Studying the history of science shows how often serendipity plays a role in some of the most important discoveries. Sometimes, the stories are apocryphal, like Newton getting hit on the head with an apple. But sometimes, there’s an element of truth to them. That was the case for a new discovery of the oldest pair of merging quasars ever discovered – and it all started with a pair of red blots on a picture.
Space News & Blog Articles
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327th ESA Council : Media information session at ESA HQ
Video: 00:36:48
ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher and ESA Council Chair Renato Krpoun brief journalists on decisions taken at the ESA Council meeting held in Paris on 18 and 19 June 2024.
A massive black hole may be 'waking up' in a nearby galaxy
Astronomers have, for the first time, spotted a black hole in a nearby galaxy waking up from a deep slumber.
'ESA Space Bricks' landing at Lego Stores could help build real Artemis moon base
Scientists found the building bricks for moon bases in the toy store, and you can see them there, too. ESA researchers discovered more than inspiration from Lego while working on Artemis structures.
GOES-U satellite launch this month will bring a solar activity monitor to space
Just like with other tools, the more a coronagraph ages, the less reliable it gets. So, next month, NOAA's GOES-U will take to space a brand-new coronagraph which will provide clearer images of the sun's activity.
See the Real Planet Parade
Maximize your planetary pleasure and get re-acquainted with Earth's siblings during the June 29th dawn planet parade.
China selects 4th batch of astronaut candidates as part of 2030 moon landing goal
China has selected 10 new astronauts for training as part of its goal to put a crew on the moon by 2030, the country's human spaceflight agency announced last week.
SpaceX launches 20 Starlink satellites from California
SpaceX launched 20 of its Starlink satellites from California on Tuesday night (June 18), ending a 10-day spaceflight drought for the company.
Hubble's Back, but Only Using One Gyro
The Hubble Space Telescope has experienced ongoing problems with one of its three remaining gyroscopes, so NASA has decided to shift the telescope into single gyro mode. While the venerable space telescope has now returned to daily science operations, single gyro mode means Hubble will only use one gyro to maintain a lock on its target. This will slow its slew time and decrease some of its scientific output. But this plan increases the overall lifetime of the 34-year-old telescope, keeping one gyro in reserve. NASA is also troubleshooting the malfunctioning gyro, hoping to return it online.
Slovenia to become ESA’s 23rd Member State
Slovenia signed the Accession Agreement to the ESA Convention on 18 June 2024. Upon ratification, Slovenia will become the 23rd ESA Member State.
SpaceX launches 20 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Station
A stack of SpaceX Starlink satellites, which included the first six featuring Direct to Cell capabilities. The batch launched on the Starlink 7-9 mission, which lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Jan. 2, 2024. Image: SpaceX
Update 12:09 a.m. EDT: SpaceX launches the Starlink 9-1 mission.
NASA moves Starliner landing to June 26 to collect more test flight data
Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft photographed through the window of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule while both were docked to the International Space Station. Image: NASA
Boeing’s leak-prone Starliner capsule will remain docked to the International Space Station an additional four days, NASA announced Tuesday, returning to Earth with a pre-dawn landing at White Sands, New Mexico, on June 26 to close out an extended 20-day test flight, the first with astronauts aboard.
Three bright stars mark the beginning of summer. Here's how to spot the 'Summer Triangle' this week.
The appearance this week of the three bright Summer Triangle stars — Vega, Deneb and Altair — marks the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Here's how to spot them.
The Strawberry Full Moon of 2024 rises near the June solstice with an Antares encounter
When June 2024's Strawberry Moon is almost full, it will occult the bright star Antares.
Earth’s Atmosphere is Our Best Defence Against Nearby Supernovae
Earth’s protective atmosphere has sheltered life for billions of years, creating a haven where evolution produced complex lifeforms like us. The ozone layer plays a critical role in shielding the biosphere from deadly UV radiation. It blocks 99% of the Sun’s powerful UV output. Earth’s magnetosphere also shelters us.
The GOES-U satellite will catch a ride to space on SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket
NOAA's GOES-R series constellation will be complete in space with the launch of its GOES-U satellite at the end of June. This will mark the first time a NOAA satellite will be transported to space using a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.
NASA reschedules ISS spacewalk after astronaut experiences 'spacesuit discomfort'
NASA has rescheduled last week's EVA, which was called off only an hour before the astronauts were set to exit the station.
NASA, Boeing delay Starliner astronaut landing to June 26 amid thruster issues
Boeing's Starliner will come back to Earth with its two astronauts no earlier than June 26. The four-day extension will allow for more thruster testing at the ISS.
SpaceX launching European TV satellite today on 1st leg of doubleheader
SpaceX plans to launch two missions today (June 18), sending the SES Astra 1P telecom satellite and 20 of its own Starlink broadband satellites to orbit.
Metallic Mars
Image: Metallic Mars
Lego Art The Milky Way Galaxy review
According to Lego, the Milky Way Galaxy is made up of love hearts, frogs, flowers and coffee mugs — and it's absolutely fabulous.
