraft on a stealth mission. The study was written by Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb, known for his bold claims about alien life, along with researchers Adam Hibberd and Adam Crowl from the Initiative for Interstellar Studies in London. They're not claiming this is definitely alien, but they are proposing a testable theory. In their words, it's 'an interesting exercise in its own right," worth exploring 'irrespective of its likely validity." Still, they warn that if the theory does hold true, the consequences could be serious, even requiring 'defensive measures," though they admit those might not be effective. A Suspicious Flight Path? So why the suspicion? Loeb and his co-authors point to the object's trajectory, which is oddly precise. It's moving faster than the last interstellar visitor, ʻOumuamua', and it entered the Solar System from a different angle, which, they suggest, could offer 'various benefits to an extraterrestrial intelligence." Even more puzzling, the object's orbital path is aligned with Earth's within just 5 degrees. Loeb told Newsweek that the odds of this happening randomly are only 0.2 per cent. In his view, this could mean the object is deliberately targeting the inner Solar System, something one might expect from alien tech. Then there's the route itself. 3I/ATLAS is set to make close passes by three major planets — Venus, Mars and Jupiter — which scientists say is highly improbable without calculated guidance. According to the Mirror UK, the chances of such a path occurring by chance are less than 0.005 per cent. The timing also raises eyebrows. In late November, the object will pass behind the Sun, making it invisible to Earth-based telescopes. Loeb speculates this might not be a coincidence. 'This could be intentional to avoid detailed observations from Earth-based telescopes when the object is brightest or when gadgets are sent to Earth from that hidden vantage point," he wrote in a blog post. They even suggest the planetary flybys could allow for 'gadgets" to be planted, spy tech dropped off on Mars, Venus or Jupiter en route. Unfortunately, even if Earth wanted to investigate, we simply can't catch up. Loeb notes that our fastest rockets can only reach a third of 3I/ATLAS's speed, making a rendezvous impossible with current technology. The theory has sparked curiosity online, but not everyone is convinced. Samantha Lawler, an astronomer at Canada's University of Regina, says the evidence points clearly to a natural comet, one that was simply ejected from another solar system, as billions of others likely have been. Others were more critical. Chris Lintott from the University of Oxford, who helped trace the object's galactic origin, dismissed the alien theory outright, calling it 'nonsense on stilts" and saying it undermines the real science being done by teams worldwide. Even Loeb concedes the most probable explanation is that 3I/ATLAS is just another icy interstellar wanderer. 'By far, the most likely outcome will be that 3I/ATLAS is a completely natural interstellar object, probably a comet," he said. This Isn't Loeb's First Rodeo This isn't the first time Loeb has floated the idea of alien probes in our cosmic neighbourhood. Back in 2022, he revived global buzz around ʻOumuamua', the cigar-shaped interstellar object spotted in 2017. He suggested it could be a 'lightsail" — a spacecraft powered by light particles — or even a deliberately sent probe from an alien civilisation. 'Oumuamua may be a fully operational probe sent intentionally to Earth vicinity by an alien civilisation," he wrote at the time. So What Now? For now, astronomers across the world are closely tracking 3I/ATLAS as it continues its journey toward the Sun. Whether it turns out to be a piece of cosmic spyware or just an unusually fast space rock, it has already reignited one of humanity's oldest questions — are we really alone out here? About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk More Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : alien invasion comet spacecraft view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 28, 2025, 14:01 IST News world Is Earth In Danger? Mystery Object May Be 'Hostile' Alien Spacecraft Approaching Our Planet Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
NASA plans a 21% workforce reduction
Advt By , Agencies NASA is set to reduce its civil servant workforce by approximately 21%, with around 3,780 employees opting into two voluntary resignation schemes, the agency confirmed this week. The programs are part of NASA's efforts to streamline operations while maintaining its capability to drive upcoming space exploration initiatives, including Moon and Mars Cheryl Warner stated the move aims to strike a balance between efficiency and readiness for what NASA calls a ' Golden Era of exploration and innovation.' The agency anticipates retaining around 14,000 employees after accounting for the resignations and an additional 500 departures through routine voluntary exit programs offer financial incentives or concessions to encourage staff to resign. The agency stressed that while the forecasted figures are approximate, further changes in headcount may occur depending on future operational significant workforce reduction follows broader federal downsizing efforts under the administration of US President Donald Trump. Elon Musk, previously head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), had been involved in driving such agency-level workforce reduction signals a shift in how NASA plans to staff future missions, leaning on a smaller core team while likely expanding collaboration with private aerospace contractors and commercial partners. This approach reflects changing workforce dynamics within the federal science and technology sector.
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Time of India
India growing by leaps and bounds in space sector: PM Modi
NEW DELHI: Ahead of the National Space Day, PM Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted India's growing capabilities in the space sector, citing Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's recent journey to International Space Station (ISS) and the emergence of more than 200 startups in the sector. Talking about Shukla, who was one of the four crew members of the Axiom-4 mission to ISS, Modi, in his 124th 'Mann Ki Baat' episode, said that when the astronaut landed back on Earth, a "wave of happiness rippled through every heart" and the "whole country was filled with pride". He also highlighted that the success of Isro 's Chandrayaan-3 mission had created an atmosphere of curiosity in the country for space endeavours. "I remember, when Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed in Aug 2023, a new ambience was created in the country. A new curiosity also arose among children about science, about space. Little children now say, we will also go to space; we will also land on the Moon - we will become space scientists," the Prime Minister said. He specially mentioned the 'INSPIRE-MANAK Abhiyan', which promotes innovation among children by providing them with a platform to develop innovative ideas rooted in science. "Under this, five children are selected from each school. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If you have a mouse, play this game for 1 minute Navy Quest Undo Each child comes up with a new idea. So far, lakhs of children have joined, and since Chandrayaan-3, their number has doubled". On India's space startups, Modi pointed out that their number has quadrupled in the last five years. "Five years ago, there were fewer than 50 startups. Today, there are more than 200." As regards the upcoming National Space Day on Aug 23, he said, "How will you celebrate it..., do you have any new ideas? Do send me a message on the NaMo App". He also mentioned the recent achievements of students in science and mathematics, giving a shout-out to the country's brightest minds.
