# An Atmosphere That Shouldn't Exist + 12,000 Artemis II Photos

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Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates-5658676/an-atmosphere-that-shouldn-t-exist-12-000-artemis-ii-photos.md
Podcast: [Astronomy Daily: Space News Updates](https://stenobird.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates-5658676)
Published: 2026-05-06T10:25:02+00:00
Episode link: https://www.spacenutspodcast.com
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/mgln.ai/track/op3.dev/e/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/71887098/an_atmosphere_that_shouldn_t_exist_12_000_artemis_ii_photos.mp3
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Duration seconds: 781

## Resource

Sponsor Link: When you're ready to upgrade your online security, do what we did and get NordVPN . And right now we have a great deal for you that will save you lot's on money. There's never been a better time. To check out the deal Click Here! Wednesday 6 May 2026 | astronomydaily.io | @AstroDailyPod Episode Summary In today's episode, Anna and Avery explore six remarkable stories from across the cosmos: a tiny frozen world beyond Pluto surprises scientists with an atmosphere it should never have; NASA drops twelve thousand stunning photographs from the Artemis II mission and Artemis III preparations accelerate; Blue Origin's uncrewed moon lander Endurance passes its toughest test; new research confirms the sun actively speeds up the descent of space debris; radar-equipped drones emerge as a key tool for mapping buried Martian ice; and Comet PanSTARRS makes its debut in southern skies. Stories in This Episode 1. The Atmosphere That Shouldn't Exist Japanese astronomers have detected a thin atmosphere around trans-Neptunian object 2002 XV93 — a Kuiper Belt body just 500 km across. Published in Nature Astronomy, the discovery challenges long-held assumptions about which bodies can retain atmospheres. Possible causes include cryovolcanism or a recent cometary impact. Lead researcher: Dr Ko Arimatsu, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. 2. NASA Releases 12,000+ Artemis II Photos + Artemis III Update NASA has published more than 12,000 high-resolution images from the Artemis II mission, captured using Nikon cameras and iPhone 17 devices by the crew of Wiseman, Glover, Koch, and Hansen. The archive includes lunar far-side close-ups, Earthset images, star trails, and a solar eclipse from space. Meanwhile, the Artemis III SLS core stage has arrived at Kennedy Space Cente…

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