Space

The latest discoveries from space agencies and astronomers as they explore galaxies, black holes, exoplanets, and more. Also learn about night sky watching events right here on the home planet.

Latest in Space

25 images of space

Deep Space

NASA drops 25 dazzling images to celebrate Chandra X-ray space telescope NASA drops 25 dazzling images to celebrate Chandra X-ray space telescope

By Popular Science Team

Close up of pills in blister packs

Deep Space

How will astronauts handle expired drugs on Mars? How will astronauts handle expired drugs on Mars?

Astronomy: a 40-foot telescope constructed by William Herschel, in use outdoors. Coloured etching, 18--. Wellcome Collection. Public Domain Mark.

Deep Space

400 years of telescopes: A window into our study of the cosmos 400 years of telescopes: A window into our study of the cosmos

By Bill Gourgey

a flat map of the planet jupiter, showing reddish-orange lines and the planet's great red spot

Deep Space

Jupiter’s Great Red Spot keeps shrinking Jupiter’s Great Red Spot keeps shrinking

By Laura Baisas

NASA VIPER Rover

Moons

NASA’s VIPER rover won’t be going to the moon after all NASA’s VIPER rover won’t be going to the moon after all

Martian landscape simulation room in CHAPEA Mars Dune Alpha

Mars

What it was like to spend a year in NASA’s Mars base simulation What it was like to spend a year in NASA’s Mars base simulation

starry night sky above telescopes on hill

Science

Want to catch the 2024 Perseid meteor shower? Here’s your best shot. Want to catch the 2024 Perseid meteor shower? Here’s your best shot.

By Mary Beth Griggs

A team of astronomers led by Penn State scientists have discovered a planet that has the most oblong orbit ever found among transiting planets. The exoplanet’s extreme circuit — which looks closer to a cucumber than a circle — follows one of the most drastically stretched-out orbits of all known exoplanets, planets that orbit stars outside our solar system. The planet, , named TIC 241249530, is also orbiting its star backwards, lending insight into the mystery of how close-in massive gas planets, known as hot Jupiters, form, stabilize and evolve over time.

Deep Space

Newly discovered exoplanet’s orbit is like a ‘cucumber’ Newly discovered exoplanet’s orbit is like a ‘cucumber’

Screenshot from music video for Missy Elliott's "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)"

Deep Space

NASA beamed Missy Elliott’s ‘The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)’ to her favorite planet NASA beamed Missy Elliott’s ‘The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)’ to her favorite planet

European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano, Expedition 36 flight engineer, is pictured near food packages floating freely in the Unity node of the International Space Station.

Health

Why food tastes more bland in space Why food tastes more bland in space

Silhouette of moon

Moons

There really are moon lava tunnels—and humans may live in them one day There really are moon lava tunnels—and humans may live in them one day

Researcher Andrea Spolaor holds an ice core recovered in Svalbard, Norway in April 2023.

Climate Change

The race to save glacial ice records before they melt away The race to save glacial ice records before they melt away

By Nicola Jones / Yale Environment 360

Image of ice falling away from Falcon 9 rocket shortly before explosion

Private Space Flight

SpaceX’s historic Falcon 9 success streak met a fiery end SpaceX’s historic Falcon 9 success streak met a fiery end

A new urine filtration system could help future astronauts explore further without needing to lug around hefty water reserves.

Mars

Future astronauts could safely drink their own urine with this Dune-like device Future astronauts could safely drink their own urine with this Dune-like device

By Mack DeGeurin

The rim and floor of Gale Crater as seen from NASA’s Curiosity Rover.

Mars

Mars was icy and wet billions of years ago, new study suggests Mars was icy and wet billions of years ago, new study suggests

Image of the planet Mars

Mars

Elon Musk’s Martian dreams include modded Cybertrucks and bioengineered animals Elon Musk’s Martian dreams include modded Cybertrucks and bioengineered animals

Screenshot of model rocket vertically landing

Aviation

Teen’s model rocket sticks a SpaceX-inspired vertical landing Teen’s model rocket sticks a SpaceX-inspired vertical landing

Image of Omega Centauri star cluster with black hole and evidence stars highlighted

Black Holes

Astronomers discover Earth’s closest black hole Astronomers discover Earth’s closest black hole

Starship test launch in 2021

NASA

SpaceX’s Starship may mess up the lunar surface SpaceX’s Starship may mess up the lunar surface

NASA asteroid concept

Science

How often do asteroids come near Earth? How often do asteroids come near Earth?

By Briley Lewis