A $32 million class action settlement has been approved by the U.S. District Court in San Jose following allegations of market manipulation by leading telescope manufacturers. The settlement affects customers who purchased telescopes in the U.S. between 2005 and 2023, covering brands like Celestron, Meade, Olivon, and Sky-Watcher. Claims can be filed until May 20, 2025, by eligible buyers, as per reports detailing the outcome of the legal proceedings.

According to the Class Action Complaint

Documents from the Telescopes Antitrust Litigation highlight accusations against Synta Technologies and Ningbo Sunny, companies controlled by Chinese family-owned entities. As per space.com, allegations include conspiring to monopolise the U.S. amateur telescope market, fix prices, and eliminate competition. The complaint notes that former competitors struggled to survive, with some shutting down due to an inability to achieve sustainable sales and margins.

Impact on the Telescope Market

The lawsuit was initiated in 2016 by Orion Technologies, a California-based telescope maker, which accused the firms of violating U.S. antitrust laws. Despite winning the case in 2019 and receiving a $50.4 million settlement from Ningbo Sunny, Orion ceased operations in 2024. Meade, acquired by Orion in 2021, also failed to survive, while Olivon’s website has gone offline.

Federal Oversight and Market Division

Reports indicate that Synta Technologies acquired Celestron in 2005 and aided Ningbo Sunny in acquiring Meade in 2013, circumventing Federal Trade Commission restrictions. It is stated that the firms agreed to divide the market, with Synta focusing on high-end products through Celestron, while Ningbo Sunny targeted budget-friendly options via Meade. This alleged collusion reportedly led to inflated prices, costing U.S. consumers hundreds of millions of dollars over two decades.

Next Steps for Consumers

While the settlement does not determine legal violations, earlier judgments against the firms under the Sherman and Clayton Acts were documented. A final approval hearing for the class action settlement is scheduled for April 2025, after which affected customers can access compensation.

Astronomers have identified the fastest disintegrating exoplanet observed to date, a discovery made possible by NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). The planet BD+05 4868 Ab, located approximately 141 light-years from Earth, is being eroded at an extraordinary rate due to intense bombardment from its host star, BD+05 4868 A. The planet is losing mass equivalent to that of Earth’s moon every million years and is on track to vanish entirely, marking it as a rare find for the scientific community.

Insights from the Study

As reported by space.com, according to findings presented by a team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), BD+05 4868 Ab is among the closest disintegrating exoplanets to be observed. Its unique condition provides researchers with a rare opportunity to examine the internal structure of rocky planets as their material is expelled into space. These insights were detailed during the 245th American Astronomical Society meeting in Maryland.

Marc Hon, a postdoctoral associate at MIT and leader of the research, highlighted to space.com the significance of this observation, describing the planet’s massive dust trails. These trails extend approximately 9 million kilometres and consist of two distinct sections, formed by varying sizes of dust grains. Hon added that the transit signal caused by this trail blocks 1 percent of the star’s light, lasting 15 hours.

Future Research Using JWST

The research, conducted alongside scientists from Pennsylvania State University, aims to deepen understanding of planetary disintegration. Penn State’s team has previously employed similar techniques to study another disintegrating exoplanet, K2-22b. Jason Wright, a professor of astronomy at Penn State, noted that BD+05 4868 Ab offers an exceptional opportunity due to the brightness of its host star, which is 100 times brighter than those of previously studied disintegrating planets.

Efforts are now underway to leverage the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to study BD+05 4868 Ab in greater detail. The findings could illuminate the composition of such planets, offering a groundbreaking perspective on planetary interiors beyond the solar system.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has initiated an investigation following the explosion of SpaceX’s Starship during its seventh test flight on January 16, 2025. The launch, conducted at the company’s Starbase facility in South Texas, initially progressed as planned, with the Super Heavy booster successfully returning to base after separation. However, complications arose during the upper stage’s journey, resulting in its explosion approximately 8.5 minutes post-liftoff, scattering debris over the Atlantic Ocean near the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Details of the Incident and FAA’s Response

According to a report by space.com, the Starship’s upper stage was intended to release ten dummy satellites and complete its mission with a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean. Instead, the 171-foot spacecraft failed before reaching its milestones. SpaceX, led by CEO Elon Musk, has suggested that a propellant leak may have ignited a fire in the ship’s aft section, contributing to the failure. The FAA has confirmed its requirement for a mishap investigation to identify the root cause and ensure necessary corrective measures are implemented.

Impact on Public Safety and Aviation

FAA officials have acknowledged that debris from the explosion prompted the activation of a Debris Response Area. Aircraft in the vicinity were instructed to hold or divert, with several citing low fuel concerns while awaiting clearance. Reports are being reviewed to confirm any potential public property damage on the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Steps Toward Recovery

As per reports, SpaceX will spearhead the investigation under FAA oversight, with the agency retaining authority over the final report’s approval. SpaceX has already completed construction of the components for Starship’s next flight test and is advancing its rapid development strategy. The company has expressed its commitment to refining the vehicle’s design, aiming to achieve a fully reusable space transportation system for future missions.

SpaceX’s ambitious plans for Starship include supporting human exploration efforts and establishing a sustained presence on Mars.