NASA accidentally severs contact with Voyager 2 probe 12 billion miles from Earth

NASA has temporarily lost the ability to communicate with the Voyager 2 probe in deep space due to an antenna misalignment issue. Contact is expected to be restored after a scheduled realignment in October. Both Voyager probes continue their journeys carrying golden records from humanity.

Key Facts & Points

  • On July 21, commands to Voyager 2 inadvertently shifted its antenna away from Earth by 2 degrees
  • This severed contact with NASA's Deep Space Network which communicates with probes
  • Voyager 2 now drifting silently but the antenna is programmed to periodically realign
  • The next realignment is Oct 15, NASA expects contact to be restored then
  • Both Voyagers carry golden records with sounds/images from Earth for aliens
  • Voyager 2 launched in 1977, passed into interstellar space in Nov 2018
  • It is the second farthest human-made object behind Voyager 1
  • Voyager 1 is 14.8 billion miles away, still in contact with NASA
  • Both Voyagers have power and fuel until at least 2025

James Webb telescope discovers giant question mark galaxy in deep space


While observing some nearby young stars, the James Webb Space Telescope also discovered a strange question mark-shaped galaxy in the background that is likely incredibly ancient and distant. This highlights JWST's ability to see previously unseen galaxies from the early universe.

Key Facts & Points

  • Merging galaxies can often have distorted shapes like the question mark
  • More analysis is needed to confirm, but likely the first time this galaxy has been seen
  • JWST reveals many new distant celestial objects like this
  • Question mark galaxy is seen behind stars called Herbig-Haro 46/47
  • Herbig-Haro 46/47 is located 1470 lightyears away in Vela constellation
  • Question mark galaxy has red color indicating it is extremely distant

The first images from the ESA’s Euclid telescope are here

The ESA's Euclid space telescope has released beautiful first test images showcasing its observational capabilities. Though not actual science data yet, the images demonstrate Euclid's potential for detailed views of distant galaxies that will help unravel mysteries about dark matter.

Key Facts & Points

  • The European Space Agency's new Euclid space telescope has revealed its first test images since launching in July
  • While not actual scientific observations yet, the images demonstrate Euclid's ability to see distant galaxies in great detail
  • Euclid was designed to study dark matter and will begin its main mission soon
  • These early test images provide exciting glimpses of Euclid's potential for new discoveries about dark matter and the universe
  • The level of detail and resolution is impressive and bodes well for Euclid's future research