Space(Page 9)

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

Gold atom with nucleus and floating particles to depict what is matter

What is matter? It’s not as basic as you’d think. What is matter? It’s not as basic as you’d think.

A yellow sun partially blocked by a moon in a reddish sky with the US capitol in the foreground.

Citizen scientists can join a ‘Ring of Fire’ eclipse radio experiment Citizen scientists can join a ‘Ring of Fire’ eclipse radio experiment

By Briley Lewis

Internet data server farm with green and pink glowing LED lights

Nature generates more data than the internet … for now Nature generates more data than the internet … for now

Sierra Space module exploding screenshot

Watch a space station habitat prototype pop like a water balloon Watch a space station habitat prototype pop like a water balloon

A NASA illustration of its boxy OSIRIS spacecraft touching an asteroid.

NASA’s OSIRIS mission delivered asteroid samples to Earth NASA’s OSIRIS mission delivered asteroid samples to Earth

An illustration of a white Starship rocket on a gray lunar surface.

What SpaceX—and anyone else going to the moon—can learn from the prep for Starship’s next launch What SpaceX—and anyone else going to the moon—can learn from the prep for Starship’s next launch

Rocket engine test ignition

Watch a rocket engine ignite in ultra-slow motion Watch a rocket engine ignite in ultra-slow motion

An annular eclipse, with an orange solar ring around a black moon.

The best US parks for eclipse chasers to see October’s ‘Ring of Fire’ The best US parks for eclipse chasers to see October’s ‘Ring of Fire’

Iridescent Running Chicken Nebula with glowing gases and stars

31 award-winning astronomy photos: From fiery horizons to whimsical auroras 31 award-winning astronomy photos: From fiery horizons to whimsical auroras

By Annie Colbert

A weather balloon against blue sky

NASA wants to use AI to study unidentified aerial phenomenon NASA wants to use AI to study unidentified aerial phenomenon

This US astronaut will have spent an entire year in orbit

This US astronaut will have spent an entire year in orbit This US astronaut will have spent an entire year in orbit

By Sara Kiley Watson

Virgin Galactic spacecraft in suborbital flight above Earth

Virgin Galactic’s latest cargo? Ancient human bones Virgin Galactic’s latest cargo? Ancient human bones

A dark world at the edge of our solar system.

Why a mysterious ninth planet might be lurking beyond Pluto Why a mysterious ninth planet might be lurking beyond Pluto

By Briley Lewis

JAXA LEV-2 lunar probe on sand

The newest moon-bound robot will roll around like a tennis ball The newest moon-bound robot will roll around like a tennis ball

A rocket launch creates strange contrails in front of the Milky Way.

You didn’t see a UFO. It was probably one of these things. You didn’t see a UFO. It was probably one of these things.

An optical image of the galaxy in which the new event occurred, taken from archival PanSTARRS data. The X-ray object was located to somewhere inside the white circle, which is about the size a pinhead 100m away would appear. The position of a 2 year old supernova is also shown.

A newly spotted black hole keeps munching on a star the size of our sun A newly spotted black hole keeps munching on a star the size of our sun

By Laura Baisas

A blue semi circle on the right with a ball of blue light on the left on a black background. The orientation of the magnetic field in the distant 9io9 galaxy, seen here when the universe was only 20 percent of its current age and the furthest ever detection of a galaxy’s magnetic field.

Astronomers detect a distant galaxy’s magnetic field for the first time Astronomers detect a distant galaxy’s magnetic field for the first time

By Laura Baisas

Concept art of Artemis lunar base with astronauts

Poppyseed-sized nuclear fuel cells might power a NASA moon base Poppyseed-sized nuclear fuel cells might power a NASA moon base

India just landed on the moon. Now it’s headed for the sun.

India just landed on the moon. Now it’s headed for the sun. India just landed on the moon. Now it’s headed for the sun.

Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) captured this detailed image of SN 1987A (Supernova 1987A). At the center, material ejected from the supernova forms a keyhole shape.

See the stunning Supernova 1987A in a whole new light See the stunning Supernova 1987A in a whole new light

By Laura Baisas

Illustration of laser communication satellite array and the ISS above Earth

Space lasers could beam information to Earth by the end of the year Space lasers could beam information to Earth by the end of the year

The Harvest Moon on October 1, 2020 over a field in Waseca, Minnesota.

September’s night sky will sparkle with the Harvest Moon and a newly discovered comet September’s night sky will sparkle with the Harvest Moon and a newly discovered comet

By Laura Baisas

collage of cern images

How the world’s biggest particle accelerator is racing to cook up plasma from after the big bang How the world’s biggest particle accelerator is racing to cook up plasma from after the big bang

A large spiral galaxy takes up the entirety of the image. The core is mostly bright white, but there are also swirling, detailed structures that resemble water circling a drain. There is white and pale blue light that emanates from stars and dust at the core’s center, but it is tightly limited to the core. The rings feature colors of deep red and orange and highlight filaments of dust around cavernous black bubbles.

The Whirlpool Galaxy’s buff, spiral arms grab JWST’s attention The Whirlpool Galaxy’s buff, spiral arms grab JWST’s attention

By Laura Baisas

A close-up astronaut outside the ISS above a blue slice of Earth.

This is how space might disturb our immune systems This is how space might disturb our immune systems

By Briley Lewis

SpaceX rocket docked at launch pad

DOJ is suing SpaceX for years of workplace discrimination DOJ is suing SpaceX for years of workplace discrimination

A NASA illustration of two astronauts in white spacesuits drilling into red Martian dirt.

To create a small Mars colony, leave the jerks on Earth To create a small Mars colony, leave the jerks on Earth

A portion of the far side of the Moon looms large just beyond the Orion spacecraft in this image taken November 21, 2022, by a camera on the tip of one of Orion’s solar arrays. The darkest spot visible near the middle of the image is Mare Orientale.

You might be able to plant a tree from seeds NASA flew by the moon You might be able to plant a tree from seeds NASA flew by the moon

By Laura Baisas

Supermoon and full moon closeup

The upcoming ‘blue supermoon’ will be the biggest of the year The upcoming ‘blue supermoon’ will be the biggest of the year

By Rachel Feltman

Illustration of trackable objects orbiting Earth

Some space junk just got smacked by more space junk, complicating cleanup Some space junk just got smacked by more space junk, complicating cleanup

A sequence of Hubble Space Telescope images from 1994 to 2020 that chronicles the waxing and waning of the amount of cloud cover on Neptune. This long set of observations shows that the number of clouds grows increasingly following a peak in the solar cycle.

What the heck is up with Neptune’s dark spots? What the heck is up with Neptune’s dark spots?

By Laura Baisas

An illustration of the ESA Solar Orbiter craft monitoring our giant orange sun.

Mini jets of energy could power the sun’s violent winds Mini jets of energy could power the sun’s violent winds

Yellow spacecraft machinery against a white walled background.

India’s successful moon landing makes lunar history India’s successful moon landing makes lunar history

By Briley Lewis

An illustration of two NASA astronauts in a lunar crater.

Why do all these countries want to go to the moon right now? Why do all these countries want to go to the moon right now?

Men pose outside of Michigan State University’s first observatory, circa 1888. The observatory is located behind where Willis House now stands on MSU’s campus, just south of Grand River and north of West Circle Drive in North Neighborhood.

Michigan State students help unearth a 19th-century space observatory on campus Michigan State students help unearth a 19th-century space observatory on campus

By Laura Baisas

A purple galaxy cluster against a black background of space, studded with stars.

When two stars orbit each other, gravity gets weird When two stars orbit each other, gravity gets weird

By Briley Lewis

10 cosmically beautiful photos of the Perseid meteor shower from around the world

10 cosmically beautiful photos of the Perseid meteor shower from around the world 10 cosmically beautiful photos of the Perseid meteor shower from around the world

By Popular Science Team

Our galaxy, the Milky Way.

How might life migrate through the universe? How might life migrate through the universe?

By Roberto Battiston/MIT Press Reader

The white Boeing Starliner capsule above a blue Earth.

Boeing’s struggling Starliner craft won’t fly astronauts until at least 2024 Boeing’s struggling Starliner craft won’t fly astronauts until at least 2024

Virgin Galactic VSS Unity spacecraft orbiting Earth

Virgin Galactic’s second commercial flight sent three tourists to space’s edge Virgin Galactic’s second commercial flight sent three tourists to space’s edge

An artist’s impression of the planet Beta Pictoris b orbiting its star.

Watch 17 years of an exoplanet’s journey in only 10 seconds Watch 17 years of an exoplanet’s journey in only 10 seconds

By Laura Baisas

This communications company is a lifeline for far-flung operators

This communications company is a lifeline for far-flung operators This communications company is a lifeline for far-flung operators

By Sarah Scoles

A NASA image of the sun with a bright solar flare in the upper left.

Would a massive shade between Earth and the sun help slow climate change? Would a massive shade between Earth and the sun help slow climate change?

An illustration of a brown dwarf and a hotter star, in white.

Two tiny stars fit into an orbit smaller than our sun Two tiny stars fit into an orbit smaller than our sun

By Briley Lewis

Two astronauts walking in spacesuits in a desert

How do you keep a spacesuit clean? One answer is antimicrobial fabric. How do you keep a spacesuit clean? One answer is antimicrobial fabric.

Orion space capsule capturing surface of moon during NASA Artemis I mission

An art-filled time capsule is headed for the moon An art-filled time capsule is headed for the moon

By Charlotte Hu

Stars form a half-circle above a mountain lake.

7 US parks where you can get stunning nightsky views 7 US parks where you can get stunning nightsky views

By Briley Lewis

JWST/NIRcam composite image of the Ring Nebula. The image clearly shows the main ring, surrounded by a faint halo and with many delicate structures. The interior of the ring is filled with hot gas. The star which ejected all this material is visible at the very center.

The Ring Nebula is a glowing gas-filled donut in the latest JWST snap The Ring Nebula is a glowing gas-filled donut in the latest JWST snap

By Laura Baisas

Two NASA lunar CADRE rovers parked on the ground

NASA gears up to send a trio of rovers to the moon in 2024 NASA gears up to send a trio of rovers to the moon in 2024

Bronze Age arrow made of meteoric iron

This archaic arrowhead might be made from iron that fell from space This archaic arrowhead might be made from iron that fell from space

By Sara Kiley Watson

A shower of Perseids meteors lights up the sky in 2009 in this NASA time-lapse image.

Two full moons, colorful meteors, and an asteroid will light up August’s sky Two full moons, colorful meteors, and an asteroid will light up August’s sky

By Laura Baisas

NASA astronaut Buzz Aldrin walking across Tranquility Base with equipment after the Apollo 11 moon landing. Black and white photo.

Space junk is a precious treasure trove to some archaeologists Space junk is a precious treasure trove to some archaeologists

SPT2215 relaxed galaxy cluster in composite image by Chandra, Hubble, and other space instruments

Secrets of the early universe are hidden in this chill galaxy cluster Secrets of the early universe are hidden in this chill galaxy cluster

space shuttle endeavour blasts off

What it takes to display a 176,000-pound space shuttle in a launch configuration What it takes to display a 176,000-pound space shuttle in a launch configuration

onesat robotic arm

Robot limbs could keep satellite plasma thrusters at an arm’s length Robot limbs could keep satellite plasma thrusters at an arm’s length

A young star named V960 Mon is at the center, with dusty material with the potential to form planets surrounding it. V960 Mon is located over 5000 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Monoceros.

Dust clumps around a young star could one day form planets Dust clumps around a young star could one day form planets

By Laura Baisas

Futuristic doctor performs medical procedure on astronaut in space with robotic arms. Saturn can be seen outside of the spaceship window. Illustrated in blues and pinks.

5 space robots that could heal human bodies—or even grow new ones 5 space robots that could heal human bodies—or even grow new ones

By Tatyana Woodall

A rotor in the middle of a large wind tunnel.

How epic wind tunnels on Earth make us better at flying through space How epic wind tunnels on Earth make us better at flying through space

By Briley Lewis

This Hubble Space Telescope image of the asteroid Dimorphos was taken on December 19, 2022, about four months after the asteroid was impacted by NASA's DART mission (Double Asteroid Redirection Test). Hubble’s sensitivity reveals a few dozen boulders knocked off the asteroid by the force of the collision. These are among the faintest objects Hubble has ever photographed inside the solar system.

Smashed asteroid surrounded by a ‘cloud’ of boulders Smashed asteroid surrounded by a ‘cloud’ of boulders

By Laura Baisas

This image taken with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) shows the young planetary system PDS 70, located nearly 400 light-years away from Earth. The system features a star at its center, around which the planet PDS 70 b is orbiting. On the same orbit as PDS 70b, astronomers have detected a cloud of debris that could be the building blocks of a new planet or the remnants of one already formed. The ring-like structure that dominates the image is a circumstellar disc of material, out of which planets are forming. There is in fact another planet in this system: PDS 70c, seen to the right of the inner rim of the disc.

New image reveals a Jupiter-like world that may share its orbit with a ‘twin’ New image reveals a Jupiter-like world that may share its orbit with a ‘twin’

By Laura Baisas

Orange, fire-like clouds extend from a central star.

Astronomers spy cosmic dust, with a twist, from the very early universe Astronomers spy cosmic dust, with a twist, from the very early universe

A glowing bluish star remnant bursts with X-ray beams in an artist's illustration.

How astronomers traced a puzzling signal to a lunchtime mistake How astronomers traced a puzzling signal to a lunchtime mistake

By Briley Lewis

Hubble space telescope deep field view of ancient galaxies that helps answer the question: How old is the universe?

How old is the universe? Our answer keeps getting more precise. How old is the universe? Our answer keeps getting more precise.

By Charlie Wood

Concept art of lunar solar power station in orbit

This giant solar power station could beam energy to lunar bases This giant solar power station could beam energy to lunar bases