Planet Nine's Potential, Milky Way's Future, and SpaceX's Dramatic Feud

Highlights:
- Possible Ninth Planet Discovery: Join us as we explore a groundbreaking study from astronomers at the University of Taiwan who may have uncovered clues to the existence of a ninth planet in our solar system. This potential ice giant, located between 46.5 and 65.1 billion miles from the Sun, could take between 10,000 and 20,000 years to complete an orbit. With its mass estimated at 7/17 that of Earth, this discovery raises intriguing questions about the dynamics of our celestial neighborhood and the Kuiper Belt anomalies that led to its identification.
- New Insights on Milky Way and Andromeda Collision: Delve into the latest research that challenges the long-held belief of an impending collision between the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies. A study led by Till Swahala reveals that there is only a 50% chance of this merger occurring within the next 10 billion years, suggesting a more complex gravitational interplay with nearby galaxies. This new perspective reshapes our understanding of the future of our galaxy and the potential outcomes of such cosmic events.
- Elon Musk's SpaceX Drama: Discover the latest twists in the ongoing saga between Elon Musk and Donaldjohanson Trump, as Musk threatened to decommission SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft amidst a public feud. This drama raises concerns about NASA's reliance on SpaceX for crewed missions to the International Space Station, highlighting the precarious balance of power in the evolving landscape of commercial spaceflight.
- Boeing's Starliner Program Delays: We take a closer look at the uncertain future of Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft, which faces delays in its next flight, now pushed to early 2026. With lingering technical issues and the potential for an uncrewed mission, the fate of the Starliner program remains in limbo, leaving many questions about its role in NASA's future plans.
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Thank you for tuning in. This is Steve Dunkley signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.
Chapters:
00:00 - Welcome to Astronomy Daily
01:10 - Possible ninth planet discovery
10:00 - New insights on Milky Way and Andromeda collision
15:30 - Elon Musk's SpaceX drama
20:00 - Boeing's Starliner program delays
✍️ Episode References
Ninth Planet Discovery Study
[University of Taiwan](https://www.ntu.edu.tw/)
Milky Way and Andromeda Research
[Nature Astronomy](https://www.nature.com/natureastronomy/)
Elon Musk and SpaceX Updates
[SpaceX](https://www.spacex.com/)
Boeing Starliner Updates
[NASA Boeing](https://www.nasa.gov/boeing)
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)
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