Space(Page 12)

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

An optical image from the Keck-I Telescope superimposed on a Chandra X-ray image of Uranus.

Uranus’s quirks and hidden features have astronomers jazzed about a direct mission Uranus’s quirks and hidden features have astronomers jazzed about a direct mission

By Briley Lewis

Six faint circular object glow in space. These are images of six candidate massive galaxies, seen 500-800 million years after the Big Bang.

These 6 galaxies are so huge, they’ve been nicknamed ‘universe breakers’ These 6 galaxies are so huge, they’ve been nicknamed ‘universe breakers’

By Laura Baisas

The icy white south pole of Mars, with red soil all around.

Want to travel to Mars? Here’s how long the trip could take. Want to travel to Mars? Here’s how long the trip could take.

By Eva Botkin-Kowacki

Heat of sun radiating through cold of space

Why is space cold if the sun is hot? Why is space cold if the sun is hot?

By Donavyn Coffey

Axiom-2 mission astronaut headshots in a row of 4

Private space missions will bring more countries to the ISS Private space missions will bring more countries to the ISS

NASA evolved structure spacecraft part

NASA is using AI to help design lighter parts NASA is using AI to help design lighter parts

An image captured by the James Webb Space Telescope of stars and galaxies surrounding spiral galaxy LEDA 2046648.

JWST’s latest new galaxy discoveries mirror the Milky Way JWST’s latest new galaxy discoveries mirror the Milky Way

By Laura Baisas

Silhouette of bird in front of full moon

Volunteer astronomers bring wonders of the universe into prisons Volunteer astronomers bring wonders of the universe into prisons

By Briley Lewis

The planet Saturn on a dark background. Two smudgy spokes are seen in the B ring (left). The shape and shading of spokes can appear light or dark, depending on the viewing angle, and sometimes appear more like blobs than classic radial spoke shapes, as seen here.

Hubble telescope spies Saturn’s rings in ‘spoke season’ Hubble telescope spies Saturn’s rings in ‘spoke season’

By Laura Baisas

An open-celled cloud formation west of Chile.

IBM’s AI has a new job: sorting through NASA’s giant stream of Earth and weather images IBM’s AI has a new job: sorting through NASA’s giant stream of Earth and weather images

By Briley Lewis

The ring system around dwarf planet Quaoar.

Distant dwarf planet Quaoar shouldn’t have a ring, but it does Distant dwarf planet Quaoar shouldn’t have a ring, but it does

Moondust could chill out our overheated Earth, some scientists predict

Moondust could chill out our overheated Earth, some scientists predict Moondust could chill out our overheated Earth, some scientists predict

The ISS as imaged by astronauts in the Soyuz capsule.

The ISS is the best place for an astronaut to get stuck in space The ISS is the best place for an astronaut to get stuck in space

By Briley Lewis

Human population on Mars depicted in a SpaceX Mars colony rendition.

Would Earth laws apply to Mars colonists? Would Earth laws apply to Mars colonists?

Jupiter and its four planet-size moons, called the Galilean satellites, were first photographed in early March 1979 by Voyager 1 and assembled into this collage. They are not to scale but are in their relative positions.

Astronomers find 12 more moons orbiting Jupiter Astronomers find 12 more moons orbiting Jupiter

By Laura Baisas

A debris shield floats in space outside the International Space Station.

Say hello to the Commerce Department’s new space traffic-cop program Say hello to the Commerce Department’s new space traffic-cop program

The Earth's atmosphere from the ISS, with the moon in the background, showing clearly defined layers between the planet and space, where the Karman line separates the two.

Where does Earth end and space begin? The Karman line is only one answer. Where does Earth end and space begin? The Karman line is only one answer.

By Eva Botkin-Kowacki

Two giant, circular ground telescopes with an overlay of a starry night sky.

Cosmic cartographers release a more accurate map of the universe’s matter Cosmic cartographers release a more accurate map of the universe’s matter

By Laura Baisas

DARPA wants to push the boundaries of where satellites can fly

DARPA wants to push the boundaries of where satellites can fly DARPA wants to push the boundaries of where satellites can fly

By Kelsey D. Atherton

OTC NASA Satellite Earth Station Carnarvon Western Australia

A college student built an AI to help look for alien radio signals A college student built an AI to help look for alien radio signals

A green tailed comet streaks across the night sky.

Here’s what to look for in the night sky this February Here’s what to look for in the night sky this February

By Laura Baisas

Hale Telescope at Palomar Observatory in California at night was the first to discover the C/2022 E3 (ZTF) comet

A green comet is visiting us from the edge of the solar system, and astronomers are thrilled A green comet is visiting us from the edge of the solar system, and astronomers are thrilled

NASA aims to fly its experimental electric plane this year

NASA aims to fly its experimental electric plane this year NASA aims to fly its experimental electric plane this year

Pluto is not a planet but a dwarf planet. Outline of its corona on black taken by the NASA New Horizons probe.

Pluto is not a planet because of one small technicality Pluto is not a planet because of one small technicality

By Charlie Wood

The Earth’s inner core could be slowing its spin—but don’t panic

The Earth’s inner core could be slowing its spin—but don’t panic The Earth’s inner core could be slowing its spin—but don’t panic

By Laura Baisas

Astronomers want to wield a tiny laser to look for life on neighboring worlds

Astronomers want to wield a tiny laser to look for life on neighboring worlds Astronomers want to wield a tiny laser to look for life on neighboring worlds

By Briley Lewis

How old is Earth? The age depends on the formation of the moon.

How old is Earth? It’s a surprisingly tough question to answer. How old is Earth? It’s a surprisingly tough question to answer.

By Eva Botkin-Kowacki

SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launch with Space Force payload

SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy launches have been a slow burn—for an interesting reason SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy launches have been a slow burn—for an interesting reason

A glacier in Antarctica with water under it.

Meteorite hunters lug a 16.7-pound space rock from Antarctic ice Meteorite hunters lug a 16.7-pound space rock from Antarctic ice

By Laura Baisas

A starry night sky over a populated area with lights.

‘Skyglow’ is rapidly diminishing our nightly views of the stars ‘Skyglow’ is rapidly diminishing our nightly views of the stars

By Laura Baisas

This ‘airliner of the future’ has a radical new wing design

This ‘airliner of the future’ has a radical new wing design This ‘airliner of the future’ has a radical new wing design

A solar flare with light and particles being released from the sun.

Small ‘sparks’ on the sun could be key to forecasting dramatic solar weather Small ‘sparks’ on the sun could be key to forecasting dramatic solar weather

By Laura Baisas

Milky Way galaxy stars in infrared by NASA Spitzer Space Telescope

Our universe mastered the art of making galaxies while it was still young Our universe mastered the art of making galaxies while it was still young

By Briley Lewis

Cosmic dust on display in Messier 98 galaxy.

Physicists figured out a recipe to make titanium stardust on Earth Physicists figured out a recipe to make titanium stardust on Earth

Exoplanet LHS 475 b and its star detected by the James Webb Space Telescope in an artist's rendition

The James Webb Space Telescope just identified its first exoplanet The James Webb Space Telescope just identified its first exoplanet

By Laura Baisas

Russian spacecraft Soyuz MS-22 docked on the International Space Station while orbiting Earth

Russia will send a replacement ride for stranded ISS astronauts Russia will send a replacement ride for stranded ISS astronauts

Interior of Virgin Orbit Boeing 747 plane containing rocket

A historic first satellite launch in the UK has failed A historic first satellite launch in the UK has failed

Two colliding neutron stars.

Wiggly space waves show neutron stars on the edge of becoming black holes Wiggly space waves show neutron stars on the edge of becoming black holes

By Briley Lewis

Boeing Starliner and SpaceX Crew Dragon NASA space capsules flying over Earth

Dark matter, Jupiter’s moons, and more: What to expect from space exploration in 2023 Dark matter, Jupiter’s moons, and more: What to expect from space exploration in 2023

Concept image of solar power farming satellite orbiting above Earth

A potentially revolutionary solar harvester just left the planet A potentially revolutionary solar harvester just left the planet

ISS astronauts are building objects that couldn’t exist on Earth

ISS astronauts are building objects that couldn’t exist on Earth ISS astronauts are building objects that couldn’t exist on Earth

An artist's illustration of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.

The spy agency origins of NASA’s next powerful planet-hunting observatory The spy agency origins of NASA’s next powerful planet-hunting observatory

By Paul M. Sutter

15 rocket launches from SpaceX, NASA, Blue Origin, and more in a collage

Rocket fuel might be polluting the Earth’s upper atmosphere Rocket fuel might be polluting the Earth’s upper atmosphere

Gold clock with blue arms for minutes and seconds

Time doesn’t have to be exact—here’s why Time doesn’t have to be exact—here’s why

Kick off 2023 with unique moonscapes, a meteor shower, and a bright comet

Kick off 2023 with unique moonscapes, a meteor shower, and a bright comet Kick off 2023 with unique moonscapes, a meteor shower, and a bright comet

By Laura Baisas

James Webb Space Telescope life-size NASA model in front of Austin skyline

JWST has changed the speed of discovery, for better or for worse JWST has changed the speed of discovery, for better or for worse

By Briley Lewis

A titanium tube placed on Mars by NASA's Perseverance rover

Perseverance rover makes its first package delivery: a unique kind of Mars rock Perseverance rover makes its first package delivery: a unique kind of Mars rock

By Laura Baisas

the surface of the moon revealing beautiful craters

This map-making AI could be the first step towards GPS on the moon This map-making AI could be the first step towards GPS on the moon

By Tatyana Woodall

The Jovian moon Io, showing a volcanic eruption.

A mysterious magma ocean could fuel our solar system’s most volcanic world A mysterious magma ocean could fuel our solar system’s most volcanic world

By Briley Lewis

An illustration of NASA's InSight spacecraft with its instruments deployed on the Martian surface.

InSight says goodbye with what may be its last wistful image of Mars InSight says goodbye with what may be its last wistful image of Mars

By Laura Baisas

Mars Curiosity Rover selfie photo on Martian surface

The wind on Mars may be a viable power source after all The wind on Mars may be a viable power source after all

Thousands of galaxies over an enormous range in distance and time are seen in exquisite detail, many for the first time

JWST’s new image unveils a field of glittery galaxies JWST’s new image unveils a field of glittery galaxies

By Laura Baisas

NASA Orion spacecraft with unfolded solar panels on wings as it circles the moon. The Earth is far off in the background.

Artemis I’s solar panels harvested a lot more energy than expected Artemis I’s solar panels harvested a lot more energy than expected

By Briley Lewis

A towering dust devil casts a serpentine shadow over the Martian surface in this image acquired by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (April 2012).

For the first time, humans can hear a dust devil roar across Mars For the first time, humans can hear a dust devil roar across Mars

By Laura Baisas

ispace Hakuto-R Mission 1 moon lander waiting to be launched with SpaceX rocket from Cape Canaveral

ispace’s private lander might be the first to touch down on the moon ispace’s private lander might be the first to touch down on the moon

By Tatyana Woodall

Earth against moon and spun to show fast the planet spins. Realistic illustration.

What would happen if the Earth started to spin faster? What would happen if the Earth started to spin faster?

NASA Orion space vehicle on Navy ship with parachutes deployed

Welcome back to Earth, Orion! Welcome back to Earth, Orion!

By Laura Baisas, Sara Kiley Watson

This will be SpaceX’s crew on its first private, all-civilian trip around the moon

This will be SpaceX’s crew on its first private, all-civilian trip around the moon This will be SpaceX’s crew on its first private, all-civilian trip around the moon

An image of the Southern Ring Nebula (NGC 3132), captured by Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) and Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI).

James Webb Space Telescope reconstructed a ‘star party,’ and you’re invited James Webb Space Telescope reconstructed a ‘star party,’ and you’re invited

By Laura Baisas

SpaceX rocket lifting off from launchpad at dawn

SpaceX’s new Starshield program will supply satellite networks to the military SpaceX’s new Starshield program will supply satellite networks to the military

With one snapshot, Apollo 17 transformed our vision of Earth forever

With one snapshot, Apollo 17 transformed our vision of Earth forever With one snapshot, Apollo 17 transformed our vision of Earth forever

By Tatyana Woodall

An artist's illustration of the dust and gas surrounding a newborn star.

Chile’s Very Large Telescope reveals the productive antics of sibling stars Chile’s Very Large Telescope reveals the productive antics of sibling stars

By Briley Lewis

an illustration of

A fierce competition will decide James Webb Space Telescope’s next views of the cosmos A fierce competition will decide James Webb Space Telescope’s next views of the cosmos

By Tatyana Woodall

Array of Australian radio telescope prototypes built in the Outback against a sky showing stars and the Milky Way galaxy

Construction starts on the world’s biggest radio telescope, which will ‘hear’ signals billions of light-years away Construction starts on the world’s biggest radio telescope, which will ‘hear’ signals billions of light-years away