Starry Nights, AstroBee Returns, and Mount Wilson's Legacy | S02E48

**Show Notes: Astronomy Daily Podcast, Series 2 Episode 48 - October 9, 2023***Hosted by Steve Dunkley, live from Australia, with AI Newsreader Hallie.*1. **Introduction:**- Steve welcomes listeners and introduces Hallie, his digital counterpart.- Hallie shares a story about the AstroBee robots on the International Space Station (ISS). One of them, the yellow AstroBee, has returned to work.- Steve expresses his fondness for the AstroBee robots and their utility on the ISS.2. **Upcoming Space Missions:**- A mission to examine asteroid Syke is set to launch on October 12. The mission will utilize data from the retired observatory, Sophia.- NASA's Syke Mission, launching on October 12, aims to research asteroid 16 Syke, believed to be metal-rich and one of the largest asteroids in the asteroid belt. The mission will use data from the retired Sophia Telescope and NASA's Ames Research Center.3. **SpaceX Launch:**- SpaceX is set to launch 22 Starlink Broadband satellites on October 9 from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base. The launch can be viewed live on SpaceX's account on X (formerly Twitter).4. **AstroBee Robots on ISS:**- The yellow AstroBee robot, named Honey, has returned to the ISS after maintenance. It can perform tasks autonomously, aiding astronauts and serving as a platform for research and STEM outreach.5. **Mount Wilson Observatory:**- The observatory, once a prime location for astronomical discoveries, faces challenges due to light pollution from Los Angeles.- Despite its historical significance, funding challenges persist. The observatory relies heavily on volunteers for maintenance and operations.- The observatory marks the hundredth anniversary of a significant discovery, shedding light on its rich history and contributions to astronomy.6. **Closing Remarks:**- Steve encourages listeners to visit the Mount Wilson Observatory website (mtwilson.edu) for more information.- He also promotes the Space Nuts podcast and the Astronomy Daily podcast, available at spacenuts.io and bitesz.com.- Steve invites listeners to join the Space Nuts Facebook group and sign up for the Astronomy Daily newsletter.*End of episode. Thank you for tuning in!*Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-exciting-space-discoveries-and-news--5648921/support.