Astronomy news

• Forget 'Halo' — the latest 'Futurama' episode has a ring world covered in super-intelligent rats (exclusive)

  18-08-2026 22:00 via space.com
  
  Ringed worlds seem to be a fertile source of science fiction material, whether it be in sci-fi master Larry Niven's circular alien constructs in his "Ringworld" novels, the spherical megastructures of "Halo's" video game universe — which just launched its "Campaign Evolved" remake of the original game for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on July 28 — or the ringed orbital habitat for the ultra-rich depicted in director Neill Blomkamp's 2013 sci-fi flick, "Elysium."Leave it to the funny folks
  
  Read more

• NASA astronaut and 1st female French spacewalker remove failed ISS antenna but run out of time for replacement

  18-08-2026 21:36 via space.com
  
  Two astronauts — including the first French woman in history to perform a spacewalk — worked outside of the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday (Aug 18), becoming temporary TV repairpersons. Just like what frequently happens on Earth, the work required more time than the "appointment" allowed, requiring a second visit to be scheduled.NASA astronaut Anil Menon and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot were tasked with the removal and replacement of a Space-to-Gr
  
  Read more

• Starship lives! SpaceX craft arrives at Christmas Island after 24-day ocean ordeal

  18-08-2026 19:29 via space.com
  
  The seas have been kind, or at least kinder than expected, to SpaceX's Starship spacecraft, as it's been tugged through the Indian Ocean to friendlier tides. Ship 40, the upper stage that flew on Starship's Flight 13 test launch, performed the vehicle's first successful intact ocean splashdown at the end of its mission on July 24, after lifting off from SpaceX's Starbase facility in South Texas. The spacecraft landed in the Indian Ocean as planned and has since become the focus of the SpaceX Rec
  
  Read more

• Watch SpaceX launch its 100th mission of the year tonight

  18-08-2026 18:00 via space.com
  
  SpaceX is about to hit the century mark for the third year in a row.A Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to lift off from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base tonight (Aug. 18), during a four-hour window that opens at 10 p.m. EDT (7 p.m. local time; 0200 GMT on Aug. 19).It will be the 97th Falcon 9 launch of the year and the 100th mission of 2026 overall for SpaceX. You can watch live via the company's website, beginning about 10 minutes before liftoff.Tonight's mission will carry 24 of SpaceX's S
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• SpaceX launches its 100th mission of the year, sends Starlink satellites to orbit

  18-08-2026 18:00 via space.com
  
  SpaceX has hit the century mark for the third year in a row.A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base on Wednesday (Aug. 19) at 12:01 a.m. EDT (0401 GMT; 9:01 p.m. on Aug. 18 local time).It was the 97th Falcon 9 launch of the year and the 100th mission of 2026 overall for SpaceX. The Falcon 9's first stage rests on the deck of a drone ship after its successful landing on Aug. 19, 2026. (Image credit: SpaceX)The mission is carrying 24 of SpaceX's Starlink internet
  
  Read more

• Hydrogen-powered 'rocket car' tops 400 mph in record-breaking test (video)

  18-08-2026 17:00 via space.com
  
  Is it a rocket car? Tearing across the Utah desert at over 400 mph (644 kph), a hydrogen-powered car has set a new land speed record. Wing Commander Andy Green, a retired British Royal Air Force fighter pilot, just set a new world land speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats in the JCB Hydromax vehicle. On two different runs on Aug. 11, the car went 400.623 mph (644.740 kph) and then 412.135 mph (663.267 kph), which averages out to 406.320 mph (653.909 kph). That's the fastest that any car wit
  
  Read more

• Hubble, James Webb team up to capture the 'Black Eye Galaxy' | Space photo of the day for Aug. 18, 2026

  18-08-2026 16:00 via space.com
  
  The "Black Eye Galaxy" is captured in this new composite image from the Hubble Space Telescope and JWST.(Image credit: NASA, CSA, ESA, F. Belfiore (European Southern Observatory – Germany), J. Lee (Space Telescope Science Institute), A. Leroy (The Ohio State University), and D. Thilker (The Johns Hopkins University); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America))Sometimes, incredibly powerful space telescopes work together to accomplish amazing things. Recently, observatio
  
  Read more

• Hubble, James Webb Space Telescope team up to capture the 'Black Eye Galaxy' | Space photo of the day for Aug. 18, 2026

  18-08-2026 16:00 via space.com
  
  The "Black Eye Galaxy" is captured in this new composite image from the Hubble Space Telescope and JWST.(Image credit: NASA, CSA, ESA, F. Belfiore (European Southern Observatory – Germany), J. Lee (Space Telescope Science Institute), A. Leroy (The Ohio State University), and D. Thilker (The Johns Hopkins University); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America))Sometimes, incredibly powerful space telescopes work together to accomplish amazing things. Recently, observatio
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• A beginner’s guide to observing the night sky with a manual telescope

  18-08-2026 16:00 via space.com
  
  The night sky is not an impenetrable “blanket of stars.” There is depth and detail that can be navigated and known, probed and plundered for rewards — and the best way to do all of that is with a manual telescope. Sure, you can get a motorized computerized “go-to” telescope and even one of the best smart telescopes that self-align and do all the work for you. Arguably, they also take much of the reward and leave you none the wiser. Can users of smart telescopes find
  
  Read more

• It's harder to poop in space. Scientists may finally know why

  18-08-2026 15:00 via space.com
  
  Astronauts have long struggled with constipation in space. Now, scientists may finally understand why.A new study of 52 astronauts who lived aboard the International Space Station (ISS) suggests that microgravity may slow the movement of food through the intestines, changing how gut bacteria break down nutrients. The findings could ultimately help researchers develop dietary strategies to keep astronauts' digestive systems running smoothly during future missions to the moon and Mars — whil
  
  Read more

• See gorgeous views of the Aug. 12 total solar eclipse captured from space

  18-08-2026 12:00 via space.com
  
  The Aug. 12 total solar eclipse didn't only plunge millions of people across Greenland, Iceland and Spain into a false twilight — a fleet of spacecraft orbiting our planet managed to capture the magic, too. August's total solar eclipse occurred as the moon passed directly between the sun and Earth during its monthly new moon phase. Those lucky enough to be in the path of totality watched on in awe as the moon progressively swallowed the light of the sun, ultimately revealing our star's ten
  
  Read more

• Watch European astronaut make history during spacewalk today

  18-08-2026 06:05 via space.com
  
  Sophie Adenot will make spaceflight history today (Aug. 18).The European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut will become the first French woman ever to conduct a spacewalk, an activity she'll undertake with NASA astronaut Anil Menon.The duo are scheduled to step outside the International Space Station (ISS) for a 6.5-hour excursion today at around 8:35 a.m. EDT (1235 GMT). You can watch it live here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA. Coverage starts at 7 a.m. EDT (1100 GMT).Sophie Adenot is part of the Eu
  
  Read more

Follow @newsl_astronomy on Twitter!