Astronomers trace mystery radio signals back to cosmic odd couple of white dwarf and sun-like star

space.com Nov 14, 2026

Astronomers trace mystery radio signals back to cosmic odd couple of white dwarf and sun-like star

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Nov 14, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Astronomers have identified the source of mysterious radio pulses in the binary system GPM J071507−114153, located about 5,000 light‑years away. The system consists of a rapidly spinning white dwarf and a sun‑like companion. Using the Murchison Widefield Array, MeerKAT, and Keck Observatory, researchers confirmed that the pulses originate near the white dwarf, the first clear evidence of this in a long‑period transient (LPT). The discovery also revealed stellar flares on the companion and a magnetic prominence, offering new insight into LPT mechanisms.

💡 Why It Matters

· Pinpointing the white dwarf as the pulse source resolves a long‑standing ambiguity in LPT studies, sharpening models of stellar magnetism and binary evolution.

Capsules Space

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See Jupiter and Mars make a spectacular close approach overnight Nov. 15-16

On the night of November 15‑16, Mars and Jupiter will appear within just over one degree of each other in the constellation Leo, creating a striking visual “appulse” for observers in the United States. The planets rise around midnight, framed by the blue‑white star Regulus, which lies about 79 light‑years away. Although the two worlds are actually separated by more than 368 million miles, their close alignment occurs only once every 2‑2.5 years and will not be repeated until July 2029. Both are superior planets, so they show full disks through a telescope, unlike Mercury or Venus. Amateur astronomers can use a 6‑inch scope to contrast Jupiter’s banded clouds with Mars’s reddish surface and dark features, and are encouraged to photograph the event.

💡 The rare alignment offers a prime, low‑cost opportunity for the public to compare two vastly different planetary atmospheres in a single view, deepening engagement with planetary science.

space.com · Nov 14

Rocket Lab launching 100th space mission early on Nov. 14: Watch it…

Rocket Lab will launch its 100th mission, an Electron rocket carrying a private Japanese Earth‑observing satellite, from its New Zealand site on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 12:30 a.m. EST. Dubbed “The Mountain God Rises,” the launch marks the fastest time any commercial small‑lift rocket has reached 100 flights, surpassing SpaceX’s Falcon 9. Rocket Lab highlights a 96 % reliability rate across 99 launches and celebrates the milestone with a special black‑and‑gold livery on the first stage. The payload, an iQPS synthetic‑aperture‑radar satellite, will orbit at 575 km.

💡 The 100th flight underscores Rocket Lab’s rapid ascent in the small‑satellite launch market, setting a new benchmark for commercial launch cadence and reliability. It demonstrates the viability of dedicated small‑lift rockets for high‑frequency, cost‑effective satellite deployment.

space.com · Nov 14

SpaceX launches Starship on ambitious 22-hour Flight 15 test, but aborts booster…

SpaceX lifted off on its 15th Starship test flight from Starbase, Texas, at 5:47 p.m. ET on Nov. 13, propelling the Super Heavy booster and Ship upper stage with 18 million pounds of thrust from 33 Raptor 3 engines. After a nominal ascent, the booster performed main‑engine cutoff and the Ship hot‑staged, separating 2.5 minutes after launch. Super Heavy reoriented for a planned tower “chopstick” catch but instead executed a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico six and a half minutes after liftoff; the reason was not disclosed. Ship continued to low‑Earth orbit, completing a second‑stage burn and parking at roughly 170 miles altitude after 26 minutes. It deployed 26 upgraded Starlink V3 satellites, adding a terabit of capacity, and will remain in orbit for about 22 hours, circling Earth 14 times before a potential return to Starbase. Engineers will assess the vehicle’s health before deciding on a landing.

💡 Demonstrating a reliable booster recovery—or deciding against it—directly tests SpaceX’s claim of fully reusable, rapid‑turnaround launch systems, a prerequisite for scaling its Starlink constellation and future deep‑space missions.

space.com · Nov 13

California’s brand-new Air & Space Center, home of the space shuttle Endeavour,…

The California Science Center opened its new Samuel Oschin Air & Space Center on Nov. 13, unveiling the retired space shuttle Endeavour, nearly 200 feet tall, in a dedicated exhibit. Visitors can view the shuttle from below, inside the cockpit, and from a replica launch tower with a transparent floor. Interactive displays include a landing simulator and shuttle artifacts. The center, free to the public, requires online reservations during the opening period. The launch‑tower experience offers a unique, immersive view of the historic spacecraft.

💡 The exhibit transforms a landmark spacecraft into an accessible, hands‑on educational resource, inviting a broad audience to engage directly with spaceflight history. It bridges public curiosity and scientific heritage in a single, immersive venue.

space.com · Nov 13

Rocket Lab launching 100th space mission early on Nov. 14: Watch it…

Rocket Lab will launch its 100th mission, “The Mountain God Rises,” on November 14 from its New Zealand site. An Electron rocket will carry a private Japanese Earth‑observing satellite for iQPS, deploying a synthetic‑aperture‑radar payload into low Earth orbit. The launch, scheduled for 12:30 a.m. EST, will be streamed live by Rocket Lab and Space.com. Rocket Lab claims a 96 % reliability rate across 99 flights, noting this milestone is the fastest for a commercial small‑lift rocket.

💡 Reaching 100 missions underscores the growing viability of small‑satellite launch services, offering more frequent, cost‑effective access to orbit for emerging satellite constellations.

spectrum.ieee.org · Nov 13

Video Friday: NASA PROMISEs a New Moon Rover

NASA announced that its Polar Rover for Observation, Mapping, and In‑Situ Exploration (PROMISE) will travel to the Moon’s south pole as the first step of the agency’s Moon Base Program. The rover will be powered by a small nuclear source and will be assembled largely from flight‑spare and test‑bed hardware originally built for the Curiosity and Perseverance Mars rovers. By reusing proven components, NASA aims to reduce development time and cost while gathering high‑resolution terrain data, resource maps, and environmental measurements needed for future habitation. The mission, highlighted in a video roundup by IEEE Spectrum, underscores a shift toward leveraging existing planetary‑rover technology for lunar exploration and establishing a sustainable presence on the Moon.

💡 Reusing Mars‑rover hardware accelerates lunar infrastructure development, giving NASA a faster path to a permanent Moon base.