K2-18b: NO evidence for life in the atmosphere?! Night Sky News

BY x1kzn

June 27, 2025•

Public

Private

7651 views

Night Sky News - June 2025 Highlights

June Solstice:
- Southern Hemisphere: Marks the shortest day and start of winter; best time for Milky Way observation.
- Northern Hemisphere: Marks the longest day and start of summer; limited star visibility.
June 22: Crescent Moon and Venus pairing in the east before sunrise.
June 25: New Moon night, optimal for stargazing, particularly for Milky Way visibility in the Southern Hemisphere.
June 26: Conjunction of Mercury, the Moon, and Gemini stars for observers in the Americas.
June 29: Close pairing of Mars with the Moon, visible with binoculars.

Exoplanet K218b Studies:
- Recent study refutes previous claims of dimethyl sulfide, a potential biomarker, in the planet's atmosphere.
- New analyses indicate that data is inconclusive, and ethane might be mistaken for dimethyl sulfide.
NASA Budget Cuts:
- Proposed 24% cut to the overall NASA budget; significant reductions in astrophysics and Earth sciences.
- Key mission impacts include cancellation of Mars sample return mission, cuts to Hubble and JWST operations.
- National Science Foundation faces cuts, impacting the 30-meter telescope and astronomy fellow programs.
Most Distant Galaxy Discovery:
- Galaxy MOM-Z14: Discovered at a redshift of 14.44, indicating light emitted when the universe was 280 million years old.
- Technique used: Lyman break to identify light absorption by hydrogen gas in the universe.

Ground News Sponsor: Highlight of benefits in verifying news content and understanding media biases.
Call to Action: Encouragement to stay informed and active against space science budget cuts by contacting representatives and supporting petitions.

Reminder to enjoy stargazing and share experiences on social media. Encouragement for scientific curiosity and engagement.