Astronomy news

• 09 May 2025 (16 hours away): Conjunction of Mercury and Eris

  08-05-2025 23:09 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Mercury and Eris share the same right ascension, at a separation of 8°39'.
  
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• 09 May 2025 (10 hours away): Asteroid 9 Metis at opposition

  08-05-2025 23:09 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Asteroid 9 Metis makes closest approach to the Earth.
  
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• 09 May 2025 (17 hours away): Conjunction of Mercury and Eris

  08-05-2025 22:04 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Mercury and Eris share the same right ascension, at a separation of 8°39'.
  
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• 09 May 2025 (11 hours away): Asteroid 9 Metis at opposition

  08-05-2025 22:04 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Asteroid 9 Metis makes closest approach to the Earth.
  
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• A failed Soviet Venus probe is falling to Earth, and an astronomer will attempt to catch it on camera on May 9

  08-05-2025 22:00 via space.com
  
  The Virtual Telescope Project aims to observe the anticipated reentry of the former Soviet Union's Cosmos 482 spacecraft as it plunges toward Earth during a live webcast on May 9.
  
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• A failed Soviet Venus probe is falling to Earth, and an astronomer will attempt to catch it on camera on May 8

  08-05-2025 22:00 via space.com
  
  The Virtual Telescope Project aims to observe the anticipated reentry of the former Soviet Union's Cosmos 482 spacecraft as it plunges toward Earth during a live webcast on May 9.
  
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• What will happen to VIPER? NASA shifts into reverse on canceled moon rover

  08-05-2025 21:00 via space.com
  
  NASA is no longer asking U.S. companies for proposals to get the ice-hunting VIPER rover to the moon but still hasn't given up on the mission.
  
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• 09 May 2025 (18 hours away): Conjunction of Mercury and Eris

  08-05-2025 20:45 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Mercury and Eris share the same right ascension, at a separation of 8°39'.
  
  Read more

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• 09 May 2025 (12 hours away): Asteroid 9 Metis at opposition

  08-05-2025 20:45 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Asteroid 9 Metis makes closest approach to the Earth.
  
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• What the Soviet Venus Probe's fiery fall to Earth might look like: These past space junk crashes offer clues

  08-05-2025 20:31 via space.com
  
  Recent sighting of spacecraft and debris burning through the atmosphere during their plummet back to Earth offer some clues as to what the reentry of a failed Soviet Venus lander might look like.
  
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• A failed Soviet Venus probe is falling to Earth. Here's what it might look like

  08-05-2025 20:31 via space.com
  
  Recent sighting of spacecraft and debris burning through the atmosphere during their plummet back to Earth offer some clues as to what the reentry of a failed Soviet Venus lander might look like.
  
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• US Space Force test fires thrusters for moon surveillance spacecraft

  08-05-2025 20:00 via space.com
  
  The U.S. Space Force tested a new propulsion system designed for satellites that will keep tabs on spacecraft and other objects near the moon.
  
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• Satellites show 28 US cities are sinking, including NYC and Chicago: 'Infrastructure can be silently compromised'

  08-05-2025 19:37 via space.com
  
  A new study has found that the 28 most populous cities in the United States — including New York, Chicago, Dallas and Denver — are sinking at rates between two and 10 millimeters (0.08 and 0.4 inches) per year.
  
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• 11 May 2025 (4 days away): Messier 5 is well placed

  08-05-2025 19:30 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The globular cluster M5 (NGC 5904; mag 5.7) in Serpens culminates at around midnight local time.
  
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• 09 May 2025 (20 hours away): Conjunction of Mercury and Eris

  08-05-2025 19:30 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Mercury and Eris share the same right ascension, at a separation of 8°39'.
  
  Read more

• 09 May 2025 (13 hours away): Asteroid 9 Metis at opposition

  08-05-2025 19:30 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Asteroid 9 Metis makes closest approach to the Earth.
  
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• 08 May 2025 (3 days ago): η-Lyrid meteor shower 2025

  08-05-2025 19:08 via in-the-sky.org
  The η-Lyrid meteor shower reaches its peak.
  
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• 08 May 2025 (2 days ago): η-Lyrid meteor shower 2025

  08-05-2025 19:08 via in-the-sky.org
  The η-Lyrid meteor shower reaches its peak.
  
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• Astronaut Scott Kelly joins 'Mission Dry', stars in Goodnites underwear campaign film

  08-05-2025 19:00 via space.com
  
  Astronauts are helping to destigmatize a childhood experience by pointing out the similarities between what some kids wear to bed and what explorers wear into space.
  
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• Planet hunter Plato gets its eyes | Space photo of the day for May 7, 2025

  08-05-2025 18:52 via space.com
  
  Plato, the European Space Agency's terrestrial planet hunter spacecraft, is seen after having 24 of its 26 cameras installed.
  
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• 09 May 2025 (21 hours away): Conjunction of Mercury and Eris

  08-05-2025 18:07 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Mercury and Eris share the same right ascension, at a separation of 8°39'.
  
  Read more

• 09 May 2025 (15 hours away): Asteroid 9 Metis at opposition

  08-05-2025 18:07 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Asteroid 9 Metis makes closest approach to the Earth.
  
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• Teenage drama is interrupted by extraterrestrial phenomena in this exclusive clip for 'Watch the Skies' (video)

  08-05-2025 18:00 via space.com
  
  Weird electromagnetic mayhem breaks out in this thrilling new preview.
  
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• A stadium-sized asteroid will fly past Earth on May 9, and you can watch it live (video)

  08-05-2025 17:00 via space.com
  
  The 950-foot hunk of primordial matter is classified as a "potentially hazardous asteroid," but that doesn't mean it has a chance of hitting Earth.
  
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• 09 May 2025 (22 hours away): Conjunction of Mercury and Eris

  08-05-2025 16:53 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Mercury and Eris share the same right ascension, at a separation of 8°39'.
  
  Read more

• 09 May 2025 (16 hours away): Asteroid 9 Metis at opposition

  08-05-2025 16:53 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Asteroid 9 Metis makes closest approach to the Earth.
  
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• Europe's space agency weighs fallout from proposed NASA budget cuts threatening joint missions

  08-05-2025 16:00 via space.com
  
  The European Space Agency is assessing how proposed cuts to NASA's budget could impact it as major cooperative missions face the threat of cancellation.
  
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• Europe's space agency weighs fallout from proposed NASA budget cuts that could threaten joint missions

  08-05-2025 16:00 via space.com
  
  The European Space Agency is assessing how proposed cuts to NASA's budget could impact it as major cooperative missions face the threat of cancellation.
  
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• Europe weighs fallout from proposed NASA budget cuts threatening joint missions

  08-05-2025 16:00 via space.com
  
  The European Space Agency is assessing how proposed cuts to NASA's budget could impact it as major cooperative missions face the threat of cancellation.
  
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• 09 May 2025 (23 hours away): Conjunction of Mercury and Eris

  08-05-2025 15:49 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Mercury and Eris share the same right ascension, at a separation of 8°39'.
  
  Read more

• 09 May 2025 (17 hours away): Asteroid 9 Metis at opposition

  08-05-2025 15:49 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Asteroid 9 Metis makes closest approach to the Earth.
  
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• Earth's skies pulse in sync with the sun's solar flares

  08-05-2025 15:00 via space.com
  
  Earth's atmosphere pulses in sync with the sun's fiery outbursts, indicating it is more sensitive to solar activity than previously thought, according to new research.
  
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• 09 May 2025 (18 hours away): Asteroid 9 Metis at opposition

  08-05-2025 14:46 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Asteroid 9 Metis makes closest approach to the Earth.
  
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• 09 May 2025 (19 hours away): Asteroid 9 Metis at opposition

  08-05-2025 13:45 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Asteroid 9 Metis makes closest approach to the Earth.
  
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• 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' returns to theaters later this year for 50th anniversary of Transylvanian aliens landing on Earth

  08-05-2025 13:00 via space.com
  
  "Shiver with antici… pation!" as those over-sexed aliens from the planet Transexual celebrate their Golden Anniversary in 2025.
  
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• 09 May 2025 (20 hours away): Asteroid 9 Metis at opposition

  08-05-2025 12:37 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Asteroid 9 Metis makes closest approach to the Earth.
  
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• India delays 1st Gaganyaan astronaut launch to 2027

  08-05-2025 12:00 via space.com
  
  India now plans to launch astronauts to Earth orbit for the first time no sooner than 2027, after completing a series of uncrewed flight tests slated to begin later this year.
  
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• 09 May 2025 (21 hours away): Asteroid 9 Metis at opposition

  08-05-2025 11:37 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Asteroid 9 Metis makes closest approach to the Earth.
  
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• Our moon may have once been as hellish as Jupiter's super volcanic moon Io

  08-05-2025 11:00 via space.com
  
  The moon spent a few million years as a volcanic wasteland, covered with ongoing eruptions that spewed from mountains and even from the ground itself.
  
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• 09 May 2025 (22 hours away): Asteroid 9 Metis at opposition

  08-05-2025 10:40 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Asteroid 9 Metis makes closest approach to the Earth.
  
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• 09 May 2025 (23 hours away): Asteroid 9 Metis at opposition

  08-05-2025 09:57 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Asteroid 9 Metis makes closest approach to the Earth.
  
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• 11 May 2025 (3 days away): The Moon at apogee

  08-05-2025 01:37 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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• 10 May 2025 (2 days away): Lunar occultation of Spica

  08-05-2025 01:37 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The Moon will pass in front of Spica (Alpha Virginis), creating a lunar occultation visible from Oceania, Chile, Antarctica, Baker Island, Howland Island and Tokelau.
  
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• 10 May 2025 (2 days away): Conjunction of Neptune and Ceres

  08-05-2025 01:37 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Neptune and Ceres share the same right ascension, at a separation of 8°22'.
  
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• 09 May 2025 (Tomorrow): Conjunction of Mercury and Eris

  08-05-2025 01:37 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Mercury and Eris share the same right ascension, at a separation of 8°39'.
  
  Read more

• 09 May 2025 (Tomorrow): Asteroid 9 Metis at opposition

  08-05-2025 01:37 via in-the-sky.org
  
  Asteroid 9 Metis makes closest approach to the Earth.
  
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• 08 May 2025 (Today): η-Lyrid meteor shower 2025

  08-05-2025 01:37 via in-the-sky.org
  
  The η-Lyrid meteor shower reaches its peak.
  
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• 'Eventually, all life on Earth will be destroyed by the sun': Elon Musk explains his drive to colonize Mars

  08-05-2025 00:00 via space.com
  
  Elon Musk explained the rather depressing fate of life on Earth to Fox News host Jesse Waters, who had asked him why humanity should go to Mars.
  
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