Astronomy news

• 26 Aug 2023 (8 hours ago): Asteroid 8 Flora at opposition

  27-08-2023 01:58 via Astronomy News visible from latitude 51.51°N
  
  Asteroid 8 Flora makes closest approach to the Earth.
  
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• Blue Origin announces 3rd stage for its powerful New Glenn rocket —and a new engine

  05-11-2026 21:55 via Latest from Space.com
  
  Blue Origin's big rocket is getting a little bigger.Jeff Bezos' company announced today (Nov. 5) that it has developed a third stage for its New Glenn rocket, which it says will make the powerful launcher more capable and flexible.The stage, called the GS3, "enhances New Glenn's capabilities," Blue Origin said in a blog post today. "The third stage enables direct deployment of satellite constellations to GEO [geostationary orbit] and supports heavy-lift science and exploration missions to the mo
  
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• Earth has captured a new mini moon  — but it won't stick around for long

  05-11-2026 20:00 via Latest from Space.com
  
  Earth has caught itself a new mini-moon, and it is sticking around for Christmas. The space rock, designated 2026 QQ8, was first observed in August 2026 after entering orbit around Earth in April 2026. The discovery was reported by the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center on Thursday (Oct. 29).The stay of QQ8 is a temporary one. The mini-moon will remain in the thrall of Earth's gravity through December before breaking away in 2027. Scientists have recreated the orbital path of
  
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• On this day in space! Nov. 5, 2002: NASA's Galileo spacecraft flies by Jupiter moon Almathea only to find it's a 'pile of icy rubble less dense than water'

  05-11-2026 19:27 via Latest from Space.com
  
  On Nov. 5, 2002, NASA's old Galileo spacecraft was almost out of fuel. But the Jupiter mission still had some science to do. Galileo flew by a small moon called Amalthea. Amalthea is small, but it's interesting for scientists.The Jupiter moon Amalthea is the reddest object in our solar system. It also generates more heat than it gets from the sun. Scientists think Amalthea creates electrical currents as it orbits in Jupiter's huge magnetic field. Near this little moon, strong radiation from Jupi
  
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• You don't have to go to the moon to see Earth differently: Artemis II astronaut Victor Glover on what really matters

  05-11-2026 18:00 via Latest from Space.com
  
  TENERIFE, Canary Islands — Imagine traveling over 250 million miles from home, watching Earth disappear behind the moon and losing contact with the billions of people who call it home. What would you miss most?
  For Artemis II astronaut Victor Glover, the answer wasn't a particular place, a familiar view or even the comforts of home. It was something much more fundamental: human connection.Speaking during a discussion with former astronaut Chris Hadfield at the Starmus VIII festival on Oct. 18
  
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• NASA's Voyager 1 probe bounces back from communications glitch in interstellar space

  05-11-2026 16:18 via Latest from Space.com
  
  Voyager, 1, humanity's most distant spacecraft, is back in contact after briefly losing touch with Earth last month.The spacecraft stopped phoning home for about 48 hours between Oct. 18 and 20 due to a communications glitch that Voyager 1 resolved on its own, before engineers could send the long-running spacecraft a remote fix."This is the first time we've seen the spacecraft do something like this, but we are also at a point in the mission where we have to expect the unexpected," Kareem Badaru
  
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• Earth photobombs spacewalking Canadian astronaut | Space photo of the day for Nov. 5, 2026

  05-11-2026 16:00 via Latest from Space.com
  
  Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk poses for a photo during his spacewalk on Oct. 29, 2026.(Image credit: CSA)Spacewalks are hard work, so sometimes you need to take a break for a moment and snap a gorgeous selfie with your home planet in the background.What is it?During a pre-Halloween spacewalk on Oct. 29, 2026, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk took a moment to pose for a photograph. In this moment, the International Space Station to which he was tethered was orbiting 267 miles (430
  
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• NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins is the 1st Black woman to command a space mission. Will we see more diversity in the future on the final frontier?

  05-11-2026 15:00 via Latest from Space.com
  
  When Jessica Watkins became commander of her mission to the International Space Station, she didn't just fulfill her duty as an astronaut — shemade history. Watkins is commanding SpaceX's Crew-13 mission, which launched her and three other astronauts to the International Space Station on Oct. 1. As their Crew Dragon capsule lifted off atop a Falcon 9 rocket that day, Watkins became the first Black woman to command a crewed mission to space. Spaceflight and space science are historically white
  
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• NASA announces experimental X-70 Fractal aircraft: A 'new beginning for aeronautics'

  05-11-2026 14:33 via Latest from Space.com
  
  NASA has revealed a glimpse of its next X-plane, known as the X-70 Fractal.Or at least what it thinks the X-70 will look like once built. The agency released a short statement on Wednesday (Nov. 4) announcing the X-plane, or experimental plane, declaring it to be a highly maneuverable test bed with a "rapidly reconfigurable flight-control technology," allowing NASA to swap both external and internal components on-the-fly. This modular architecture will allow NASA to "explore aircraft maneuverabi
  
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• China lays out plans to land astronauts on the moon 'before 2030.' Can NASA still win this race?

  05-11-2026 14:00 via Latest from Space.com
  
  China has given us some details about the epic moon landing it plans to pull off a few years from now. Chinese officials laid out the roadmap for its crewed lunar campaign at the 7th Manned Space Symposium, which was held Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 in Beijing. The campaign consists of four missions, culminating in a crewed touchdown "before 2030," according to media reports.That timeline — which is consistent with previous statements made by the China Manned Space Agency — keeps the pressure on the
  
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• Early Black Friday beginner telescope deal — this portable Celestron is now 25% off at Amazon

  05-11-2026 13:05 via Latest from Space.com
  
  Black Friday is still weeks away but we've spotted this early telescope deal on a Celestron telescope designed with beginners in mind.The Celestron Travel Scope 70 is a great entry-level telescope that delivers better views of the moon, planets and some deep-sky objects. It's also suitable for children while you decide if you want to drop serious money on a bigger telescope further down the line.You can buy the Celestron Travel Scope 70, on sale right now for $90 on Amazon.Save $30 on this super
  
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• 2 astronauts will finish upgrading ISS solar arrays during spacewalk today: Watch it live

  05-11-2026 09:08 via Latest from Space.com
  
  Two spacewalking astronauts will finish upgrading the International Space Station's power system today (Nov. 5), and you can watch the action live.NASA astronaut Anil Menon and the Canadian Space Agency's Joshua Kutryk will install the eighth and final International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Array (iROSA) today, during a roughly seven-hour spacewalk that's scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. EST (1330 GMT).You can watch it live here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA, beginning at 7 a.m. EDT (1200 GM
  
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• On this day in space! Nov. 4, 2015: A rail-launched Super Strypi rocket carrying 13 baby satellites failed during its debut launch for the US Air Force

  05-11-2026 00:00 via Latest from Space.com
  
  On Nov. 4, 2015, the United States Air Force planned to launch an experimental rocket for small satellites from the Pacific Missile Range Facility off Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii. The launch didn't according to plan.For this mission, the Air Force was testing out the Super Strypi rocket. The rocket used a rail to help with the liftoff.Super Strypi left the ground, but the rocket quickly spun out of control. When it crashed, it destroyed all of the tiny satellites riding aboard the rocket. The c
  
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• Trump declares 'American space superiority for all eternity' in election night proclamation

  04-11-2026 23:00 via Latest from Space.com
  
  President Trump issued a declaration yesterday (Nov. 3), proclaiming space open to all humanity for exploration, and the right of American citizens to develop and settle the solar system according to United States laws."The American Declaration of Freedom in Space," describes space as the "province of all humans" and asserts that the United States will lead humanity's expansion into the cosmos. The proclamation reiterates the administration's goals with NASA's Artemis program to return American
  
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• Upcoming Marvel movies and TV shows: Avengers: Doomsday, Secret Wars, X-Men & more

  04-11-2026 22:00 via Latest from Space.com
  
  Marvel fatigue? Think again, especially after Spider-Man: Brand New Day made over $2.5 billion worldwide and Avengers: Doomsday is looking hot, hot, hot! But even after the uneven Multiverse Saga ends (hopefully on a high note), Marvel Studios won’t be stopping. So, we've put together a list of all the upcoming MCU movies and shows confirmed so far.While the MCU isn't stopping, Marvel has slowed its roll, with the powers that be returning to the “quality over quantity” approach that define
  
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• 'Trials and Tribble-ations' at 30: The classic 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' episode that brought Captains Kirk and Sisko face-to-face

  04-11-2026 21:00 via Latest from Space.com
  
  When "Star Trek" celebrated its 60th anniversary in September, it was a strangely muted affair. Sure, there were fan events, screenings, and even an attempt at a world record for the biggest simultaneous Vulcan salute in history, but the lack of a "Doctor Who"-style birthday episode felt like a glaring omission. It was like everyone had shown up for the party, but the organizers had forgotten to book the headline entertainment.Luckily, there were rather more fireworks for the show's 30th birthda
  
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• NASA's Swift space telescope crashes back to Earth after failed rescue attempt

  04-11-2026 20:06 via Latest from Space.com
  
  NASA's Swift space telescope has reached the end of its long and winding road.Swift fell uncontrolled to Earth today (Nov. 4), 22 years after it launched but just three months after a private spacecraft was supposed to boost it to a higher, life-extending orbit.The 3,200-pound (1,450 kilograms) observatory reentered Earth's atmosphere at 7:39 a.m. EST (1239 GMT) today over northern Sumatra, according to satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell, who cited U.S. Space Force data. The fall likely didn't
  
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• Mars isn't dead — recent volcanic activity reveals it's just sleeping

  04-11-2026 20:00 via Latest from Space.com
  
  Scientists have long suspected that Mars is geologically "dead," but new spacecraft observations suggest the Red Planet's volcanoes are merely sleeping.That means that Olympus Mons, the extinct Martian volcano that at around 16 miles (26 kilometers) above the surrounding Martian plains is the largest mountain in the solar system, may in fact be a slumbering giant.The observations were made with the European Space Agency (ESA) mission ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) as it studied volcanic fissure
  
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• NASA's Artemis II moon launch tore a hole in Earth's upper atmosphere so huge it disrupted GPS signals

  04-11-2026 18:00 via Latest from Space.com
  
  The launch of NASA's Artemis II mission in April 2026 caused significant disturbances in Earth's ionosphere that could have triggered temporary, localized errors in GPS positioning, a new study has found.The study, by a team of researchers from National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan, analyzed data from high-precision networks of fixed, ground-based GPS receivers, used by U.S. scientific institutions to measure the minuscule motions of Earth's tectonic plates in the lead-up to earthquakes. By m
  
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• Students gather to explore Hawaii's glorious night sky | Space photo of the day for Nov. 4, 2026

  04-11-2026 16:00 via Latest from Space.com
  
  Over 1,400 students gathered in Hawaii to learn about astronomy as part of the annual Journey Through the Universe program.(Image credit: NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/J. Pollard)Students gathered under the stars in Hawaii recently to explore the awesome nature of the night sky together. What is it?From Oct. 19 to Oct. 22, more than 1,400 students on the Big Island of Hawaii gathered for the Journey Through the Universe event to explore astronomy together. The Journey Through the Universe program is currentl
  
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• Drone warfare in space: Swarms of autonomous, laser-shooting cubesats could defend Western satellites in orbit

  04-11-2026 14:00 via Latest from Space.com
  
  In May 2026, four Russian military satellites came close to ICEYE-X36, a private synthetic aperture radar satellite widely believed to be providing battlefield intelligence for Ukraine, in an apparently aggressive and risky "grey zone" maneuver that spooked many in the space industry. Close enough to jam or interfere with the satellite's signal, blind it with a laser, fire a metal dart at it or, simply, force it to maneuver and burn fuel, the satellites' seemingly intimidatory behavior has incre
  
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• Don't miss out on 'Dark Matter' — this early Black Friday NordVPN deal has up to $386 off, meaning you can stream the latest sci-fi series from anywhere

  04-11-2026 12:27 via Latest from Space.com
  
  With countless VPN options on the market, finding the best vpn service that reliably nails speed, streaming support, and bulletproof security can be the proverbial minefield.NordVPN is one of our top choices for a VPN service, and right now, they have early Black Friday deals on 2-year plans, which also offer a bonus three months free when you sign up.Save up to 78% with an early Black Friday NordVPN deal.Following our hands-on testing, we awarded NordVPN a 5-star rating, and it is the VPN servi
  
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• The Taurid meteor shower peaks tonight — and fireballs could steal the show

  04-11-2026 12:00 via Latest from Space.com
  
  Heads up stargazers! The Taurid meteor shower is upon us, bringing multiple peaks of activity that could see spectacular shooting stars and fireballs brighten November's sky. Here's where and when to look.What is the Taurid meteor shower(s)?Every autumn, Earth plows through streams of debris left behind by Comet Encke, a 3-mile-wide (4.8-kilometer) ice body that orbits the sun once every 3.3 years.These debris streams produce two branches of the Taurid meteor shower: The Southern Taurids, active
  
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• NASA asks industry for ideas about saving Hubble Space Telescope

  03-11-2026 23:00 via Latest from Space.com
  
  NASA is reviving discussions to rescue the Hubble Space Telescope, which is operating well but is on track to reenter Earth's atmosphere about six years from now.The agency issued a request for information (RFI) on Oct. 29 for "in-space servicing" capabilities, which could include boosting Hubble's orbit (which is naturally degrading due to atmospheric drag), or even a mission to "enhance its capabilities" in some way.Hubble, which launched in April 1990 in partnership with the European Space Ag
  
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• Ancient star collisions could explain mysterious Little Red Dots and 'impossible' black holes

  03-11-2026 22:00 via Latest from Space.com
  
  New research suggests that collisions between stars in the early universe were common, which could help explain the rapid growth of supermassive black holes and the existence of strange Little Red Dots seen by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).The team behind this research performed simulations of the early universe and found stellar systems were densely packed, leading to stars frequently slamming into each other. While rapid collisions would have destroyed the stars involved, slower collis
  
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• Voting in space: NASA astronauts cast ballots from International Space Station

  03-11-2026 21:46 via Latest from Space.com
  
  The three Americans currently living off Earth just made sure their electoral voices were heard.Anil Menon told us today (Nov. 3) that he and fellow NASA astronauts Luke Delaney and Jessica Watkins voted in the U.S. midterm elections from the International Space Station (ISS)."Yes, you can even vote from space! All three U.S. crew members had the privilege of voting from space station. We filled out an electronic ballot and sent it securely to the election officials," Menon wrote in an X post th
  
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• 'OGame' developers explain how the browser-based sci-fi game has lasted 24 years ahead of the huge Orion update

  03-11-2026 21:00 via Latest from Space.com
  
  If you were on the Internet in the early 2000s looking for free browser games to play, OGame was a blooming sci-fi strategy sensation that couldn't be ignored. With online servers providing the structure for a living and evolving universe where players fought, traded, and created empires from scratch, its limited visual presentation was no issue.Times have changed, but GameForge hasn't gone anywhere. OGame has been ported to mobile devices, and content updates have kept it alive and fresh for mu
  
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• Dimorphos in sight: Europe's Hera probe gets its 1st look at battered space rock (photo)

  03-11-2026 20:00 via Latest from Space.com
  
  Europe's Hera planetary defense spacecraft is closing in on the binary asteroid system targeted by NASA's DART deflection test, and can now tell the two rocky bodies apart. Hera is nearing the end of its voyage to the Didymos asteroid system, having launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in October 2024. The spacecraft snapped the image of Didymos and the smaller Dimorphos on Oct. 18 from a distance of 795 miles (1280 kilometers) from the pair, which are currently about 122 million miles (197 mill
  
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• Hubble Telescope sees cosmic 'cat's tail' that could wrap around Earth and the sun 500 times

  03-11-2026 18:00 via Latest from Space.com
  
  Using the Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have investigated a cosmic cat's tail, finding it likely formed after two Pluto-sized bodies smashed together.The feature, nicknamed the Cat's Tail, extends out from the debris disk known as Beta Pictoris which is located in a planetary system located 63 light-years away. This tail would put that of the average tabby to shame: It's so long that it could curl around the sun-Earth system about 500 times. That's about as long as 200 trillion house cats.
  
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• The Star Wars Eclipse — Want to see the 2027 total solar eclipse on Tatooine? Head to Tunisia

  03-11-2026 17:00 via Latest from Space.com
  
  On Aug. 2, 2027, darkness will fall on Tatooine. The path of the "eclipse of the century" crosses southern Tunisia, putting several of the most famous Star Wars filming locations in the moon's shadow for up to four minutes. Around Tozeur, eclipse chasers can experience totality among the dunes of Mos Espa and the rocky Jundland Wastes, while on Djerba, locations used for Mos Eisley and Obi-Wan Kenobi's home will also briefly go dark.Other iconic sites are tantalizingly close to — but beyond �
  
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