Science Wrap: Lunar eclipse, ghost face on Jupiter, and China's youngest crew of astronauts

This week's science news covers the upcoming lunar eclipse that the world is set to witness, going all the way to China's invitation to astronauts from other countries for their lunar mission.

Here are a few of the top science news of the week, in detail.

World braces for lunar eclipse 

• In India, a partial lunar eclipse, known as Chandra Grahan, is approaching just two weeks after the solar eclipse on October 14.
• This Sunday, on October 29, the partial lunar eclipse will occur. During this eclipse, only a portion of the Moon will be covered by Earth's shadow, making it a partial eclipse.

• Following the solar eclipse on October 14, India will experience a partial lunar eclipse on Sunday, October 29.
• The partial lunar eclipse will be visible throughout India around midnight. It will commence at 11:31 pm on October 28, continuing into October 29.

Where to watch it

• According to the Ministry of Science, the eclipse on October 28-29, 2023, will be a partial lunar eclipse.

•  The "umbral phase," when the Moon enters Earth's shadow, will start at 01:05 AM on October 29 and end at 02:24 AM. The entire eclipse will last approximately 1 hour and 19 minutes.

Ghost face above Jupiter

• On September 7, during its 54th close pass by Jupiter, NASA's Juno spacecraft took a fascinating picture.
• This image revealed a turbulent spot on Jupiter, known as Jet N7, with dramatic cloud formations near where day and night meet. The clouds in the picture look like a spooky face, and people online are connecting it to Halloween.

•  This image, captured from a unique angle during the flyby, not only offers insights into Jupiter's atmospheric processes but also triggers pareidolia, where viewers discern faces or patterns in random formations, adding an intriguing aspect to scientific exploration.

• A person like you and me, named Vladimir Tarasov, worked on this image from Juno, and NASA loves to get the public involved in its missions.

What is Juno?

• Juno, a NASA spacecraft circling Jupiter, was constructed by Lockheed Martin and is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
• Introduced in 2011, Juno entered Jupiter's orbit in July 2016, delivering unparalleled knowledge regarding the planet's atmosphere, magnetic field, and interior structure.
• Originally projected for just eight orbits due to Jupiter's radiation, Juno continues to function, having completed 55 orbits by October 2023.

NASA solves 1000-year-old Titanic explosion mystery

• NASA's IXPE telescope achieved a breakthrough, capturing the first polarised X-ray images of supernova remnant SN 1006.

• This discovery enhances our understanding of magnetic fields and the flow of high-energy particles from exploding stars.

• SN 1006, situated 6,500 light-years away in the Lupus constellation, originated from the merger of white dwarfs or the accretion of mass from a companion star.

The discoveries

• New findings have confirmed theories about the unique structure of SN 1006.
• Its magnetic field influences how the explosion's shock waves move, making it more effective at accelerating high-energy particles.

Youngest Chinese space-crew reaches space station in record time

• The Shenzhou-17 spacecraft, carrying three Chinese astronauts, successfully docked at the forward port of the Tiangong Space Station.

• This followed its launch from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, just 6.5 hours earlier.

• The successful docking was verified by Zou Lipeng, commander of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, who declared the launch a total success.

About the mission

• Using a Long March 2F rocket, the launch took place from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert at 11:14 p.m. EDT on October 25 (0314 GMT or 11:14 a.m. Beijing Time on October 26).

  China's Shenzhou 17 astronauts arrive at Tiangong space station (video) https://t.co/0V6CfqFLw3 pic.twitter.com/S5zymHEUwI

  — SPACE.com (@SPACEdotcom) October 26, 2023

• The mission features Mission commander Tang Hongbo, (48-years-old) a Shenzhou 12 veteran, alongside former fighter pilot Tang Shengjie, (34-years-old) and former fighter pilot Jiang Xinlin, (35-years-old).

• This trio, the youngest to visit the Tiangong, achieved a successful rendezvous and docking with the station after the planned 6.5-hour flight, starting their six-month stay in orbit.

  China unveils Shenzhou 17 astronauts launching to Tiangong space station in next 24 hours (video) https://t.co/DYZCCVv4PY pic.twitter.com/Sjf1dRCSK0

  — SPACE.com (@SPACEdotcom) October 25, 2023