Astronomy news

• NASA's canceled Artemis hardware contracts reached $5.9 billion, audit finds

  26-06-2026 15:00 via space.com
  
  A new memo from NASA's Office of Inspector General has revealed how major pieces of Artemis program hardware became costly components of lunar missions that no longer align with the agency's new plans to return astronauts to the moon and have since been canceled.NASA announced a major shakeup to its Artemis plans earlier this year at its "Ignition Day" event, restructuring its mission goals in order to streamline the return of astronauts to the lunar surface and simplify the architecture needed
  
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• Black hole's 'point of no escape' studied with the loudest gravitational waves ever heard

  26-06-2026 23:00 via space.com
  
  The loudest crash of gravitational waves ever heard has offered us insight into event horizons, the boundaries beyond which nothing can escape the grips of black holes.The gravitational wave signal GW250114 was picked up in January 2025 by LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory), Virgo, and KAGRA ( Kamioka Gravitational Wave Detector). The signal was created when two black holes with around 32 times the mass of the sun collided and set the very fabric of space rippling.Now, a
  
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• 'Exodus: The Helium Sea' author Peter F. Hamilton talks universe crafting and finishing the story in this second prequel novel for sci-fi RPG 'Exodus' (exclusive)

  26-06-2026 22:00 via space.com
  
  At some point next year, when planets and stars momentarily align, we’ll hopefully be getting what’s sure to be the most anticipated sci-fi RPG in recent memory — Wizards of the Coast and Archetype Entertainment's "Exodus", which is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.This far future "Mass Effect"-like saga follows the daring time-traveler Jun Aslan as he and his companions hop about the cosmos searching for ancient artifacts to ward off the destruction of their worlds. This
  
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• SpaceX's next Starship breathes fire for 1st time in prelaunch test (video)

  26-06-2026 21:00 via space.com
  
  About a month has passed since the first launch of SpaceX's "Version 3" Starship rocket, and the spaceflight company has already begun testing on its next such vehicle. SpaceX recently transported Ship 40, the upper stage in line to launch Starship's upcoming Flight 13 demonstration mission, to the Massey test site at its facilities in Starbase, Texas. Secured at its base, Starship performed a full-duration burn of one of its central Raptor 3 engines that lasted about 15 seconds. The test, calle
  
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• China plans to double the size of its Tiangong space station while the ISS nears its end

  26-06-2026 20:00 via space.com
  
  China is set to expand its space station from three to six modules in the coming years and add a co-orbiting Hubble-class space observatory, even as the International Space Station approaches the end of its lifetime.The three-module, T-shaped Tiangong space station was assembled in orbit across 2021 and 2022 and has hosted numerous three-astronaut Shenzhou crews, but China is now set to expand the orbital outpost with new modules, citing growing research demands and more frequent crew and cargo
  
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• Only a few hours left! This expert-approved, beginner-friendly drone is $60 off for Prime Day

  26-06-2026 19:45 via space.com
  
  If you've been looking for a good time to take the leap into the drone world, the 30% discount on this sub-250 g beginner drone might be enough to tempt you.Before the release of the DJI Neo 2, we ranked the DJI Neo as the best DJI drone for simplicity. Our drone expert, James Abbott, gave it four out of five stars in his hands-on DJI Neo review, noting that not only is it a lot of fun to operate, but it also makes drone flight as simple or as complicated as you would like, thanks to the multipl
  
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• Moore's law tells us that the price of technology should go down over time, so why is stargazing gear getting more expensive?

  26-06-2026 19:05 via space.com
  
  Intel co-founder Gordon Moore observed that processing power doubles every two years whilst almost halving in cost. That should translate to older technology dropping in price and year on year seeing the cheapest prices in the sales, right? The reality is far from simple in the world of skywatching.For stargazers who have dipped their toes into the world of binoculars and telescopes, prices stack up quickly and even one purchase can wipe out thousands of dollars. Now, there are levels to stargaz
  
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• Beam me up to 4K: Your ultimate sci-fi collection for less than $25 on Prime Day

  26-06-2026 18:23 via space.com
  
  There are heaps of streaming services available, and if you're anything like us, you'll have subscriptions to several — Apple TV for Severance, Disney+ for Avatar, Hulu for Solar Opposites, and more. What you need is something where you can access them all in one place, on any device, whether you're home or away.This is where the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus comes in. If you have a device with an HDMI port, you can plug in this USB-esque device and log in to your favorite streamers with th
  
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• Watch out for the giant scorpion hiding in the summer sky

  26-06-2026 18:00 via space.com
  
  The most beautiful of all the zodiacal constellations is now visible, low toward the south-southeast as darkness falls. This is Scorpius the Scorpion. It really does look like a scorpion, one of the few star patterns that readily suggests the mythical form assigned to it by the ancients. Composed of several fairly bright stars, its body is formed by the upper stars of this star pattern; its tail slants toward the horizon, then curves to the left and upward, a fine stream of stars ending in a clo
  
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• Watch a 'Potentially hazardous asteroid' the size of a skyscraper close in on Earth live online tonight

  26-06-2026 17:00 via space.com
  
  A giant asteroid roughly the size of a skyscraper will pass within seven lunar distances of Earth on June 27. Here's how to watch the rare flyby during two livestreams on June 26 and June 27.How can I watch the flyby online?The Virtual Telescope Project will host two YouTube livestreams starting at 7 p.m. EDT (2300 GMT) on June 26 and 27, before and after asteroid 1997 NC1's closest approach to Earth. Each event will feature live views of the asteroid captured by a suite of robotic telescopes in
  
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• Neon green auroras from space will take your breath away | Space photo of the day for June 26, 2026

  26-06-2026 16:00 via space.com
  
  Auroras from space dazzle in this image captured from the International Space Station by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot.(Image credit: ESA/NASA/S. Adenot)If you've ever seen auroras in the night sky, then you are one of the lucky few who has enjoyed a view of one of nature's most colorful and spectacular phenomena. But for the very lucky, very few who've seen auroras from space, the view is on a whole other level!What is it? When charged particles streaming constantly from the sun, also known as th
  
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• NASA is paying $30 million for a 1st-of-its-kind rescue mission to the aging Swift telescope before it falls from space. Is it worth it?

  26-06-2026 14:00 via space.com
  
  On paper, it seems like the math would be clear. A nearly 22-year-old space telescope, well past its prime, is falling out of space after decades of hunting the biggest explosions in the universe. Rest in peace, right? After all, it would cost NASA $30 million to save the telescope, called the Swift Observatory, which the agency launched in 2004 on a planned two-year mission. Some of us have cars that we've replaced far sooner for much less. And now, higher-than-expected drag on the satellite fr
  
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• June's Strawberry Moon is unlike any other full moon. Here's why

  26-06-2026 12:00 via space.com
  
  Full moons are overrated and, frankly, a pain. They wash out the stars, ruin deep-sky observing, and they all look the same. Technically, all of that is true. Yet every month — and particularly each June — I find myself standing outside at dusk waiting for the full moon to rise like it's an old friend arriving for an annual visit.The main attraction of June's Strawberry Moon is that it stays so low, as seen from the Northern Hemisphere. It appears at an extreme southeasterly point on
  
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• Watch live: Rocket Lab launching 'Ten Owl of Ten' mission for Synspective today

  26-06-2026 07:07 via space.com
  
  Rocket Lab is scheduled to launch another Strix satellite for Japanese company Synspective's imaging constellation, in orbit above the island nation. An Electron rocket will lift off from Rocket Lab's Launch Complex-1 (LC-1) in New Zealand today (June 26), during a window that opens at 12:45 p.m. EDT (1645 GMT; 4:45 a.m. on June 27 local New Zealand time). As its name suggests, the "Ten Owl of Ten" mission will launch Synspective's 10th synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite, which will expand
  
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• Rocket Lab launches 'Ten Owl of Ten' mission, sending up Japanese Earth-observing radar satellite (video)

  26-06-2026 07:07 via space.com
  
  Rocket Lab launched the "Ten Owl of Ten" mission from New Zealand today (June 26), adding to Japanese company Synspective's imaging constellation.An Electron rocket lifted off from Rocket Lab's Launch Complex-1 (LC-1) in New Zealand today (June 26) at 1:43 p.m. EDT (1743 GMT; 5:43 a.m. on June 27 local New Zealand time). As its name suggests, the "Ten Owl of Ten" mission sent up Synspective's 10th synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite, which will expand the company's network above Japan to pr
  
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• Rocket Lab launches 'Ten Owl of Ten' mission, sending up Japanese Earth-observing radar satellite

  26-06-2026 07:07 via space.com
  
  Rocket Lab launched the "Ten Owl of Ten" mission from New Zealand today (June 26), adding to Japanese company Synspective's imaging constellation.An Electron rocket lifted off from Rocket Lab's Launch Complex-1 (LC-1) in New Zealand today (June 26) at 1:43 p.m. EDT (1743 GMT; 5:43 a.m. on June 27 local New Zealand time). As its name suggests, the "Ten Owl of Ten" mission sent up Synspective's 10th synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite, which will expand the company's network above Japan to pr
  
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• Turn your room into a galaxy: The best Prime Day deals on star projectors for aspiring astronomers

  26-06-2026 05:00 via space.com
  
  How many star projectors do you need? I still don't have an answer. It started with a blue, Northern-Lights style projector, then one capable of projecting actual stars, albeit not in the right color. Now I'm eyeing up these Prime Day star projector deals, finger over the 'Buy Now' button, and I'm inviting you to join me.Not all star projectors are the same, mind you; some are there purely to create a relaxing display, aiding meditation or lulling a child to sleep. Meanwhile, others are more sci
  
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• Two 'super-puff' cotton candy exoplanets are the lightest gas giants ever discovered

  25-06-2026 23:00 via space.com
  
  What is rarer than discovering a "super-puff" planet with densities much (much) lower than those of the solar system gas giants? Discovering two orbiting the same star.That is exactly what astronomers have done, finding two extrasolar planets, or exoplanets, that are super-puff siblings orbiting the same star. Both planets, designated TOI-791 b and TOI-791 c, have densities lower than that of cotton candy, making them the lightest exoplanets ever seen."Only a handful of these super-puffy planets
  
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• Supergirl's brilliant poster is a reminder that they don't make sci-fi movie posters like they used to

  25-06-2026 21:00 via space.com
  
  DC's new "Supergirl" may or may not turn out to be a classic of the comic-book genre. It may or may not be a smash hit in theaters. But whatever else happens when Kara Zor-El flies into the unpredictable headwinds of the worldwide box office, one thing the new movie has got 100% right is its promo poster. Let's take a look at its components. The bright, primary-colored House of El logo in the background is so bold and unmistakable that there's no need to spell out that this is a Super movie. At
  
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• Modern sci-fi movie posters usually suck, but Supergirl shows that it doesn't have to be that way

  25-06-2026 21:00 via space.com
  
  DC's new "Supergirl" may or may not turn out to be a classic of the comic-book genre. It may or may not be a smash hit in theaters. But whatever else happens when Kara Zor-El flies into the unpredictable headwinds of the worldwide box office, one thing the new movie has got 100% right is its promo poster. Let's take a look at its components. The bright, primary-colored House of El logo in the background is so bold and unmistakable that there's no need to spell out that this is a Super movie. At
  
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• This Prime Day, save nearly $700 on 'a camera of epic proportions'

  25-06-2026 20:11 via space.com
  
  Canon is rightly regarded as one of the premier manufacturers of cameras and optical equipment, and the Canon EOS R5 is a reminder of why. Labelled 'a camera of epic proportions' by our reviewer Jacob Little, it's an astonishing $699 off for Prime Day. Buy this Canon EOS R5 body from Amazon for $2599.Couple this 45 megapixel Canon EOS R5 body with one of the best lenses for astrophotography and you'll be stunned by its image quality, as our expert was in their Canon EOS R5 review, where they awa
  
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• James Webb Space Telescope catches 6 galaxies merging into one of the largest galaxies in the universe

  25-06-2026 20:00 via space.com
  
  An intense demolition derby of at least six galaxies smashing into one another has been found lurking in the early universe by the James Webb Space Telescope. This merger is also expected to fuel the growth of a supermassive black hole and trigger the formation of what will eventually become one of the most massive galaxies in the cosmos."What makes this special is that we can follow both the build-up of a giant galaxy and the growth of the black hole at its center," Huub Röttgering, an ast
  
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• I got a sneak peek at space shuttle Endeavour's new home in California, and it's breathtaking (photos)

  25-06-2026 19:00 via space.com
  
  LOS ANGELES — The space shuttle Endeavour is absolutely breathtaking in its 20-story new home at the California Science Center's brand-new Air & Space Center, which is set to open on Nov. 13, the museum announced on Wednesday (June 24). After over three decades of ideation, development and construction, the California Science Center has officially announced an opening date for its brand-new Samuel Oschin Air & Space Center, which will feature the space shuttle Endeavour. On Wednesd
  
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• Hosting a solar eclipse viewing party? Get money off solar eclipse multipacks this Prime Day

  25-06-2026 18:18 via space.com
  
  With the next total solar eclipse coming up on Aug. 12, you still have plenty of time to grab solar viewing gear for getting a better look at it. If you are hosting a solar eclipse party or want to make sure everyone in your family has a chance of observing the sun safely, grabbing a multipack of solar eclipse glasses is a great shout. Whilst they may seem like once-in-a-lifetime events, they happen fairly frequently in astronomical terms and can be predicted thousands of years into the future.
  
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• A SpaceX rocket will slam into the moon this August. Will we be able to see it?

  25-06-2026 18:00 via space.com
  
  Earth's moon is due for a human-made impact this August courtesy of a spent SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage.The Falcon 9 upper stage is left over from the launch that sent Firefly's Blue Ghost-1 lander to the moon on Jan. 15, 2025 by way of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. Also sent moonward on that flight was the Hakuto-R Mission 2, called Resilience, a robotic lunar lander developed by the Japanese company ispace.This striking event is expected to occur close to Einstein
  
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• 'F9' took a car into space, but 5 years on, just how ridiculous was the scene? We asked the experts

  25-06-2026 17:00 via space.com
  
  Five years ago, an internet meme turned into a reality in "F9" when the Fast & Furious crew launched a car into space. Depending on your sense of humor and ability to suspend disbelief, it's either peak cinema or extreme tomfoolery, but it's clear that the only way this franchise will ever top this moment is by drag racing a velociraptor in a "Jurassic World" crossover.The "F9" scene sees Tej Parker (played by Ludacris) and Roman Pearce (Tyrese Gibson) sit inside a rocket-strapped Pontiac Fi
  
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• 15 of our favorite sci-fi audiobooks to transport you to another planet

  25-06-2026 16:30 via space.com
  
  The world of science fiction books is vast and inspiring, with tales of distant planets and alien life transporting you into a new world to get lost in. It's the perfect genre for audiobooks, whether you like listening on the sofa, on a walk or on your daily commute, these books can fill you with wonder about the possibilities of our modern scientific age. We have tales of sentient rocks, long-term alien invasions and deep pining for our home, Earth. My favorite book on this list is Jeff Vanderm
  
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• Summer solstice seen from space | Space photo of the day for June 25, 2026

  25-06-2026 16:00 via space.com
  
  The solstice can even be seen from space in this new image from the Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) mission.(Image credit: ESA/Eumetsat)Twice each year, we celebrate what we call a solstice when Earth is at its maximum tilt toward or away from the sun. And during this June's summer solstice, a European weather satellite managed to capture a striking image of the celestial moment from space. What is it? This image of the solstice was captured on June 21 by the European Space Agency's (ESA) Meteos
  
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• New to drone flying? Our expert thinks this five-star drone gives you 'everything you could possibly need' and it's $133 off

  25-06-2026 16:00 via space.com
  
  DJI and Amazon really are knocking it out of the park with their Prime Day Deals. The DJI Neo is superb value right now, but for just $256 you can net the superior DJI Mini 4K, which our expert said "Offers everything you could possibly need in a drone while providing ease of use and reliability."Get the DJI Mini 4K on sale right now at Amazon for $256.DJI is one of the most trusted and acclaimed, drone manufacturers, and the DJI Mini 4K is another gem, appearing in our best drones, best beginn
  
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• Another 'Star' is born: SpaceX names AI megaconstellation 'Starmind'

  25-06-2026 15:00 via space.com
  
  Once again, SpaceX has looked to the stars for naming inspiration.Elon Musk confirmed on Tuesday (June 23) that SpaceX will call its planned AI satellite megaconstellation "Starmind".The choice should come as no surprise, as it continues the company's long-running stellar naming theme. Here's a rundown:Starship: SpaceX's next-generation launch vehicle, the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built. Starship is designed to be fully and rapidly reusable, a breakthrough that Musk thinks will make
  
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