Space(Page 10)

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

This image of NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover at the rim of Belva Crater was taken by the agency’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter during the rotorcraft’s 51st flight on April 22, 2023, the 772nd Martian day, or sol, of the rover’s mission. At the time the image was taken, the helicopter was at an altitude of about 40 feet.

NASA rover finds evidence of carbon-based chemistry in Martian crater NASA rover finds evidence of carbon-based chemistry in Martian crater

By Laura Baisas

large dish on earth sends waves out to the moon in illustration

An enormous radio telescope may soon be a powerful tool for planetary defense An enormous radio telescope may soon be a powerful tool for planetary defense

By Sarah Scoles

Three quadruped robots standing on rocky terrain

Four-legged dog robots could one day explore the moon Four-legged dog robots could one day explore the moon

JWST composite image of barred spiral galaxy NGC 5068, showing its core and part of a spiral arm. Clumps and filaments of dust, represented in a mossy green color, form an almost skeletal structure that follow the twist of the galaxy and its spiral arm.

15 remarkable JWST images that reveal the wonders of our vast universe 15 remarkable JWST images that reveal the wonders of our vast universe

This is an artist impression of exoplanet LTT9779b orbiting its host star. The host star is located on the left as a large white circle with rays coming out of it in orange. The exoplanet is smaller and shown on the right of the image. The side of the exoplanet that is facing its host star is illuminated. The planet is around the size of Neptune and reflects 80% of the light shone on it, making it the largest known “mirror” in the Universe. The background of the image is black and speckled across the image is a starfield, showing innumerable stars of many sizes

The Milky Way’s shiniest known exoplanet has glittering metallic clouds The Milky Way’s shiniest known exoplanet has glittering metallic clouds

By Laura Baisas

A green and blue aurora borealis glows above a body of water and mountains.

Updated forecast shows northern lights won’t be visible in most US states this week Updated forecast shows northern lights won’t be visible in most US states this week

By Laura Baisas

VIPER moon rover coming down a ramp during a test at the NASA Ames Research Center

NASA’s quirky new lunar rover will be the first to cruise the moon’s south pole NASA’s quirky new lunar rover will be the first to cruise the moon’s south pole

Uranus captured by Voyager 2 in true color and false color. Uranus got its name from Greek mythology.

Uranus got its name from a very serious authority Uranus got its name from a very serious authority

By Briley Lewis

A Southwest Research Institute scientist named Norm Pelletier is wearing all white protective gear as he prepares the Ultraviolet Spectrograph (UVS) for delivery and integration onto the European Space Agency’s JUICE spacecraft. As part of a 10-instrument payload to study Jupiter and its large moons, UVS will measure ultraviolet spectra that scientists will use to study the composition and structure of the atmospheres of these bodies and how they interact with Jupiter’s massive magnetosphere.

A toaster-sized NASA instrument captured a UV scene of the Milky Way A toaster-sized NASA instrument captured a UV scene of the Milky Way

By Laura Baisas

The ringed planet Saturn imaged for the first time using near-infrared observations. The planet itself appears quite dark and the rings are bright.

Saturn’s rings get a glow up in new near-infrared telescope images Saturn’s rings get a glow up in new near-infrared telescope images

By Laura Baisas

Euclid Space Telescope mounted on SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in a holding facility before dark energy and dark matter mission launch

Euclid space telescope begins its search through billions of galaxies for dark matter and energy Euclid space telescope begins its search through billions of galaxies for dark matter and energy

A full moon known as the Buck Moon is seen as a deer grazes outside the village of Taarbaek, Denmark on July 14, 2022.

July’s skies heat up with the Buck Moon, a shimmery Venus, and more July’s skies heat up with the Buck Moon, a shimmery Venus, and more

By Laura Baisas

Low-frequency gravitation waves emerging from black hole collision in space. Illustration.

Astronomers used dead stars to detect a new form of ripple in space-time Astronomers used dead stars to detect a new form of ripple in space-time

By Briley Lewis

Europa Clipper Propulsion Module

How to get your name engraved on a NASA spacecraft bound for Europa How to get your name engraved on a NASA spacecraft bound for Europa

rosalind franklin rover on mars background

How Russia’s war in Ukraine almost derailed Europe’s Mars rover How Russia’s war in Ukraine almost derailed Europe’s Mars rover

By Kenneth R. Rosen

An illustration of Planet Nine, a possible other world in our solar system.

There might be an ice giant planet hiding in our solar system There might be an ice giant planet hiding in our solar system

By Briley Lewis

Astronaut on ISS holding up water system filter replacement

Onboard the ISS, nothing goes to waste—including sweat and pee Onboard the ISS, nothing goes to waste—including sweat and pee

Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo in suborbital space.

Virgin Galactic has a launch date for its first paying space tourists Virgin Galactic has a launch date for its first paying space tourists

NASA kills its electric plane’s flight plan, citing safety concerns

NASA kills its electric plane’s flight plan, citing safety concerns NASA kills its electric plane’s flight plan, citing safety concerns

This company put a huge cell-tower-like satellite in space

This company put a huge cell-tower-like satellite in space This company put a huge cell-tower-like satellite in space

By Harry Guinness

Astronomers studying a powerful gamma-ray burst (GRB) with the International Gemini Observatory, operated by NSF’s NOIRLab, may have observed a never-before-seen way to destroy a star. Unlike most GRBs, which are caused by exploding massive stars or the chance mergers of neutron stars, astronomers have concluded that this GRB came instead from the collision of stars or stellar remnants in the jam-packed environment surrounding a supermassive black hole at the core of an ancient galaxy.

Explosive star ‘demolition derby’ observed for the very first time Explosive star ‘demolition derby’ observed for the very first time

By Laura Baisas

R Aquarii binary star system

NASA turns spectacular space telescope images into vibey ‘cosmic sonifications’ NASA turns spectacular space telescope images into vibey ‘cosmic sonifications’

Celestron and Gsyker make some of the best telescopes for kids.

Gear

The best telescopes for kids The best telescopes for kids

By Bettina Bush, Jen McCaffery

The TRAPPIST system, which has the most Earth-sized planets known yet.

JWST’s double take of an Earth-sized exoplanet shows it has no sky JWST’s double take of an Earth-sized exoplanet shows it has no sky

By Briley Lewis

nasa x-66a sustainable flight demonstrator

NASA’s ‘airliner of the future’ is now officially an X-plane NASA’s ‘airliner of the future’ is now officially an X-plane

A mosaic of ocean world Enceladus, a geologically active moon of Saturn.

Every essential ingredient for life exists on an ocean moon in our solar system Every essential ingredient for life exists on an ocean moon in our solar system

Mori3 robots combined to form 3D walking shape

These 2D machines can shapeshift into moving 3D robots These 2D machines can shapeshift into moving 3D robots

The radio telescope at Green Bank.

Astronomers unveil a new way to search for extraterrestrial intelligence Astronomers unveil a new way to search for extraterrestrial intelligence

By Briley Lewis

Best telescopes sliced header

Gear

The best telescopes The best telescopes

By Natasha Roy, Jen McCaffery

A Boeing Starliner capsule approaches the ISS.

Boeing can’t catch a break as its Starliner spacecraft gets delayed again Boeing can’t catch a break as its Starliner spacecraft gets delayed again

Person underwater looking up at outer space to represent Blue Abyss training tank. Illustrated.

Inside Blue Abyss’ plan to build super-deep pools for astronauts and military bots Inside Blue Abyss’ plan to build super-deep pools for astronauts and military bots

By Sarah Scoles

NASA Perseverance rover being readied indoors for launch for the Mars 2020 mission

A spacecraft engineer’s wisdom from Mars 2020 and a disaster-stricken island A spacecraft engineer’s wisdom from Mars 2020 and a disaster-stricken island

By Elio Morillo

NASA's Psyche probe should blast off to an asteroid later in 2023.

NASA’s journey to a strange metal asteroid should finally begin in October NASA’s journey to a strange metal asteroid should finally begin in October

By Briley Lewis

Computer illustration of ISS with docket spacecraft

The ISS’s latest delivery includes space plants and atmospheric lightning monitors The ISS’s latest delivery includes space plants and atmospheric lightning monitors

A graphic rendering of the ESA's Mars Express orbiter. Mars Express lifted off from Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard a Soyuz–Fregat rocket on June 2, 2003. It entered orbit around Mars on December 25, 2003 and reached its operational orbit in January 2004. The initial mission duration was one Martian year (687 Earth days), completed in September 2005.

Witness space history by tuning into the first almost-live stream from Mars Witness space history by tuning into the first almost-live stream from Mars

By Laura Baisas

An unidentified object makes an apparent atmospheric wake.

UFO data is honestly a mess, NASA panel says UFO data is honestly a mess, NASA panel says

A full moon rises with clouds below. June's Strawberry Moon peaks on June 3.

A Strawberry Moon, solstice, and meteor shower will dance across the skies this June A Strawberry Moon, solstice, and meteor shower will dance across the skies this June

By Laura Baisas

M101, also known as the Pinwheel galaxy, captured by the Hubble Space Telescope.

An amateur astronomer spotted a new supernova remarkably close to Earth An amateur astronomer spotted a new supernova remarkably close to Earth

The Tungurahua volcano eruption.

Mixing volcanic ash with meteorites may have jump-started life on Earth Mixing volcanic ash with meteorites may have jump-started life on Earth

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

An illustration of a hot Jupiter planet, based on Hubble observations.

This hot Jupiter exoplanet unexpectedly hangs out with a super-Earth This hot Jupiter exoplanet unexpectedly hangs out with a super-Earth

By Briley Lewis

SuperBIT high-altitude balloon with space telescope in the skies after its launch

A super pressure balloon built by students is cruising Earth’s skies to find dark matter A super pressure balloon built by students is cruising Earth’s skies to find dark matter

A detailed example of a light bridge crossing a sunspot’s umbra. Hot solar material (plasma) rises in the bright centers of these surrounding “cells,” cools off, and then sinks below the surface in dark lanes in a process known as convection.

See hot plasma bubble on the sun’s surface in powerful closeup images See hot plasma bubble on the sun’s surface in powerful closeup images

By Laura Baisas

Concept art of Blue Origin NASA Artemis V lunar lander on moon

NASA chooses Blue Origin to build Artemis V lunar lander NASA chooses Blue Origin to build Artemis V lunar lander

NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover captured this mosaic of an isolated hill nicknamed “Pinestand.” Scientists think sedimentary layers stacked on top of one another here could have been formed by a deep, fast-moving river

Mars rover snaps pics of dusty craters that may have once roared with water Mars rover snaps pics of dusty craters that may have once roared with water

By Laura Baisas

A new NASA study will put people through a brain-shaking ride in the Kraken A new NASA study will put people through a brain-shaking ride in the Kraken

A supermassive black hole with a mass many times that of our sun.

A gassy black hole might have burped out the largest cosmic explosion ever A gassy black hole might have burped out the largest cosmic explosion ever

Magnetic arches and solar flares emerging from the upper half of the sun's corona

How hundreds of college students are helping solve a centuries-old mystery about the sun How hundreds of college students are helping solve a centuries-old mystery about the sun

By Briley Lewis

NASA's TeraByte InfraRed Delivery system satellite on a pedestal

A tiny NASA CubeSat just set a big data speed record with lasers A tiny NASA CubeSat just set a big data speed record with lasers

Zephalto concept art of hot air balloon in edge of space flight above Earth

$130,000 could buy you a Michelin-star meal with a view of the stars $130,000 could buy you a Michelin-star meal with a view of the stars

A closeup of Saturn's colorful rings. The image was taken on June 30, 2004 using the Cassini spacecraft’s Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph as it entered the planet’s orbit.

Saturn’s icy rings may be a relatively new addition to the gas giant’s signature look Saturn’s icy rings may be a relatively new addition to the gas giant’s signature look

By Laura Baisas

Skylab, America's first space station, orbits Earth.

Looking back at Skylab, NASA’s pioneering space station Looking back at Skylab, NASA’s pioneering space station

Concept art of NASA EELS snake robot on icy surface of Saturn's moon, Enceladus

NASA hopes its snake robot can search for alien life on Saturn’s moon Enceladus NASA hopes its snake robot can search for alien life on Saturn’s moon Enceladus

Fomalhaut, a star system 25-light-years away, showing a dust cloud and rocky belts.

Asteroid belt circling star 25 light-years away hints at a hidden planet Asteroid belt circling star 25 light-years away hints at a hidden planet

By Briley Lewis

A NASA image of the planet Uranus with six of its 27 known moons, Ariel, Puck, Miranda, Umbriel, Titania, and Oberon, labeled.

Hidden oceans could be lurking deep within Uranus’ moons Hidden oceans could be lurking deep within Uranus’ moons

By Laura Baisas

A NASA illustration linking the moon and Mars.

NASA’s newest office is all about putting humans on Mars NASA’s newest office is all about putting humans on Mars

A meteor from the Eta Aquarids streaks through the night sky.

The history of Halley’s Comet—and the fireball show it brings us every spring The history of Halley’s Comet—and the fireball show it brings us every spring

By Popular Science Team

Robot plants could be used to grow infrastructure in space from scratch

Robot plants could be used to grow infrastructure in space from scratch Robot plants could be used to grow infrastructure in space from scratch

By Dario Floreano and Nicola Nosengo/MIT Press Reader

Exoplanet LHS 475 b, with a mass 99 percent of Earth, orbits its sun solo, like ours. No co-orbiting planets have been confirmed.

How many planets can form one conga line around a star? How many planets can form one conga line around a star?

By Briley Lewis

Earth's horizon and Pacific Ocean photographed by NASA astronauts on the International Space Station. The planet's curvature proves that the Earth is round, not flat.

10 ways you can tell the Earth is round 10 ways you can tell the Earth is round

By Moriel Schottlender

The Milky Way rises in a night sky with a pink hue.

Meteors, flower moons, and more will light up the cosmos in May Meteors, flower moons, and more will light up the cosmos in May

By Laura Baisas

NASA Ingenuity helicopter lost in a Mars crater in a photo taken by Perseverance rover

Name a better duo than NASA’s hard-working Mars rover and helicopter Name a better duo than NASA’s hard-working Mars rover and helicopter

By Briley Lewis

Closeup of vent horizon around M87, a supermassive black hole and the first black hole image

This supermassive black hole sucks big time This supermassive black hole sucks big time

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket readying for launch at night

Japan’s ispace lunar lander appears to have crashed into the moon Japan’s ispace lunar lander appears to have crashed into the moon

The seven galaxies highlighted in this James Webb Space Telescope image have been confirmed to be at a distance that astronomers refer to as redshift 7.9, which correlates to 650 million years after the Big Bang.

JWST captures an unprecedented ‘prequel’ to a galaxy JWST captures an unprecedented ‘prequel’ to a galaxy

By Laura Baisas