Stardust’s mission was to collect samples of the comet in a material called aerogel that was lighter than air! Continue ReadingNASA’s Stardust Mission: The Day We Brought a Comet Back to Earth
If there were an ocean big enough to hold it, Saturn would literally float. Continue ReadingInteresting Space Facts Infographic
SpaceX’s blockbuster IPO filing included some out-of-this-world details, including a provision that founder Elon Musk’s massive bonus only kicks in if one million humans settle on Mars.
Thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have witnessed a cloudy morning dissipating to leave a clear sky by dusk on a distant hot Jupiter. Continue ReadingThis exoplanet weather forecast by the James Webb Space Telescope calls for sandy skies and a clear (alien) sunset
Sand clouds form every morning but clear up by nightfall on WASP-94A b, a well-studied gas giant in a constellation located nearly 700 light years away from Earth. Using data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), research published in the journal Science is among the first to detect cloud cycles on a Hot Jupiter exoplanet.
Black holes are regions in space where gravity is so strong that nothing, even light, can escape. Einstein’s theory of general relativity breaks down inside black holes, either by the presence of a so-called “curvature singularity” or “Cauchy horizon.”
A conspiracy theorist confronted the Artemis 2 astronauts on Capitol Hill recently, accusing them of faking their moon mission. They showed more restraint than Buzz Aldrin did in a similar situation. Continue Reading‘Stop lying!’ Conspiracy theorist confronts Artemis 2 astronauts, accuses them of faking their moon mission
We tested Nikon’s new Action 16×50 binoculars for up-close stargazing, and saw lunar craters and Orion’s belt in sharp contrast Continue ReadingNikon Action 16×50 binoculars review
A new study has found that simple digital finance tools such as mobile money can help small businesses build long-term competitive strength, not just improve access to banking. The study, led by the University of East London, examined 113 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Ghana and found that businesses gained the greatest benefits when digital finance tools became part of everyday business operations rather than being used only for payments. Firms reported improvements in efficiency, customer service and flexibility.
A team from Vienna and Frankfurt has found a formula describing a strange phenomenon: Space and time can form a kind of “crystal” that may turn into a black hole. The results are described in Physical Review Letters.
The alien bounty hunter going after Din Djarin and Grogu in the new Star Wars movie might be a mystery to casual fans, but he’s not a newcomer. Continue ReadingWho is Embo, the enigmatic villain in ‘The Mandalorian & Grogu’?
A planet that is about the size of Saturn, but with a temperature more like Earth’s, has an atmosphere rich in methane, according to a new study using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
Suppose there are signs of extraterrestrial life and we have not yet been able to detect them. What does that mean? In Nature Astronomy, researchers discuss the consequences of these so-called false-negative results. “We are currently investing a great deal of money in missions that might need to be designed differently.”
Lunar Outpost has unveiled designs for a new Pegasus moon rover for a 2028 launch — but the Colorado-based company isn’t stopping there. Continue ReadingLunar Outpost has big plans for the moon. The new Pegasus lunar rover is just the start
It’s getting crowded up there. Over the past few years, the advent of SpaceX’s Starlink and other players in the mega-satellite constellation game are adding an exponential load of satellites and orbital debris to the low Earth orbit environment. But all that goes up, must eventually come down. Now, a new study looks at solar activity over time as a predictor for how reentries trend.
Dust scatters light, absorbs light, re-emits light, and ruins everything. It’s why our maps of the Milky Way were wrong before 1930, and it’s why one of the biggest cosmological announcements of the 2010s quietly evaporated.
NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover has stumbled across an unusual sight: a stack of rocks on the Martian surface. Continue ReadingStrange stacked stones spotted on Mars | Space photo of the day for May 21, 2026
For the July 2026 issue of Astronomy, we’re bringing you our first ever digital-only issue, with all the content you expect in formats for all devices. Here’s how to find it and what to expect when it goes live for subscribers on Friday, May 22. The digital magazine: start here The July issue lives atContinue reading “How to read the July digital issue of Astronomy magazine” The post How to read the July digital issue Continue ReadingHow to read the July digital issue of Astronomy magazine
SpaceX’s Starship-Super Heavy performs a wet dress rehearsal tanking test in preparation for the 12th integrated test flight of the launch vehicle. Image: SpaceX SpaceX is set to launch the third generation of its Starship rocket as soon as Thursday, May 21, from its company town in southern Texas, called Starbase. The 407-foot-tall (124 m) two-stage rocket will fly on a suborbital mission dubbed Flight 12. The mission will see the Super Heavy booster (Booster Continue ReadingLive coverage: SpaceX to launch first Starship Version 3 rocket
With May’s new moon fading and summer twilight looming, now is the time to plan a dark-sky escape — where location, timing and weather all collide. Continue ReadingHow one disappointing night changed the way I plan my astrotourism adventures
In 1878, Williamina Fleming immigrated to Boston from Scotland with her husband – but he abandoned her shortly after they arrived. Pregnant with their child, she began working as a maid in the house of Harvard College Observatory director Edward Pickering to support herself. Pickering quickly grew impressed with her intelligence and hired Fleming toContinue reading “May 21, 1911: The death of Williamina Fleming” The post May 21, 1911: The death of Williamina Fleming appeared Continue ReadingMay 21, 1911: The death of Williamina Fleming
Neutrinos, the second most common fundamental particles in the universe, are notoriously difficult to detect. So far we’ve only been able to do so by building giant vats of water far underground with hundreds of photodetectors watching for brief flashes of light. But a new CubeSat mission hopes to change that dynamic and enable the neutrino detectors of the future a much less constrained and expensive existence – in space.
