Spot the Big Dipper Among the Stars Behind the famous Big Dipper lies a vast constellation containing hundreds of unique objects, including stars and entire galaxies. The Big Dipper consists of seven bright stars, known as an asterism, which is a smaller recognizable pattern of stars within a constellation. It is called the Big Dipper due to its shape resembling a drinking ladle or dipper. The best time to observe this constellation is during the spring and summer months in the northern hemisphere when it is most prominent in the night sky.

Russian Scientists Enhance Ceramic Strength for Space Technology Siberian scientists, working with international partners, have developed a method to boost the strength of zirconia ceramic stabilized with yttria oxide. The research highlights that ion irradiation can enhance the material's durability, with a focus on the specific radiation dosage.

China Plans to Launch 'Artificial Sun' for Electricity Generation Scientists are working on constructing the new thermonuclear facility BEST, with the goal of completing it by 2027. The experimental superconducting tokamak with burning plasma has the potential to be the world's pioneering facility for generating electricity. A crucial element of this project is the Dewar vessel, which weighs over 400 tons and functions as an enormous high-vacuum flask.

Sun Hits Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS with a Plasma Cloud In a video released by the Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, comet 3I/ATLAS was observed moving near a star. On the night of October 21-22, the comet experienced a significant impact from a plasma ejection, marking one of the most potent events in the current 25th solar cycle. Following the encounter, the comet's trajectory became untraceable as it moved out of the LASCO instrument's observation range. Scientists are now awaiting the next opportunity to monitor 3I/ATLAS from Earth, expected to occur in mid-November.

Ion Vacuum Cleaner: Project for Contactless Space Junk Cleaning Launched in Europe Engineers are developing a groundbreaking project called ALBATOR, which aims to use ion beams to remove dangerous space debris without physical contact. By directing these ion beams at the debris, they can be pushed away from satellites and the International Space Station (ISS). The European Innovation Council has provided a substantial grant of €3.9 million to support the ALBATOR project. This initiative is scheduled to continue until 2029, with the goal of effectively cleaning up space and reducing the risk of collisions with vital space infrastructure.

Roscosmos Assembles Engine 11D58M for "Angara-A5" Rocket The 11D58M engine, powered by liquid oxygen and naphthyl fuel, produces 8.5 tons of thrust in a vacuum and can restart multiple times in space. Despite its small size, this engine is highly intricate to manufacture. A variation of the 11D58M was previously employed in the propulsion system of the "Buran" orbiter spacecraft.

Oleg Kotov's Journey: From Military Doctor to Seasoned Cosmonaut Oleg Kotov, Russia's 100th cosmonaut and the world's 452nd, celebrates his 60th birthday today. With three space flights and six spacewalks, Kotov's space career is illustrious. Transitioning from a military doctor, he patiently waited 11 years for his first space mission, eventually becoming a ship commander. In a recent interview, Igor Marinin from the Public Council of "Roscosmos" discussed Kotov's life, career, and remarkable achievements. The conversation shed light on Kotov's journey to becoming a seasoned cosmonaut, including his experiences during an incident on the ISS and the challenges of facing outer space alone.

Norwegian Mountain Ranges Seen from Space The stunning mountain ranges of Norway have been captured in a breathtaking view from space. The image showcases the majestic and rugged terrain of Norway, highlighting its iconic peaks and valleys, covered in snow and surrounded by fjords. The aerial perspective offers a unique glimpse of the natural beauty and geological diversity of this Scandinavian country.

First Orbital Data Center: Starcloud to Launch NVIDIA H100 GPU into Space in November An American startup will pioneer sending AI data centers into space by launching the Starcloud-1 satellite equipped with the NVIDIA H100 GPU via a Falcon 9 rocket. This satellite's primary tasks include processing satellite imagery and evaluating Google's Gemma language model. The ambitious goal is to develop an orbital "data farm" with a colossal capacity of up to 5 gigawatts, marking a significant advancement in space-based data processing capabilities.

Scientists Compile the Largest Catalog of Galaxy Clusters in History The DES Catalog, compiled from data collected over 6 years, is considered one of the most detailed maps of the dark Universe. It includes tens of thousands of galactic clusters spread across billions of light-years. This groundbreaking work aids in unraveling the effects of dark matter and energy on the Universe's evolution.