S02E27: Meteor Showers, SpaceX Launch Attempts, and a Rare Einstein Cross

Welcome to the Astronomy Daily Podcast with Tim Gibbs and his AI co-host, Hallie. In this Friday, July 28th, 2023 episode, we're bringing you the latest cosmic happenings, from breathtaking meteor showers to SpaceX's ambitious space missions and a rare Einstein cross discovery. **Headline 1:** *The Delta Aquariots Meteor Shower Captivates Australia* Get ready for a celestial spectacle this weekend with the Delta Aquariots meteor shower peaking over Australia. Expected to showcase up to 20 shooting stars per hour, this stunning display doesn't require a telescope to enjoy. Learn more about the best times and ways to observe this medium-sized meteor shower that runs from July to August. **Headline 2:** *SpaceX's Record-Breaking Double Launch Attempt Postponed* SpaceX was poised to break records with their Falcon Heavy Rocket and Echo Star's Jupiter 3 satellite launch within a span of 44 minutes, but the mission got scrubbed. With a new target set for July 28, this record-breaking attempt involves the launch of the Hughes Jupiter 3 mission and Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 star-linked satellites. We dive into the specifics of the launch window and potential reasons for the delay. **Headline 3:** *SpaceX Successfully Launches 22 Star-linked Satellites* Despite the earlier postponement, SpaceX triumphantly launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 star-linked satellites into low-earth orbit. The launch from Cape Canaveral marked the 15th mission for the first stage booster, which then returned to Earth, landing on the autonomous ship in the Atlantic Ocean. **Headline 4:** *Astronomers Discover a Rare Einstein Cross* The cosmos continues to amaze us as astronomers uncover a rare Einstein Cross using the dark energy spectroscopic instrument at Kitt Peak National Observatory. An instance of gravitational lensing, the Einstein Cross, known as DESI 253.2534+26.8843, offers valuable information about the early universe. Find out more about this scientific treasure and what its unique structure reveals about distant galaxies. And we wrap up with a bit of humor, because who doesn't love a good (or bad) dad joke? Join the conversation at our Facebook page and stay tuned for Steve Dunkley and Tim Gibbs on our parent podcast, Space Nuts. You can find all our episodes and more at spaceknuts.io and bites.com. Thanks for tuning in to Astronomy Daily. Keep looking up and see you next week!

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