Humanity got its first look at the other side of the Moon in 1959 when the USSR’s Luna 3 probe captured our first images of the Lunar far side. The pictures were shocking, pointing out a pronounced difference between the Moon’s different sides. Now China is sending another lander to the far side.
Space News & Blog Articles
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Severe Geogmagnetic Storm Has Arrived! Auroral Blast Expected Friday Night
A severe geomagnetic storm has just hit Earth — which means we could see auroras tonight! Here's what you'll need to know.
'God of Destruction' asteroid Apophis will come to Earth in 2029 — and it could meet some tiny spacecraft
Asteroid Apophis is heading to Earth, and scientists have revealed three tiny spacecraft concepts that could race to meet the space rock in April 2029.
Asteroid that exploded over Berlin was fastest-spinning space rock ever recorded
Scientists have calculated the rotational speed of asteroid 2024 BX1, which exploded over Berlin earlier this year, by letting it trail in images of the sky. It turns out, 2024 BX1 was spinning faster than any other near-Earth object ever seen.
FAA to conduct new environmental review for SpaceX's Starship operations in Florida
The FAA announced May 10 that it will prepare an environmental impact statement for SpaceX's planned work with Starship at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Why Hot Jupiters Spiral into Their Stars
Exoplanets are a fascinating astronomy topic, especially the so-called “Hot Jupiters”. They’re overheated massive worlds often found orbiting very close to their stars—hence the name. Extreme gravitational interactions can tug them right into their stars over millions of years. However, some hot Jupiters appear to be spiraling in faster than gravity can explain.
Does the Milky Way Have Too Many Satellite Galaxies?
The Large and Small Magellanic Clouds are well known satellite galaxies of the Milky Way but there are more. It is surrounded by at least 61 within 1.4 million light years (for context the Andromeda Galaxy is 2.5 million light years away) but there are likely to be more. A team of astronomers have been hunting for more companions using the Subaru telescope and so far, have searched just 3% of the sky. To everyone’s surprise they have found nine previously undiscovered satellite galaxies, far more than expected.
Science and music festival Starmus VII is about to rock Bratislava with a stellar lineup
The Starmus music and science festival heads to Bratislava, Slovakia for a multi-day event from May 12 to May 17. Here's what to expect.
Lego Star Wars Tantive IV review
Escape from the Empire in style with the Lego Star Wars Tantive IV.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, May 10 – 19
The waxing Moon this week travels eastward from the horns of Taurus past the heads of Gemini, the Beehive in Cancer, then the forefoot of Leo on its way to occulting Beta Virginis.
Earth from Space: Bolivian salt lakes
Image: This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image features salt flats and lakes in southwest Bolivia, near the crest of the Andes Mountains.
4 large incoming solar bursts could supercharge the auroras this weekend
The NOAA has bumped up its geomagnetic storm watch for May 11 to a "rare" level as solar activity continues at high levels and at least four coronal mass ejections propel toward Earth.
Astronomers are on the Hunt for Dyson Spheres
There’s something poetic about humanity’s attempt to detect other civilizations somewhere in the Milky Way’s expanse. There’s also something futile about it. But we’re not going to stop. There’s little doubt about that.
Video: Plunge into a Black Hole
A new visualization from NASA takes the viewer on a one-way journey into a black hole.
We Need to Consider Conservation Efforts on Mars
Astrobiology is the field of science that studies the origins, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the Universe. In practice, this means sending robotic missions beyond Earth to analyze the atmospheres, surfaces, and chemistry of extraterrestrial worlds. At present, all of our astrobiology missions are focused on Mars, as it is considered the most Earth-like environment beyond our planet. While several missions will be destined for the outer Solar System to investigate “Ocean Worlds” for evidence of life (Europa, Ganymede, Titan, and Enceladus), our efforts to find life beyond Earth will remain predominantly on Mars.
Sierra Space's 1st Dream Chaser space plane aces key tests. Next stop: Florida launch site.
Sierra Space's first Dream Chaser space plane has finished rigorous environmental testing in Ohio and is being prepped for the journey to its Florida launch site.
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Telescope will hunt for tiny black holes left over from the Big Bang
Primordial black holes left over from the Big Bang and no wider than a dime could be a prime target for NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Telescope after it launches in 2026.
'Star Wars: Tales of the Empire' review: A gorgeous but ultimately uneven set of stories
Lucasfilm Animation's second Star Wars anthology series often wows, but neither the tales chosen nor the structure feel like a good fit for the format.
James Webb Space Telescope chief scientist Jane Rigby receives highest US civilian award
Last week, the chief scientist of the James Webb Space Telescope, Jane Rigby, was awarded the 2024 Medal of Freedom.
Gargantuan sunspot 15-Earths wide erupts with another colossal X-class solar flare (video)
A sunspot so big it rivals the gigantic sunspot responsible for the Carrington Event in 1859 has unleashed another X-class solar flare. Watch the eruption here and find out how to see the sunspot for yourself.
