Astronomy news

• SpaceX's private Polaris Dawn mission now targeting summer 2023 for launch

  23-02-2023 22:00 via space.com
  
  The SpaceX Polaris Dawn private space mission that will see a crew of astronauts attempt to reach the highest Earth orbit ever flown is now targeting a summer 2023 launch.
  
  Read more

• SpaceX's private Polaris Dawn mission now targeting summer 2023

  23-02-2023 22:00 via space.com
  
  The SpaceX Polaris Dawn private space mission that will see a crew of astronauts attempt to reach the highest Earth orbit ever flown is now targeting a summer 2023 launch.
  
  Read more

• This photo of China's spy balloon taken from a U-2 reconnaissance plane is absolutely bonkers (video)

  23-02-2023 21:30 via space.com
  
  The Department of Defense released an image taken from the cockpit of a U-2 spy plane of the suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that floated over the United States earlier this month.
  
  Read more

• California Science Center reopens retired space shuttle Endeavour's payload bay

  23-02-2023 20:00 via space.com
  
  Space shuttle Endeavour is about to get its 'boom' back. The California Science Center has reopened the orbiter's payload bay to complete outfitting the vehicle's cargo hold.
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• 'New Eye on the Universe' illuminates the James Webb Space Telescope's latest marvels on PBS Nova. Watch it for free.

  23-02-2023 19:00 via space.com
  
  PBS Nova's "New Eye on the Universe" returns to the James Webb Space Telescope for more fantastic discoveries.
  
  Read more

• A new Starship Troopers: Extermination trailer has dropped – would you like to know more?

  23-02-2023 18:20 via space.com
  
  Come on you apes, you want to live forever? It's time to enlist as a new trailer for Starship Troopers: Extermination is here.
  
  Read more

• Powerful X-class flare spat out a rare 'solar tsunami,' and you can hear it smashing into Earth

  23-02-2023 18:17 via space.com
  
  The sun recently spat out an X-class solar flare, one of the most powerful it can emit, which triggered a rare shockwave across the sun's surface and caused radio blackouts on Earth.
  
  Read more

• Amazon gets a green light to launch 3,000-satellite Kuiper constellation

  23-02-2023 18:00 via space.com
  
  The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has accepted Amazon's updated orbital debris mitigation plan and approved the company's 3,000-satellite Kuiper constellation.
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Newly discovered type of salt could explain the mystery of Europa's ice cracks

  23-02-2023 17:30 via space.com
  
  Jupiter's moon Europa is crisscrossed with red streaks that have chemical compositions like nothing on Earth. The discovery of a new type of salt ice may finally solve this mystery.
  
  Read more

• Elusive Planet Nine could be surrounded by hot moons, and that's how we'd find it

  23-02-2023 16:35 via space.com
  
  The mysterious Planet Nine may have up to 20 moons that could be superheated by the hypothetical planet's gravitational pull, making them easy to spot.
  
  Read more

• SpaceX, Amazon, U.S. space organizations to talk climate change with VP Kamala Harris (exclusive)

  23-02-2023 15:29 via space.com
  
  Climate change will be raised with VP Kamala Harris after the debut meeting of a group advising the Harris-run National Space Council on government policy direction.
  
  Read more

• SpaceX, Amazon, US space industry to talk climate change with VP Kamala Harris (exclusive)

  23-02-2023 15:29 via space.com
  
  Climate change will be raised with VP Kamala Harris after the debut meeting of a group advising the Harris-run National Space Council on government policy direction.
  
  Read more

• DJI Mini 3 review

  23-02-2023 15:01 via space.com
  
  The DJI Mini 3 delivers a more affordable beginner option with great image quality.
  
  Read more

• Why space is the best setting for horror

  23-02-2023 14:00 via space.com
  
  In space, no one can hear you scream, but there is plenty to scream about when it comes to space horror.
  
  Read more

• 'Star Trek: Picard' episode 2 is unexpectedly excellent

  23-02-2023 14:00 via space.com
  
  Last week's season-three premiere of "Star Trek: Picard" would've undoubtedly benefited from being a two-parter combined with this episode.
  
  Read more

• The Milky Way's monster black hole is destroying a mysterious dust cloud

  23-02-2023 12:00 via space.com
  
  Astronomers are observing the supermassive black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy tearing apart a strange dust cloud in real time.
  
  Read more

• James Webb Space Telescope reveals packed stars in Milky Way's oldest cluster (photos)

  23-02-2023 12:00 via space.com
  
  The James Webb Space Telescope has looked inside one of the oldest components of our Milky Way galaxy, the Messier 92 globular cluster located some 27,000 light-years away from Earth.
  
  Read more

• 28 Feb 2023 (5 days away): Lunar occultation of Mars

  23-02-2023 01:06 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon will pass in front of Mars, creating a lunar occultation visible from Greenland, Svalbard, Russia and Svalbard and Jan Mayen.
  
  Read more

• 28 Feb 2023 (5 days away): Conjunction of the Moon and Mars

  23-02-2023 01:06 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon and Mars share the same right ascension, at a separation of 1°04'.
  
  Read more

• 28 Feb 2023 (5 days away): Close approach of the Moon and Mars

  23-02-2023 01:06 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon and Mars pass within 1°03' of each other.
  
  Read more

• 27 Feb 2023 (4 days away): The cluster IC 2581 is well placed

  23-02-2023 01:06 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The open star cluster IC 2581 (mag 4.3) in Carina culminates at around midnight local time.
  
  Read more

• 27 Feb 2023 (4 days away): Moon at First Quarter

  23-02-2023 01:06 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon reaches first quarter phase – appearing high in the sky at sunset and setting in the west at around midnight.
  
  Read more

• 25 Feb 2023 (2 days away): Close approach of the Moon and Uranus

  23-02-2023 01:06 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon and Uranus pass within 1°10' of each other.
  
  Read more

• 28 Feb 2023 (6 days away): Lunar occultation of Mars

  23-02-2023 00:03 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon will pass in front of Mars, creating a lunar occultation visible from Greenland, Svalbard, Russia and Svalbard and Jan Mayen.
  
  Read more

• 28 Feb 2023 (6 days away): Conjunction of the Moon and Mars

  23-02-2023 00:03 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon and Mars share the same right ascension, at a separation of 1°04'.
  
  Read more

Follow @UK_Astronomy on Twitter!