Astronomy news

• 04 Jun 2023 (12 hours away): Venus at dichotomy

  03-06-2023 16:10 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Venus reaches half phase in the evening sky.
  
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• Did NASA just find evidence of ancient life on Mars? Perseverance rover spots complex carbon in Red Planet rocks

  24-06-2026 20:05 via space.com
  
  Could Martian mudstones be holding evidence of ancient microbes? New findings strengthen the case that the Red Planet once held life. New data from NASA's Perseverance rover has revealed complex carbon in two Martian mudstones found in Mars' Jezero crater, the same location where previous evidence of possible ancient life has been found. Scientists think this macromolecular (meaning large) complex carbon, could hold evidence that ancient microbial life once existed in the same sedimentary materi
  
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• SpaceX launching 24 Starlink satellites from California tonight: Watch it live

  24-06-2026 19:00 via space.com
  
  SpaceX will launch another batch of its Starlink satellites from California's central coast tonight (June 24), and you can watch the action live.A Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to lift off from Vandenberg Space Force Base tonight at 11:19 p.m. EDT (8:19 p.m. local time; 0319 GMT on June 25), carrying 24 of the broadband spacecraft to low Earth orbit (LEO).You can watch the launch live via SpaceX; coverage will begin about 10 minutes before liftoff.If all goes to plan, the Falcon 9's first stage w
  
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• Launch your sci-fi binge with these top streaming deals I found during Prime Day

  24-06-2026 18:56 via space.com
  
  Not found what you want this Prime Day? That's where our round-up of the best summer streaming deals comes in, from HBO Max to Paramount Plus and beyond. Admittedly, a couple of these deals may put a few pennies in Jeff's pocket, but take advantage of these deals and you can shut out Prime Day and lose yourself in a world of sci-fi and superheroes. Save 50% on a combined six-month Disney Plus and Hulu bundle, netting you access to the whole Star Wars library,Marvel Cinematic Universes, every Ali
  
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• NASA sent a FIFA World Cup 2026 ball to the ISS so astronauts can test their footwork in zero gravity (video)

  24-06-2026 18:00 via space.com
  
  Astronauts on the ISS had an epic microgravity kickoff with a FIFA soccer ball, as the agency highlighted how soccer balls are influenced by space research.NASA and European Space Agency (ESA) astronauts got the official FIFA World Cup ball rolling, zero-G style, in the Kibo module of the International Space Station. The impromptu match, published on X June 20, formed part of NASA's push to explain how space relates to soccer. As NASA explains, soccer has been studied scientifically on the ISS.
  
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• As 'Avatar: Fire & Ash' hits Disney+, we look at 3 of the weirdest alien creatures in the 'Avatar' movies

  24-06-2026 17:00 via space.com
  
  Avatar: Fire and Ash was a box office smash hit when it dropped in December 2025, and it's easy to see why. Compelling characters, breathtaking action, beautiful environments, and an array of wondrous alien creatures.We've explored the strange creatures of the Avatar universe before, but now that the third movie has finally hit Disney+, we're taking another look at three more awe-inspiring alien creatures from these movies, including some new stunners introduced in Fire & Ash.If you’re
  
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• “Seeing this Nikon Z8 deal is painful — especially since I bought mine at full price!” Our Senior Manager took the hit so you don’t have to!

  24-06-2026 16:54 via space.com
  
  The Nikon Z8 is an exceptional camera, so much so that our Senior Manager, Jase, bought one recently for astrophotography. Unlucky for them, though, as they paid full price for it.Since Jase's Nikon Z8 review, there have been several price drops during sales events like Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday, but we've yet to see it as cheap as Walmart's current price of $3,189.95. This is $80 less than Amazon's current listing price of $3,268, though we expect that to price match soon.Pick up the Ni
  
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• NASA looks for the origins of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS | Space photo of the day for June 24, 2026

  24-06-2026 16:00 via space.com
  
  Researchers using JWST are finding clues about comet 3I/ATLAS' origins.(Image credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Martin Cordiner (CUA, NASA-GSFC); Image Processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI))NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is finding clues that are leading scientists closer to understanding the origins of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. What is it? Comet 3I/ATLAS captured the world's attention when it was discovered nearly a year ago on July 1, 2025. The comet was first spotted by the Asteroid Terrest
  
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• ESA chief calls for greater European space autonomy as trust in US partnership erodes

  24-06-2026 15:00 via space.com
  
  The head of the European Space Agency has issued a wakeup call to decision makers amid partners cancelling missions and geopolitical changes affecting the space sector, calling for Europeans to be pilots rather than passengers.In a LinkedIn post published last month, European Space Agency (ESA) Director General Josef Aschbacher stated that recent decisions taken by the United States to pause the lunar Gateway station and cancel the Mars Sample Return mission campaign — both major projects
  
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• It's a crime these Lego Star Wars sets are being retired but you can save big before they go

  24-06-2026 14:42 via space.com
  
  Lego is amazing, and Lego Star Wars in particular. The fact that you can spend $1000 on a gigantic Death Star set is a clear sign it's not just for kids. But there's a catch; Lego retires sets, meaning that, unless you're willing to pay silly prices on eBay, they're forever out of your reach. Oh, sure, Lego might need space for new sets, and stores likewise, but that's no excuse to rob builders of the best Lego Star Wars sets, especially with Star Wars' 50th anniversary next year.I've rounded up
  
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• 'Everybody wanted to be the first': Apollo astronauts were more competitive, Artemis 2 pilot says

  24-06-2026 14:00 via space.com
  
  A lot has changed since NASA last sent astronauts to the moon — including the attitudes of those space explorers.That's the view of Victor Glover, the NASA astronaut who served as pilot on the Artemis 2 mission around the moon's far side this past April."When you look back on the Apollo missions, there was a lot more competition back in the office. Everybody wanted to be the first, and then everybody wanted to be the next," Glover told Angels Broadcast Television on June 12, shortly before
  
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• Hubble Space Telescope images galaxy scientists thought was impossible to find

  24-06-2026 12:00 via space.com
  
  A bright, dense cluster of hot, massive stars in a galaxy that existed 1.4 billion years after the big bang has been found helping to end the early universe's foggy days during which neutral hydrogen gas was draped across the cosmos, obscuring ultraviolet light from luminous objects.The cluster was found emitting ultraviolet light in a small but quickly growing galaxy by the Hubble Space Telescope. The presence of this ultraviolet light, and the star-forming history of the cluster producing it,
  
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• 29 Jun 2026 (6 days away): The cluster NGC 6633 is well placed

  24-06-2026 02:35 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The open star cluster NGC 6633 (mag 4.6) in Ophiuchus culminates at around midnight local time.
  
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• 28 Jun 2026 (4 days away): The Moon at apogee

  24-06-2026 01:46 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon recedes to its orbit's furthest point from the Earth, making it appear fractionally smaller than at other times of the month.
  
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• 27 Jun 2026 (3 days away): Lunar occultation of Antares

  24-06-2026 01:46 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon will pass in front of Antares (Alpha Scorpii), creating a lunar occultation visible from countries and territories including Antarctica, Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania amongst others.
  
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• 27 Jun 2026 (3 days away): June Bootid meteor shower 2026

  24-06-2026 01:46 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The June Bootid meteor shower reaches its peak.
  
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• 25 Jun 2026 (Tomorrow): Comet 78P/Gehrels passes perihelion

  24-06-2026 01:46 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Comet 78P/Gehrels makes its closest approach to the Sun.
  
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• 24 Jun 2026 (Tomorrow): NGC 6541 is well placed

  24-06-2026 01:46 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The globular cluster NGC 6541 (mag 6.6) in Corona Australis culminates at around midnight local time.
  
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• 23 Jun 2026 (Today): The Lagoon Nebula is well placed

  24-06-2026 01:46 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Lagoon Nebula (M8; mag 5.8) in Sagittarius culminates at around midnight local time.
  
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• What is Starfall? A look at SpaceX's mysterious new return capsule

  23-06-2026 23:00 via space.com
  
  SpaceX just launched a brand-new return capsule that it has been developing in the dark.That vehicle, called Starfall, lifted off atop a Falcon 9 rocket this morning (June 23), on a test mission designed to show that it can fly in a controlled fashion and survive the fiery trip down through Earth's atmosphere. The demonstration flight may have caught some space fans by surprise, for SpaceX has revealed little about Starfall to date. And that air of secrecy extended through today's launch; the co
  
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• Space.com just launched an app! Get your inside scoop on space exploration

  23-06-2026 22:04 via space.com
  
  Hey, space fans! For over 25 years, we here at Space.com have dedicated ourselves to bringing you the best space mission news, astronomical discoveries, night sky guides and out-of-this-world sci-fi. Now, we're launching into a whole new frontier. Yes, we have an app. Our new Space.com app is available free on Android on the Google Play store and for iOS via the Apple Store and includes the same great coverage that you'll find on your laptop or desktop, but now in the palm of your hand.Are you w
  
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• These anti-Prime deals are giving Amazon a good run for their money

  23-06-2026 21:00 via space.com
  
  Amazon Prime Day 2026 has just kicked off and we are seeing plenty of discounts across telescopes, binoculars and cameras. But what if you don't want to line the pockets of Jeff Bezos but still want a great deal? Fear not, for there are plenty of anti-Prime Day deals that either match Amazon's price or even better, blow it out of the water! Like this Walmart deal that gives you $74 off the Amazon price of the Fujinon Techno-Stabi 1640 image-stabilized binoculars!Amazon has tried to commandeer th
  
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• Rocket Lab launches US Space Force mission with less than 17 hours' notice — a new record

  23-06-2026 20:00 via space.com
  
  Rocket Lab has successfully launched the second spacecraft for the U.S. Space Force's Victus Haze Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) mission, setting a new readiness record in the process. Only 16 hours and 42 minutes passed between Rocket Lab receiving the Notice To Launch from the Space Force's Space Safari Program Office and liftoff of the company's Electron launch vehicle, beating the previous TacRS record set by Firefly Aerospace on the September 2023 Victus Nox mission by more than 10 hou
  
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• This might be your last chance to pick up a retired Lego Star Wars set before it flies off forever, and it's under $100 on Amazon for Prime Day

  23-06-2026 19:30 via space.com
  
  Star Wars' Clone Wars-era Republic Gunship may not be a miracle of practicaliy but I think it's cool as heck and that aloneis reason enough to pick up this Lego Star Wars Coruscant Guard Gunship, $42 off for Amazon Prime Day. Save $42 on this Lego Star Wars Coruscant Gunship setThe other reason? This set has already been retired by Lego meaning that not only are you saving big, this could be your last chance to buy the Lego Star Wars Coruscant Guard Gunship, before scalpers start selling it for
  
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• A 'new' star could finally appear in the night sky this week, thanks to a once-in-a-lifetime explosion

  23-06-2026 19:00 via space.com
  
  A once-in-a-lifetime stellar eruption could occur at any time, potentially causing a 'new star' to appear in the night sky. If it does, the star system T Coronae Borealis could suddenly brighten to rival Polaris, the North Star. Here's what you need to know about the "Blaze Star" T. Coronae Borealis (T CrB).T CrB is a prime example of a recurring nova. This thermonuclear explosion erupts from the atmosphere of a white dwarf star roughly once every 80 years, when it reaches a point of critical ma
  
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• China's space plane appears to have released a mystery object in orbit

  23-06-2026 18:52 via space.com
  
  China's Shenlong space plane appears to have released a mystery object while in orbit, according to a private space surveillance firm.Shenlong launched on its fourth mission on Feb. 6, 2026 atop a Long March 2F rocket that lifted off from China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert. As with previous flights, the objectives of this mission were not disclosed to the public. But according to recent observations by the commercial orbital intelligence company LeoLabs, one part of Shenl
  
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• What telescope could cause our astrophotography expert to break their hard-and-fast rule about not traveling with a telescope? This one! Now even cheaper in this Prime Day telescope deal

  23-06-2026 18:30 via space.com
  
  Our astrophotography expert, Jamie Carter, has reviewed countless telescopes and optics equipment for us but always maintained a no travel rule when it comes to telescopes. All that changed when they reviewed the ZWO SeeStar S30 Pro, and this Prime Day, it's $35 cheaper.Get the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro telescope on sale right now at Amazon for $664.That's not to say the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro is just for deep space; it's a superb all-round smart telescope and we think the previous model, the ZWO Seestar
  
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• NASA wants to dump the ISS in the sea. Experts say the plan 'raises serious concerns for ocean health'

  23-06-2026 18:00 via space.com
  
  NASA's plan to deorbit the International Space Station in coming years has fallen under the scrutiny of a government watchdog group and stirred up a wave of reaction by a leading ocean conservation organization.As presently blueprinted by NASA, the International Space Station will be de-orbited via a series of actions. Firstly, in early to mid-2028, the ISS will start to be lowered through a combination of Earth's natural atmospheric drag and the execution of re-entry maneuvers by the ISS's Russ
  
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• The Unistellar Odyssey Pro helped me feel in touch with the universe and it's now 15% off

  23-06-2026 17:30 via space.com
  
  Astrophotography can be confusing and when combining mirrorless cameras, astrocams and telescopes, there is a huge learning curve that can throw people a bit sideways if they are looking to get into it. The Unistellar Odyssey Pro was the first smart telescope that I used and it helped me on my astrophotography journey, allowing me to quickly and easily take awe-inspiring images of deep space objects like the Great Pegasus star cluster and a range of galaxies. You can get the Unistellar Odyssey P
  
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• 'Rick and Morty' cast talk vocal health, hot viscous liquids, and their favorite season 9 moments (interview)

  23-06-2026 17:00 via space.com
  
  Adult Swim's smash animated series "Rick and Morty" recently unleashed its ninth season, and it's already shaping up to be one of the best seasons so far, with plenty of interdimensional shenanigans, existential excursions, evolutionary entanglements, hostile living room furniture, a potential trip to Boob World, and Pool Time!We chatted to the creators Dan Harmon and Scott Marder earlier this month, but now we're catching up with the main cast to hear from Ian Cardoni (Rick), Sarah Chalke (Beth
  
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