Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (B) To : All From : Daryl Stout Date : Fri Apr 14 2023 12:45:42 RADIO WAVES LEAD TO DISCOVERY OF NEW EXOPLANET DON/ANCHOR: Radio waves have led astronomers to an exoplanet - a planet beyond our solar system - and it's likely the same size as Earth. Dave Parks, WB8ODF, gives us the details. DAVE: Repeating radio signals have led astronomers to a rocky exoplanet that is the same size as our own Earth and, like the Earth, it orbits a star -- one known as YZ Ceti. Further studies of the signal suggest that the planet may also have an atmosphere and a magnetic field. Writing in a recent issue of the journal, Nature Astronomy, the researchers have named the planet YZ Ceti b. The scientists say that the magnetic field's interactions with the star are the likely cause of the radio signals. The signals were picked up in New Mexico by the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array of telescopes. The star and exoplanet are 12 light-years away from Earth. Of course, this is not the first finding of its kind. Last year, the James Webb Space Telescope discovered its first exoplanet which is also believed to be rocky and almost as big as the Earth. That planet, called LHS 475b, is 41 light years away. The research team, which announced the discovery this past January, is trying to learn more about the star it orbits and whether the planet has an atmosphere. That work is set to be done this summer. This is Dave Parks, WB8ODF. (CNN, JENNY TUPPER, NASA) ** ISS ASTRONAUT TO SET NEW SPACE RECORD DON/ANCHOR: A new record is about to be set in space by an ISS astronaut. We hear more about him from Paul Braun, WD9GCO. PAUL: NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, KG5GNP, won't be a record-holder for much longer. He made news after logging the most days in space for a US astronaut -- 355 days -- aboard the International Space Station in 2022. Now, NASA astronaut Frank Rubio is right behind him and gaining. He's been on the ISS since September 21, 2022 and his mission has grown beyond its original six months. He's now scheduled to leave aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft by September 27th, meaning his 371 days will eclipse the one set by Vande Hei. However, even with that accomplishment, he will still be leaving the world record intact. That was set by the late Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov, who logged an unprecedented 437 days aboard Russia's Mir space station in 1994 and 1995. The cosmonaut died last year at age 80. This is Paul Braun, WD9GCO. (SPACE.COM) ** GIVING AMATEUR RADIO A GOOD RIDE IN AUSTRALIA DON/ANCHOR: In Melbourne, Australia, one ham whose love for his bicycle rivals his love for his radio is giving them both a good ride. Here's more about him from Graham Kemp, VK4BB. GRAHAM: As a bicycle enthusiast and ham, Stuart, VK3UAO, is accustomed to doing things his own way. As a machinist, he fabricates many of his own parts to be used with his radio equipment. As a ham, he carves out his own trail to destinations for portable operating. He is presently riding his bicycle from Melbourne to the Pilliga park-fest, pedaling his way on a journey of more than 1,000 km over the course of three weeks. He has his portable shack in his backpack. The park fest will be held between April 29th and 30th, and he hopes his route there will include as many park activations as possible. The park fest itself is a modest-sized gathering of hams with an enthusiasm for fellowship and the outdoors. So there is certain to be even more operating once he arrives. Meanwhile, if you're interested in his journey but would rather not try it out yourself on a bicycle of your own, you can ride along with Stuart. Visit his page on QRZ.com, which offers a link to his APRS tracking -- and be listening for him on the air. This is Graham Kemp, VK4BB. (WIA, QRZ) ** BREAK HERE: Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the W8WKY repeater in Doylestown, Ohio, on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. local time, right before the weekly SARA net at 8 p.m. --- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32 * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (454:1/33) .