[Image: Flickr]
It has been an exciting week for space nerds, with loads of WTF? headlines covering a variety of happenings above and beyond our little blue planet.
From Japan’s plan to “beam’ solar power from a satellite to Earth, to a stadium-sized, potentially hazardous asteroid passing by Earth today, space has been vibing hard, so let’s check out some of the headlines:
Japan Prepares To Transmit Solar Power From Space To Earth
Japan is preparing to conduct the world’s first demonstration of space-to-Earth solar power transmission through its ambitious OHISAMA project. Led by Japan Space Systems, the initiative aims to showcase the potential of harvesting solar energy in space and delivering it directly to Earth using wireless technology.
The project involves launching a 180-kilogram satellite equipped with a 2-square-meter photovoltaic panel into low Earth orbit. Once in space, the satellite will collect solar energy, convert it into microwaves, and transmit that energy to a ground-based receiver. The demonstration aims to deliver approximately 1 kilowatt of power – enough to run small appliances – proving the concept’s viability.
The mission, scheduled for this year, is a significant milestone in the development of space-based solar power systems. If successful, it could pave the way for a future where clean, uninterrupted energy is beamed to Earth from orbit, reducing dependence on terrestrial power sources and contributing to global sustainability efforts.
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James Webb Space Telescope Discovers That Our Universe May Exist Inside A Black Hole
Okay, this may be a bit ‘out there’, but a recent analysis of data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has sparked speculation that our universe may exist within a larger, rotating black hole. This idea, supported by an unusual finding about galaxy rotations, aligns with a theory called Schwarzschild cosmology, which suggests our universe could be the interior of a massive, rotating black hole.
JWST’s observations of deep space have revealed that two-thirds of the 263 galaxies studied were rotating clockwise, deviating from the expected 50/50 distribution.
If the black hole cosmology holds, it could mean that existing theories about the cosmos are incomplete and that black holes might be more complex and interconnected than previously thought.
Amateur Astronomer Captures Once-In-A-Lifetime Footage Of An Asteroid Hitting The Moon
A stargazer captured a rare and extraordinary moment on May 2, 2025, when he filmed an asteroid striking the moon through his telescope.
Stunned by the unexpected impact, he described it as a surreal and historic experience, later noting that such collisions, while rarely seen, are a common cause of lunar craters.
A Stadium-Sized Asteroid Will Fly Past Earth Today (May 9), And You Can Watch It Live
A stadium-sized, potentially hazardous asteroid will pass by Earth today, and you can watch the flyby happen in real time courtesy of a livestream from The Virtual Telescope Project.
The main belt asteroid 612356 2002 JX8 is estimated to have a diameter of 290 meters according to NASA, and will pose absolutely no threat to Earth during its 2025 flyby.
The Virtual Telescope Project’s YouTube channel will go live 20:30 GMT on May 9, just a few hours before 2002 JX8 makes its closest approach to Earth at 11:02 GMT. The stream will also show views of the asteroid Vesta, which reached opposition on May 2 and is still relatively bright in the night sky.
Winter is the perfect time to look up from your mobile screens and gaze at the night skies, so this weekend, get out there and have a gander at the awesomeness of the universe beyond our fragile world.
