A group of 12 students and two teachers from the main branch of Dyal Singh Public School in Karnal have been recognised by NASA’s International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC) for their efforts in the discovery of a main belt asteroid, designated TD40. The discovery was made using data provided by the Pan-STARRS telescope. The students, under the mentorship of Principal Sushma Devgun and Dr Kaveri Chauhan, identified and registered 11 near-Earth objects during their research.

Provisional Discovery Recognised by NASA

According to information provided by the school to several media outlets, the asteroid discovered by Diksha, a Class XI student, has been acknowledged as a main belt asteroid. Certificates were awarded by IASC to Diksha and her peers for their contributions. The discovery, made possible through two years of work using specialised online tools, marks a first for schools in Haryana, where an asteroid will be named after a student.

Ceremony Honours Students and Educators

A ceremony was organised to celebrate the achievement, with retired Principal Scientist (Retd) of the Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI), Karnal, Dr S.K. Kamra, serving as the chief guest. The event was attended by various notable figures, including Dr Namaste Sen, Dr Chandrakanta, Dr Girish, Vivek Arora, and alumni such as Dr Robin Juneja, Dr Sahil Arora, and Dr Ritesh Nandwani. Advocate Rajinder Mohan Sharma was also present.

Principal Highlights Team’s Dedication

Principal Sushma Devgun expressed pride in the accomplishment, noting that it reflects the students’ dedication and their potential for future contributions to science. The involvement of students in a NASA project, she stated, has been a source of motivation for the school community, inspiring interest in astronomy and scientific exploration.

This milestone underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in education and research, showcasing how young minds can achieve recognition on an international stage.

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has achieved a significant milestone by completing its closest approach to the Sun, as confirmed on December 26, 2024. Reports indicate that the spacecraft ventured a record-breaking 3.8 million miles from the solar surface on December 24, moving at an extraordinary speed of 430,000 miles per hour. This is the fastest speed ever achieved by a human-made object. A beacon tone received later confirmed the spacecraft’s safety and operational status.

Historic Achievement in Space Exploration

According to NASA, this close encounter marks the beginning of a series of such passes at this distance. The Parker Solar Probe, launched in 2018, has spent six years perfecting its orbit through seven Venus flybys, the most recent on November 6, 2024. These manoeuvres allowed the spacecraft to position itself optimally for this close approach while maintaining resilience against the Sun’s extreme conditions.

John Wirzburger, the mission systems engineer at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), was quoted in reports emphasising the decades of technological advancement required to enable this feat. The spacecraft’s protective carbon foam shield endures temperatures up to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit, safeguarding its instruments within a stable environment.

Revolutionising Understanding of Solar Phenomena

Nicky Fox, NASA Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, highlighted that this mission is pivotal for understanding the Sun’s effects across the solar system and beyond. Data collected from the probe’s measurements is expected to uncover insights into solar wind acceleration and energetic particle activity near the Sun.

As per reports, previous findings by the Parker Solar Probe have already contributed to identifying the structure of the solar atmosphere and pinpointing the origins of solar wind switchbacks. Upcoming data transmissions will provide a deeper understanding of these processes, heralding a new phase in solar exploration.

Future close solar passes are scheduled for March 22 and June 19, 2025, with further breakthroughs anticipated in the coming months.

Black holes, known for their unmatched gravitational force and mysterious characteristics, remain a focal point of scientific exploration. This year brought remarkable discoveries, advancing the understanding of black holes’ role in shaping galaxies and their enigmatic behaviours. From the detection of an intermediate black hole to uncovering plasma jets spanning millions of light-years, these findings have captured global attention.

Below is a detailed account of these significant developments as reported by Live Science.

A black hole candidate located in the IRS 13 star cluster, near the Milky Way’s central supermassive black hole Sagittarius A*, could represent a rare “missing link.” Scientists believe confirming its existence would provide crucial insights into how smaller black holes evolve into their supermassive counterparts.

Plasma Jets Stretching Across the Cosmos

A black hole named Porphyrion was discovered ejecting plasma jets that span an astonishing 23 million light-years. Equivalent to 140 Milky Way galaxies laid end to end, these jets are among the largest structures ever observed and highlight black holes’ extraordinary ability to shape their cosmic environment.

Heartbeat Signals Decoded

Researchers have unravelled the mystery behind periodic light pulses detected in X-ray flares emitted by black holes. The signals, resembling a heartbeat, are thought to result from shock waves travelling through material consumed by the black hole, providing a glimpse into the physics of their feeding process.

Sagittarius A’s Unusual Spin Explained*

The Milky Way’s central black hole, Sagittarius A*, exhibits a peculiar rotational axis. Observations by the Event Horizon Telescope suggest this odd spin resulted from a massive collision between two black holes, offering evidence of such events in galactic centres.

Dormant Black Hole Awakens

Astronomers observed a previously dormant black hole springing back to life, likely due to new material being drawn in. While such reactivations are rare, they provide a rare opportunity to study how black holes transition between states of activity.