SpaceTime Series 19 Ep. 4

​SpaceTime 20160217 Series 19 episode 4
 
Hunting the light from gravitational waves
After last week’s historic detection of gravitational waves, astronomers have begun the hunt for a possible corresponding light source. The new research will help scientists place limits on the brightness that can serve as a benchmark for future observations linked to gravitational wave detections.
 
Ancient Babylonian tablets used to track Jupiter
A series of newly deciphered ancient Babylonian cuneiform tablets represent the earliest known examples of mathematical and geometric astronomy. The five clay tablets show how the ancient Babylonians tracked the movement of Jupiter using a form of calculus -- 14 centuries before its invention in Europe.
 
Goodbye Philae
The European Space Agency’s Rosetta mission has said farewell to its lost comet lander Philae. There’s been no communication with the tiny vehicle on the surface of Comet 67P since July.
 
New Western Australian space tracking dish opens for business
A new radio dish has been inaugurated at the European Space Agency’s New Norcia tracking station near Perth for communicating with spacecraft.  The dish is under the flight path of rockets launched from ESA’s Kourou space port in French Guiana.