4 days ago

Asteroid 2024 YR4 Threat, Lunar Canyon Formation, and NASA Astronauts’ Early Homecoming: S28E24

SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 24

The Astronomy, Space and Science News Podcast

Asteroid Impact Odds, Lunar Grand Canyons, and NASA's Stranded Astronauts

In this episode of SpaceTime, we discuss the alarming increase in the odds of asteroid 2024 YR4 impacting Earth, now estimated at 3.1% for December 22, 2032. This asteroid, measuring between 40 to 90 meters, poses a significant threat, and we delve into the implications of planetary defense strategies that could be employed to mitigate this risk.

The Origins of the Moon's Grand Canyons

We also explore new research that suggests the Moon's massive canyons, Vallis Schrodinger and Valles Plank, were carved out by asteroid impacts in a mere 10 minutes. This groundbreaking study provides insights into the Moon's geological history and will have important implications for future lunar missions, particularly the upcoming Artemis program.

NASA's Stranded Astronauts

Additionally, we cover the latest developments regarding NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wiltmore, who have been stranded aboard the International Space Station since June 2024. With the potential for an earlier return home due to a change in SpaceX's Crew 10 mission schedule, we discuss the challenges they faced during their extended stay in orbit.

00:00 Space Time Series 28 Episode 24 for broadcast on 24 February 2025

00:49 Increased odds of asteroid 2024 YR4 impact

06:30 Implications for planetary defense strategies

12:15 The formation of lunar canyons from asteroid impacts

18:00 Insights from the Schrodinger impact basin study

22:45 NASA astronauts' potential early return to Earth

27:00 Overview of La Nina's arrival in the eastern Pacific

30:15 The implications of losing the sense of taste

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✍️ Episode References

NASA

https://www.nasa.gov (https://www.nasa.gov/)

Nature Communications

https://www.nature.com/ncomms (https://www.nature.com/ncomms) /

NOAA

https://www.noaa.gov (https://www.noaa.gov/)

Journal of the American Medical Association

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama)

Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology

https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/journals/jvp (https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/journals/jvp)