NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has only been operational for just over a year, but this isn’t stopping the world’s biggest space agency from discussing the next big space telescope that could serve as JWST’s successor sometime in the future. Enter the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO), which was first proposed as NASA’s next flagship Astrophysics mission during the National Academy of Sciences’ Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics 2020 (Astro2020). While its potential technological capabilities include studying exoplanets, stars, galaxies, and a myriad of other celestial objects for life beyond Earth, there’s a long way to go before HWO will be wowing both scientists and the public with breathtaking images and new datasets.
Space News & Blog Articles
'It's been an incredible challenge:' NASA astronaut tells all on setting new record for longest US spaceflight (video)
NASA astronaut Frank Rubio spoke from the International Space Station about how it felt to surpass the previous U.S. single mission spaceflight record of 355 days.
Scientists may finally know why the sun's outer atmosphere is so freakishly hot
Our host star's corona is hotter than its 'surface.' It's unclear as to why.
James Webb Space Telescope watches seasons change on Saturn (video)
Using the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have observed the changing of seasons on Saturn. The ringed planet's northern summer is cooling as a 7.5-year-long autumn approaches.
Einstein cross! Gravitationally lensed 'flower' spotted in deep space (photo)
A new image from the European Southern Observatory captures a cosmic wildflower in space.
Quasars Have Always Had Dark Matter Halos
When you look at most galaxies in the Universe, you’re looking at the homes of supermassive black holes. It now appears that quasars, which are active galaxies spitting out huge amounts of radiation from the region around their black holes, also have massive dark matter halos. It turns out they’ve always had them. And, their black hole activity has a direct connection with those halos.
Vladimir Putin meets North Korea's Kim Jong-un at Russia's Vostochny Cosmodrome spaceport for 5-hour summit
Vladimir Putin met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a Russian spaceport on Wednesday (Sept. 13), likely discussing a range of possibilities for space-related cooperation.
Could We Find Aliens Terraforming Other Worlds?
The first early humans to use fire had no inkling of what it would lead to.
Whether Saturn's Rings are Young or Old, its Moons are as Ancient as the Planet Itself
Saturn is best known for two things: its iconic ring structures and its large system of natural satellites. Currently, 146 moons and moonlets have been discovered orbiting the ringed giant, 24 of which are regular satellites. These include the seven largest moons, Titan, Rhea, Iapetus, Dione, Tethys, Enceladus, and Mimas, which are icy bodies believed to have interior oceans. In addition, there are unresolved questions about the age of these satellites, with some suspecting that they formed more recently (like Saturn’s rings, which are a few hundred million years old).
'I am horrified': Archaeologists are fuming over ancient human relative remains sent to edge of space
Scientists are calling the Virgin Galactic mission that carried the bones of Australopithecus sediba and Homo naledi to the edge of space a major ethical breach.
Devastation wrought by Medicane Daniel revealed in satellite photos
Satellite images reveal the scale of destruction wrought by medicane Daniel on Libya, where temporary lakes and river systems sprang up across the desert landscape.
7 places in the US Southwest to see rare 'edge effects' during annular solar eclipse on Oct. 14
Where and when to see rare edge effects like Baily's beads during the annular solar eclipse on Oct. 14, 2023.
Axiom Space names Ax-3 astronaut crew for SpaceX mission to ISS
Former NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría will once again head an Axiom Space mission on Ax-3. Joining him is a Swedish European Space Agency reserve astronaut, an Italian Virgin Galactic astronaut and Turkey's first citizen in space.
China sends record-setting Tianzhou 5 cargo spacecraft to fiery death (video)
Tianzhou 5, which docked with China's Tiangong space station just two hours after launching last November, has completed its orbital tasks and met its fiery fate.
Russia rolls Soyuz rocket to the pad ahead of Sept. 15 astronaut launch to ISS (photos)
Photos captured the journey of Russia's Soyuz rocket to the launchpad ahead of the MS-24 launch of astronauts to the International Space Station.
'For All Mankind' need recruits for Mars in 4th season on Apple TV+ (video)
Ed Baldwin wants you for Mars. The Apollo astronaut-turned-commander of a private mission to the Red Planet is in need of a few good Martians, as seen in the teaser for "For All Mankind," Season 4.
NASA's Lucy asteroid-hopping probe captures 1st snapshot of space rock 'Dinky' (photo)
NASA's Lucy spacecraft just sent home an impressive glimpse of the smallest asteroid target on its 12-year agenda to study intriguing space rocks.
Has the First Biosignature Been Found on an Exoplanet?
Recently I wrote about the discovery of a hycean world. A potentially habitable exoplanet with a deep warm ocean and thick, hydrogen-rich atmosphere. Such planets are thought to be somewhat common orbiting red dwarf stars, and they are an excellent candidate for life. While it’s an exciting discovery, buried in the research article was something even more exciting. Tentative evidence of a biosignature, hinting at the presence of life. You can guess which discovery started making headlines. But have astronomers really found life on another planet?
A big telescope on the moon could peer deeper into the universe than James Webb
A big telescope on the moon could peer deeper into the universe than the famed James Webb Telescope and perhaps even help find life on exoplanets, scientists say.
'Ahsoka' season 1 episode 5 review: The trip down memory lane fans were waiting for
The fifth episode of Ahsoka evades cheap fan service and focuses on a meaningful, nostalgic journey of our heroine.
Mini space thruster that runs on water
Image: Mini space thruster that runs on water
