Show Notes
Japan’s VERTECS nanosatellite has completed its initial tests and begun routine science operations following its June 2026 launch. After confirming its systems and capturing its first visible-light images of deep-space targets, the satellite is ready to investigate extragalactic background radiation.
Over its planned one-year mission, VERTECS will study the faint light associated with distant galaxies, helping astronomers investigate how stars and galaxies formed and uncover new clues about the universe’s history.
Thank you for listening to Bedtime Astronomy — your guide to the cosmos. New episodes on space exploration, NASA missions & the latest astronomy breakthroughs.
This episode includes AI-generated content.
More from Bedtime Astronomy
Astronomers have detected TDE 2023mfm, a rare event in which a wandering black hole destroyed a star far from its galaxy’s center.
Could tiny salt crystals on Saturn’s moon Enceladus preserve clues to extraterrestrial life? Laboratory experiments show that natron crystals can trap microscopic water droplets as they freeze, potentially preserving chemical traces from the moon’s hidden ocean.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is set to explore the distant universe through the Roman eXtreme Deep Field project.
Scientists have mapped more than 10,000 young tectonic landforms on the Moon, revealing how its interior cooling has caused the lunar radius to shrink by about 45 meters over the past 400–800 million years.
Earth is passing through the ancient debris trail of Halley’s Comet, creating the spectacular Orionid meteor shower. With up to 20 meteors per hour under ideal conditions, observers in both hemispheres can witness these cosmic streaks across the night sky. Discover when to watch, why these meteors appear, and how to find the darkest skies for the best viewing experience.