NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled a dramatic cosmic interaction occurring in the outskirts of the Milky Way galaxy. The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a dwarf galaxy approximately 10 per cent the mass of the Milky Way, has been observed losing much of its gaseous halo. The phenomenon is attributed to the gravitational and environmental forces exerted by the Milky Way during the LMC’s close approach, as detailed by researchers led by Dr Andrew Fox of the European Space Agency in Baltimore.

LMC’s Halo Dispersal Observed

The study highlights the effect of ram pressure, a force generated as the LMC moves through the Milky Way’s dense halo of gas. This pressure has stripped away most of the LMC’s original gaseous halo, leaving behind only a compact remnant. Dr Fox, the principal investigator, noted that while significant mass has been lost, the remaining halo is still visible, trailing behind the dwarf galaxy like the tail of a comet.

Survival and Star Formation Potential

Despite this significant loss, the LMC retains enough material to sustain star formation. According to researchers, its relatively larger mass has enabled it to withstand the stripping forces. Dr Fox said that the LMC is a survivour. Smaller galaxies would not have retained their gas, resulting in a collection of ageing stars without the potential for new ones. The retained gas, while diminished, allows for the creation of new star-forming regions, keeping the galaxy active.
Scientific Insights

The findings provide valuable insights into galactic interactions and the role of ram pressure in shaping galaxy evolution. While the LMC’s closest encounter with the Milky Way has passed, scientists predict that the remnants of its gas halo will eventually merge with the Milky Way’s own gas, enriching its galactic ecosystem.

SpaceX is set for its sixth Starship test flight, scheduled for Tuesday, November 19, at the Starbase facility in South Texas. The massive Super Heavy booster, forming the first stage of the Starship rocket, was transported to the orbital launch pad on November 14, while the spacecraft itself, known simply as Starship, arrived earlier on November 12. This latest test represents a critical step in advancing SpaceX’s reusable spaceflight technology, with a 30-minute launch window set to open at 5:00 p.m. EST.

Starship Assembly Underway at Starbase

The company revealed this information on its official X handle. The Super Heavy booster, along with its 165-foot-tall (50-metre) Starship upper stage, now awaits integration at the launch pad. SpaceX plans to use the launch tower’s mechanical “chopstick” arms to lift the spacecraft onto the booster, forming a fully stacked configuration standing nearly 400 feet tall (122 metres). This process will create the largest and most powerful rocket currently in development.

Objectives of the Test Flight

This test flight aims to extend SpaceX’s progress in demonstrating reusable rocket systems. According to SpaceX, the booster is expected to return to the launch site for recovery via the chopstick arms. The spacecraft, meanwhile, will test heatshield upgrades and reentry manoeuvres before descending into the Indian Ocean. SpaceX also plans to reignite one of Starship’s Raptor engines in space, a critical step towards orbital operations.

Previous Successes and Progress

During its fifth test flight on October 13, the booster achieved a historic landing on the launch mount using the tower’s arms, while the spacecraft executed a successful splashdown. These milestones were achieved under the leadership of SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk, who continues to push forward on Starship’s development as part of the company’s long-term goal of interplanetary exploration.

The upcoming flight represents another effort to refine the design and performance of the rocket’s systems, bringing SpaceX closer to making full rocket reuse a reality.

New research has revealed that volcanic eruptions occurred on the Moon’s far side billions of years ago, comparable to those observed on its visible side. This discovery was made through an analysis of lunar soil samples brought back by China’s Chang’e-6 spacecraft, the first mission to collect and return materials from this largely unexplored lunar region.

According to papers published November 15 in Science and Nature, scientists from two independent research teams identified volcanic rock fragments in the samples. One of the pieces was determined to be approximately 2.8 billion years old, while another, even older fragment, was dated to 4.2 billion years. These findings provide evidence of prolonged volcanic activity on the far side of the Moon, an area previously lacking direct geological data.

Distinct Characteristics of the Moon’s Far Side

The Moon’s far side differs significantly from its near side, which faces Earth and has been better explored. While the near side features flat, dark plains formed by ancient lava flows, the far side is marked by craters and lacks similar volcanic formations. According to Qiu-Li Li, a co-author of the study from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the stark geological contrasts between the two sides remain a subject of ongoing investigation.

Earlier research, including data from NASA‘s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, hinted at a volcanic history for the far side. However, the recent findings, published in the journals Science and Nature, offer the first physical evidence confirming such activity.

China’s Lunar Missions in Focus

China has been instrumental in advancing lunar exploration. In 2019, the Chang’e-4 mission became the first to land on the Moon’s far side. The Chang’e-5 mission later returned samples from the near side in 2020. The current study builds on these achievements, shedding light on over a billion years of volcanic eruptions on the Moon’s hidden hemisphere. Further research is expected to clarify how and why volcanic activity persisted for such an extended period.