The European Space Agency’s Gaia spacecraft has not only created the most accurate map of the Milky Way, it has also measured over 150,000 asteroids. And among that data, it found that hundreds of them might have a little moon. If confirmed, it will end up nearly doubling the known number of binary asteroids.It is not uncommon for asteroids to have a small companion. There’s Didymos and Dimorphos, the latter targeted by the DART mission. Or asteroid Dinkinesh, visited by Lucy, which hid not one but two little moons. Gaia's incredible precision in measuring the position and motion of celestial objects has previously measured known binary asteroids. With that demonstration, it was able to take on finding new ones.“Binary asteroids are difficult to find as they are mostly so small and far away from us,” lead author Luana Liberato of Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, France, said in a statement. “Despite us expecting just under one-sixth of asteroids to have a companion, so far we have only found 500 of the one billion known asteroids to be in binary systems. But this discovery shows that there are many asteroid moons out there just waiting to be found.”Gaia’s Data Release 3 was refined in a Focused Product Release that put a spotlight on the 156,823 asteroids it had measured. The work refined the original observations by making them 20 times more precise. Using those incredibly accurate measurements, the team was able to find wobbles in the asteroids consistent with the presence of a companion. They found 352 candidates.“Gaia has proven to be an outstanding asteroid explorer, and is hard at work revealing the secrets of the cosmos both within and beyond the Solar System,” added Timo Prusti, Project Scientist for Gaia at ESA. “This finding highlights how each Gaia data release is a major step up in data quality, and demonstrates the amazing new science made possible by the mission.”The next full data release from Gaia is expected in mid-2026. In the meantime, the spacecraft is continuing to conduct its amazing observations and astronomers continue to pore over the incredible data. And for those keen on binary asteroids, the Hera mission launches in two months, to go and study Didymos and see the effects of the first-ever planetary protection exercise up close. It will reach the asteroid in October 2026.The study is published in Astronomy & Astrophysics.

Astronauts stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) by Boeing's faulty Starliner may have to wait until 2025 to return to Earth.Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore departed for the ISS on June 5, the third and final test of Boeing's new Starliner capsule, and its first launch with a crew. The mission was only expected to last for eight days, but due to problems with Starliner, the two remain stranded on the space station two months later.The initial launch went to plan, but while in space and not yet docked to the ISS, the crew encountered problems."We lost an RCS jet, then we lost another one," Wilmore explained in July. "And then you could tell the thrust, the control, the capability was degraded. The handling qualities were not the same.""From that point on you could tell that the thrust was degraded," Wilmore added. "At the time we didn't know why."Starliner performed well during precise docking with the ISS, and the astronauts got into their new living quarters. They have remained there while the crew and NASA attempted to fix the problems – including a helium leak – which prevented them from returning on board Starliner in June.Months later, NASA is considering sending Starliner home without a crew and collecting the two astronauts with another spacecraft."As we've said before, our prime option is to return Butch and Suni on Starliner," Steve Stich, NASA's commercial crew program manager said in an update on Wednesday. "However we have done the requisite planning to make sure we have other options open.""We have been working with SpaceX to ensure that they're ready to respond," he added, "for a contingency of returning Butch and Suni on Crew 9 if we need that."                That contingency plan would involve sending the Dragon for the next crew run, but with two empty seats for Williams and Wilmore to return in. Stich added that NASA has prepared this contingency plan, including identifying suits ready for the astronauts' return.While it's good news that NASA has a backup plan for getting the astronauts home, it's not ideal. The next mission to the ISS is scheduled to launch in September and return to Earth in February 2025. That's a very long eight-day trip, and would see the astronauts have an unplanned summer, autumn, and winter aboard the space station. NASA continues to work on the preferred option of returning the two on Starliner."But I would say that our chances of an uncrewed Starliner return have increased a little bit based on where things have gone over the last week or two," Ken Bowersox, NASA's director of space operations, added. "That's why we're looking more closely at that option to make sure that we can handle it."One problem they face is that Starliner was not designed to perform undocking procedures without a crew, according to sources speaking to Ars Technica. A significant software update is required in order to do so, contributing to the delay. Previous tests of a different Starliner vehicle, however, showed that the craft was capable of an uncrewed docking and undocking, raising questions as to why this version of Starliner did not have that capability.

A new executive order from the Republican governor of Virginia, Glenn Youngkin, revealed the steps that leaders of the commonwealth have taken to shore up confidence in the election process, including removing tens of thousands of noncitizens and deceased voters from voter rolls.On Wednesday, Youngkin issued Executive Order 35, which aims "to protect the casting of legal ballots by legally eligible voters in Virginia's elections." The EO listed several Virginia voting regulations that those living in other states likely wish they had:100% paper ballots,strict chain of custody for all ballots as well as daily reconciliation during the early voting period,"no mass mailing of ballots" — application for mail-in ballot required,24/7 monitoring of all drop boxes,no "voting machines," only machines designed to count ballots, andstrict prohibition against hooking counting machines up to the internet.In addition, the EO explained recent efforts to clean up voter rolls by conducting audits and tracking voters who have since moved out of state or passed away. Nearly 80,000 deceased voters were removed from the commonwealth's voter rolls in 2023 alone.'EVERY STATE SHOULD FOLLOW VIRGINIA’S LEAD.'Perhaps even more importantly, 6,303 noncitizens who are still alive and who either "purposefully or accidentally registered to vote" in Virginia have likewise been removed, the EO claimed. Plus, Virginia DMVs verify a person's legal status with databases for the Department of Homeland Security Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements and Social Security Administration before issuing credentials like a driver's license, and Virginia is one of just three states that require citizens to provide their full, nine-digit social security number to register to vote. Even mail-in ballots in Virginia cannot be counted unless the voter information listed on the outside of the ballot — the last four digits of the voter's social security number and his or her date of birth — match the voter's data in the state's voter registration system. So, the chances of other noncitizens slipping through the cracks and casting a vote there are greatly reduced.Finally, the EO compels the Virginia Department of Elections commissioner to submit an annual report to the governor certifying that all procedures have been followed regarding ballot security, counting machine testing, and a "triple-check" of the accuracy of all elections results. Youngkin is certainly proud of the EO and his state, claiming that Virginia has led the way in ballot security, counting machine reliability, and "voter list maintenance.""This isn't a Democrat or Republican issue, it's an American and Virginian issue. Every legal vote deserves to be counted without being watered down by illegal votes or inaccurate machines. In Virginia, we don’t play games and our model for election security is working," Youngkin said."The Virginia model for election security works."Former President Donald Trump, who would love to earn Virginia's 13 electoral votes this November, likewise hailed Youngkin's EO and commitment to election integrity."The beautiful Commonwealth of Virginia, superbly led by Governor Glenn Youngkin, IS TAKING A STRONG LEAD IN SECURING THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER — PROTECTING EVERY LEGAL VOTE AND KEEPING ILLEGAL ALIENS THAT HAVE BEEN LET INTO OUR COUNTRY FROM VOTING. All votes will be on paper ballots and counted safely and fairly, not by machines connected to the internet — A big security risk. We must work hard to make sure the Election is FAIR and SECURE!!! EVERY STATE SHOULD FOLLOW VIRGINIA’S LEAD. We need volunteers to watch the polls - So important. The Election on November 5th will be the MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION IN OUR COUNTRY’S HISTORY. Thank you Glenn, GREAT JOB!!!" Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday evening.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

After weeks of speculation, Vice President Kamala Harris has chosen Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her 2024 vice presidential candidate — and Glenn Beck is not impressed. “This is the governor that is Bernie Sanders' favorite governor. Kamala is more left than Bernie Sanders,” Glenn says. “So you have two radicals.” “One from California who was in charge of crime in California. How’s that working out for California? And the other one is the leftist from the home state of Ilhan Omar and little Somalia. How’s that working out for you?” Glenn asks. Walz was the governor of Minnesota when the George Floyd riots were taking place, and the result of the actions he took during that time — or didn’t take — was a disaster. “His major cities burned to the ground during BLM, and he did nothing,” Glenn says, adding, “I’m sure he supported Kamala when she was saying we have to bail these innocent people out who are lighting fires.” Walz’s inability to be an authority figure during his reign as governor is deeply concerning to Glenn, as there’s no way his horrific track record qualifies him to be vice president of the United States. “This is the party that’s going to ‘save democracy,’” he mocks. “I question the sanity of people. I think we have gone insane. I think we will be viewed by historians as a group of people that got so wrapped up in other gods, the gods of their party, that nothing mattered.” Meanwhile, Glenn notes, the left was up in arms when Donald Trump was quoted saying that he could go out into the middle of a street in New York, shoot someone, and still be loved. “Look at what’s happened to your country. Look what’s happened to your savings. Look what’s happened to your 401k. Look what’s being taught to your children. Look at the future of your children. Look at your community and what’s happened with crime. Look at your border, tell me about what’s happened to you personally, and you don’t care,” Glenn passionately exclaims. “And you don’t care. You just go right along with it. You’re insane,” he adds. Want more from Glenn Beck?To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis, and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

SMOKING GUN --> Archived Walz Campaign Release Seals the 'Stolen Valor' Deal, Tim Walz Is a FILTHY Coward

Flawless VICTORY! Grant Stern SPANKED Trying to Defend Tim Walz and the Self-Own that Followed Is LEGEND

Thursday Morning Minute

Ahead of next month's release, Apple is increasing iPhone 16 display mass production with Samsung and LG. As reported by ET News, both companies started making iPhone 16 panels in June. Then, the production volume began to expand "significantly" in July. For 2024, Apple has reportedly ordered 120 million units from the two manufacturers, with 80 million units from Samsung Display and 43 million from LG Display. Unlike other years, it seems both companies don't have issues producing the new panels, as Apple expects to ship 90 million units this year. The report says LG Display will benefit from this year's cycle as it's expected to increase production by more than 10 million units compared to last year. In 2023, LG had issues with the iPhone 15 panel, so Samsung had the most initial orders. Despite that, for the 2024 iPhone lineup, display analyst Ross Young believes Apple will offer a pill-shaped cutout on all models (regular and Pros). Following the iPhone 15 release, all iPhone 16 models will also feature the Dynamic Island – although ProMotion and Always-On Display technologies will remain exclusive for the higher-end models. Interestingly enough, Young says the regular models will maintain 6.1 and 6.7-inch displays, while the Pro models would jump for 6.3 and 6.9-inch screens. A Weibo leaker also corroborated this possibility. This would practically make the bezels disappear from the Pro models. In 2025, the regular iPhone 17 models would follow this display size increase. X leaker Sonny Dickson shared the mockups of these upcoming phones, highlighting their size differences. In addition, another report expects Apple to decrease the bezel of all iPhone 16 models by using a new Border Reduction Structure technology, which rolls up the internal copper wiring into a compact package. It’s unclear how small it can get since current bezels are 1.55mm for iPhone 15 Pro models, but it seems Apple is focusing on reducing the bottom bezel of all new iPhones. Even Samsung leaker Ice Universe agrees with it. He claims iPhone 16 Pro bezels will be thinner than Samsung Galaxy S24. In our guide linked below, you can learn everything we expect from the iPhone 16 lineup. Don't Miss: iPhone 16: Rumors, release date, A18, AI, Capture button, and more The post It looks like Apple is gearing up for a huge iPhone 16 launch in September appeared first on BGR. Today's Top Deals Today’s deals: $229 iPad, $300 off Samsung foldables (last chance), $20 label maker, HP laptop sale, more Best Apple deals for August 2024 Best Apple Watch deals for August 2024 Today’s deals: $10 off school supplies, $189 Apple Watch SE, $140 FlexiSpot electric standing desk, more

Former President Donald Trump on Thursday morning sounded intent on debating Vice President Kamala Harris, saying he will "expose" his opponent when the two presidential nominees meet.