Space Missions
The European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter spacecraft has provided the clearest evidence yet of how solar flares ignite through a cascading magnetic avalanche. Observations from September 30, 2024, reveal small magnetic disturbances rapidly building into powerful explosions that accelerate particles to near-light speeds. This discovery, detailed in a new study, enhances understanding of these solar events and their potential impacts on Earth.
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Astronomers have discovered that asteroid 1998 KY26, the target of Japan's Hayabusa2 extended mission, is only 11 meters across and rotates every five minutes, far smaller and quicker than previously estimated. These findings, based on observations from major telescopes including ESO's Very Large Telescope, complicate the 2031 spacecraft encounter but boost scientific intrigue. The asteroid's tiny size marks it as the smallest ever targeted by a space mission.