Weekly - World to witness rare total solar eclipse tomorrow and more
Weekly Space News - Quick and Easy
World to witness rare total solar eclipse tomorrow
The world is waiting eagerly to witness a rare total solar eclipse that is going to happen tomorrow. This eclipse will be a total solar eclipse and will be visible in certain parts of North America. A few lucky people in certain regions will also be able to witness a ‘planetary parade’ of the 7 other planets: Mercury, Menus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. However, this parade will be visible only to a few people who are in the path of totality. A comet named 12P/Pons-Brooks might also be visible.
Agnikul postpones test launch for the third time
Last week, Indian space startup Agnikul Cosmos attempted to conduct a test launch of its new rocket called the Agnibaan SOrTeD". This is the 3rd time this launch has been postponed due to last-minute “unavoidable circumstances”. The Agniban launch vehicle is still in its test phase and is designed to carry about 300kg into low earth orbit. The main goal of the test flight is to test the rocket’s first stage which includes the boosters and propellant tanks. Agnikul is the first and only company to have its own privately built and owned launchpad in India. It is however important to note that they have never actually launched a rocket of its own before. Skyroot Aerospace remains the only private company to have ever done that.
Hubble captures 2 galaxies distorting each other’s shapes
Last week, the Hubble telescope captured 2 galaxies 160 million lightyears away that were so close to each other that they were gravitationally tugging at each other. These massive gravitational forces have resulted in one galaxy pulling a little too hard on the other, such that its shape is being distorted and causing it to sprout a long starry tail.
