Hey there! Zapp here from RISE, I hope you enjoy the revamped look of your personal daily space briefing. Over the past few months, we’ve listened to your feedback and are excited to bring you new community features, a refreshed design, and even more curated stories from across the universe.
📸 Image of the Day
ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, J. H. Kastner (Rochester Institute of Technology)
🕸️ The Red Spider Nebula, caught by Webb
A team for Webb GO programme #4571, led by PI J. Kastner, used the NASA/ESA/CSA JWST (James Webb Space Telescope) to investigate the complex structures and formation of the planetary nebula NGC 6537, the Red Spider Nebula.
JWST’s NIRCam (Near-InfraRed Camera) revealed a hot dust shroud orbiting the central star, H2 (molecular hydrogen) lobes extending 3 light-years, and jets of ionized iron sculpting the nebula's structures.
According to the joint Chandra-JWST programme goals, these observations aim to understand how fast-moving jets and outflows from the central stars sculpt the distinct hourglass shape of such bipolar planetary nebulae.
🚀 Upcoming Launches
Starlink Group 10-37 | | | 2025-10-29 | | 12:16 EDT from Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA
Starlink Group 11-23 | | | 2025-10-30 | | 10:05 EDT from Vandenberg SFB, California, USA
☄️ Awakening an interstellar wanderer: Surprising nickel detection in Comet 3I/ATLAS
An international research team detected glowing nickel vapor in the gas surrounding interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS at an unexpected distance from the Sun.
Astronomers detected glowing nickel vapor in Comet 3I/ATLAS's coma, indicating metal vaporization at temperatures far below the typical 1200°C required for nickel sublimation.
This unexpected nickel detection suggests unique chemical processes or internal heating mechanisms are active in interstellar comets, according to the research team.
🌌 Decades-old dark matter debate narrows thanks to dwarf galaxies
An international team, led by the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP), investigated the long-standing debate concerning galaxy rotation and dark matter's role.
Researchers analyzed rotation curves of dwarf galaxies, which exhibit a 10-fold higher dark matter-to-star ratio than larger galaxies, to test gravitational theories.
This study provides new constraints on alternative gravity theories, strengthening the case for dark matter as the primary explanation for observed galactic rotation, according to AIP researchers.
📅 Today in Space History
On October 29, 1998, John Glenn returned to space aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on the STS-95 mission. At age 77, he became the oldest person to fly in space and the only astronaut to fly in both the Mercury and Space Shuttle programs. His mission included a series of experiments to study the effects of spaceflight on the aging body
👽 Galactic Empires May Live at the Center of our Galaxy, Hence Why We Don't Hear from Them
Scientists continue to explore solutions to Fermi's Paradox, questioning why humanity has not yet detected evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI).
One hypothesis suggests advanced ETI civilizations might reside near the galactic center, where high stellar density and radiation make communication and detection difficult.
This theory posits that current Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) efforts are misdirected, suggesting a need to re-evaluate search strategies, according to the article's analysis.
🔭 12-year-old discovers 2 possible new asteroids
Siddharth Patel, a 12-year-old citizen scientist from London, Ontario, discovered two possible new asteroids through a NASA-partnered program.
Patel identified the potential asteroids in September by analyzing image data from the Pan-STARRS (Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System) telescope, part of the IASC program.
This discovery underscores the significant contributions citizen science programs make to astronomy, expanding asteroid detection capabilities globally, according to the Toronto Star.
❓ Question of the Day
How many astronauts have walked on the Moon?
Send us a reply with your answer!
As always, we’d love your feedback. We’re constantly improving RISE to make it smarter, sharper, and more inspiring, and your thoughts help us do that best.
Clear skies ahead,
— Zapp
