PERSONAL ASTRONOMY READER
来自专业天文机构与科普媒体的中文资讯聚合。
按主题分类浏览
Written by Lucy Lim, Planetary Scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Earth planning date: Friday, Sept. 18, 2026 Curiosity surprised us at the beginning of the week with a change in rock texture — instead of the finely layered bedrock blocks we’ve been seeing in our recent sulfate unit workspaces, suddenly we were looking […]
Galaxies, vast collections of billions of stars, gas, and dust held together by gravity, are scattered across the immensity of space. But every so often, a coincidence occurs: Two galaxies line up from our point of view on Earth (or from a space telescope) and appear to overlap in the sky. These rare overlapping galaxies […]
Editor’s note: This release was updated on Sept. 30, 2026, to correct the name of the DISCO payload. NASA selected three new scientific investigations and their payload suites to advance our knowledge of the Moon and help pave the way for building humanity’s first lunar outpost, Moon Base. The suite of science instruments and technologies […]
NASA has awarded Modulate Space Corporation a contract to develop key elements of a 5G communications system for use on the lunar surface with built-in Wi-Fi 6, for NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. This accelerated effort is organized into two primary work areas that together will develop a scalable, standards-based communications capability designed to […]
NASA, CSA (Canadian Space Agency), and the German Aerospace Center signed a joint statement of intent to begin coordinated, preparatory work toward an Earth-based demonstrator to learn how to grow crops on the Moon.
This long-duration image shows star trails above Earth and the blue lights of fishing boats and the yellow lights of Indonesian cities stretching below the International Space Station as it orbited 258 miles above the Banda Sea.
This long-duration image shows star trails above Earth and the blue lights of fishing boats and the yellow lights of Indonesian cities stretching below the International Space Station as it orbited 258 miles above the Banda Sea on Sept. 20, 2026. Image credit: NASA/Anil Menon
Mission Highlight: Starship Flight 14 After 13 previous suborbital test flights, Starship finally reached orbit on test flight 14. SpaceX’s launch window opened at 8:15 a.m. EDT on Monday, Sept. 28, and the rocket cleared the tower at Starbase, Texas, at 8:48 a.m. EDT. Just over three hours later, the flight ended in a fireball Continue reading "Starship reaches orbit on 14th test flight" The post Starship reaches orbit on 14th test flight appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
It’s a busy skywatching month ahead. The first full week of October sees two top-notch skywatching events, with Saturn reaching opposition, and the Moon occulting Jupiter for North America on October 6th. This month’s occultation of Jupiter by the Moon is one of the best-placed and top skywatching events for 2026, while Saturn puts on a fine show near opposition.
On Sept. 30, 1880, in a pioneering moment for astrophotography, amateur astronomer Henry Draper and his wife, Anna, captured the first image of the Orion Nebula. Though a medical doctor by trade, Henry was a key contributor to the development of stellar photography and spectroscopy. He and Anna obtained the first photo of a star’s Continue reading "Sept. 30, 1880: Henry and Anna Draper photograph M42" The post Sept. 30, 1880: Henry and Anna Draper photograph M42 appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
NASA's Perseverance rover has found evidence of ancient complex water systems on early Mars, including hot hydrothermal activity. The post Water systems on early Mars were complex and hot first appeared on EarthSky .
Mars calendar year 39 begins on September 30, 2026. If you’re looking for a reason to celebrate, here’s to a Happy New Year ... on Mars. The post Mars calendar year begins September 30: Happy New Year, Mars! first appeared on EarthSky .
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 29: Ganymede transits Jupiter Asteroid 192 Nausikaa reaches opposition at 6 P.M. EDT in the constellation Pisces, just north of Saturn and Neptune’s position on the sky.  About 62 miles (100 kilometers) wide, Nausikaa is a rough-edged, slightly oblong rocky body Continue reading "The Sky Today on Wednesday, September 30: Asteroid Nausikaa at opposition" The post The Sky Today on Wednesday, September 30: Asteroid Nausikaa at opposition appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Radoslav Zboran, taken from Ejulve, Spain The center of the Milky Way rises as Perseid meteors streak through the frame above a quiet Spanish road. The photographer blended multiple 10-second exposures at f/2 and ISO 6400 with a modified Canon 6D and a Sigma 35mm lens to build the panorama. The post On the Way appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
On 23 September, the European-Chinese Smile mission was declared ready to start revealing how Earth responds to the wind of charged particles from the Sun. This follows a busy in-space commissioning period since the spacecraft launched on 19 May and reached its target orbit for science operations on 20 June.
Meet Alpha Cephei, in the constellation Cepheus the King. It’s spinning so fast that it appears like a slightly flattened beach ball. The post Alpha Cephei, or Alderamin, is a fast-spinning star first appeared on EarthSky .
30 September 2026 marks the start of a new year on Mars. At exactly 10:16 CEST/08:16 UTC on Earth, the Red Planet begins a new orbit around our Sun.
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 September 30 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Arp 78: Peculiar […]
Hurricanes Polo and Nolo sent destructive effects ashore amid an active season in the northeastern and central Pacific.
Planetary scientists from Freie Universität Berlin have published two new studies that indicate that a spacecraft could identify evidence of life much more easily than previously thought.
Since their first discovery in 1995, hot Jupiter exoplanets (hot Jupiters, for short) quickly challenged our understanding of exoplanet formation and evolution, including exoplanetary system architecture. This is because, as their name implies, they orbit at extremely close distances to their host stars, ranging from a few days to a few hours. Some of their orbits are even oval-shaped, called eccentric in the scientific community, meaning their orbit is oval-shaped. But could such an orbit cause a hot Jupiter to completely vanish from view, preventing astronomers from studying it?
The Universe has been making fewer stars lately and astronomers want to know why. The obvious answer is: there hasn't been enough starbirth material. But, is that true? Is some other process at play? An international team led by researcher Hong Guo of the Chinese Academy of Sciences decided to dig into the reasons why it looks like starbirth is falling off.
NASA’s 2027 Human Lander Challenge is seeking ideas from college and university students to help address one of the most critical needs for sustained lunar exploration: reliable communications. As NASA prepares for long-term human presence on the Moon through the Artemis and Moon Base programs, communications systems will be just as important as spacecraft and […]
A new way to accurately measure the distance between quasar pairs is showing promise through University of Alberta research.
NASA has awarded a contract to Omitron Inc. for the acquisition of orbital safety analysis services, which provide for critical protection of NASA spaceflight assets and astronaut lives. This indefinite-delivery contract is valued at approximately $23.5 million over a five-year period of performance and entails conjunction assessment screening services for all NASA uncrewed spacecraft, support […]
NASA will participate in the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Antalya, Türkiye, from Monday, Oct. 5, to Friday, Oct. 9, highlighting America’s leadership in human exploration to the Moon and Mars, advancing responsible exploration under the Artemis Accords, world-changing science, and support for the commercial space sector.  The IAC, organized by the International Astronautical […]
The standard model of cosmology predicts that the Universe is homogeneous. A new study tests this using the polarization of the cosmic microwave background and finds this isn't quite true. This study supports an earlier study which also found a small polarization bias.
In accordance with a contract on-ramp clause, NASA has added Blue Origin’s New Glenn 9×4 launch service to the NASA Launch Services (NLS) II contract. The New Glenn 9×4 launch service will be available to NASA’s Launch Services Program Office to use for future missions. The NLS II contracts are multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts with an […]
NASA will provide live coverage of prelaunch, launch, and docking activities for the agency’s SpaceX Crew‑13 mission to the International Space Station. Live coverage will stream through a variety of platforms. Learn where to watch online: https://www.nasa.gov/live Crew‑13 is scheduled to launch at 11:10 a.m. EDT, Thursday, Oct. 1, from Space Launch Complex 40 at […]
Ahead of launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 mission, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with the Dragon spacecraft atop, is vertical at the launch pad of Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026.
Ahead of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 mission launch, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft are vertical at the launch pad of Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida in this Sept. 27, 2026, photo. NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey […]
The Edge of Space-Time: Particles, Poetry, and the Cosmic Dream Boogie The Knopf Doubleday Publishing GroupNew York, New York In The Edge of Space-Time: Particles, Poetry, and the Cosmic Dream Boogie, Chanda Prescod-Weinstein — professor of physics at the University of New Hampshire and the first Black woman to earn tenure in theoretical cosmology — Continue reading "New astronomy products to fall for this month" The post New astronomy products to fall for this month appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Following a successful inaugural year of ingenuity and career building, NASA ORBIT (Opportunities in Research, Business, Innovation, and Technology) has officially returned for a second season to bring university and college student innovation to the forefront of Earth technology development and deep-space exploration. Registration for the 2026–2027 challenge is open through Monday, Nov. 16, 2026, […]
NSTGRO Homepage Omar AlyousefUniversity Of MemphisPolycatenated Architected Materials (PAM) for Origami-Inspired Space Docking Ports Cade ArmstrongUniversity Of Texas at AustinIntelligent Multi-Agent Constellations for Cooperative Cislunar Operations Laurel BarnettHarvard UniversityPhotonic SNSPD Readout and Feed Forward System for Improved Optical Communication Capabilities Katie BarcakWilliam Marsh Rice UniversityCompact magnetic heat switch for thermal management of long duration low […]
Photos taken using a microscope reveal the colorful, kaleidoscope-like crystal structure of a new NASA-made material that could be used for manufacturing during future space missions. Developed at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, the material could be created directly on the Moon or Mars, allowing NASA to pack fewer supplies — saving weight and […]
There’s an active debate in the astrobiology community of where to use our best telescopes to look for our best chance of seeing alien life. That debate has been going on for decades, and will continue for some time to come, but now there’s another option up for consideration. A new paper in the International Journal of Astrobiology by Dr. Christopher Doughty of Northern Arizona University talks about how the total amount of carbon a planet is able to bring into the service of biology is a good indication of how evolved life on it might be.
On Nov. 24, 2021, the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) launched. The spacecraft was on its way to Dimorphos, part of a binary system with the asteroid Didymos. Nearly a year later, on Sept. 26, 2022, DART crashed into Dimorphos at about 14,000 mph (22,000 km/h). The crash was intentional: The DART mission goal was Continue reading "Sept. 29, 2022: Seeing the DART impact" The post Sept. 29, 2022: Seeing the DART impact appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
SpaceX's Starship spacecraft finally reached Earth's orbit in its 14th test flight on September 28. Though successful, the flight was not without its flaws. The post Starship reaches Earth’s orbit for 1st time first appeared on EarthSky .
Researchers in Ireland have found a new way to decode the weather on exoplanets. They started with the planetary-mass object SIMP 0136. The post Weather on exoplanets: Decoding the atmosphere of SIMP 0136 first appeared on EarthSky .
The black holes at the hearts of galaxies get the credit and/or blame for a lot of things in their hosts. For example, they take the blame for gobbling up star-forming material, effectively "quenching" starbirth in some areas of galaxies. On the bright side, it now turns out that some of them may be commonly participating in the births of stars, too.
Image: This NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope Picture of the Month features galaxies in great detail that have been warped and multiplied like they’ve stepped into a house of mirrors. The brilliant golden galaxies splashed across this image belong to a galaxy cluster called MACS J0454.1-0300. The orange galaxies concentrated on one side of the cluster are not actually part of the cluster and are much farther away from us. MACS J0454.1-0300 is itself immensely distant: the light from these galaxies has been travelling to us for so long that we’re seeing the cluster as it was when the Universe was about 8 billion years old. While this galaxy cluster is a valuable scientific target in its own right, the real stars of this image are the galaxies that appear warped and stretched, like a painting that has been smeared by a giant hand. The way these galaxies look is the result of gravitational lensing , in which the enormous mass of a foreground object such as a galaxy cluster bends and magnifies the light from a more distant object in the background. Gravitational lensing allows astronomers to observe galaxies, star clusters and even individual stars that are too far away for our telescopes to see under normal conditions. While the large, orange galaxies appear obviously distorted, look carefully at some of the small reddish background galaxies throughout this picture: even at the very edges of the frame, there are galaxies whose images have been bent into tiny arcs by MACS J0454.1-0300’s gravity. The gravitationally lensed areas show multiple images of galaxies from when the Universe was young: a group of galaxies 2 billion years after the Big Bang, and a single galaxy just 800 million years old after the Big Bang. The galaxy group appears to be going through a merger, resulting in an enormous burst of star formation. Astronomers have also identified individual bright ‘knots’ within the gravitationally lensed areas, corresponding to regions as small as 5 light-years across. These tiny clumps appear magnified by a factor of more than 300, in some cases. A NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image of this same cluster was released in 2014. Take a moment to compare the two images; the difference between them is dramatic. The new Webb image reveals hundreds of galaxies missing from the earlier image. These galaxies were there all along, but Webb is much more sensitive to their much redder light. The data behind this image come from two observing programmes ( #5058 , PI: Furtak; #6882 , PI: Fujimoto) that leverage the ability of massive galaxy clusters to bring distant objects into view. [Image Description: A massive galaxy cluster, made of many golden elliptical galaxies with the largest, brightest one in the centre. Heavily distorted orange galaxies appear all around the cluster, the largest concentrated in a large arc around the cluster's centre; these are images of very distant galaxies, created by gravitational lensing. A few galaxies are large and bluish-white in colour; bright, nearby stars are the same colour.] Release on esawebb.org
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 28: Open cluster M39 shines Jupiter’s largest moon, Ganymede, transits the gas giant’s disk this morning. Some part of the event, which lasts more than three hours in total, is visible for all U.S. observers.  Jupiter is currently in Leo, rising Continue reading "The Sky Today on Tuesday, September 29: Ganymede transits Jupiter" The post The Sky Today on Tuesday, September 29: Ganymede transits Jupiter appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Equuleus the Little Horse is a diminutive constellation that lies south of the Summer Triangle. Autumn nights are a great time to view the Little Horse. The post Equuleus the Little Horse on autumn nights first appeared on EarthSky .
Approximately 13.8 billion years ago, the Big Bang is hypothesized to have occurred, kickstarting our universe and eventually life on our small, blue world. While the Big Bang has yet to be directly observed, scientists have worked tirelessly to piece together the events that happened immediately after the Big Bang, specifically the first billion years or less, with the goal of gaining insight into the how the first stars, and potentially planets, formed and evolved.
APODScienceAPODAPOD: 2026 September 29 –…Today’s APODArchiveSubmissionsIndexSearchCalendarRSSEducationAboutDiscuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Sh2-188: The Shrimp Nebula Explanation: What causes the swirl in the Shrimp Nebula? Its high speed is […]
Nature Astronomy, Published online: 29 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02969-5 The formation process of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at very low metallicity is uncertain. The detection of PAHs in a 7% solar metallicity galaxy, along with emission from compact clumps and small grain sizes, helps elucidate the mechanisms at play.
Nature Astronomy, Published online: 29 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02993-5 The discovery of an unusually metal-poor galaxy overdensity that may preserve the chemical fingerprints of the first stars in the Universe provides a new way to investigate how the earliest stellar generations formed.
Students in Cornell’s Space Systems Design Studio have published results from two lightsail experiments (Alpha CubeSat and Sailing to the Stars) built by engineering students at Cornell University.
Galaxies are like snowflakes, no two exactly alike, even the spirals. The Hubble Space Telescope did a visual dive into the distant spiral NGC 4693 and found some intriguing hints to its past. For one thing, this member of the Virgo Cluster seems to have a central region that's rotating out of sync with the spiral arms and bulge. Those arms don't seem to connect to the central region, and the bulge itself seems to extend out above the plane of the galaxy.
SpaceX sent its Starship super-rocket on its first orbital flight — a shorter-than-planned test mission that put operational Starlink satellites into orbit for the first time.
On Monday, NASA and Boeing provided an update on the company’s Starliner spacecraft, including adding additional crew missions and certifying a new rocket for crew transportation to low Earth orbit. “We are living through the most exciting era of space exploration since Apollo,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “As this domain continues to open, there […]
On Sept. 30, 1946, five National Advisory Committee of Aeronautics (NACA) engineers arrived at Muroc Army Airfield in California’s high desert to achieve supersonic flight for the first time. In less than two years, NACA flew the X-1 aircraft faster than the speed of sound, marking an important milestone in aviation history. Fast forward 80 […]
Something deep inside Mars has scientists looking for clues to its internal evolution. A team at the University of Arizona led by Alexander Byrne, used a technique called "tidal tomography" to probe a heat anomaly in the southern hemisphere mantle. It turns out this subsurface region measures about 200 to 400 degrees Celsius warmer than the rest of the mantle. That warm spot may contain information about how Mars has changed over its lifetime.
A commercial mission to boost NASA’s Swift observatory concluded without raising the spacecraft’s orbit, but the agency and industry vendor gained valuable experience that will benefit future in-space servicing programs.
Both stellar-mass black holes and supermassive black holes can produce ionized jets streaming from their poles. Stellar-mass black holes consume the material of companion stars, while supermassive black holes rip stars apart in tidal disruption events. Despite these different eating habits, the formation of jets requires similar conditions.
Marking a significant expansion in the number of signatories to the Artemis Accords, NASA welcomed Albania, Croatia, Côte d’Ivoire, and San Marino, bringing total participation to 76 countries.  “Our momentum reflects a growing commitment to peaceful, responsible exploration and a shared understanding that the future in space will be shaped by those willing to lead,” […]
Editor’s Note: This advisory was updated on Sept. 28, 2026, with ticketing information for the public. The four astronauts of NASA’s Artemis II mission will participate in an event hosted by industry and community partners at the University of Houston to discuss their mission around the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft. It will be the […]
Way back in the earliest epochs of the Universe, the Big Bang was followed by a period called the Cosmic Dark Ages. It was a time when the cosmic soup of primordial particles was so thick that light couldn't propagate. Hence the term "dark"; also, because, even with our best telescopes, we can't see "into" that epoch. Although we don't have a definite "century by century" timeline of activity, that doesn't mean that period of history didn't lead to something interesting.
Four crew members are set to launch to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 mission to perform research, technology demonstrations, and maintenance aboard the orbiting laboratory.
This nighttime view of the United States, dotted with city lights looking toward New York City (center), was taken at approximately 3:40 a.m. local time from the International Space Station as it orbited 259 miles above Earth.
This nighttime view of the United States, dotted with city lights looking toward New York City (center), was taken at approximately 3:40 a.m. local time on Sept. 8, 2026, from the International Space Station as it orbited 259 miles above Earth. Image credit: NASA/Jessica Meir
The European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer ( Juice ) skimmed the very outer edge of Earth’s atmosphere on 28 September, using the gravity of our home planet to alter its route to Jupiter using very little fuel.
The NASA ORBIT (Opportunities in Research, Business, Innovation, and Technology for the Workforce) Challenge invites university and community college students nationwide to work with real NASA intellectual property and mission challenges. Choose your path: develop commercial applications of NASA patents that solve problems here on Earth (ORBIT Earth), or design next-generation technologies for space exploration […]
Kristie Foster paved her road to becoming a NASA civil servant with literal miles of dedication. Her work at the agency’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, supports NASA’s mission to return American astronauts to the Moon, build a Moon Base for an enduring presence on the lunar surface, and ensure American leadership […]
At 10:58 AM on Sept. 28, 1969, residents of the small Australian farming community of Murchison, Victoria, heard a series of loud booms. The noise was accompanied by a strong smell and a streak of smoke in the sky. A carbonaceous chondite meteorite, the Murchison Meteorite broke up as it entered the atmosphere, and thus Continue reading "Sept. 28, 1969: The Murchison Meteorite explodes over Australia" The post Sept. 28, 1969: The Murchison Meteorite explodes over Australia appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
There’s a once-in-a-millennia astronomical opportunity coming up in about three years, and space agencies are rushing to make sure they’re ready for it. On Friday April 13th, 2029, the asteroid 99942 Apophis will fly within 32,000km of the Earth’s surface. The cruise liner sized piece of rock won’t hit us, but it should put on a great show, and, given the date it will pass by, is sure to cause panic amongst some parts of western civilization. One of the missions planned to watch this historic event (and hopefully alleviate some people’s fears) - ESA and JAXA’s Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety (Ramses) - has just passed a successful development milestone - turning on its computer for the first time.
The Komodo dragon is the world’s largest lizard. It's a venomous predator that can hunt, swim between islands and reproduce without a mate. The post The Komodo dragon is the world’s largest living lizard first appeared on EarthSky .
Scientists love taking inspiration from nature. The evolutionary processes that have created such a diverse panoply of life on Earth can be a great source of ideas in solving technical problems. One such example is the pattern of sunflower seeds - they are arranged in a mathematically optimized pattern known as a Vogel spiral, and the international team building the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) in Australia decided to lay out their antennas in a similar pattern. But, as they report in a paper recently published in the Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems, when they did so they found a huge blind spot in the data which hints that maybe this particular natural pattern might need to be modified to work well for this particular application.
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 September 28 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. AnnotatedOriginal Cosmic Latte: […]
As humanity continues to move towards a permanent settlement on the Moon, we still have at least one big hurdle to face - the lunar night, which lasts for roughly fourteen days straight and can drop temperatures to a bone-chilling -223°C. In order to survive those conditions, we need a power source that doesn’t come and go with the Sun, or rely on non-existent stock of coal, gas or wind. In other words, we need nuclear power, and a new paper, available in pre-print on arXiv by Julius Mercz of the Technical University of Munich and his co-authors, describes a new type of nuclear reactor that wouldn’t just power a habitat’s environmental systems, but also enable its materials extraction technologies as well.
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 27: Catch Saturn’s satellites Although the Moon still dominates much of the night, bright deep-sky objects far from our satellite’s location remain well within reach. A few hours after sunset, M39 in Cygnus is some 80° high in the north, perfect Continue reading "The Sky Today on Monday, September 28: Open cluster M39 shines" The post The Sky Today on Monday, September 28: Open cluster M39 shines appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Everything from the gold in your smart phone to the calcium in your bones was originally created in a star. But for a long time there has been a question about the levels of one particular element - strontium, which makes fireworks burn bright red and is used in glow-in-the-dark paint. A new paper published in Nature Communications Physics from a large group of researchers led by Caley M. Harris, a graduate student at Michigan State University, thinks they have found an answer for why that particular elemental level was skewed - and doing so required some very elaborate laboratory testing.
The early stages of the solar system remain shrouded in mystery. Not much remains from that time, but scientists have developed plenty of theories about what was going on back then. One of those theories attempts to answer a simple question - did the early system prefer “fire” or “ice”? A new paper published in Nature Astrophysics from lead author Damanveer Grewal, an assistant professor of Earth and planetary sciences at Yale, and his co-authors, have a definitive answer to that question - the early solar system preferred fire.
What color is the universe?
Nature Astronomy, Published online: 28 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02979-3 New observations provide a more robust observational test of tidal torque theory while revealing an unexpected puzzle for galaxy formation.
Nature Astronomy, Published online: 28 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02989-1 Modern observatories such as JWST and ALMA are revealing dynamically mature galaxies early in cosmic history. A century after Hubble, galaxy morphology is becoming a probe of galaxy-formation physics, including gas accretion, star formation and feedback.
Born Sept. 27, 1918, and educated at Bradfield College and Oxford University in the U.K., Martin Ryle would go on to be the first astronomer royal (1972-1982) with a background in radio astronomy. During World War II, Ryle worked in radio systems and countermeasures for the RAF. He was strongly antiwar, though, and had no Continue reading "Sept. 27, 1918: The birth of Martin Ryle" The post Sept. 27, 1918: The birth of Martin Ryle appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
For the first time, scientists have discovered a microblazar, a black hole system in our own galaxy with a jet pointed at Earth. It lies about 12,000 light-years away. The post A black hole jet is aimed at us … and it’s in our galaxy first appeared on EarthSky .
Watch for the beautiful daytime moon this week, a pale orb floating against a blue sky in the morning hours. Look west! You'll see it! The post Watch for the daytime moon after sunrise this week first appeared on EarthSky .
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 26: The Harvest Moon The Moon now passes 7° north of Saturn at 8 A.M. EDT. The ringed planet currently glows at magnitude 0.3, as bright as it will get this year. It will reach opposition in just another week.  By Continue reading "The Sky Today on Sunday, September 27: Catch Saturn’s satellites" The post The Sky Today on Sunday, September 27: Catch Saturn’s satellites appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
When we think of asteroids, we often think of the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter that contains the majority of the known asteroids in our solar system. However, our solar system hosts several other populations of asteroids and icy rocks, including the Jupiter Trojan asteroids that orbit in Jupiter’s orbit, and the icy bodies and comets of the Kuiper Belt. But there’s one population of asteroids that often gets overlooked called Centaurs, primarily because their orbits are not in a fixed location and instead whose orbits cross the orbits of the outer planets.
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 September 27 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. BeforeAfter Andromeda Before […]
The post APOD: 2026 September 27 – Andromeda Before and After Photoshop appeared first on NASA Science .
The post ELISA MABL appeared first on NASA Science .
The post AVATAR-Org1 appeared first on NASA Science .
The post MVP-Plant-02 appeared first on NASA Science .
What does the Andromeda galaxy really look like?
A new geochemical modeling study led by researchers at JAXA and the University of Tokyo addresses Mars' "missing" stores of carbonate rocks.
The September full moon - the Super Harvest Moon - happens overnight on September 26, 2026. It'll be near the planet Saturn. The post The September full Moon is the Harvest Moon near Saturn first appeared on EarthSky .
NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov touched down at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, at 12:56 p.m. EDT, following a flight from the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston that included a brief refueling stopover in Mississippi. A crew arrival media […] The post NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 Lands at NASA Kennedy appeared first on NASA Science .
The post KMT-2023-BLG-1118L appeared first on NASA Science .
The post TOI-426 appeared first on NASA Science .
The post KMT-2023-BLG-1810L appeared first on NASA Science .
The post KMT-2023-BLG-0084L appeared first on NASA Science .
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 crew members are on their way to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to prepare for launch to the International Space Station. NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov took off in T-38s from Ellington Field near the agency’s Johnson […] The post NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 On Way to Kennedy appeared first on NASA Science .
Resembling a lumpy chunk of coral floating through space, Hyperion is one of the weirdest moons not just of Saturn, but in the whole solar system. Its shape is irregular, its rotation is chaotic, and it looks oddly spongelike. On Sept. 26, 2005, Cassini completed its first flyby of this bizarre moon, giving NASA both Continue reading "Sept. 26, 2005: Cassini visits Saturn’s weirdest moon" The post Sept. 26, 2005: Cassini visits Saturn’s weirdest moon appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column. September 25: Neptune at opposition Full Moon occurs at 12:49 P.M. EDT. The Moon then passes 5° north of Neptune at 3 PM EDT.  Rising around sunset and setting around sunrise, the September Full Moon is traditionally called the Corn Moon, as Continue reading "The Sky Today on Saturday, September 26: The Harvest Moon" The post The Sky Today on Saturday, September 26: The Harvest Moon appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 September 26 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Mirrored Meteor and […]
The post APOD: 2026 September 26 – Mirrored Meteor and Milky Way appeared first on NASA Science .
On August 15, this
You currently sit at the black hole’s photon sphere, where light can travel endlessly in a circle due to the star’s great gravitational pull. The apparent position of the photon sphere is always easy to spot – it is the apparent dividing line between black hole and sky. As you circle the black hole the […] The post Circling the Black Hole at the Photon Sphere appeared first on NASA Science .
During a news conference at 3 p.m. EDT on Monday, Sept. 28, NASA and Boeing leadership will discuss Starliner’s development and plans for regular crew flights to and from the International Space Station. Learn where to watch online: https://www.nasa.gov/live The briefing participants include: Media already credentialed for Crew-13 may participate in person at NASA’s Kennedy […]
During a news conference at 3 p.m. EDT on Monday, Sept. 28, NASA and Boeing leadership will discuss Starliner’s development and plans for regular crew flights to and from the International Space Station. Learn where to watch online: https://www.nasa.gov/live The briefing participants include: Media already credentialed for Crew-13 may participate in person at NASA’s Kennedy […] The post NASA, Boeing to Provide Update on Starliner Development appeared first on NASA Science .
As before, from this orientation, the black hole’s enormous gravity bends light to make two discernible images of the constellation Orion. You now descend to the photon sphere. A photon sphere is a location where gravity is so strong that light can travel in circles. Photons orbit the black hole at the distance of the […] The post Approaching the Photon Sphere appeared first on NASA Science .
The first frame is dark as you peer into the black hole itself. You begin to look up and stars come back into view. Now the stars are more blue than ever before as starlight that has fallen into the black hole to reach you has become more energetic. You may notice many dim stars […] The post Looking Up at the Photon Sphere appeared first on NASA Science .
The first frame shows a background sky highly distorted by the black hole in the center. The gravity of the black hole is so great that it actually deflects the background starlight. Large light bending effects cause the background sky to appear to move in unusual ways as you circle the black hole. Light paths […] The post Circling the Black Hole appeared first on NASA Science .
NASA’s Balloon Program is past the halfway point for the fall campaign in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Four missions have successfully launched from the launch site, with two more lined up in the coming weeks. Hurricane Polo is affecting the upper-level winds near the launch site and the team is evaluating launch opportunities for the […] The post Two More NASA Balloons Remain for Fall Campaign appeared first on NASA Science .
The first frame depicts the observer in empty space looking toward the constellation Orion. The three stars in Orion’s belt are visible to the right of the center of the screen. Sirius can be seen as the brightest star in the sky below and to left of Orion’s belt, and Betelgeuse is the reddish star […] The post Approaching the Black Hole appeared first on NASA Science .
The crew members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew‑13 mission are set to touch down at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center at approximately 1 p.m. EDT on Saturday, Sept. 26, after flying in, arriving from the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to begin their final days of launch preparations. Watch the crew’s arrival live on NASA Kennedy’s […] The post NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 Set for Saturday Arrival at NASA Kennedy appeared first on NASA Science .
The Nature of the Universe Debate:Cosmology Solved? Peebles – Turner Baird AuditoriumThe Smithsonian InstitutionNational Museum of Natural History 1998 October 4; Debate Program 1 – 4:30 pm Sponsors: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural HistoryNational Science FoundationNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationMichigan Technological UniversityUniversities Space Research Association Program Organizers: Robert Nemiroff, Jerry Bonnell, Sandra Barnes, Wellesley Pereira,Gabriela […] The post The Nature of the Universe Great Debate in 1998: Program appeared first on NASA Science .
NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory has resumed use of its third science instrument and automatically repointing to examine new high-energy flashes in the sky. The post NASA’s Swift Powers On Third Instrument, Restarts Automated Slewing appeared first on NASA Science .
Debate Proceedings Six published papers from the 1998 debate appeared in the 1999 March issue of the Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. The proceedings include an opening commemoration of David N. Schramm by the moderator, two introductory talks, papers based on the talks given at the 1998 debate, and a closing by […] The post The Nature of the Universe Great Debate in 1998 appeared first on NASA Science .
The Republic of San Marino became the 76th signatory to the Artemis Accords during a ceremony in the city of Rimini on Friday with NASA and U.S. Department of State officials present. “San Marino joins a growing coalition of like-minded nations committed to the peaceful, transparent, and responsible exploration of space,” said NASA Deputy Administrator […]
Spacecraft propulsion traditionally relies on volatile fuels and separate, bulky systems for different types of maneuvering in space. NASA is working to change that paradigm. Engineers at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, recently completed a rigorous series of environmental and physical tests on a new small satellite designed to make spaceflight safer […]
In our own solar system, all eight planets orbit our Sun in a nice, orderly fashion. None are more than 7° or so out of alignment with the equator, and all of them rotate in the same direction as the Sun itself. But that’s not the case for all solar systems, and a new paper published in Astronomy & Astrophysics from a team of researchers led by Yann Carteret, a PhD student at the University of Geneva (UNIGE), describes the first time we’ve ever found an exoplanet orbiting the opposite direction of its red dwarf parent star - and it has major implications for our understanding of planet formation theory.
2026-2027 DWU: Middle School Design Challenge Overview The 2026-2027 challenge theme is, “Fueling Flight Design Challenge: New Energy Systems.”  As more and more aircraft are a part of the US’ National Airspace System (NAS), NASA and partners at the FAA, at universities, and in the aviation industry are searching for ways to increase safety, make […]
2026-2027 DWU: High School Engineering Challenge Challenge Materials Overview The 2026-2027 challenge theme is, “Fueling Flight Design Challenge: New Energy Systems.” As more and more aircraft are a part of the US’ National Airspace System (NAS), NASA and partners at the FAA, at universities, and in the aviation industry are searching for ways to increase safety, […]
A chaotic secret hides within this seemingly serene image of spiral galaxy NGC 4698 taken by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and released on Sept. 18, 2026. As a spiral galaxy like our own Milky Way galaxy, NGC 4698 has spiral arms that curl around within a thin disk of stars, gas, and dust. These arms […]
Though the spiral galaxy in this ESA/Hubble Picture of the Month seems serene, it hides a chaotic secret.
For more information, contact Donald S. Parker, Kennedy Space Center, [email protected] Download the PDF version Improper casting and forging processes in the manufacture of aluminum alloy 2219 can lead to microstructural defects that result in a sub-optimal response to anodic surface treatments and an increase in corrosion susceptibility. This Technical Bulletin communicates the risks of […]
The Full Moon closest to the autumnal equinox hides an added bonus: more moonlight for your money. The post What is the Harvest Moon effect? appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
On Sept. 25, 1644, Ole Roemer was born in Aarhus, Denmark. Beginning in 1662, he studied at the University of Copenhagen with physicist Erasmus Bartholin, who tasked him with editing the manuscripts of Tycho Brahe; then, after a 1672 move to Paris, he spent eight years at the Paris Observatory and tutored the crown prince Continue reading "Sept. 25, 1644: The birth of Ole Roemer" The post Sept. 25, 1644: The birth of Ole Roemer appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Hurricane Nolo is strengthening south of Hawaii, and could bring potentially catastrophic flooding to the Big Island through the weekend. The post Hurricane Nolo strengthening near Hawaii first appeared on EarthSky .
The Artemis Accords are a set of guidelines for peaceful space exploration. But questions remain about who makes the rules and controls space resources. The post The Artemis Accords are rules for a new moon era first appeared on EarthSky .
Neptune at opposition -- when it's opposite the sun on the sky's dome -- comes on September 26, 2026. You'll need optical aid to spot it. The post Neptune at opposition on September 26, 2026 first appeared on EarthSky .
Is there enough water on the moon for future cities? New estimates say there could be enough for smaller villages or towns, but not larger metropolises. The post Is there enough water on the moon for future cities? first appeared on EarthSky .
If you want to see Saturn's rings, late September and early October 2026 is a great time to look. Grab a telescope and read the tips found here! The post Seeing Saturn’s rings: Top tips for beginners first appeared on EarthSky .
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 24: Blue Neptune, yellow star Neptune now reaches opposition this evening at 10 P.M. EDT, placing the planet at its best for viewing. However, with the nearly Full Moon (more than 99% lit and appearing Full to the naked eye) nearby, Continue reading "The Sky Today on Friday, September 25: Neptune at opposition" The post The Sky Today on Friday, September 25: Neptune at opposition appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Friday, September 25Mercury passes 1.0° north of Spica at 9 P.M. EDT. You can find more details on how to observe them shortly after sunset in last week’s column, as today we’re focusing on another event. Neptune reaches opposition this evening at 10 P.M. EDT, placing the planet at its best for viewing. However, with Continue reading "The Sky This Week from September 25 to October 2: Neptune at opposition" The post The Sky This Week from September 25 to October 2: Neptune at opposition appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 September 25 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Globular Cluster Omega […]
Several ingredients came together off the Pacific coast of Mexico to generate one of the strongest storms the eastern Pacific basin has ever seen.
Globular star cluster
Nature Astronomy, Published online: 25 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02977-5 The jury is out as to whether dark energy is best described by a cosmological constant or as dynamical. This Perspective presents both sides of the case and considers the questions that need to be addressed going forward.
Nature Astronomy, Published online: 25 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02984-6 Volatile depletion in rocky planets records their formation history. Earth and Mars grew through different hybrid pathways of pebble and planetesimal accretion, providing a new way to interpret the diversity of rocky planets beyond the Solar System.
A new study reveals that Jezero Crater’s enigmatic ‘Margin Unit’ was shaped by a complex sequence of ancient lakes, groundwater systems, and hydrothermal fluids.
Four crew members from three space agencies will launch to the International Space Station no earlier than spring 2027 for a long-duration science expedition as part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-14 mission. NASA astronauts Kayla Barron and Chris Birch will serve as spacecraft commander and pilot, with JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Makoto Suwa, and Roscosmos cosmonaut […] The post NASA Shares SpaceX Crew-14 Assignments for Space Station Mission appeared first on NASA Science .
Côte d’Ivoire signed the Artemis Accords on Thursday as the 75th signatory during a signing ceremony in the nation’s largest city Abidjan, marking the largest milestone yet for the international coalition of like-minded countries committed to peaceful and responsible space exploration. “The United States and Côte d’Ivoire already cooperate on Earth,” said NASA’s Deputy Administrator […]
Côte d’Ivoire signed the Artemis Accords on Thursday as the 75th signatory during a signing ceremony in the nation’s largest city Abidjan, marking the largest milestone yet for the international coalition of like-minded countries committed to peaceful and responsible space exploration. “The United States and Côte d’Ivoire already cooperate on Earth,” said NASA’s Deputy Administrator […] The post NASA Welcomes Côte d’Ivoire as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory appeared first on NASA Science .
Four crew members from three space agencies will launch to the International Space Station no earlier than spring 2027 for a long-duration science expedition as part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-14 mission. NASA astronauts Kayla Barron and Chris Birch will serve as spacecraft commander and pilot, with JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Makoto Suwa, and Roscosmos cosmonaut […]
Four crew members from three space agencies will launch to the International Space Station no earlier than spring 2027 for a long-duration science expedition as part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-14 mission. NASA astronauts Kayla Barron and Chris Birch will serve as spacecraft commander and pilot, with JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Makoto Suwa, and Roscosmos cosmonaut […] The post NASA Shares SpaceX Crew-14 Assignments for Space Station Mission appeared first on NASA Science .
Blue Origin Small Business Subcontracting Program Blue Origin is building the infrastructure for sustained human presence on the Moon, developing the Blue Moon lunar landers (MK1 and MK2) and supporting NASA’s Lunar Permanence goals alongside reusable launch systems like New Glenn. Our Small Business Program actively engages small, disadvantaged, veteran-owned, HUBZone, and women-owned businesses to […] The post NASA Small Business Subcontracting Program – Blue Origin appeared first on NASA Science .
Affiliation: Bay Area Environmental Research Institute, NASA Ames Research Center Division: Earth Science Division (SG) Email: [email protected] Personal Biography Paul Seibert is a postdoctoral researcher with the Bay Area Environmental Research Institute at NASA Ames working on wildland fire fuel type characterization and load quantification using satellite remote sensing methods. Paul finished his PhD at the University […] The post Paul Seibert appeared first on NASA Science .
Update on NASA Foundation Model Progress: To the Moon and Beyond September 2026 – NASA’s foundation model (FM) work began taking shape in 2023 when the NASA Interagency Implementation and Advanced Concepts Team (IMPACT) and IBM formed a collaboration to build a geospatial FM. Due to the Earth being so well studied and mapped out […] The post AI/ML News appeared first on NASA Science .
Glossary Cepheid: A type of variable star used to determine distance. Shapley used a relation between the period of variation of this type of star and its absolute magnitude to calibrate distances to globular clusters during the `Great Debate.’ Curtis disputed these distances. Cepheids are used today as reliable distance estimators. Curtis: Heber D. Curtis. […] The post ‘Great Debate’ Glossary appeared first on NASA Science .
Director: Center for SETI ResearchSETI Institute, 1984 – 2012Emeritus Chair for SETI Research How will humanity first discover ET Life?Best guess: TechnosignaturesWhile the astronomical community is planning for large telescopes, or robotic explorers that could uncover biosignatures within our solar system or in the atmospheres of distant exoplanets, they are still far in the future. […] The post Jill Tarter appeared first on NASA Science .
Sometime between April 11 and May 22, 2024, a comet or asteroid roughly the height of a three- to six-story building smashed into the Moon, leaving a crater 728 feet (222 meters) wide in its wake. A year and a half later, a NASA scientist spotted it, making it the largest newly formed crater humans Continue reading "Scientists spot a new crater on the Moon" The post Scientists spot a new crater on the Moon appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
by Robert J. Nemiroff and Jerry T. Bonnell This lesson plan is meant to be used for undergraduates studying astronomy to supplement to an existing introductory astronomy course. As such, it may guide the instructor in preparing her/his own lecture or be distributed and read by the class. Students reading this lesson plan / lecture […] The post ‘Great Debate’ Lesson Plan for Undergraduates appeared first on NASA Science .
Time Domain in the Thermal Infrared: NEOWISE, NEO Surveyor, and the Hunt for Hazardous Asteroids. Speaker: Joseph Masiero (California Institute of Technology / IPAC) Exploring the Synergies Between PRIMA and JWST: A Study of PAHs Across Cosmic Time. Speaker. Leonor Arriscado (Centro de Astrobiología / Spanish National Research Council - National Institute of Aerospace Technology) The post IR STIG PRIMA Seminar, 28 Sept 2026 appeared first on NASA Science .
NASA announced the winners of the Deep Space Food Challenge: Mars to Table Thursday, with the top $300,000 prize being awarded to Chinyere Ukeje of Philadelphia, Pa. for the Adaptive Nourishment Infrastructure (ANI) food system concept. This competition challenged solvers to explore innovative solutions for integrated space food systems that would provide safe, nutritious meals […]
Carbon-capture technology repurposed for breweries spreads and finds new applications
An Alta-X drone flies an advanced guidance and navigation system known as the Safe and Precise Landing – Integrated Capabilities Evolution (SPLICE) experiment near NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026.
In this Aug. 27, 2026, image, an Alta-X drone flies an advanced guidance and navigation system known as the Safe and Precise Landing – Integrated Capabilities Evolution (SPLICE) experiment near NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. Researchers at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston developed SPLICE, which successfully completed simulated lunar descent and […]
Like tendrils on a vine, lava spreads out from the northern crater of Krasheninnikov, a volcano pair on the Pacific coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. On July 30, 2025, an 8.8-magnitude earthquake had struck in the nearby ocean, apparently jolting one of the two volcanoes awake. A few days later, for the first time in […]
Rocket launches are some of the most violent travel methods man has ever created. They generate millions of pounds of thrust and convert that into intense g-forces. Humans must undergo serious training to withstand those experiences, but machines have to do so as well, but by design rather than training. If a delicate mirror or solder joint cracks before a multi-billion dollar satellite even begins its mission, the years of effort that went into its design and assembly could be lost. Now, researchers in Switzerland have come up with an ingenious way to make sure that is much less likely to happen.
During NASA’s SpaceX Crew‑13 mission aboard the International Space Station, astronauts will support a series of biomedical and human performance investigations, including a new collaborative effort to study how spaceflight affects blood flow and clotting. NASA also is testing crew members’ manual piloting skills, evaluating methods to counter vision and brain changes, gathering essential health […]
Get ready to celebrate BepiColombo ’s arrival at Mercury. Craft a welcoming message that could be a drawing, song, poem or any other art form and stand a chance to win a trip to mission control! ENTRY FORM Full rules and how to enter below.
On Sept. 24, 1970, Luna 16 blazed a new trail in lunar sample collection – one traversed by robots. Although the Apollo astronauts had collected lunar samples on their missions, Luna 16 was the first instance of samples being gathered and returned to Earth fully robotically, with no astronauts (or cosmonauts) involved. After blasting off Continue reading "Sept. 24, 1970: Luna 16 brings back regolith" The post Sept. 24, 1970: Luna 16 brings back regolith appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Mars Express captured this view of the red planet showing it in less familiar purple, pink and blue shades. Read why the red planet looks purplish. The post The red planet shows strange swirls of purple and pink first appeared on EarthSky .
Curiosity rover has now spent 5,000 sols — the equivalent to 5,000 Martian days, or more than 14 years — on Mars. Here's a look at some of its discoveries. The post Curiosity rover insights after 5000+ sols on Mars first appeared on EarthSky .
Yellowstone has undergone 3 massive super-eruptions in the past. If the Yellowstone supervolcano erupted today, would humanity survive? The post Would a Yellowstone supervolcano eruption end humanity now? first appeared on EarthSky .
Docking with the ISS may seem simple. However, actually doing so is a showcase in how difficult orbital mechanics can be. It’s equivalent to traveling down a highway at 28,000 km/hr and parallel parking into an open garage on a multi-billion dollar laboratory traveling at the same speed. If you try to accelerate forward you actually drift up, and there’s no air friction to naturally slow you down. Oh, and if you hit the lab, everyone onboard both your craft and the station dies, and the resultant debris field could both wipe out dozens of satellites and even people on the ground. No pressure, obviously. For decades, aerospace engineers have been docking successfully using hard coded physics equations and human pilots to correct them. But now, a new paper, available in pre-print on arXiv from researchers at Stanford, is taking a shot at building an AI to perform a series of “mental simulations” that could fundamentally change how future spacecraft interact with each other.
Lists of common full moon names — both by month and by season — for North America. And a word about full moon names in the Southern Hemisphere. The post Full moon names by the month and by the season first appeared on EarthSky .
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 23: Around Reiner Gamma Neptune stands close to a slightly fainter background star this evening, offering a colorful contrast between the two.  Just one day from opposition, Neptune rises around sunset and is 30° high in the southeast by 10 P.M. Continue reading "The Sky Today on Thursday, September 24: Blue Neptune, yellow star" The post The Sky Today on Thursday, September 24: Blue Neptune, yellow star appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
On northern autumn evenings, the famous Big Dipper lies low on - or even below - the northern horizon. You can use it to find Polaris, the North Star. The post Why can’t I find the Big Dipper in September? first appeared on EarthSky .
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 September 24 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. OriginalAnnotated The Ghosts […]
A low-lying cloud layer brought autumn ambience to western Washington and Oregon, while mountainous areas near the coast remained above the pall.
Galaxies and their stars in the early Universe look a lot weirder than those we see today, and astronomers want to know why. A team of researchers at the University of Utah decided to survey certain stars in nearby galaxies as analogs of those that existed when the Universe was still in its infancy. The survey, called the "Treasury of Extremely Metal-Poor O Stars (TEMPOS), used the ultraviolet (UV) light streaming from those relatively close-by stars as detected by the Hubble Space Telescope's Cosmic Origins Spectrograph.
Asteroids which strike the Moon and create new craters offer lunar scientists a window onto the workings of our natural satellite’s shallow subsurface.
The Ghosts of Five Supernovas
Nature Astronomy, Published online: 24 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02975-7 LHAASO observations reveal ultrahigh-energy γ-rays from nearby giant molecular clouds, identifying these clouds as natural laboratories for mapping cosmic rays across the Milky Way.
Nature Astronomy, Published online: 24 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02988-2 Deep JWST spectra of three galaxies seen within the Universe’s first 700 million years allow the detection of blueshifted, chemically enriched gas, providing evidence that baryon cycling began very early.
NASA’s researchers know that when you settle into your seat on a commercial flight, you expect a smooth takeoff, views over the clouds, a steady descent, and hopefully an early arrival at your destination. But when your flight gets delayed on the tarmac instead of lifting off, or it ends up in a holding pattern […]
The European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) will return to Earth on 28 September, with flight controllers guiding the spacecraft close to our home planet to alter its speed and direction en route to Jupiter.
The Republic of Croatia became the 74th signatory to the Artemis Accords on Wednesday during a ceremony in the capital city of Zagreb with NASA and U.S. Department of State officials present. “It is my privilege to welcome the Republic of Croatia as the latest signatory of the Artemis Accords,” said NASA Deputy Matt Anderson […]
The Republic of Croatia became the 74th signatory to the Artemis Accords on Wednesday during a ceremony in the capital city of Zagreb with NASA and U.S. Department of State officials present. “It is my privilege to welcome the Republic of Croatia as the latest signatory of the Artemis Accords,” said NASA Deputy Matt Anderson […] The post NASA Welcomes Croatia as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory appeared first on NASA Science .
Visualization research has long focused on representing places people already inhabit. This panel extends that discussion — introducing placemaking as a new framing that asks how visualizations can actively construct meaning for places that cannot be directly experienced, either because they are spatially unreachable, as with the Moon or Mars, or temporally inaccessible, as with coastlines reshaped by sea level rise. What makes these cases distinctive is that real data exists — from Earth observation systems, climate models, and planetary missions — and real decisions are being made. Yet the places themselves lie beyond direct human experience. The post Visualization as a Foundational Act of Placemaking: Future Places and Alien Worlds appeared first on NASA Science .
NASA announced Wednesday a mission to explore the history and evolution of the universe, PRIMA (PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics), is advancing to the next phase of development. This space telescope is the first in a new class of NASA astrophysics missions, called Probe Explorers, within the agency’s longstanding Explorers Program. “The PRIMA mission is […]
NASA announced Wednesday a mission to explore the history and evolution of the universe, PRIMA (PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics), is advancing to the next phase of development. This space telescope is the first in a new class of NASA astrophysics missions, called Probe Explorers, within the agency’s longstanding Explorers Program. “The PRIMA mission is […] The post NASA Selects Far-Infrared Telescope as First in New Mission Class appeared first on NASA Science .
Ultrasound scans using augmented reality and artificial intelligence topped the health research schedule aboard the International Space Station on Wednesday. The Expedition 75 crew also collected blood and saliva samples to study how the immune system adapts to weightlessness. The orbital residents are now preparing for a crew swap as NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 mission announces a launch date. The post Crew Studies Advanced Health Tech and Gears Up for Next Crew Swap appeared first on NASA Science .
Agricultural emissions represent an important and understudied part of Earth’s land and atmosphere systems. The FarmFlux mission will deploy more than a dozen sensors to measure ozone, methane, ammonia, particulates, and other pollutants rising from agricultural lands and animal farms and the interaction with the Earth’s atmosphere. The mission is jointly led by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland; Colorado […]
Agricultural emissions represent an important and understudied part of Earth’s land and atmosphere systems. The FarmFlux mission will deploy more than a dozen sensors to measure ozone, methane, ammonia, particulates, and other pollutants rising from agricultural lands and animal farms and the interaction with the Earth’s atmosphere. The mission is jointly led by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland; Colorado […] The post NASA Aircraft to Make Low-Altitude Research Flights Over Colorado appeared first on NASA Science .
We are seeking virtual panelists and external reviewers for Habitable Worlds Observatory Precursor Science Investigations (ROSES D.8). Signing up does not commit you to serve, nor is NASA obligated to ask/invite you. If you are a funded team member on proposal to a given panel, then you will not be able to serve on that […] The post Habitable Worlds Observatory Precursor Science Investigations (ROSES D.8) appeared first on NASA Science .
Aloke Palsikar, taken from Pie Town, New Mexico The Crescent Nebula (NGC 6888) is an emission nebula about 5,600 light-years away in Cygnus. Its distinctive shape was formed by fast stellar winds from the Wolf-Rayet star at its center colliding with material the star shed earlier in its life. The astroimager took 3 hours of Continue reading "A wind-blown crescent" The post A wind-blown crescent appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Award: The American Geophysical Union’s Eugene Shoemaker Lecture is presented annually and recognizes excellence in planetary exploration.   Awarded to: Kelsey Young, Artemis II lunar science lead, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.   Young works on the integration of science into human spaceflight — inspired in part by Eugene Shoemaker’s trailblazing work in […] The post American Geophysical Union’s 2026 Eugene Shoemaker Lecture appeared first on NASA Science .
An image from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope of galaxy cluster MACS J0417 is part of repeated observations to monitor for the reappearance of supernova Athena, which can help astronomers measure the expansion rate of the universe.
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope captured this image of massive galaxy cluster MACS J0417 (left of center) on Sept. 19, 2026. This galaxy cluster acts as a gravitational lens, bending and magnifying light from objects far behind it. Supernova Athena, discovered by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope in 2025, is predicted to reappear between now and […]
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope captured this image of massive galaxy cluster MACS J0417 (left of center) on Sept. 19, 2026. This galaxy cluster acts as a gravitational lens, bending and magnifying light from objects far behind it. Supernova Athena, discovered by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope in 2025, is predicted to reappear between now and […] The post NASA’s Hubble Telescope Reaches Milestone, Looks for Elusive Supernova appeared first on NASA Science .
Walking Trail at the Gilruth Center Access to this trail does not require a Starport fitness membership or a JSC NASA badge. Bikes are not permitted on this trail. Onsite Walking Trail Please note a JSC NASA badge is required to access this trail. Bikes are not permitted on this trail. The post Walking Trails appeared first on NASA Science .
Arctic sea ice reached its annual minimum extent on Sept. 12, according to NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) at the University of Colorado Boulder. The ice covered an estimated 1.78 million square miles (4.6 million square kilometers), tying 2008, 2010, and 2025 for the 10th-lowest minimum in the satellite record. […]
Arctic sea ice reached its annual minimum extent on Sept. 12, according to NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) at the University of Colorado Boulder. The ice covered an estimated 1.78 million square miles (4.6 million square kilometers), tying 2008, 2010, and 2025 for the 10th-lowest minimum in the satellite record. […] The post Arctic Sea Ice Reaches 2026 Annual Minimum Extent appeared first on NASA Science .
Shannon Lucid’s Record-Setting Mission Aboard Mir  Three days before returning to Earth, Shannon W. Lucid—who joined NASA in 1978 as one of its first six female astronauts—checked in on wheat growing in the Svet greenhouse aboard the Russian space station Mir. For six months, Lucid lived and worked alongside two Russian cosmonauts conducting life science […]
Light exhibits some of the strangest properties in our cosmos. It manifests as both a wave and a particle, and its speed in a vacuum is invariant. While physicists now fully grasp the way light interacts with the universe, this understanding has not always been so solid. Untangling its peculiar behavior has led to the Continue reading "Finding light’s true nature" The post Finding light’s true nature appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
FFA 2026 Hyperwall Schedule
For more information, contact Jonathan E. Jones, Langley Research Center, [email protected] Download the PDF version The purpose of this Technical Bulletin is to communicate the risks associated with freeze–thaw cycles in hydrazine monopropellant systems and to provide general recommendations for mitigating damage, operational hazards, and loss of system reliability in propulsion and auxiliary hydrazine systems. […]
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope completed its 200,000th orbit around Earth on Sept. 19, marking another new milestone for an observatory that continues to transform our understanding of the universe. Hubble has traveled more than 5 billion miles around Earth over its 36-year lifetime, exceeding 1.7 million total observations. An observation completed on the day of […]
Never seen Neptune for yourself? Late September 2026 presents an ideal opportunity to cross the outermost ice giant off of your ‘life list,’ as the planet reaches opposition for 2026, rising opposite to the setting Sun and riding high to the south towards local midnight.
For decades following the discovery of Uranus in 1781, astronomers were puzzled by the irregularities in the planet’s orbit. Newton’s laws could not explain the perturbations, suggesting another planet was out there, affecting Uranus’ path. Two astronomers, Urbain Le Verrier in Paris and John Couch Adams in Cambridge, England, independently computed its likely location at Continue reading "Sept. 23, 1846: Johann Galle discovers Neptune" The post Sept. 23, 1846: Johann Galle discovers Neptune appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Astronomers have discovered the youngest-known exoplanet so far, Elias 2-24 b. The baby exoplanet is twice the mass of Jupiter and 450 light-years away. The post Baby exoplanet: Astronomers find the youngest world yet first appeared on EarthSky .
Most exoplanets we find have been around a long time. They’ve cleared out their orbital path (one of the requirements of planethood, as fans of Pluto well know), have their own gravitational pull, and in many cases shine with their own infrared light. But it takes a long time to get to that point - finding “young” planets is much harder. But a new paper available in The Astrophysical Journal Letters by a research team led by Andrea Bernardi of Diego Portales University in Chile describes a new paper that definitely takes the prize as the youngest exoplanet we’ve yet found.
Asteroids don’t come with a warning label that they might one day hit Earth. While we don’t know of any currently on course to do so, we are finding thousands of new ones each year, and there’s always a potential that one could. We proved a viable technique for dealing with that eventuality - the DART mission successfully moved a small asteroid using a “kinetic impactor” - basically a big rod designed to push the asteroid off its trajectory. But DART had one big flaw - it was traveling in the same direction as the asteroid, and approached it from behind, eventually hitting it with an impactor launched while in orbit around it. That technique might work if we have enough warning, but would require years of orbital mechanical maneuvering to pull off. An alternative, proposed by researchers at Beihang University, is to use a new type of solar sail to deflect a potentially hazardous asteroid by hitting it head on.
Read the fascinating story of the discovery of Neptune - 180 years ago - on September 23, 1846. It was the 1st planet to be discovered by using mathematics. The post Neptune discovered on this date 180 years ago first appeared on EarthSky .
Look at these Earth images from space. How does it make you feel about the planet you live on and about Earth's place in the solar system and cosmos? The post Earth images from space: 13 incredible photos of our planet first appeared on EarthSky .
The Andromeda Galaxy is the closest large galaxy to our Milky Way. At 2.5 million light-years, it's the most distant thing you can see with the eye alone. The post The Andromeda Galaxy: All you need to know first appeared on EarthSky .
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 22: The autumnal equinox The bright Moon stands prominently in Aquarius the Water-bearer this evening, quickly waxing toward Full. Swing your scope up toward Earth’s lone satellite tonight and focus in on a point just east of the terminator dividing night Continue reading "The Sky Today on Wednesday, September 23: Around Reiner Gamma" The post The Sky Today on Wednesday, September 23: Around Reiner Gamma appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Studying exoplanets has provided astronomers with a plethora of insights regarding what characteristics need to be searched to find life beyond Earth. For the longest time, astronomers merely thought an exoplanet in a star’s habitable zone was a sufficient criterion for an Earth-like world. However, astronomers have learned that certain stars are more active than our Sun, resulting in exoplanets orbiting in the habitable zone being blasted with far more radiation than Earth could handle. In recent years, astronomers have recognized that a planet’s magnetic field, which shields the Earth from harmful radiation, could be a prime characteristic for identifying Earth-like worlds.
A team of researchers acquired the first diagnostic X-ray images during a commercial spaceflight, demonstrating that X-ray medicine can be performed in space.
A once-in-a-lifetime crater has appeared on the Moon!
NASA and SpaceX are targeting 11:10 a.m. EDT, Thursday, Oct. 1, as the earliest launch opportunity for the Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station. Over the next several days, teams will complete a series of prelaunch activities and intensive reviews to confirm the crew, the space station, and SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, and Falcon 9 rocket […] The post NASA, SpaceX Move to Final Crew-13 Prelaunch Prep for Oct. 1 Liftoff appeared first on NASA Science .
Between its Nov. 16 launch and Dec. 11, 2022 splashdown, the Orion spacecraft traveled from Earth to the Moon’s vicinity, entering a distant retrograde orbit to fly farther into space than any human-rated spacecraft before it. The post Artemis I In-Flight appeared first on NASA Science .
The Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) III on the International Space Station (ISS) ninth annual science team meeting was held August 19–20, 2026 at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. Approximately 60 scientists and engineers participated in the hybrid meeting, discussing the status of the mission, instrument operations, data processing, as well as […] The post SAGE III/ISS Science Team Meeting Highlights Advancements in Aerosol Products and Strong Global Partnerships in Atmospheric Research appeared first on NASA Science .
NASA’s Office of the Chief Health and Medical Officer formed a working group in August 2026 to review the most recent data related to extravehicular activity (EVA) prebreathe testing and decompression sickness (DCS) events, venous thromboembolism (VTE) in-flight occurrences, and patent foramen ovale (PFO) implication as they relate to NASA’s Artemis (lunar and beyond) missions. The recommendations from this working group are built upon and integrate the outcomes of previous working groups hosted by OCHMO.
NASA’s Office of the Chief Health and Medical Officer formed a working group in August 2026 to review the most recent data related to extravehicular activity (EVA) prebreathe testing and decompression sickness (DCS) events, venous thromboembolism (VTE) in-flight occurrences, and patent foramen ovale (PFO) implication as they relate to NASA’s Artemis (lunar and beyond) missions. The recommendations from this working group are built upon and integrate the outcomes of previous working groups hosted by OCHMO. The post Risks of Decompression Sickness and Venous Thromboembolism during Spaceflight and Patent Foramen Ovale Implications appeared first on NASA Science .
Four Expedition 75 crewmates are preparing for their return to Earth aboard a SpaceX Dragon next month as their replacement crew gets ready for launch. Meanwhile, aboard the International Space Station the orbital residents continued studying biomedicine, activating Earth imagery hardware, and unpacking a cargo craft. The post Station Nears Upcoming Crew Swap During Biomedicine, Cargo Duties appeared first on NASA Science .
Lee esta historia en español aquí. NASA-supported scientists have discovered an organism that lives at extreme temperatures previously thought impossible for complex life. High temperatures can cause the destruction of necessary cell components, which is a big problem for cells with complex parts like a nucleus encasing delicate genetic information. In the heated waters of […]
Lee esta historia en español aquí. NASA-supported scientists have discovered an organism that lives at extreme temperatures previously thought impossible for complex life. High temperatures can cause the destruction of necessary cell components, which is a big problem for cells with complex parts like a nucleus encasing delicate genetic information. In the heated waters of […] The post NASA-Funded Research Finds Complex Life Defying Record Heat appeared first on NASA Science .
Lunar Exploration Ground Sites The post LEGS appeared first on NASA Science .
Information about the required SciENcv format for biographical sketch and current and pending support was expanded/improved in A.13 Accelerating Earth Solutions, A.14 Atmosphere, A.15 Biosphere, A.16 Cryosphere, A.17 Hydrosphere, C.4 Planetary Science Enabling Facilities, and D.4 Theoretical and Computational Astrophysics Networks. Other corrections or improvements were also made, e.g., details on the redacted and anonymized […] The post Amendment 75: Corrections to several program elements regarding SciENcv and other topics appeared first on NASA Science .
As an astrophotographer, you might feel that you will eventually run out of targets. I disagree — amateurs are discovering new targets all the time, and old targets can look brand new with better skills and different gear — but if you are looking for a fresh astronomical challenge, look no further than the American Continue reading "How to become a variable star observer" The post How to become a variable star observer appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, scientists have discovered a new class of objects behaving unlike any they have seen before.
Using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, researchers found mysterious objects that give off unusually low-energy X-rays but intense levels of ultraviolet radiation. One of the galaxies they studied, M101, is pictured here in this image released on Sept. 9, 2026. Astronomers suggest these newly spotted objects in other galaxies may help solve not one, but two […]
Using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, researchers found mysterious objects that give off unusually low-energy X-rays but intense levels of ultraviolet radiation. One of the galaxies they studied, M101, is pictured here in this image released on Sept. 9, 2026. Astronomers suggest these newly spotted objects in other galaxies may help solve not one, but two […] The post NASA’s Chandra Finds Unusual Objects in Pinwheel Galaxy appeared first on NASA Science .
Astronomers understand the basics of star formation. It starts in giant molecular clouds when an event — perhaps a nearby supernova or a collision with another cloud — triggers a high-density region to collapse under the force of gravity. The region fragments into individual pockets that eventually contract into stars within a cluster. The more Continue reading "Massive star clusters drive galaxy evolution" The post Massive star clusters drive galaxy evolution appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Hurricane Polo has undergone rapid intensification just off the southwestern coast of Mexico. It went from a tropical storm to a category 5 hurricane in a day. The post Hurricane Polo explodes into a Category 5 storm off Mexico first appeared on EarthSky .
In a new study, astronomers detail observations of what could be the first known exosatellite — a natural object orbiting a world beyond our solar system in the same way our Moon orbits Earth. However, the massive, gaseous body they observed bears little resemblance to the Moon we know. The study, published July 22 in Continue reading "Have astronomers discovered the first moon outside of our solar system?" The post Have astronomers discovered the first moon outside of our solar system? appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Editor’s Note: This feature was updated Sept. 22, 2026, to note the time change for the in-flight call with students. Students in New Hampshire will hear from NASA astronaut Anil Menon as he answers prerecorded STEM questions while aboard the International Space Station. The Earth-to-space call will begin at 11:40 a.m. EDT Thursday, Sept. 24, and […]
Editor’s Note: This feature was updated Sept. 22, 2026, to note the time change for the in-flight call with students. Students in New Hampshire will hear from NASA astronaut Anil Menon as he answers prerecorded STEM questions while aboard the International Space Station. The Earth-to-space call will begin at 11:40 a.m. EDT Thursday, Sept. 24, and […] The post NASA Astronaut to Answer Questions from New Hampshire Students appeared first on NASA Science .
Although he was primarily known as a chemist, Michael Faraday’s research into electricity and magnetism underpin much of our understanding of the universe and modern physics. Born Sept. 22, 1791, into a lower-class British family, Faraday was completely self-educated. After an apprenticeship to a bookbinder allowed him to spend seven years reading about science, Faraday Continue reading "Sept. 22, 1791: The birth of Michael Faraday" The post Sept. 22, 1791: The birth of Michael Faraday appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
More and more details about 3I/ATLAS are filtering through the scientific process as time goes on. Our third known interstellar visitor attracted the attention of some of the most powerful observatories in the world when it was discovered in July 2025, and some of those telescopes found something peculiar - the isotopes it contained appeared different. A new paper submitted to The Astrophysical Journal Letters (and available in pre-print on arXiv) by Kenji Furuya of the RIKEN Pioneering Research Institute in Japan and his co-authors, shows how that isotopic discrepancy is likely due to the “low-metallicity” of the stellar nursery 3I/ATLAS was born in.
Riccardo Maffioli from Albizzate, Varese, Italy The Soap Bubble Nebula (PN G75.5+1.7 or PN Ju 1), a little-studied planetary nebula in Cygnus near the better-known Crescent Nebula, is the shell cast off by a dying Sun-like star. Its near-perfect sphere, roughly 4′ across was only discovered in 2008; its faintness and position against other emission Continue reading "A bubble adrift" The post A bubble adrift appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Scientists have known for a while that meteorites contain the “building blocks” of life - complex organic molecules such as amino acids, simple sugars, or even the chemical rungs of DNA. But anyone who has taken an organic chemistry class knows there are plenty of other carbon-based molecules out there, and a new study from Joseph W. Frye-Jones of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and Florida State, which was published in The Planetary Science Journal, found tens of thousands of types of previously unseen organic compounds in two of the world’s most famous meteorites.
It's time for Fat Bear Week 2026! Vote for your favorite corpulent cutie as the brown bears of Katmai National Park fatten up for winter. The post Fat Bear Week 2026: Here’s how to participate! first appeared on EarthSky .
Are day and night equal at an equinox? No. There's slightly more day than night on the day of an equinox. Find out why here. The post Are day and night equal on the equinox? Not exactly first appeared on EarthSky .
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 21: Saturn passes a field star The autumnal equinox occurs at 8:05 P.M. EDT. This moment marks the changing of the astronomical seasons; for those in the Northern Hemisphere, this is when summer ends and autumn begins. However, meteorological fall began Continue reading "The Sky Today on Tuesday, September 22: The autumnal equinox" The post The Sky Today on Tuesday, September 22: The autumnal equinox appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 September 22 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Chance Triple Alignment: […]
The tilt in Earth’s axis of rotation makes the apparent position of continents shift with the seasons in imagery from a NASA camera in deep space.
The discovery of a very early and rare proto-supercluster of infant galaxies may help give clues to the formation of such clusters and their connection to the Cosmic Web.
There are more than 450 confirmed moons orbiting the eight major planets, but only a handful of them provide unique scientific value to pique the interests of the scientific community, specifically their potential for hosting life as we know it. This is due to the subsurface oceans that exist beneath icy crusts, including Jupiter’s Europa and Ganymede, and Saturn’s Enceladus. But what processes are responsible for producing these subsurface oceans, or potentially preventing them from forming in the first place?
This shot captured an unexpected silhouette. Which is it?
Nature Astronomy, Published online: 22 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02991-7 The next generation of astronomy facilities cannot be built with half the sky missing
Depending on your locale, equinoxes can be seen as harbingers of longer nights and gloomy weather, or promising beacons of nicer temperatures and more sunlight. Observing and predicting equinoxes is one of the earliest skills in humanity’s astronomical toolkit. Many ancient observatories around the world observed equinoxes along with the more pronounced solstices. These days, […]
Depending on your locale, equinoxes can be seen as harbingers of longer nights and gloomy weather, or promising beacons of nicer temperatures and more sunlight. Observing and predicting equinoxes is one of the earliest skills in humanity’s astronomical toolkit. Many ancient observatories around the world observed equinoxes along with the more pronounced solstices. These days, […] The post Embracing the Equinox appeared first on NASA Science .
The Republic of Albania signed the Artemis Accords Monday during a ceremony hosted by NASA at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, joining the coalition of like‑minded nations committed to the responsible and transparent exploration of space. “It is my privilege to welcome the Republic of Albania as the 73rd signatory of the Artemis Accords,” said […]
The Republic of Albania signed the Artemis Accords Monday during a ceremony hosted by NASA at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, joining the coalition of like‑minded nations committed to the responsible and transparent exploration of space. “It is my privilege to welcome the Republic of Albania as the 73rd signatory of the Artemis Accords,” said […] The post NASA Welcomes Albania as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory appeared first on NASA Science .
Poster | Grades 6-12+ | This three-poster series teaches foundational heliophysics: from solar cycles to space weather, integrated with traditional Navajo ways of knowing. Featuring "Our Sun in the Universe," "Our Sun and Earth" and "Sun, Earth, and Life Relationships" this collection explores complex space science concepts like electromagnetic fields, atmospheric shielding, and solar radiation. It connects modern satellite data and astronomical observations with Diné cultural wisdom to provide a holistic view of the Sun-Earth system. The post Ways of Knowing: Heliophysics Poster Series appeared first on NASA Science .
Poster | Grades 6-12+ | This poster examines how solar radiation drives Earth's climate, weather systems, and the biological processes that sustain life. The resource details how the ozone layer shields us from ultraviolet light and how Earth's atmosphere traps greenhouse gases. By combining NASA's atmospheric monitoring of thermal energy and weather phenomena ( like hurricanes ) with Navajo ways of knowing, it explores the deep scientific connections to our primary energy source. The post Ways of Knowing: Sun, Earth, and Life Relationships Poster appeared first on NASA Science .
The Hubble Space Telescope's view of the planets and other objects orbiting our Sun. The post Hubble’s Solar System appeared first on NASA Science .
NASA kicked off its State Hubs for Skilled Technical Workforce initiative Sept. 15, 2026 with awardees at Space Center Houston. Agency leadership convened State Hub partners to align strategy and build momentum while focusing on partnerships, small business engagement, and next steps. “The NASA State Hubs initiative is a top priority for the agency, because […]
NASA kicked off its State Hubs for Skilled Technical Workforce initiative Sept. 15, 2026 with awardees at Space Center Houston. Agency leadership convened State Hub partners to align strategy and build momentum while focusing on partnerships, small business engagement, and next steps. “The NASA State Hubs initiative is a top priority for the agency, because […] The post NASA Kicks Off Nationwide Effort to Prepare Tomorrow’s Space Workforce appeared first on NASA Science .
Join us for a PhysPAG community meeting to discuss the results of the Ad ASTRA workshop held 1-3 September 2026 at Caltech. The post Post-Ad ASTRA Workshop PhysPAG Community Meeting 28 Sept 2026 appeared first on NASA Science .
The Third Early Career Workshop organized by the PhysCOS Program and its associated Program Analysis Group (PhysPAG) Executive Committee, takes place on 22-24 September 2026 from 1p-4p Eastern (10a-1p Pacific) The post Reminder: Third Early Career Workshop, 22-24 Sept 2026 appeared first on NASA Science .
Poster | Grades 6-12+ | This poster explores space weather, illustrating how solar wind and magnetic fields create auroras, bridging NASA and Navajo knowledge. By observing Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, this resource highlights the science of electromagnetic shields protecting planetary atmospheres from harsh solar radiation. It connects NASA’s study of the heliosphere and charged particles with Navajo concepts of balance, showing how these dynamic cosmic forces interact. The post Ways of Knowing: Our Sun and Earth Poster appeared first on NASA Science .
Poster | Grades 6-12+ | This poster explores the Sun's 11-year solar cycles, magnetic fields, and immense gravity to explain planetary orbits and cosmic evolution. Discover how coronal mass ejections, sunspots, and the electromagnetic spectrum demonstrate the Sun's power as a massive ball of churning plasma. The imagery focuses on studying how solar energy and gravity shape the formation and environments of rocky planets like Earth and Mars, and ultimately how NASA Heliophysics encompasses much more than just the study of our Sun. The post Ways of Knowing: Our Sun in the Universe Poster appeared first on NASA Science .
Description NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover used its Mastcam-Z camera to capture this 360-degree panorama of “Turquoise Bay,” a geologic area of interest in the “Margin Unit.” The 818 images used to create the natural-color panorama were captured between Oct. 5 and Oct. 16, 2023, the 933rd to 944th Martian days, or sols, of the mission. […]
Rocket launches this week On Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 9:30 a.m. EDT, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the state-owned contractor that builds the Long March rocket family, is set to launch a Long March 8A rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on the coast of Hainan island in the South China Continue reading "China targets two launches as SpaceX takes It easy" The post China targets two launches as SpaceX takes It easy appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
NASA astronaut and commander of the agency’s Artemis II mission, Reid Wiseman, a Baltimore native, takes a selfie with fans at an NFL game between the New Orleans Saints and the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in Baltimore.
NASA astronaut and commander of the agency’s Artemis II mission, Reid Wiseman, a Baltimore native, takes a selfie with fans at an NFL game between the New Orleans Saints and the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in Baltimore. NASA’s engagement at NFL games is part of the agency’s Inspiration Tour, […]
When NASA’s Perseverance rover reached the inner edge of Mars’ Jezero Crater in September 2023, mission scientists were surprised by what they found. Called the “Margin Unit,” the geologic area stretches along the shoreline of an ancient Martian lake, so they expected sedimentary rocks, which would have formed as layers of sand piled on top […]
The galaxy you see here has an identity crisis. Scottish astronomer James Dunlop discovered it in 1826, and John Dreyer included it as the 1,291st entry in his New General Catalogue. Ten years after Dunlop’s sighting, English astronomer John Herschel stumbled across the same object and, not knowing of Dunlop’s observation, christened it NGC 1269. Continue reading "By any other name: NGC 1269 or NGC 1291?" The post By any other name: NGC 1269 or NGC 1291? appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
It's easy to think of the Moon as the static constant companion in the night sky. Its face hasn’t visibly changed in millennia, and always faces us with the same side. But looks can be deceiving, as our closest companion is constantly bombarded by asteroids and comets that make small craters across the lunar landscape. While they might not be large enough for us to see with our naked eye, professional Moon watchers can pick up on them. And a recent paper published in Science Advances, describes the largest ever found in modern times.
Earth's center of mass isn't stationary. It drifts seasonally and over the course of years. A new study measures this down to the scale of millimeters and finds the seasonal drift is smaller than we thought.
The Sun’s magnetic fields are a twisty, curvy, ever changing mess. In particular, our star’s polar regions host regions called polar coronal holes that host invisible magnetic highways that stretch out into interplanetary space. But there’s a lot we don’t know about how those highways actually work, and in particular how they give the particles that form the fast solar wind an extra “kick” that sends them zooming at hundreds of kilometers per second. A new paper from a team led by Dr. Yuhang Gao and Prof. Hui Tian at Peking University, and published recently in the journal National Science Review, thinks they might have found an answer by using high-speed shots from Solar Orbiter to detect never-before seen rapid, high-frequency magnetic waves in those areas.
The European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer ( Juice ) will return to Earth on 28 September, with flight controllers guiding the spacecraft close to our home planet to alter its speed and direction en route to Jupiter.
On Sept. 21, 1974, the Mariner 10 spacecraft made its second flyby of Mercury, passing by the surface at a distance of just under 30,000 miles (48,000 kilometers). Launched Nov. 3, 1973, Mariner 10 was the first spacecraft sent to Mercury, as well as the first mission designed to visit two planets.  (It also visited Continue reading "Sept. 21, 1974: Mariner 10 flies by Mercury" The post Sept. 21, 1974: Mariner 10 flies by Mercury appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Using the same planet-hunting techniques as Earth astronomers, would inhabitants of a planet hundreds of light-years away be able to detect Earth? Or would the gas giants overpower their observations? Michael O’Mara Melbourne, Australia The answer is no, our current planet-hunting techniques are unable to detect an Earth — specifically, an Earth-size and Earth-mass planet in Continue reading "Could aliens spot Earth with the same planet-hunting techniques we use?" The post Could aliens spot Earth with the same planet-hunting techniques we use? appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
2026 NAHF Enshrinement Ceremony 9.24.26.pdf An Evening with the Stars EWTS 9.16.26.pdf Maryland Space Business Roundtable 9.9.26 Virginia Aerospace Business Association (VASBA) Gala 9.24.26.pdf Roman Space Telescope Event 8.28.26.pdf The Planetary Society_Celebrating Viking 7.20.26.pdf Farnborough Airshow Events 7.18-19.26 University of Maryland Acres 7.14.26.pdf Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum_Blue Origin 7.14.26.pdf Space Business Roundtable_MSBR 7.22.2026.pdf […]
On Sept. 12-13, NASA’s Johnson Space Center employees brought the excitement and wonder of space exploration to Houston’s Japan Festival at Hermann Park.  For more than 30 years, the festival has immersed guests in traditional Japanese culture through food, dance, martial arts, music, and more, Johnson has supported the festival as an exhibitor for the […]
X-rays showcase some of the most unique astronomical objects in the universe. Neutron stars and black holes siphoning gas from companion stars stick out like sore thumbs at this level of radiation. However, according to a new paper by Mustafa Muhibullah and Jimmy Irwin from the University of Alabama and Rosanne Di Stefano from the Center for Astrophysics at Harvard & the Smithsonian, there appears to be another group of ultra-bright X-ray emitters that we’ve completely missed until now. They call them Hypersoft X-ray Sources (HSSs) and, according to a press release accompanying the paper, might answer two long-standing astronomical questions.
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 20: Juno’s movement Rising around 7:30 P.M. local daylight time, Saturn reaches an altitude above 40° in the southeast by local midnight. Visible to the naked eye, it is the brightest point of light in this region of the sky, sitting Continue reading "The Sky Today on Monday, September 21: Saturn passes a field star" The post The Sky Today on Monday, September 21: Saturn passes a field star appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
APODScienceAPODAPOD: 2026 September 21 –…Today’s APODArchiveSubmissionsIndexSearchCalendarRSSEducationAboutDiscuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Cocoon Nebula Wide Field Explanation: When does a nebula look like a comet? In this crowded starfield […]
While the sea ice melt season has lengthened dramatically in most of the satellite era, the trend unexpectedly stabilized around 2010.
When does a nebula look like a comet?
We have long known that the Sun is active. It “flares” quite often, sending huge amounts of energy off in a certain direction - sometimes directly at Earth. But we also know that, compared to other Sun-like stars, it seems relatively quiet, and not capable of producing the “superflares” we sometimes see in its stellar equivalents. That sounds like great news for humanity, and some scientists have even argued that lack of superflares was a critical impetus for the development of complex life on Earth. But a new paper from Natalie Krivova of the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research and her co-authors in the journal Philosophical Transactions A calls the assumption that our Sun is incapable of such dramatic outbursts into question. That also means that, eventually, our highly technological society could bear the brunt of one of them.
On Sept. 20, 2016, Victor Buso was testing a new camera in his rooftop observatory. An amateur astronomer from Rosario, Argentina, Buso shot a series of images of spiral galaxy NGC 613, which is about 70 million to 80 million light-years away in Sculptor. Checking to see how the new camera had worked, Buso reviewed Continue reading "Sept. 20, 2016: Spotting a supernova shock breakout" The post Sept. 20, 2016: Spotting a supernova shock breakout appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
The 6th batch of the Pentagon UAP files has just been released. Read about a U.S. Air Force talk on UAP from 1952, see more videos and more. The post 6th batch of Pentagon UAP files: Air Force talk and more first appeared on EarthSky .
The Great Square of Pegasus consists of 4 stars of nearly equal brightness in a large square pattern. It's a great jumping-off point for star-hopping. The post Great Square of Pegasus gallops into the autumn sky first appeared on EarthSky .
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 19: Mars meets Pollux Now is the best time to catch 145-mile-wide 3 Juno as it passes through a random collection of 9th- and 10th-magnitude stars. Now located in far southern Aquila near its border with Sagittarius, Juno glows at magnitude 9.6. Continue reading "The Sky Today on Sunday, September 20: Juno’s movement" The post The Sky Today on Sunday, September 20: Juno’s movement appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
The 2026 September equinox occurs at 00:05 UTC on September 23, 2026. And the equinox sun rises and sets due east and due west. The post The equinox sun rises due east and sets due west first appeared on EarthSky .
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 September 20 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Analemma over the […]
The post APOD: 2026 September 20 – Analemma over the Callanish Stones appeared first on NASA Science .
MIT PhD candidate Lanie McKinney is developing technology to convert the chemicals in the Martian atmosphere into propellant to bring astronauts home.
If you went outside at the same time every day and
Scientists theorize that the rapid emergence of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in the early Universe can be explained by the direct-collapse black hole (DCBH) scenario. In a recent study, astronomers investigated the potential host environments of DCBHs and found that this scenario is a plausible explanation for how the "seeds" of SMBH formed.
The Roscosmos Progress 96 spacecraft docked to the space-facing port of the International Space Station’s Poisk module at 9:44 a.m. EDT Saturday. The post Progress 96 Cargo Spacecraft Docks to Station to Resupply Crew appeared first on NASA Science .
NASA is streaming live rendezvous and docking coverage as the Roscosmos Progress 96 cargo spacecraft makes its way to the International Space Station. Watch online at: https://www.nasa.gov/live The post Progress 96 Cargo Spacecraft Approaching Station for Docking appeared first on NASA Science .
On Sept. 19, 1959, the paper “Searching for Interstellar Communications” was published. Printed in the respected scientific journal Nature and written by Cornell University physicists Giuseppe Cocconi and Philip Morrison, the work established a scientific framework and legitimacy for a field that previously lacked credibility. Cocconi and Morrison examined methodologies for humans’ search for extraterrestrial Continue reading "Sept. 19, 1959: A SETI kickstart" The post Sept. 19, 1959: A SETI kickstart appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
A newly identified South American tiger cat is the first cat species discovered in a century. revealing more diversity among tiger cats than previously known. The post Scientists discover a new tiger cat hiding in plain sight first appeared on EarthSky .
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 18: The Lizard’s brightest cluster Mars passed 6° due south of Pollux in Gemini at midnight on the 18th, and they now rise together in the early-morning sky. An hour before sunrise, the heads of Gemini have reached an altitude of Continue reading "The Sky Today on Saturday, September 19: Mars meets Pollux" The post The Sky Today on Saturday, September 19: Mars meets Pollux appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 September 19 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Night SkyAnnotation A […]
The post APOD: 2026 September 19 – A Zodiacal Night appeared first on NASA Science .
BepiColombo's measurements of particle bombardment at Mercury will help assess the impact of space storms on Mercury's surface and on Earth's atmosphere.
暂无摘要
The Republic of Albania will sign the Artemis Accords during a ceremony at 12 p.m. EDT on Monday, Sept. 21, at NASA Headquarters in Washington, becoming the 73rd country signatory. NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson will host Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha and Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to the […]
The Republic of Albania will sign the Artemis Accords during a ceremony at 12 p.m. EDT on Monday, Sept. 21, at NASA Headquarters in Washington, becoming the 73rd country signatory. NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson will host Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha and Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to the […] The post NASA Invites Media to Albania Artemis Accords Signing Ceremony appeared first on NASA Science .
Mars appears red because of iron oxides in the regolith. But it's not uniformly red. Different lighting conditions and different materials accumulated on the surface can make it appear purple, as in these images from Mars Express and its High-Resolution Stereo Camera.
Using data from the Japan-led XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) observatory, astronomers have directly observed a giant star’s outflow, called a stellar wind, being captured by its compact companion and providing the power source for strong X-ray flares. The research is part of NASA’s exploration of the extreme universe to better understand how the […]
Using data from the Japan-led XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) observatory, astronomers have directly observed a giant star’s outflow, called a stellar wind, being captured by its compact companion and providing the power source for strong X-ray flares. The research is part of NASA’s exploration of the extreme universe to better understand how the […] The post NASA-JAXA XRISM Mission Sees Pulsar Gathering Companion’s ‘Wind’ appeared first on NASA Science .
Expedition 75 wrapped up its week completing a lead-free soldering experiment, simulating a lunar landing, and exercising for research, among other advanced science activities. The International Space Station residents are also preparing for the arrival of a cargo mission and continuing housekeeping duties. The post Week Ends With Soldering, Lunar Simulations, and Cargo Mission Preps appeared first on NASA Science .
To continue regular crew transportation to the International Space Station, NASA has awarded SpaceX three additional missions through a contract modification.
To continue regular crew transportation to the International Space Station, NASA has awarded SpaceX three additional missions through a contract modification. The post NASA Awards SpaceX Three Crew Flights to Space Station appeared first on NASA Science .
UC Berkeley engineers and managers watch as the COSI (Compton Spectrometer and Imager) detector assembly is slowly raised from a table in this July 8, 2026, image.
UC Berkeley engineers and managers watch as the COSI (Compton Spectrometer and Imager) detector assembly is slowly raised from a table in this July 8, 2026, image. The four pieces of silver material on the top of the detector box cover the flex circuits, which carry signals from the detectors to the readout electronics. COSI […]
UC Berkeley engineers and managers watch as the COSI (Compton Spectrometer and Imager) detector assembly is slowly raised from a table in this July 8, 2026, image. The four pieces of silver material on the top of the detector box cover the flex circuits, which carry signals from the detectors to the readout electronics. COSI […] The post COSI Telescope Comes Together appeared first on NASA Science .
Excerpt from an interview with Shannon Lucid Houston, Texas19 August 2021 Lucid: Norm [Norman E. Thagard] went over to Russia and flew on the Soyuz up to [the Russian Space Station] Mir, so when it started Norm was going to be the only one. It was a one-time deal. As Norm started his training, the […] The post Shannon W. Lucid Oral History appeared first on NASA Science .
Astronomer Sandra Chapman has found a connection between the quiet period of one solar cycle and the active period of the next. Her data shows how a critical cutoff point is the key, but the real test will be the solar maximum of Cycle 26 in the 2030s.
Life in space is hard. Most orbiting observatories retire well before their 20th birthday. Yet the Hubble Space Telescope has survived and continues to thrive well into its 30s. Astronomers celebrated the observatory’s 36th birthday in April by releasing a new image of the Trifid Nebula (M20). This stellar nursery lies about 5,000 light-years from Continue reading "Still going strong: Hubble’s 36th anniversary image" The post Still going strong: Hubble’s 36th anniversary image appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Gerald Rhemann, taken from Farm Tivoli, Namibia Comet 220P/McNaught, a Jupiter-family comet on a 5.5-year orbit, appears in Taurus about five weeks after it exploded in brightness in a Aug. 5, 2026 outburst, becoming 600 times brighter at magnitude 7. The imager took 51 minutes of exposure in LRGB filters with a 12-inch f/3.6 astrograph Continue reading "McNaught lights up Taurus" The post McNaught lights up Taurus appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Though the spiral galaxy in this new image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope seems serene, it hides a chaotic secret. This galaxy is NGC 4698, and it lies about 55 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. It’s one of over a thousand galaxies in the Virgo Cluster, the nearest large cluster of galaxies bound together by […]
Though the spiral galaxy in this new image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope seems serene, it hides a chaotic secret. This galaxy is NGC 4698, and it lies about 55 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. It’s one of over a thousand galaxies in the Virgo Cluster, the nearest large cluster of galaxies bound together by […] The post NASA’s Hubble Spots an Out-of-Sync Galaxy appeared first on NASA Science .
On Sept. 18, 1965, amateur astronomer Kaoru Ikeya and professional astronomer Tsutomu Seki each independently discovered what became the greatest comet of the century, Ikeya-Seki. When researchers calculated its orbit, they found it was a sungrazer — a comet that passes extremely close to the Sun. Small sungrazers usually evaporate or are torn apart by Continue reading "Sept. 18, 1965: Discovery of Comet Ikeya-Seki" The post Sept. 18, 1965: Discovery of Comet Ikeya-Seki appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
In 2024, a space rock slammed into the moon, creating a new crater in the surface. The newly formed moon crater is about 728 feet wide and 141 feet deep. The post Newly formed moon crater is once-in-a-century discovery first appeared on EarthSky .
International Observe the Moon Night is September 19, 2026. It's a global event for celebrating the moon. Here's how you can participate online or in person. The post International Observe the Moon Night 2026 is September 19 first appeared on EarthSky .
Here are some of the forms of aurora that you might see. Some are more common, such as diffuse glows, while others are a sign of a big geomagnetic storm. The post Forms of aurora: Arcs, curtains, coronas and more first appeared on EarthSky .
There's an aurora season around the equinoxes, due to the way the magnetic fields of the sun and the Earth work in conjunction with sun-Earth geometry. The post Yes, there’s an aurora season, and it’s here first appeared on EarthSky .
Image: Though the spiral galaxy in this new image by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope seems serene, it hides a chaotic secret. This galaxy is NGC 4698, and it lies about 55 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. It’s one of over one thousand galaxies in the Virgo Cluster, the nearest large cluster of galaxies bound together by gravity. As a spiral galaxy similar to our own Milky Way galaxy, NGC 4698 has spiral arms that curl around within a thin disc of stars, gas and dust. Its centre is dominated by a galactic bulge. The diffuse off-white glow of the galaxy’s bulge comes from stars smaller, older, and cooler than the massive blue stars that dot the galaxy’s outer disc. These tightly packed stars orbit a supermassive black hole containing millions of times the Sun’s mass. Scientists have found signs that this black hole is actively growing, drawing gas inward with its gravitational pull. With a flat, starry disc and diffusely glowing centre, NGC 4698 looks a lot like a typical spiral galaxy — but this galaxy is far from normal. NGC 4698 is one of only a few known spiral galaxies with a bulge that extends out from the disc at a right angle. The elongation is faintly visible in this Hubble image, which shows the ghostly glow of the starry bulge peeking above and below the dusty disc. What’s more, the stars and gas nearest the galaxy’s centre rotate perpendicular to the rest of the disc. What could cause a galaxy to be so out of sync? Astronomers have found that the culprit likely lies outside the galaxy. If NGC 4698 funneled in gas from an outside source, the newly collected gas could have formed a disc of gas and stars in the galaxy’s centre, at an angle relative to the rest of the disc. Some observations suggest that this galaxy once experienced a minor galactic merger, as evidenced by a short ‘tail’ of hydrogen streaming from one side of the galaxy. The data used to create this image come from an observing programme ( #18103 ; PI: Thilker) focusing on galaxies in the Virgo Cluster. [ Image Description: A spiral galaxy viewed at an angle, with a bright central bulge and winding spiral arms. The arms form a ring around the galaxy, without appearing to reach its centre. Prominent red-brown dust lanes weave through the arms, which are also dotted with bright blue and reddish regions of star formation. The galaxy is set against a dark background scattered with stars and faint distant galaxies. ] Release on esawebb.org
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 17: The Moon and the Scorpion High in the eastern sky this evening you’ll find the zig-zagging constellation Lacerta, home to several lovely and relatively bright open star clusters. Tonight, let’s check out the brightest of those: magnitude 6.4 NGC 7243, Continue reading "The Sky Today on Friday, September 18: The Lizard’s brightest cluster" The post The Sky Today on Friday, September 18: The Lizard’s brightest cluster appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Cosmic topology is as esoteric as cosmology can get. But a growing number of astrophysicists think it holds keys to understanding the universe on its largest scales.
Friday, September 18First Quarter Moon occurs at 4:44 P.M. EDT. The Moon then reaches apogee, the farthest point from Earth in its orbit, at 11 P.M. EDT. At that time, our satellite will be 251,171 miles (404,221 kilometers) away.  Venus reaches greatest brilliancy at 9 P.M. EDT, shining at magnitude –4.8. It’s bright and easy Continue reading "The Sky This Week from September 18 to 25: Autumn begins" The post The Sky This Week from September 18 to 25: Autumn begins appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 September 18 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Messier 33: The […]
The post APOD: 2026 September 18 – Messier 33: The Triangulum Galaxy appeared first on NASA Science .
Snow drought and unusually warm temperatures in the Colorado Basin in 2026 helped drive down reservoir water storage in the U.S. West. The post Lake Powell Drops to Record-Low Levels appeared first on NASA Science .
The small, northern constellation
Nature Astronomy, Published online: 18 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02976-6 Iron meteorite chemistry reveals that the earliest outer Solar System planetesimals contained far less primitive dust than later-formed bodies, establishing that aerodynamic sorting shaped planetary building blocks from the onset of planet formation.
Scientists from Trinity have developed a powerful way to unravel the changing weather patterns on distant worlds. Using this approach, they discovered that the weather on a well-studied brown dwarf, “SIMP 0136”, previously linked with Northern Lights-like phenomena, is largely shaped by just two dominant processes: changes in temperature and the vertical structure of its clouds.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Ad ASTRA Community Science Workshop in Pasadena, CA! The post Ad ASTRA Post-Workshop Debrief & Next Steps appeared first on NASA Science .
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Ad ASTRA Community Science Workshop in Pasadena, CA! The post Ad ASTRA Post-Workshop Debrief & Next Steps appeared first on NASA Science .
The crew of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 mission entered quarantine late Thursday at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Mission preparations continue as NASA and SpaceX target an early October launch to the International Space Station. As part of routine prelaunch quarantine, NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Joshua Kutryk, […] The post NASA, SpaceX Continue Crew‑13 Prep as Crew Enters Quarantine appeared first on NASA Science .
Affiliation: Ames Research Center Division: Earth Science (SG) The post Alex Polakis appeared first on NASA Science .
Affiliation: Ames Research Center Division: Earth Science (SG) The post Saba Saberi appeared first on NASA Science .
Affiliation: Ames Research Center Division: Earth Science (SG) The post Andrew Molthan appeared first on NASA Science .
Affiliation: Ames Research Center Division: Earth Science (SG) The post Jian Zheng appeared first on NASA Science .
Affiliation: Ames Research Center Division: Earth Science (SG) The post Anna Winter appeared first on NASA Science .
Affiliation: Ames Research Center Division: Earth Science (SG) The post Lionel Windham appeared first on NASA Science .
Affiliation: Ames Research Center Division: Earth Science (SG) The post Adam Wilson appeared first on NASA Science .
NASA has selected SpaceX to provide launch services for the agency’s StarBurst mission, a small satellite designed to investigate neutron star mergers and the origins of short gamma-ray bursts. StarBurst will launch aboard a Bandwagon rideshare mission on a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida […]
30 years ago, an amateur astronomer noticed a white dwarf star suddenly getting brighter. New research shows this is due to a Very Late Thermal Pulse, a type of helium flash. The star has heated up and become brighter, and is now called a 'born again' star. It's evolved into a Wolf-Rayet type star, and astronomers will get to watch as it continues to evolve on human timescales.
Media accreditation is open for the next cargo launch that will deliver NASA science investigations, supplies, and equipment to the International Space Station. The 35th SpaceX commercial resupply services mission to the orbital laboratory for NASA will lift off on a Falcon 9 rocket. NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than October to launch […]
It’s that time of the decade again. Late 2026 going into early 2027 is a special time for the major Jovian moons, as they trade places passing one in front of another as seen from our Earthly point of view. We call this mutual transit-eclipse season, a favorable time to catch the complex interplay of Jupiter’s major moons.
The rollout ceremony for NASA’s first space shuttle, OV-101, coincided with Constitution Day of the nation’s bicentennial on Sept.17, 1976. Although the orbiter was originally planned to be named Constitution, Star Trek fans successfully convinced President Gerald Ford to name it Enterprise after the series’ fictional starship.
Fifty years ago, on Sept. 17, 1976—Constitution Day of America’s bicentennial year—NASA unveiled its first space shuttle orbiter, OV-101, to the public. NASA had originally planned to name the vehicle Constitution, but a letter-writing campaign changed the agency’s plans. Nearly 100,000 fans of the Star Trek television series wrote the White House urging that the […]
Computer simulations find that overmassive black holes form readily in the early universe. Their spectra match that of Little Red Dots, which later become powerful quasars and supermassive galactic black holes.
With 293 confirmed moons as of August of 2026, Saturn is the solar system planet with the most natural satellites. By 1789, though, only five had been spotted: Titan by Christiaan Huygens in 1655, and Iapetus, Rhea, Dione, and Tethys by Jean-Dominique Cassini between 1671 and 1684. William Herschel would add two more to that Continue reading "Sept. 17, 1789: William Herschel discovers Mimas" The post Sept. 17, 1789: William Herschel discovers Mimas appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Dave Doctor from Las Cruces, New Mexico The diamond ring at third contact during the Aug. 12, 2026, total solar eclipse hangs over Alcañiz, Spain, as the Moon’s shadow floods the left side of the frame in darkness. Totality there lasted about 1 minute 36 seconds, with the Sun just 5° above the horizon. The Continue reading "Diamond in the sky" The post Diamond in the sky appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
If we are ever to have a permanent presence on Mars, we will have to learn to build there. Shipping the material from Earth to build something as simple as a pressurized habitat is prohibitively expensive, so we will have to make sure of the materials available on Mars’ surface. A research team led by Ning Liu at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology recently published a paper in Chem Circularity that uses biology to do much of the heavy lifting for the structural materials we would typically use concrete for. If their method is adopted, we might quickly find another Earth-based lifeform in abundance on Mars - yeast.
ESA has unveiled a spectacular new Webb image. One of the largest shots yet, it features protostars, jets, distant spiral galaxies and a gravitational lens. The post Huge new Webb image is chock-full of space delights first appeared on EarthSky .
A high school teacher discovered 4 footprints that make up the 1st-ever known T. rex trackway. He discovered it at Hell Creek Formation in North Dakota. The post 1st adult T. rex trackway found by high school teacher first appeared on EarthSky .
The year's fastest sunsets and sunrises happen around the equinoxes, and the slowest sunsets and sunrises happen around the solstices. The post See the year’s fastest sunsets and sunrises around equinoxes first appeared on EarthSky .
On this equinox, start tracking the sunset point on your western horizon. You'll see a mighty shift between now and the June solstice. The post Equinox fun: Track the sun’s shift now until the solstice first appeared on EarthSky .
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 16: Triangle in the sky The Moon passes 0.6° south of the bright star Antares at 9 A.M. EDT. By evening, our satellite sits near the border of Scorpius and Ophiuchus, some 6° east (to the upper left) of Antares. They Continue reading "The Sky Today on Thursday, September 17: The Moon and the Scorpion" The post The Sky Today on Thursday, September 17: The Moon and the Scorpion appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
The September equinox is almost here! Autumn for the Northern Hemisphere. Spring for the Southern Hemisphere. Here's all you need to know. The post 2026 September equinox: All you need to know first appeared on EarthSky .
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 September 17 – A… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. A Treasure […]
Temperature records toppled across the central and southern U.S. as the autumnal equinox approached.
New research suggests that some unusual characteristics of the Sun may be explained if it swallowed a large planet sometime during the Solar System’s formation.
A Treasure Chest in the Carina Nebula
Nature Astronomy, Published online: 17 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02951-1 By observing disrupted stars, Goodwin and Mummery show that supermassive black holes launch outflows at the same critical accretion rates as stellar-mass black holes, pointing to a universal, mass-independent jet-launching mechanism.
Nature Astronomy, Published online: 17 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02981-9 China’s FAST telescope joins forces with the USA’s JVLA to reveal 118 superbubbles in the Andromeda galaxy. Traversing thousands of light years, these giant structures were expanded by supernovae, which are driving galactic turbulence.
The rough, impact-debris-covered surface of Mercury has hidden the true rate at which Mercury has been shrinking, which scientists previously underestimated by 30%
Astronomers know that stars can engulf planets when they stray too close. But how can they know, by looking at a star, if it has ever done so? The answer lies in Beryllium, an element not synthesized inside stars.
Long before they helped shape NASA’s future aerospace breakthroughs, Derek Abramson, Justin Hall, and Justin Link were in their garages and homes building radio‑controlled aircraft, testing new ideas, and flying their creations at hobby events. That early passion now fuels the work of NASA’s Dale Reed Subscale Flight Research Laboratory at the agency’s Armstrong Flight […]
Long before they helped shape NASA’s future aerospace breakthroughs, Derek Abramson, Justin Hall, and Justin Link were in their garages and homes building radio‑controlled aircraft, testing new ideas, and flying their creations at hobby events. That early passion now fuels the work of NASA’s Dale Reed Subscale Flight Research Laboratory at the agency’s Armstrong Flight […] The post Passion Meets Precision at NASA’s Flight Research Lab appeared first on NASA Science .
Through ROSES-25 A.14 Atmosphere NASA is soliciting proposals for data analysis and modeling of NASA supported airborne campaign data. NASA’s Earth Science Division has supported numerous airborne campaigns during the last few years, see Section 2 of the program element text. A.14 Atmosphere required a mandatory Notice of Intent (NOI) to propose. Proposers who have […] The post Amendment 74: A.14 Atmosphere Research Program Due Date Delay and Clarification Regarding the use of Generative AI appeared first on NASA Science .
Today I’ll be telling you about 10 of my favorite autumn deep-sky objects, with suggestions for viewing them. I hope you’ll enjoy this list, and I’ll share some other deep-sky favorites of mine from time to time in the future. What’s a large telescope? The notion of what’s big changes from observer to observer, but Continue reading "Autumn observing targets for large telescopes" The post Autumn observing targets for large telescopes appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
The post IRIS Stories appeared first on NASA Science .
New supplies are on their way to the International Space Station after launching aboard a Progress 96 cargo spacecraft at 9:33 a.m. EDT on Wednesday. Progress 96 will arrive Saturday for an automated docking to the Poisk module at 9:46 a.m. EDT bringing nearly three tons of food, fuel, and cargo to the Expedition 75 crew members. The post Cargo Mission and Crew-13 Updates; Station Research, Maintenance Continue appeared first on NASA Science .
How small can brown dwarfs be before the definition breaks down? That question is at the heart of new research, and new JWST images. Using the space telescope, researchers have discovered a new class of brown dwarfs with low masses, marked by a peculiar hydrocarbon feature.
In this teacher’s magnetism activity guide, “Exploring Magnetism,” students are given the opportunity to act as scientists discovering magnetic fields and electromagnetism through inquiry and measurement. The post Educator’s Guide – Exploring Magnetism appeared first on NASA Science .
It started as a routine data-quality check. But as Robert Wagner, a scientist with NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), scanned a giant Moon map on his computer screen, an unusually large bright spot circled by a dark halo caught his eye, as it implied that surface material in that area had been shaken up. “I […]
It started as a routine data-quality check. But as Robert Wagner, a scientist with NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), scanned a giant Moon map on his computer screen, an unusually large bright spot circled by a dark halo caught his eye, as it implied that surface material in that area had been shaken up. “I […] The post NASA’s Moon Orbiter Spots New, ‘Once-in-Century’ Moon Crater appeared first on NASA Science .
When the Artemis 2 crew splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on April 10, the excitement was palpable — Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen had swung around the Moon, broken a human spaceflight distance record, and come home safely. But for the Artemis program, it was just the beginning. Between April’s Continue reading "Why we need in-orbit refueling to return to the Moon" The post Why we need in-orbit refueling to return to the Moon appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Some Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs) formed closer to the Sun and migrated to the outer solar system, while others formed there originally. A new study finds that "hot" and "cold" origin TNOs can be distinguished not only by their orbits, but also by their surface color.
NASA’s Cosmic Origins Program is excited to invite you to the second Early Career Workshop. 20-22 Oct 2026 The post SAVE THE DATE: 2026 Cosmic Origins Early Career Workshop, Oct 2026 appeared first on NASA Science .
The call for NASA Infrared Telescope Facility observing proposals for semester 2027A (February 1 to July 31, 2027) opened on September 1. The proposal Deadline is Thursday, October 1, 2026. The post REMINDER: 2027A NASA IRTF Call for Proposals appeared first on NASA Science .
Our Spotlight Series highlights recent advances in AGN science, with a strong emphasis on participation from early-career researchers, and includes plenty of time for community discussion following the presentations. The post AGN SIG Spotlight Series, 22 Sept 2026 appeared first on NASA Science .
SAVE THE DATE: COPAG Post-ASTRA Community Meeting The post COPAG Post-ASTRA Community Meeting, 22 Sept 2026 appeared first on NASA Science .
NASA celebrated the full restoration of its Guam Remote Station with a ribbon-cutting on Sept. 10, closing out more than three years of recovery after Super Typhoon Mawar devastated the site in 2023. Engineers from across the agency completed the final and most complex step of the rebuild on July 1, when they returned the […]
Seasonal changes redistribute enough water around Earth to shift the planet’s center of mass back and forth by fractions of an inch relative to its geometric center. NASA scientists are on the case, tracking the oscillations because Earth’s center of mass is a crucial reference point for satellite navigation and elevation measurements. A team, led […]
Anak Krakatau erupts ash and volcanic gases in this image acquired with the OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 8 on Sept. 5, 2026.
Anak Krakatau erupts ash and volcanic gases in this Sept. 5, 2026, image acquired with the OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 8. Eruptions are a regular occurrence at Anak Krakatau, a small volcano between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra. Much of its activity remains relatively mild, but it occasionally puts on more […]
Description While parked at a sand ridge nicknamed “Chocolatal,” NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover used its black-and-white navigation cameras to capture panoramas at two times of day. The first was taken on Aug. 30, 2026, at 9:56 a.m. local Mars time; the second was taken on Sep. 2, 2026, at 5:39 p.m. local Mars time. Those […]
NASA recently awarded $10.5 million to seven organizations nationwide through its new State Hubs initiative. Space Florida was selected for Project ORBIT, which aims to expand opportunities for middle and high school students, boost enrollment in key career and technical programs, and create a statewide portal connecting skilled workers with aerospace employers. Elaine Ho, associate […]
As part of NASA’s new Inspiration Tour, Reid Wiseman, NASA astronaut and commander of the agency’s Artemis II mission, will highlight America’s strengths in space exploration and aeronautics innovation at the Baltimore Ravens vs. New Orleans Saints game in Baltimore on Sunday, Sept. 20. A Baltimore native, Wiseman is a 27-year Navy veteran and NASA […]
Planning crewed missions to the Moon and Mars involves preparing for the medical realities of long-duration space travel. Factors like cosmic radiation, microgravity, and distance from Earth create unique health considerations for astronauts. To anticipate these needs ahead of time, NASA developed the Integrated Medical Model (IMM). The IMM is a decision-support tool that uses […]
Astronomers have confirmed a world that’s less than a million years old as the youngest known planet, using data from NASA-funded archives. Called Elias 2-24 b, the baby planet is still whirling in its natal disk of dust and gas. “Our planet-formation models already struggled to explain the previous record holders for the youngest known […]
On June 16, 1888, Alexander Friedmann was born in St. Petersburg, Russia. An keen student from a young age, Friedmann studied mathematics and meteorology at St. Petersburg State University and the Aerological Observatory in Pavlovsk. After air force service in World War I, Friedmann taught at several institutions and traveled to discuss his research. In Continue reading "Sept. 16, 1925: Death of Alexander Friedmann" The post Sept. 16, 1925: Death of Alexander Friedmann appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Researchers have found evidence in a sediment core in Antarctica that wildfires near the South Pole were a regular occurrence some 90 million years ago. The post Wildfires near the South Pole burned 90 million years ago first appeared on EarthSky .
New observations by the James Webb Space Telescope show that the rings of Chariklo, a Centaur in the outer solar system, changed over a period of a few years. The post The rings of Chariklo are unexpectedly dynamic and changing first appeared on EarthSky .
This image shows a prominent ice cliff near Mars’s south pole. With striking swirls of purple, pink and red, it’s a far cry from the colour palette we usually associate with the Red Planet.
The planet Saturn is arguably the most recognizable planetary object in the entire solar system because of its massive rings. Anytime a child is asked what their favorite planet is, the answer is often “The one with the rings!” But, while Saturn’s rings are its most striking feature, the famed planet has a myriad of other unique features that often get overlooked, specifically its polar activity. This includes a long-known rotating hexagon in its north polar region, but what kinds of activity could be occurring in Saturn’s southern polar region, and what could this teach scientists about planetary formation and evolution?
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 15: View the false dawn Rising around sunset and highest in the early-morning hours before sunrise is the constellation Triangulum. This tiny triangular star pattern is perfect for evening or morning observers: Around 10 P.M. local daylight time, it’s high enough Continue reading "The Sky Today on Wednesday, September 16: Triangle in the sky" The post The Sky Today on Wednesday, September 16: Triangle in the sky appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
You can't miss dazzling Venus after sunset! It's the 3rd brightest object in the sky, after the sun and moon. But why is Venus so bright? The post Why is planet Venus so bright in Earth’s sky? first appeared on EarthSky .
The JUICE mission will perform a flyby of Earth in late September 2026. The spacecraft is headed toward Jupiter's icy moons, where it will arrive in 2031. The post JUICE mission to fly by Earth in late September first appeared on EarthSky .
Sometimes where
Nature Astronomy, Published online: 16 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02987-3 The discovery of little red dots with JWST has prompted manifold investigations into their observational properties and physical nature. This Focus issue consolidates our knowledge of these distant objects at a time when firm conclusions are beginning to be drawn.
Nature Astronomy, Published online: 16 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02966-8 JWST is revealing distant, faint black holes in the early Universe with surprising properties and host-galaxy relationships. These discoveries challenge existing models of supermassive black hole growth and highlight key questions for future research.
Earth has a big beautiful Moon, while Venus, its 'sister planet', doesn't. Why is that? Did it ever have one? If it did, new research shows it was never going to last very long.
In a groundbreaking announcement, the U.S. Space Force stated publicly on Monday, Sept. 14, that it currently has on-orbit weapons in space. Department of the Air Force Secretary Troy Meink’s keynote address at the 2026 Air and Space Cyber Conference focused on plans to modernize the Air Force against AI-powered weapons and capabilities wielded by Continue reading "U.S. confirms it has weapons in orbit" The post U.S. confirms it has weapons in orbit appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
In this field test, a fleet of three robots worked together, and researchers assessed the fleet’s ability to act like an independent science team. The post NASA Field-Tests AI Fleet Capability for Science, Exploration appeared first on NASA Science .
Unveiling the Role of Multi-Phase AGN Outflows with MIRACLE. Speaker: Dr. Matteo Ceci (Università di Firenze) and Disk Reflection as the Origin of the X-ray Polarization of NGC 4151 with IXPE. Speaker: Dr. Elias Kammoun (California Institute of Technology) The post AGN SIG Spotlight Series, 22 Sept 2026 appeared first on NASA Science .
How the Faint Radio Sky is Changing Our Understanding of Star Formation and Galactic Outflows. Speaker: Allison Matthews The post DGCE SIG Seminar, 24 Sept 2026 appeared first on NASA Science .
The UltraViolet EXplorer (UVEX). Speakers: Dan Weisz (UCB) and Suvi Gezari (UMD) The post TDAMM SIG Seminar, 22 October 2026 appeared first on NASA Science .
Physics of the Cosmos Third Early Career Workshop. 22-24 September 2026 The post Third Early Career Workshop, Sept 2026 appeared first on NASA Science .
Discussion of a White Paper in Support of a CMB Space Probe. 1:00pm ET / 10:00am PT The post CMB SAG Meeting, 25 Sept 2026 appeared first on NASA Science .
The UltraViolet EXplorer (UVEX). Speakers: Dan Weisz (UCB) and Suvi Gezari (UMD) The post TDAMM SIG Seminar, 22 Oct 2026 appeared first on NASA Science .
Please share this announcement with interested colleagues and scientists. We look forward to your participation and to fostering a vibrant community of early-career scientists! The post Updates on Third Early Career Workshop, 22-24 Sept 2026 appeared first on NASA Science .
NASA will host an International Observe the Moon Night celebration from 5:30 to 8 p.m. CST on Saturday, Sept. 19, at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, the official visitor center for NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. International Observe the Moon Night celebrates the Moon, the science behind it, and its connection […]
More good news for NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. The telescope's first mid-course correction was extremely efficient, using only 10% of the fuel allotted for it. This efficiency, coupled with other factors, means the powerful space telescope will likely have an additional ~12 years of observing time.
Telescope Live gives astrophotographers access to world-class imaging data. The post Your backyard telescope is just the beginning appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Researchers have found that if black holes have certain features, known as "hair," then we could prove it by observing the gravitational ringdown of merging black holes. Future studies could test the no-hair theorem of general relativity.
Astronomers used 8 years of observations to create a 3D image of a very young, very massive binary star as it forms. The image shows that the disks in the system are all misaligned. Those misalignments, together with the orbit, are clues to the system's chaotic history.
NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik (left) and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Luca Parmitano view progress on the solid rocket booster integration in High Bay 3 inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026.
In April, the world watched as four humans circled the Moon for the first time in over 50 years with NASA’s Artemis II mission. On Saturday, Sept. 19, the public is invited to look up again with NASA events across the country, including the International Observe the Moon Night celebration held at NASA’s Goddard Space […]
NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik (left) and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Luca Parmitano view progress on the solid rocket booster integration in High Bay 3 inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. Bresnik, Parmitano, and NASA astronauts Andre Douglas, Frank Rubio, and Bob Hines made […]
This starry view of the nearby star-forming region IC 348 is one of the largest images from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope released to the public so far. Using Webb, astronomers searched IC 348 for brown dwarfs, which are less massive than the smallest stars. The researchers discovered brown dwarfs just twice the mass of Jupiter, bringing the study of these curious objects into a new mass range.
This starry view of the nearby star-forming region IC 348 is one of the largest images released to date from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. Using Webb, astronomers searched IC 348 for brown dwarfs, which are less massive than the smallest stars. The researchers discovered brown dwarfs just twice the mass of Jupiter, bringing the […]
The NSSC provides travel reimbursement services for all authorized Agency travel including: domestic, foreign, local, ETDY, and Change of Station (COS). References Federal Travel Regulations (FTR) Traveler Extended TDY and Taxes Domestic Per Diem Rates Foreign Per Diem Rates Change of Station NSSC Travel now has another way that a transferee Traveler may submit his […]
Mike Selby/Warren Keller, taken from El Sauce Observatory, Chile NGC 6902 is a rarely-imaged face-on spiral galaxy about 130 million light-years away in the southern constellation of Sagittarius. Its outer blue arms are filamentary, winding around a bright, yellow core of older stars. The image was taken with a 17-inch PlaneWave CDK astrograph and LRGB Continue reading "A feathery spiral in Sagittarius" The post A feathery spiral in Sagittarius appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
After over 7,000 days in space, the Cassini mission ended on Sept. 15, 2017. Since its Oct. 15, 1997 launch, the spacecraft had returned a wealth of new knowledge and images of Saturn and its moons. Thanks to Cassini’s observations, researchers discovered liquid methane lakes on Titan, the potential habitability of Enceladus and the geysers Continue reading "Sept. 15, 2017, Cassini’s Grand Finale" The post Sept. 15, 2017, Cassini’s Grand Finale appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Venus had a moon a long time ago, scientists in the US and France say. It likely survived for nearly 2 billion years until Venus' gravity tore it apart. The post Venus had a moon for nearly 2 billion years, scientists say first appeared on EarthSky .
A new study shows Mercury is shrinking more than scientists first thought. They say the planet might have already shrunk up to 30% more than expected. The post Mercury is shrinking up to 30% more than expected first appeared on EarthSky .
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 14: Connect four The time around the equinox is one of the best opportunities to catch sight of the ethereal zodiacal light, the soft glow generated by dust that orbits the Sun along the plane of the solar system, the ecliptic. Continue reading "The Sky Today on Tuesday, September 15: View the false dawn" The post The Sky Today on Tuesday, September 15: View the false dawn appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 September 15 – A… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. A Daytime […]
Our Sun is the very reason life exists on our small, blue planet. It provides solar radiation that warms the planet and ignites the intricate biochemical processes like photosynthesis producing oxygen for life to breathe. However, while the Sun is known for giving life, it can also potentially take it away with its solar flares, geomagnetic storms, and solar radiation storms, all of which are referred to as space weather. But how can space weather be forecasted so industries can better prepare and protect their assets, including Earth infrastructure, satellites, and even human safety?
There was something behind the clouds.
The results are in: NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope’s very accurate first mid-course correction, along with other fuel savings, are expected to more than double the mission’s potential operational lifetime. “As a result of exquisite planning by our orbital dynamics team, brilliant execution by the operations team, and a precise launch from SpaceX, Roman […] The post Fuel Savings Double Potential Lifetime for NASA’s Roman Mission appeared first on NASA Science .
This webinar will provide an overview of the CSDA program’s goals and activities, including the new Cal/Val initiative, and more.
This webinar will provide an overview of the CSDA program's goals and activities, including the new Cal/Val initiative, and more. The post Webinar 9/23: NASA CSDA Program Update 2026 appeared first on NASA Science .
Cosmic Origins Community Seminar The post Cosmic Origins Community Meeting, 22 Sept 2026 appeared first on NASA Science .
Rocket launches this week On Monday, Sept. 14 at 9:21 p.m. EST, Avio — a publicly traded Italian aerospace company headquartered near Rome — is set to launch a Vega C rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana, carrying two Earth-observation satellites for the European Space Agency (ESA). The first, Sentinel-3C, is the Continue reading "Europe launches two Earth-observation satellites amidst a busy week for China" The post Europe launches two Earth-observation satellites amidst a busy week for China appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Title: Aerospace Engineer – Space Mission Analysis Branch (SMAB)Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate (SACD) The post Joey Syracuse appeared first on NASA Science .
Title: Aerospace Engineer – Space Mission Analysis Branch (SMAB)Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate (SACD) The post Terry Morris appeared first on NASA Science .
Title: Aerospace Engineer – Space Mission Analysis Branch (SMAB)Systems Analysis and Concepts Directorate (SACD) The post Davin Baal appeared first on NASA Science .
Bezos said we should move heavy industry to the Moon. Musk says we'll have sustainable lunar cities. We know there's ancient water ice in craters on the Moon's poles, but there's not enough water to support a city.
Satlantis’s GEISAT constellation, comprising the GEISAT‑P and HORACIO satellites, provides high–spatio‑temporal methane (CH₄) observations with simultaneous emitter geolocation. Each satellite simultaneously acquires co‑registered visible and near‑infrared (VNIR) and shortwave infrared (SWIR) imagery, allowing accurate attribution of detected plumes, providing straightforward identification of the emission sources. In addition to methane detection, the synchronized VNIR–SWIR imagery supports […] The post CSDA Vendor – Satlantis appeared first on NASA Science .
New York Operational Improvements (NY Ops) The New York area airspace is notoriously complex and demanding, and is responsible for a large portion of the delays and congestion in the United States. A new research effort was initiated to examine the chronic problems associated with New York, and to develop integrated NextGen concepts that leveraged […] The post New York Operational Improvements appeared first on NASA Science .
PolCube is a compact 12-unit (12U) CubeSat and multi-angle, multi-wavelength polarimeter instrument developed through an international collaboration — primarily involving NASA’s Langley Research Center and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI). It measures both the intensity and polarization of sunlight reflected off Earth across multiple angles and light wavelengths (410–864 nm) to characterize atmospheric particles and ocean properties. The post NASA Langley Research Center PolCube Mission Information Site appeared first on NASA Science .
NASA has selected 12 new investigations to help support human explorers in space. Six will help advance the ability to produce food off-planet, while another six advance the understanding of how unique conditions associated with space exploration can impact the health and physiology of astronauts. The six food-focused investigations, supported by the agency’s Space […]
NASA has selected 12 new investigations to help support human explorers in space. Six will help advance the ability to produce food off-planet, while another six advance the understanding of how unique conditions associated with space exploration can impact the health and physiology of astronauts.   The six food-focused investigations, supported by the agency’s Space […] The post New Crops, Health Research Proposals to Help NASA Advance Exploration appeared first on NASA Science .
A new study led by researchers from Caltech demonstrates the effectiveness of Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) as a tool for measuring cosmological distances and the clustering of matter.
The Republic of Djibouti became the 72nd nation and eighth African country to sign the Artemis Accords during a ceremony Monday at NASA Headquarters in Washington. The Artemis Accords are the first set of practical principles aimed at enhancing transparency, safety, and coordination among nations as they explore the Moon, Mars, and beyond. “Djibouti joins […]
Fans pose for a photo with an astronaut in the NASA Experience Zone at an NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Atlanta Falcons at Acrisure Stadium, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Fans pose for a photo with an astronaut in the NASA Experience Zone at an NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Atlanta Falcons at Acrisure Stadium, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. NASA’s engagement at NFL games is part of the agency’s Inspiration Tour, aimed at strengthening connections between NASA and its […]
Did you spend part of your summer camping, hiking, at the pool, or in an aircraft? So did NASA’s 2025 Astronaut Candidate Class. The 10 candidates have been working their way through a comprehensive and rigorous training program since the agency introduced them to the public on Sept. 22, 2025, from NASA’s Johnson Space Center […]
On Sept. 14, 1915, John Dobson was born in Bejing. His family moved to San Francisco to avoid political turmoil in China in 1927, and Dobson went on to attend the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in chemistry. Then, in 1944, he entered the Ramakrishna Order. During his 23 years as a monk, Dobson’s personal Continue reading "Sept. 14, 1915: The birth of John Dobson" The post Sept. 14, 1915: The birth of John Dobson appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Why do bars form in some spiral galaxies, but not in others? Joe RuszHerndon, VA We believe that stellar bars can form in any galaxy that displays ordered rotation. This includes galaxies with disks of spiral arms, but also many lenticular galaxies, which feature disks with no spiral arms. When disk galaxies are perturbed — Continue reading "Why do bars form in some spiral galaxies, but not in others?" The post Why do bars form in some spiral galaxies, but not in others? appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 13: Venus, the Moon, and Spica The Moon passes 0.5° due north of Venus at 7 A.M. EDT. In the evening sky, the pair is now standing in line with the tiny planet Mercury and the bright star Spica. If you Continue reading "The Sky Today on Monday, September 14: Connect four" The post The Sky Today on Monday, September 14: Connect four appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
APODScienceAPODAPOD: 2026 September 14 –…Today’s APODArchiveSubmissionsIndexSearchCalendarRSSEducationAboutDiscuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Where Your Elements Came From Explanation: The hydrogen in your body and present in every molecule of […]
Reds, yellows, and oranges are already sweeping across tundra landscapes in Nunavut.
The hydrogen in your body and present in every molecule of water came from the
The BOOP! mission was launched on a scientific balloon from NASA’s launch facility in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, at 8:03 a.m. MDT (10:03 a.m. EDT) on Sept. 13, 2026. This is the second year for NASA’s Balloon Program Office’s Balloon Optimization Opportunity Payload, or BOOP!, which allows multiple technology instruments to be tested during flight for future missions. The mission carried experiments to test compact tools for future planetary exploration, […] The post Fourth Balloon of NASA Scientific Balloon Campaign Launches appeared first on NASA Science .
Most of our experience with the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) has been focused on capturing radio signals that alien species have sent out, whether intentionally or unintentionally. That creates a huge “synchronicity” problem - what if there aren’t any alien civilizations broadcasting radio signals now, but there were a billion years ago? The Milky Way is around 13 billion years old - hoping that we exist at the same time as an alien civilization that happens to be actively messaging is a huge leap of faith. But, according to a new paper available in pre-print on arXiv and submitted to the International Journal of Astrobiology by Lewis J Pinault, as associated researcher at the SETI Institute, and his co-authors, we could take a completely alternative approach to trying to find alien civilizations - by looking for evidence of them in lunar dirt.
A joint NASA-ESA mission, the Ulysses solar probe launched Oct. 6, 1990, from the Space Shuttle Discovery. The mission was tasked with studying the solar wind, mapping the heliosphere, and becoming the first craft to study and chart the solar poles in detail. Equipped with a magnetometer, ion composition gauge, and instruments to measure radio Continue reading "Sept. 13, 1994: Ulysses at the Sun’s south pole" The post Sept. 13, 1994: Ulysses at the Sun’s south pole appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
See Venus brightest in the evening sky this week, with greatest brilliancy coming around September 18, 2026. Look west after sunset. The post Venus brightest in the evening sky this week first appeared on EarthSky .
Could there be alien tech on the moon? Scientists propose a new search for microscopic particles shed by alien technology. The post Alien tech on the moon? Scientists propose search for microscopic debris first appeared on EarthSky .
You can spot Venus in the daytime. One of the best ways is when its near the moon. Here are 3 tips to help you spot the brilliant planet Venus in daylight. The post See Venus in the daytime: Here are 3 tips first appeared on EarthSky .
Crepuscular rays form around twilight when particles in the atmosphere reflect the sun's light beams toward our eyes. See photos of the phenomenon here. The post Crepuscular rays are sunrays in twilight skies first appeared on EarthSky .
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 12: Dione skims Saturn’s pole Blazing at magnitude –4.8, Venus is nearing its greatest illuminated extent and stands out as an unmissable evening star after sunset. This evening it is joined by a lovely thin crescent Moon as the pair hangs Continue reading "The Sky Today on Sunday, September 13: Venus, the Moon, and Spica" The post The Sky Today on Sunday, September 13: Venus, the Moon, and Spica appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 September 13 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. To view this […]
The post APOD: 2026 September 13 – Comet NEOWISE Rising over the Adriatic Sea appeared first on NASA Science .
The most comprehensive catalogue of exploding white dwarf stars ever assembled has revealed new clues about dark energy, the mysterious force driving the universe’s accelerating expansion.
This sight was worth getting out of bed early.
KMT-2025-BLG-0026L b is a gas giant exoplanet that orbits a Unknown-type star. Its mass is 2.13 Jupiters, it takes 1.4 years to complete one orbit of its star, and is 0.96 AU from its star. Its discovery was announced in 2026. The post KMT-2025-BLG-0026L b appeared first on NASA Science .
KMT-2025-BLG-0030L b is a gas giant exoplanet that orbits a Unknown-type star. Its mass is 1.15 Jupiters, it takes 4.7 years to complete one orbit of its star, and is 2.35 AU from its star. Its discovery was announced in 2026. The post KMT-2025-BLG-0030L b appeared first on NASA Science .
KMT-2025-BLG-2272L b is a gas giant exoplanet that orbits a Unknown-type star. Its mass is 2.47 Jupiters, it takes 9.7 years to complete one orbit of its star, and is 3.89 AU from its star. Its discovery was announced in 2026. The post KMT-2025-BLG-2272L b appeared first on NASA Science .
OGLE-2016-BLG-0261L b is a gas giant exoplanet that orbits a Unknown-type star. Its mass is 0.21 Jupiters, it takes 2.3 years to complete one orbit of its star, and is 0.72 AU from its star. Its discovery was announced in 2026. The post OGLE-2016-BLG-0261L b appeared first on NASA Science .
HD 715 b is a gas giant exoplanet that orbits a F-type star. Its mass is 0.635 Jupiters, it takes 56.4 days to complete one orbit of its star, and is 0.336 AU from its star. Its discovery was announced in 2026. The post HD 715 b appeared first on NASA Science .
HD 278555 b is a gas giant exoplanet that orbits a F-type star. Its mass is 0.84 Jupiters, it takes 28.8 days to complete one orbit of its star, and is 0.1985 AU from its star. Its discovery was announced in 2026. The post HD 278555 b appeared first on NASA Science .
The post OGLE-2016-BLG-0261L appeared first on NASA Science .
The post KMT-2025-BLG-0026L appeared first on NASA Science .
The post KMT-2025-BLG-0030L appeared first on NASA Science .
The post KMT-2025-BLG-2272L appeared first on NASA Science .
Less than two years after the successful launch of Sputnik 1, the Soviet Union put a spacecraft on the Moon. Launched Sept. 12, 1959, Luna 2 traveled over 30 hours to crash-land on the lunar surface. The impact happened at a speed of about 1.9 miles (3 kilometers) per second, and represented the first contact Continue reading "Sept. 12, 1959: Luna 2 launches" The post Sept. 12, 1959: Luna 2 launches appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
What do you see in the Mars image? Some people think the rocks look like a hallway where a little alien is walking. Other instances of pareidolia, here. The post Does this Mars image show an alien in a hallway? first appeared on EarthSky .
Monitoring Earth from above is a messy, inconsistent business. Clouds can block a satellite view, the angle of the Sun can create huge shadows, and orbital paths might not take a system across the same general area for weeks. That inconsistency is hard to deal with for traditional software, and can even confuse standard deep learning algorithms. But, according to a new review paper by researchers Raul-Alexandru Gorgan and Dorian Gorgan of the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, there’s a new type of frontier AI that could be able to help - bio-inspired Liquid Neural Networks.
Choosing what orbit to put a satellite in always comes with trade-offs. When it comes to Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO), between 100-450 km, there are distinct advantages. Remote sensing cameras can take better pictures, comms and radar require less power, and atmospheric drag will automatically clean up dead satellites. But there’s also a cost - air friction requires any satellite in this orbit to use an engine near constantly to stay in orbit, which in turn requires fuel - typically in the form of expensive gases like Xenon. So, as part of his PhD thesis at the University of Stuttgart, which is available in arXiv, Francesco Romano decided to solve that problem by using the very air molecules that cause that friction as fuel for a plasma engine to keep satellites aloft indefinitely in VLEO.
The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season has set a record. It's the longest we've ever gone in a hurricane season without seeing a hurricane. Read more here. The post Atlantic hurricane season sets a record: No hurricanes yet! first appeared on EarthSky .
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column. September 11: Visit the Deer Lick Group Saturn dominates the southern sky in the early hours after midnight. It’s the brightest point of light here, standing some 50° high around 2 A.M. local daylight time. In addition to its biggest and brightest Continue reading "The Sky Today on Saturday, September 12: Dione skims Saturn’s pole" The post The Sky Today on Saturday, September 12: Dione skims Saturn’s pole appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Venus likely never had a moon and even if it did, it would have soon been torn asunder by the planet’s own gravity, says prominent planetary astrophysicist.
Bright sunlight glints as long dark shadows mark this image of the
Light could only travel freely in the Universe after cosmic reionization. Before that, neutral hydrogen stopped photons from travelling. The JWST has found evidence of an overdensity of galaxies carving out a bubble of reionization. Is this how it all started?
Multi Sector Planner (MSP) Air traffic control in the en route airspace environment in the United States (U.S.) had traditionally been performed by a team, consisting of a radar-controller (R-side) and a second controller referred to as a data-controller (D-side) or a radar-associate. Several developments in the technology supporting air traffic management- digital data communication […] The post Multi Sector Planner appeared first on NASA Science .
Orbital Sidekick, Inc. operates a three-satellite constellation carrying identical hyperspectral instruments that deliver high-resolution (8-meter) hyperspectral imagery across 472 spectral bands to support a range of Earth science applications, including the detailed analysis of biodiversity, ecosystem health, and surface geology; greenhouse gas detection; and detecting solid chemicals related to pollutants. Each satellite is designed with […] The post CSDA Vendor – Orbital Sidekick appeared first on NASA Science .
How do scientists studying space with data from a telescope hundreds of thousands of miles away know that what they are seeing is real? A new NASA project, Artifact InSPECtor, invites you to find out – and by doing so, to help missions like Euclid and NASA’s new Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope answer fundamental […]
How do scientists studying space with data from a telescope hundreds of thousands of miles away know that what they are seeing is real? A new NASA project, Artifact InSPECtor, invites you to find out – and by doing so, to help missions like Euclid and NASA’s new Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope answer fundamental […] The post Help Refine Data from Space Telescopes with Artifact InSPECtor appeared first on NASA Science .
Stay Tuned for Episode 02 – Coming Soon! The post Space Economy Series appeared first on NASA Science .
Galaxies are like cosmic gems, each with characteristics including size and shape that make them distinct. A gallery from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes displays a collection of galactic images that showcase this variety.
Two galaxies merge at a furious rate in this Aug. 25, 2026, image of the II Zw 096 system. This and several other images of both visually and scientifically interesting galaxies were released by NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes. Chandra X-ray data (magenta) pinpoint powerful black hole activity and hot gas, while optical […]
Two galaxies merge at a furious rate in this Aug. 25, 2026, image of the II Zw 096 system. This and several other images of both visually and scientifically interesting galaxies were released by NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes. Chandra X-ray data (magenta) pinpoint powerful black hole activity and hot gas, while optical […] The post NASA’s Chandra Spots Galactic Gem appeared first on NASA Science .
The Expedition 75 crew had a light duty day on Friday studying microgravity’s effect on exercise and transferring cargo aboard the International Space Station. Earth observations, hardware inventory, and life support maintenance rounded out the schedule for the orbital septet at the end of the week. The post Crew Works Exercise Research and Lab Maintenance on Light Duty Day appeared first on NASA Science .
Media are invited to hear from NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 astronauts during a news conference beginning at 2:45 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, Sept. 16, from the International Space Station. NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev will discuss their upcoming return to Earth. Learn where […]
Media are invited to hear from NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 astronauts during a news conference beginning at 2:45 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, Sept. 16, from the International Space Station. NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev will discuss their upcoming return to Earth. Learn where […] The post NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 to Discuss Station Mission, Upcoming Return appeared first on NASA Science .
NASA’s Human Research Program has selected 10 winning projects for the Artemis II Data Methodology Challenge, a public competition that sought better ways of drawing rigorous conclusions from the small, information-dense datasets that define human spaceflight research. The post Winners of NASA HRP’s Artemis II Data Methodology Challenge appeared first on NASA Science .
The science from every Moon rock sample, lunar dataset, and discovery produced through NASA’s Artemis program will be shared by the agency with the global scientific community. That commitment is upheld by all 71 countries that have signed the Artemis Accords, a set of principles for safe and transparent civil space exploration. NASA put those […]
The science from every Moon rock sample, lunar dataset, and discovery produced through NASA’s Artemis program will be shared by the agency with the global scientific community. That commitment is upheld by all 71 countries that have signed the Artemis Accords, a set of principles for safe and transparent civil space exploration. NASA put those […] The post NASA Boosts Open Science, Data Sharing with Artemis Accords appeared first on NASA Science .
OroraTech operates an active constellation of satellites equipped with multispectral thermal infrared imagers that observe in the midwave (MWIR) and longwave (LWIR) infrared bands. The constellation is designed for high revisit frequency: in 2026, OroraTech provides up to twice‑daily coverage, with revisit intervals as short as 15 minutes planned for future deployments. OroraTech data products […] The post CSDA Vendor – OroraTech appeared first on NASA Science .
As our telescopes have improved and we’ve been able to peer farther back in time, we’ve begun finding more fascinating features of the universe. But one thing we definitely haven’t found yet is Population III (Pop III) stars. These were the earliest stars in the universe, formed completely from pristine hydrogen and helium, with no “metals” (i.e. elements heavier than those two) polluting their processes. They are also theorized to be absolutely massive, and “die with passion” as Bill Wurtz once put it in a famous YouTube video. A new paper, available in pre-print form on arXiv by Tae Bong Jeon from the Cosmic Frontier Center at the University of Texas at Austin, looks at just how massive those starbursts could be, and whether the James Webb Space Telescope could detect one.
Scientists were shocked when they received the first images of Martian gullies. They were even more shocked as those gullies appeared to change over time. Their similarities to gullies seen on Earth were uncanny, but all of Earth’s gullies are formed by the water run-off, and Martian is too cold and has too sparse an atmosphere to have liquid water on its surface. Whatever has been causing those changing gullies couldn’t have been water, so what was it? A new paper from Apolline Leclef of the Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale at Université Paris-Saclay and her colleagues, available in pre-print on arXiv, shows how they are likely caused by CO2 frost turning into a fluid.
Launched as the International Sun-Earth Explorer-3 in 1978, a joint NASA-ESA mission, the ISEE-3 probe studied the solar wind and Earth’s magnetic field from the L1 Lagrange point. When its mission was complete in 1981, NASA proposed repurposing the craft by using it to intercept a comet; such reuse would save the money and time Continue reading "Sept. 11, 1985: The ICE probe encounters Comet Giacobini-Zinner" The post Sept. 11, 1985: The ICE probe encounters Comet Giacobini-Zinner appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Did the sun swallow a planet early in its history? Models show a super-Earth might have spiraled into the sun and left a fingerprint we can still see today. The post Did the sun swallow a planet early in its history? first appeared on EarthSky .
Astronomers have found the most distant proto-supercluster yet, an early collection of galaxies at a junction in the cosmic web. The post Distant proto-supercluster! An early intersection point in the cosmic web? first appeared on EarthSky .
The international Cloud Appreciation Day is September 11, 2026. Learn how to participate here and see a gallery of beautiful clouds. The post International Cloud Appreciation Day is September 11 first appeared on EarthSky .
Anak Krakatau erupted in early September, sending gas and ash into the atmosphere. 8 people, including 5 journalists, are now missing. The post Anak Krakatau erupts in Indonesia, 8 people missing first appeared on EarthSky .
What is retrograde motion? See an image that appears to show the moon moving backwards! An explanation, and more bizarre examples, here. The post What is retrograde motion? And why is the moon moving backwards? first appeared on EarthSky .
We’ve found over 5,500 exoplanets so far. Dozens of them have been in the habitable zone of their parent stars, where, at least in theory, they could host an ocean. But we’ve never definitively found a liquid ocean on another planet. A new paper from researchers Eleanor Cornish and Tyler Robinson of the University of Arizona, available in pre-print on arXiv and submitted to the Astrophysical Journal, looks at a unique way we might be able to find one - by looking for its “glint”.
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 10: Uranus is stationary With dark, moonless skies tonight, let’s go galaxy hunting. By 9 P.M. local daylight time, Pegasus is already high in the east, the Great Square easily giving away its location. The northern part of this constellation holds Continue reading "The Sky Today on Friday, September 11: Visit the Deer Lick Group" The post The Sky Today on Friday, September 11: Visit the Deer Lick Group appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Friday, September 11Already high in the north after sunset, the planetary nebula NGC 6543 in Draco is famously called the Cat’s Eye Nebula. It’s best seen with a large telescope, but even a small scope will pick it up and show it off in tonight’s moonless sky.  Two hours after sunset, you’ll find the Cat’s Continue reading "The Sky This Week from September 11 to 18: Catch the zodiacal light" The post The Sky This Week from September 11 to 18: Catch the zodiacal light appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 September 11 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. M83: The Southern […]
Mexico’s second-largest metropolitan area borders on folded rock layers of the Sierra Madre Oriental.
Nature Astronomy, Published online: 11 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02930-6 Is the Universe infinite in all directions? The only way to know is to look. This Review presents the status of investigations into the topology of the Universe, and looks ahead to upcoming opportunities.
Beautiful and bright
The eROSITA Consortium has issued the survey's second data release (DR2), nearly doubling the previously known eROSITA X-ray sources to two million.
Affiliation: NASA Ames Research Center Directorate: Science The post Kevin Sims appeared first on NASA Science .
The Republic of Djibouti will sign the Artemis Accords during a ceremony at 11 a.m. EDT, Monday, Sept. 14, at NASA Headquarters in Washington, becoming the 72nd country signatory. NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson will host Ambassador of Djibouti to the United States Mohamed Siad Douale for the ceremony, together with U.S. State Department Assistant […]
The Republic of Djibouti will sign the Artemis Accords during a ceremony at 11 a.m. EDT, Monday, Sept. 14, at NASA Headquarters in Washington, becoming the 72nd country signatory. NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson will host Ambassador of Djibouti to the United States Mohamed Siad Douale for the ceremony, together with U.S. State Department Assistant […] The post NASA Invites Media to Djibouti Artemis Accords Signing Ceremony appeared first on NASA Science .
Less than two weeks after an Executive Order was signed to create the first United States Space Academy, NASA-led work is in full swing to make the academy a reality and shape the future of America’s aerospace workforce and leadership. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman chaired the first Presidential Commission on the United States Space Academy […]
Less than two weeks after an Executive Order was signed to create the first United States Space Academy, NASA-led work is in full swing to make the academy a reality and shape the future of America’s aerospace workforce and leadership. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman chaired the first Presidential Commission on the United States Space Academy […] The post NASA Answers President’s Call to Establish United States Space Academy appeared first on NASA Science .
Search and rescue technology developed in part by NASA saved five lives
Search and rescue technology developed in part by NASA saved five lives The post NASA’s Life-Saving Technology Where Cell Signals Can’t Go appeared first on NASA Science .
Over a decade ago, the Fermi satellite detected an excess of gamma-ray emissions in the galactic center. Potential explanations included Sgr. A*, the Milky Way's SMBH, pulsars, and even self-annihilating dark matter. There's no clear answer yet, since the region is so difficult to observe. But recent research shows that dark matter can't be ruled out.
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe completed its 29th close approach to the Sun on Sept. 4, again matching its record speed and distance from the solar surface. This time, the spacecraft trained its camera on structures and activity near the Sun’s north pole. The spacecraft transmitted a beacon tone indicating that its systems were operating normally […] The post After Latest Swing Past Sun, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe Checks in appeared first on NASA Science .
Access Solicitation for Use of the ICEE Facility * indicates a required field Δ NameThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.Project Name*ICEE Station Being Requested* ICEE UHV Molecular Microscopy Station FIRE Station Project Description*Hazards or Special Precautions with the Samples (Please explain and include a document link to all SDS sheets.)*Planetary […] The post ICEE Application appeared first on NASA Science .
Science hardware and spacesuit maintenance were the main tasks aboard the International Space Station on Thursday. The Expedition 75 crew members also filmed and photographed daily life inside of the station for audiences on Earth. The post Expedition 75 Works on Science Hardware, Spacesuits, and Crew Filming appeared first on NASA Science .
TENERIFE, Canary Islands, Sept. 8, 2026 — Fifteen years after STARMUS brought together the legends who defined the first age of human space exploration, the Festival will welcome the explorers who have opened its newest chapter. Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen will attend STARMUS VIII — The Continue reading "Artemis 2 crew lands at Starmus VII — 15 years after Armstrong, Aldrin, and Leonov launched its lengacy" The post Artemis 2 crew lands at Starmus VII — 15 years after Armstrong, Aldrin, and Leonov launched its lengacy appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Through a new collaboration between NASA and the National Football League (NFL), the agency will soon bring America’s strengths in space exploration and aeronautics innovation to the football field. NASA will conduct flyovers, astronaut appearances, and fan engagement at NFL games across the United States as part of its new Inspiration Tour. “This is the […]
Through a new collaboration between NASA and the National Football League (NFL), the agency will soon bring America’s strengths in space exploration and aeronautics innovation to the football field. NASA will conduct flyovers, astronaut appearances, and fan engagement at NFL games across the United States as part of its new Inspiration Tour. “This is the […] The post NASA, NFL Team Up to Showcase Space, Aeronautics Innovation appeared first on NASA Science .
JAXA's Martian Moon eXploration (MMX) will be on its way to Mars and Phobos next month. It will collect samples from Phobos and return them to Earth. A new morphodynamic atlas of the small moon will help scientists collect and understand the samples.
Foundations of LLM Agents and State of the Art. Speaker: Josh Speagle, University of Toronto The post AI/ML STIG Lecture Series, 14 Sept 2026 appeared first on NASA Science .
Hands-On Session I: Agentic Coding and Research Tools. Speaker: Christopher Stubbs, Harvard University The post AI/ML STIG Lecture Series, 21 Sept 2026 appeared first on NASA Science .
Using the James Webb Space Telescope, an international team of astronomers have discovered that dust and water can form and survive surprisingly close to the supermassive black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy.
A brilliant concentration of stars takes center stage in this Aug. 11, 2026, image taken by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. Webb observed IRS 3, a star near the end of its life cycle, located within this starfield. Webb’s mid-infrared data revealed the clear signature of oxygen-rich silicate dust, as well as, for the first […]
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has opened up many wonders of the cosmos to scientists since it began its science operations a few years ago. But one thing that it hasn’t done is find an “exomoon”. These, as yet still theoretical, moons orbit exoplanets in other star systems, and JWST was supposed to find a plethora of them. However, so far it has found precisely none. It seems the cause is noise in the telescope’s instrumentation or noise from the star itself. But a new paper, available in pre-print form on arXiv from David Kipping, an astronomer at Columbia and also the host of the Cool Worlds YouTube Channel, shows how JWST can, in fact, find an exomoon. It likely just has to look for one in the same place repeatedly.
Yevgeny Khrunov was born Sept. 10, 1933, in Prudy, Russia. A Soviet Air Force pilot, he was selected as one of the first cosmonauts on Feb. 25, 1960, along with 19 others including Yuri Gagarin, Aleksei Leonov, and Andriyan Nikolayev. Though not part of the Vanguard Six, Khrunov would make history on the Soyuz 4/Soyuz Continue reading "Sept. 10, 1933: The birth of Yevgeny Khrunov" The post Sept. 10, 1933: The birth of Yevgeny Khrunov appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
If black holes have extra matter around them - aka hidden hair - astronomers could find it by measuring the different characteristics of these ripples. The post Do black holes have hidden hair? Scientists are searching first appeared on EarthSky .
The zodiacal light is an eerie light extending up from the horizon before dawn around the Northern Hemisphere autumn. Southern Hemisphere? Look after sunset! The post Zodiacal light: Start watching for it now first appeared on EarthSky .
Everyone is familiar with the Mercator map, a flattened view of Earth. But what is the Equal Earth projection map, and how does it compare? The post What is an Equal Earth projection map? See comparisons here first appeared on EarthSky .
Patrick Cosgrove from Honeoye Falls, New York Sharpless 2–140 is sometimes called the Hidden Nebula for the way it appears to be partially swallowed by the neighboring dark cloud LDN 1204, adjacent to the bright shock front of ionized gas. It glows about 3,000 light-years away in Cepheus. The imager took just over 12 hours Continue reading "The Hidden Nebula’s glowing edge" The post The Hidden Nebula’s glowing edge appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Delta Cephei is an inconspicuous variable star in the northern constellation Cepheus the King. This important star helped establish the cosmic distance scale. The post Delta Cephei helps measure cosmic distances first appeared on EarthSky .
Ancient Swedish pagans had surprisingly accurate calendars and the ability to measure phases of the Moon to an incredible precision.
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 9: Visualize the ecliptic Uranus reaches a stationary point at 2 P.M. EDT, coming to a halt amid the stars of Taurus the Bull. Rising around 10:40 P.M. local daylight time, the best time to view the ice giant is in Continue reading "The Sky Today on Thursday, September 10: Uranus is stationary" The post The Sky Today on Thursday, September 10: Uranus is stationary appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 September 10 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. LDN 1295: The […]
At a time of year when dust storm activity winds down, a plume of dust blanketed parts of the West African nation and its neighbors.
UK astronomers have uncovered new clues about the origin of 3I/Atlas – only the third known object from beyond our Solar System ever spotted in our cosmic neighbourhood.
Those "Little Red Dots" discovered by the James Webb Space Telescope, galaxies that existed during the very early Universe, could be sending neutrino particles that are reaching us today.
LDN 1295: The Giraffe Nebula
Nature Astronomy, Published online: 10 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02915-5 Using simulations of the neutron star population, this study finds that Galactic supernova rates are higher than expected and that magnetars may represent nearly half of all neutron stars, making them capable of powering some of the Universe’s most energetic events.
A NASA Launch Services (NLS) II contract has been awarded by the agency to Relativity Space Inc., and its Terran R launch service in accordance with the contract’s on-ramp provision. The Terran R launch service will be available to NASA’s launch services to use for future missions. The NLS II contracts are multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts […]
A NASA Launch Services (NLS) II contract has been awarded by the agency to Relativity Space Inc., and its Terran R launch service in accordance with the contract’s on-ramp provision. The Terran R launch service will be available to NASA’s launch services to use for future missions. The NLS II contracts are multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts […] The post NASA Adds Relativity Space’s Terran R to Launch Services Contract appeared first on NASA Science .
JPL (Caltech) Small Business Subcontracting Program The Small Business Programs Office serves as the conduit between JPL and subcontractors and/or companies seeking procurement opportunities. JPL is fully committed to the maximum utilization of small businesses, and this office helps small businesses think BIG. We are passionate about developing successful partnerships between JPL and companies by:• […] The post NASA Small Business Subcontracting Program – JPL (Caltech) appeared first on NASA Science .
Astronomers observe faint light signals from stellar objects, study it intently, and try to understand what's behind these signals. In one case, the signals they detected masqueraded as an imminent supernova explosion. But more observations revealed a different reality.
Using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, scientists have discovered a new class of objects behaving unlike any they have seen before. Astronomers suggest these newly spotted objects in other galaxies may help solve not one, but two long-standing questions in astrophysics. These mysterious objects give off unusually low-energy X-rays but intense levels of ultraviolet radiation. This […]
Using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, scientists have discovered a new class of objects behaving unlike any they have seen before. Astronomers suggest these newly spotted objects in other galaxies may help solve not one, but two long-standing questions in astrophysics. These mysterious objects give off unusually low-energy X-rays but intense levels of ultraviolet radiation. This […] The post NASA’s Chandra Unveils Mysterious X-Ray Objects appeared first on NASA Science .
Vein scans, ultra-hot physics, and Earth observations were the main research activities aboard the International Space Station on Wednesday. The Expedition 75 crew members rounded out their mid-week shift and swapped out spacesuit components and serviced life support gear. The post Crew Studies Medicine and Physics, Works on Spacesuits and Earth Photo Gear appeared first on NASA Science .
Stephan's Quintet contains the most well-studied compact galaxy group. Japanese researchers have mapped star forming gas in the Quintet, along with its turbulence. The results show that the Quintet is an evolved group of interacting galaxies where gas struggles to settle down and form stars. Even where gas is concentrated, turbulence from interactions throttles star formation.
About the Hall of Honor The Langley Research Center National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Hall of Honor was conceived by members of the Langley Alumni Association and the NASA Langley Research Center as a mechanism to pay tribute to individuals who built exemplary careers at Langley, persevered against the status quo […] The post NASA Langley Hall of Honor appeared first on NASA Science .
Last November, NASA and its European partners launched the Sentinel-6B satellite to improve hurricane forecasts, help protect infrastructure, and benefit commercial industries, including shipping. The satellite now is flying 30 seconds behind its predecessor, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich. Both satellites are providing precise sea level height measurements during what oceanographers expect to be a historic El […]
Last November, NASA and its European partners launched the Sentinel-6B satellite to improve hurricane forecasts, help protect infrastructure, and benefit commercial industries, including shipping. The satellite now is flying 30 seconds behind its predecessor, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich. Both satellites are providing precise sea level height measurements during what oceanographers expect to be a historic El […] The post How 2 US, European Satellites Are Studying Hurricanes During El Niño appeared first on NASA Science .
Henry Helgeson serves as the associate administrator for the Office of Communications at NASA Headquarters in Washington. In this capacity, he leads global communications strategy, public engagement, branding, media relations, and digital enterprise projects across all NASA centers. As a senior advisor to the administrator and other executive leadership, he directs all aspects of internal and external communications, maximizing the broadest potential reach to […] The post Henry Helgeson appeared first on NASA Science .
Show | Grades 6-12+In this 2013 interview, Dr. Ernie Hildner reflects on his extensive career in solar physics, which includes serving as the Chief of the Solar Physics branch at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and spending 19 years as the Director of NOAA’s Space Environment Center (now the Space Weather Prediction Center). He discusses […] The post Space Weather Living History: Dr. Ernie Hildner appeared first on NASA Science .
The crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission visited NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama on Sept. 1, 2026.
The crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission – NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Reid Wiseman and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen – visited Huntsville, Alabama, Sept. 1, 2026, where they met with the NASA workforce at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. The event gave the crew an opportunity to share firsthand […]
The crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission – NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Reid Wiseman and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen – visited Huntsville, Alabama, Sept. 1, 2026, where they met with the NASA workforce at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. The event gave the crew an opportunity to share firsthand […] The post Artemis II Crew at NASA Marshall appeared first on NASA Science .
Show | Grades 6-12+ | In this December 2012 interview, Dr. David Hathaway, a solar astronomer at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, discusses his career trajectory into solar physics and outlines what he considers the most significant historical milestones in space weather research. Dr. Hathaway initially wanted to study stellar structure, evolution, and stellar interiors. […] The post Space Weather Living History: Dr. David Hathaway appeared first on NASA Science .
Astronomers have long searched for Dyson spheres as a sign of advanced alien civilizations. But if an alien civilization is dependent on advanced computing, we may be better served by looking for a Slysh halo.
We’ve been searching for life on Mars for a long time now, but so far we’ve come up empty. The fundamental problem is a Catch-22 of two of the key ingredients for life. Life as we know it needs liquid water and reasonable temperatures, both of which are available on Mars, but hardly ever at the same time. But a new paper from lead author Anna Bognar and her team at ELTE Eötvös Loránd University and the Konkoly Observatory describes a way for life to have access to both requirements at the same time - by hiding away in salt crystals.
Following their landmark Artemis II mission earlier this year, distinguished NASA astronauts Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman are transitioning in September to emeritus status at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. In an emeritus role, individuals with a high degree of technical and professional knowledge can continue to support the agency by donating their […]
When Edward Emerson Barnard peered through the 36-inch refractor at Lick Observatory on Sept. 9, 1892, and spotted Amalthea, it marked the first discovery of a moon of Jupiter in 280 years. Galileo had discovered the four largest jovian moons – Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto – in 1610. Though this fifth moon was closer Continue reading "Sept. 9, 1892: Edward Emerson Barnard sees Amalthea" The post Sept. 9, 1892: Edward Emerson Barnard sees Amalthea appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
The latest mission to the innermost planet in the solar system hit a milestone last week. After an eight year journey, BepiColombo finally separated from its propulsion stage to set itself up for an orbital insertion to Mercury. Taking place on September 3rd, the separation, which is part of a much longer series of logistical steps over the next few months, seemed to go without a hitch. But getting to that point was certainly a process, and still more challenges lie ahead.
A new study from MIT shows that peptides in Venus' clouds could survive in the sulfuric acid droplets and fold into the shapes need for biological life. The post Peptides in Venus’ clouds could form life-giving shapes first appeared on EarthSky .
The fall hummingbird migration typically lasts from August through October. Spot the birds in every U.S. state and Canadian province as they travel south. The post Fall hummingbird migration in progress across North America first appeared on EarthSky .
A few hundred million years after the Big Bang, the first stars ignited - literally the “let there be light” moment for the universe. Now known to astronomers as Population III, or Pop III, stars, these giants were very different from the stars we know today. They were formed out of pristine hydrogen and helium, with almost no “metal” (i.e. other elements) holding them back. They were also huge, growing to tens to hundreds of times larger than the Sun. And they died young, in many cases collapsing into the universe’s earliest black holes. Some of those black holes even partnered up, eventually colliding into one another and creating gravitational waves that, if we have instruments sensitive enough, we could potentially detect. A new study led by astrophysicist N.V. Krishnendu of the University of Birmingham and their colleagues shows just how much we can learn about them with the new suite of gravitational detectors about to come online.
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 8: The Moon joins Jupiter The waning Moon has moved from Cancer to Leo and is nearing the bright star Regulus, which marks the Lion’s heart. Our satellite will pass 0.6° south of Regulus at 4 P.M. EDT this afternoon.  An Continue reading "The Sky Today on Wednesday, September 9: Visualize the ecliptic" The post The Sky Today on Wednesday, September 9: Visualize the ecliptic appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Written by William Farrand, Senior Research Scientist, Space Science Institute Earth planning date: Friday, Aug. 28, 2026 The span of sols spanned by this blog post is noteworthy in several ways. First, Curiosity became a world-class (for Mars at least) mountaineer by passing the 1 kilometer mark of elevation from its landing site on the floor […]
Use Orion's Belt to find Sirius, the sky's brightest star. In 2026, Jupiter is in the same region, outshining even Sirius. The post Orion’s Belt points to Sirius on September mornings first appeared on EarthSky .
A powerful eruption from the Indonesian volcano lofted ash into the atmosphere, disrupting thousands of flights and degrading air quality.
Is this star winking at us? The central object in
Nature Astronomy, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02959-7 Hypersoft X-ray sources are found in an observational blind spot; they can be extremely luminous in the X-ray band and extreme ultraviolet, and are likely to be X-ray binary systems. Their energetics suggest that they play a crucial role in ionizing galaxies.
On Sunday July 5th, 2026, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) achieved the first-ever successful laser ranging experiment while making a flyby of an asteroid.
Rocket launches this week On Thursday, Sept. 10 at 5:00 a.m. EST, a Long March 2D rocket is set to lift off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northern China’s Gobi Desert carrying an undisclosed payload, according to tracking from Next Spaceflight. The rocket is operated by the state-owned space contractor China Aerospace Science and Continue reading "SpaceX closes out SES’s O3b mPower constellation" The post SpaceX closes out SES’s O3b mPower constellation appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Laying groundwork for using airborne remote sensing to better understand the characteristics of forest species diversity. The post Unlocking Forest Diversity from Above: Fieldwork at Smithsonian’s BiodiversiTREE appeared first on NASA Science .
The IXPE Guest Observer (GO) Program solicits proposals for investigations in any area of astrophysics (not constrained to IXPE’s prime science areas). Individuals may submit proposals for observations that will advance the IXPE mission science return. Observing proposals may be for “standard,” “Target-of-Opportunity (ToO)”, “Large Program (LP)” or “Multi-cycle” observations. IXPE anticipates executing approximately 1 […] The post Joint Observations with Swift removed from IXPE GO Cycle 4 appeared first on NASA Science .
Jaden Caradine knew he wanted to be an engineer at eight years old. He just took a winding road to get there. Before he enrolled at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, before he discovered the field that would become his focus, and before he landed a Pathways internship at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, Caradine […]
Jaden Caradine knew he wanted to be an engineer at eight years old. He just took a winding road to get there. Before he enrolled at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, before he discovered the field that would become his focus, and before he landed a Pathways internship at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, Caradine […] The post From the Corps to the Cosmos, featuring Jaden Caradine appeared first on NASA Science .
Did icy comets deliver water to the young Earth? That idea won't go away. Now, astronomers at Lund University in Sweden have found evidence of exocomets orbiting a young star named PDS 70. The observations suggest that these comets are delivering water to that system's inner regions.
NASA is seeking proposals to advance the technology and infrastructure needed to explore the Moon and establish a Moon Base in the lunar South Pole region. Announced on Tuesday, Sept. 8, the solicitation targets capability gaps, including power generation, oxygen extraction, and producing materials on the Moon required for construction and operations. These technologies are […]
NASA is seeking proposals to advance the technology and infrastructure needed to explore the Moon and establish a Moon Base in the lunar South Pole region. Announced on Tuesday, Sept. 8, the solicitation targets capability gaps, including power generation, oxygen extraction, and producing materials on the Moon required for construction and operations. These technologies are […] The post NASA Calls for Proposals to Accelerate Lunar Surface Technologies appeared first on NASA Science .
What used to be a rare sight gracing the twilight sky is now becoming strangely commonplace. If you live on either U.S. coast, you have to good chance at seeing what’s become a common sky scene in our modern technocene era: a space launch jellyfish.
Exploring astronaut health and photographing the Moon and Earth topped the research schedule for the Expedition 75 crew aboard the International Space Station on Tuesday. The orbital residents also kept up life support maintenance following the departure of cargo spacecraft the day before. The post Astronaut Health, Lunar and Earth Photography Fill Crew’s Research Schedule appeared first on NASA Science .
The Earth and the Moon have nearly identical isotopic compositions, and the Giant Impact Hypothesis strives to explain this. New research into the ancient impact shows how the temperature of both worlds, and how it affects the strength of the materials involved in the collision, shaped the outcome, including the isotopic compositions.
An international team of astronomers has discovered the most distant progenitor to a galaxy supercluster ever. The discovery supports existing theories of how galaxy clusters evolve, and reveals how they are connected to the larger cosmic web. The study relies largely on data from the ODIN survey, conducted with the U.S. Department of Energy-fabricated Dark Energy Camera on the U.S. National Science Foundation Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope in Chile.
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope captures a photogenic nebula, N44, in the Large Magellanic Cloud in this Sept. 3, 2026, image. N44 is dominated by two features: a vast central void and a shell of dense, dusty gas. The central void is a ‘superbubble’ spanning roughly 210 by 140 light-years across. The glittering stars at the […]
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope captures a photogenic nebula, N44, in the Large Magellanic Cloud in this Sept. 3, 2026, image. N44 is dominated by two features: a vast central void and a shell of dense, dusty gas. The central void is a ‘superbubble’ spanning roughly 210 by 140 light-years across. The glittering stars at the […] The post Superbubble in the Large Magellanic Cloud appeared first on NASA Science .
N44 is a complex nebula filled with glowing hydrogen gas, dark lanes of dust, massive stars, and many populations of stars of different ages. One of its most distinctive features, however, is the dark, starry gap called a “superbubble,” visible in this Hubble Space Telescope image in the upper central region.
Landsat imagery is helping researchers map Maryland's winter cover crops, verifying conservation efforts that reduce soil erosion and protect Chesapeake Bay water quality. The post Separating Wheat from Chaff — from Space appeared first on NASA Science .
Operations, Research, and Broad Innovative Technology Services (ORBIT) Points of Contact Name: Edwin Ortiz-FrancoTitle: Contracting OfficerEmail: [email protected] Name: Justin PontiffTitle: Contract SpecialistEmail: [email protected] Source Selection Authority (SSA): TBD Electronic responses are through sam.gov. Current Information Sources Sought Synopsis and Related Documents Requirements Request for Information and Related Documents Industry Day Communications and Related Documents Pre-Proposal […] The post ORBIT appeared first on NASA Science .
Algorithm NASA first applied to satellite imagery is now used to peer into antiquity
Algorithm NASA first applied to satellite imagery is now used to peer into antiquity The post NASA Technique for Manipulating Satellite Photos Now Reveals Ancient Images appeared first on NASA Science .
New observations find that a few supermassive black holes are unexpectedly large given the size of their galaxies. This suggests the connection between black holes and galaxies isn't as strong as we thought.
More than 1,000 visitors explored NASA sea level science firsthand during World Ocean Day at the University of Georgia Aquarium on Skidaway Island on June 6, 2026.
More than 1,000 visitors explored NASA sea level science firsthand during World Ocean Day at the University of Georgia Aquarium on Skidaway Island on June 6, 2026. The post 1,000 Museum Visitors Dive Into NASA Sea Level Science on World Ocean Day appeared first on NASA Science .
For the first time, scientists used the joint power of NASA’s Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes to study some of the most far-flung bodies in our solar system, Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs). Some of these are the smallest and faintest ever directly seen. The researchers unexpectedly found fewer small TNOs than they expected, and that […]
On Sept. 8, 2016, the Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security – Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission launched from Cape Canaveral, setting off on its 4.4-billion-mile (2 billion kilometers) journey to asteroid Bennu. About the size of an SUV, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft carries several cameras, an altimeter used to create maps of Bennu, and an Continue reading "Sept. 8, 2016: OSIRIS-REx launches" The post Sept. 8, 2016: OSIRIS-REx launches appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Halley’s comet captures the imagination in a way that few other astronomical objects do. When it last made its approach toward the Sun (admittedly when this author, who is now middle-aged, was one year old in 1986), humanity responded with a fleet of spacecraft known informally as the “Halley Armada”. Yet, because of the comet’s trajectory, those spacecraft were only able to visit their target for a fleeting few hours, leaving planetary scientists wanting more. Now, a new paper by researchers at Khalifa University and their co-authors, and available in pre-print on arXiv, describes a mission plan that would allow a spacecraft to actually rendezvous with this most well-known comet for the first time ever.
We know the universe is constantly expanding. We also know that gravitationally bound objects, such as solar systems and black holes, seem to be immune to that expansion. But a new paper, available in pre-print on arXiv by theoretical physicists Valerio Faraoni and Massimiliano Rinaldi challenges that assumption. They suggest that black holes can’t just ignore the expanding universe around them. Instead they have to expand along with it.
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 7: Venus and Spica, side by side The Moon has now skimmed through the morning sky over to Cancer, where it checks in on Jupiter — and you can check in on them both before dawn.  The Moon rises around 3:30 Continue reading "The Sky Today on Tuesday, September 8: The Moon joins Jupiter" The post The Sky Today on Tuesday, September 8: The Moon joins Jupiter appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Have you ever wondered how many stars are visible on a given night? It depends on factors including how dark your sky is and what your age is. The post How many stars can you see on a moonless night? first appeared on EarthSky .
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 September 8 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Hubble: Decagon Around […]
Layers of sedimentary rock that jut from the Soledad Basin at surprising angles have long enthralled television and film producers, including the team behind Star Trek.
Say what you want about the changes to the space industry that’s happened over the past 10-20 years, but one thing is for certain - there are a lot more people that have access to space now than there ever has been before. Some of them have some absolutely crazy stories about how they got there, and plenty of those have written their own books about their experiences, before, during, and after their flight. Add to that list A Heart for Space by Dr. Eiman Jahangir - a cardiologist that officially became an astronaut when he crossed the Kármán line on a Blue Origin flight in August 2024. But the story of how an Iranian-American cardiologist made it all the way to space has lessons for anyone that hopes to follow in his footsteps.
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again - space is hard. Another example, albeit lacking in the destructive displays of some past examples, is China’s recent delay of its Chang’e-7 lunar mission. The agency announced the mission would miss its late-August launch window with a very brief press release from the China National Space Administration and the China Manned Space Engineering Office. While that means a slight delay in China’s plan for the Moon, it’s only a matter of time before the cornerstone of the robotic lunar exploration program is back on the launch pad.
Why are Saturn’s poles geometric?
Nature Astronomy, Published online: 08 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02970-y Heliobiology is a new interdisciplinary field that links heliophysics, astrophysics, planetary science and chemistry with an astrobiological focus. We propose a formal definition of heliobiology and a practical framework for its implementation.
Nature Astronomy, Published online: 08 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02952-0 Images reveal where planetary surfaces change, whereas seismic and ground-motion records can show when and why. Treating seismometers as environmental sensors, alongside cameras, meteorological packages and orbital repeat imaging, would make active surfaces a central target of future missions.
Nature Astronomy, Published online: 08 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02914-6 BepiColombo’s flyby at just 165 km from Mercury observed sustained precipitation of energetic solar protons and electrons onto the planet’s surface, with potentially long-term impact on its weathering and mineralogy.
Nature Astronomy, Published online: 08 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02957-9 Analysis of fast radio bursts reveals how gas ejected by astrophysical feedback suppresses small-scale cosmic structure, delivering constraints competitive with X-ray and microwave surveys. Future rapid gains are expected from facilities such as the Deep Synoptic Array.
A new image from NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory offers a spectacularly deep view into a famous region of sky known as the COSMOS field.
Gaia has discovered three stellar mass black holes, each with a small stellar companion. For two of these systems the companions orbit closer that we would expect. Just how these systems form is a bit of a mysteries, but there are clues.
James Van Allen, who was born in Iowa on Sept. 7, 1914, showed talent and interest in science and math from an early age. A major in physics from Wesleyan College in 1935 was followed by a Ph.D. in nuclear physics in 1939. Before and after World War II – during which he developed antiaircraft Continue reading "Sept. 7, 1914: The birth of James Van Allen" The post Sept. 7, 1914: The birth of James Van Allen appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Wouldn’t a free-floating planet eventually cross paths with a star or even a black hole and start revolving around it? YinToronto, Ontario Free-floating planets (FFPs) or rogue planets are bodies that move through space by themselves, not locked into an orbit around a star. While some may have begun as typical planets flung out of Continue reading "Why aren’t free-floating planets captured when they fly past stars?" The post Why aren’t free-floating planets captured when they fly past stars? appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Reef fish exposed to motorboat noise can end up smaller and struggle to escape predators, says new research into dangerous underwater noise. The post Reef fish survival threatened by motorboat noise first appeared on EarthSky .
On 3 September 2026 at 15:49 CEST, the European Space Agency's BepiColombo Mission Control Team at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) received the signal they had been waiting for – BepiColombo’s Mercury Transfer Module (MTM) successfully separated from the spacecraft stack . This landmark achievement for the ESA and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) mission marks the first step of BepiColombo's long-awaited arrival at Mercury.
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 6: The Moon and Mars in Gemini Venus has pulled away from the bright star Spica in Virgo, which it met in the sky last week, and tonight stands side by side with the star as they set together following sunset. Continue reading "The Sky Today on Monday, September 7: Venus and Spica, side by side" The post The Sky Today on Monday, September 7: Venus and Spica, side by side appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 September 7 – The… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. The Pelican […]
The post APOD: 2026 September 7 – The Pelican Nebula in Gas, Dust, and Stars appeared first on NASA Science .
With austral winter nearing its end, clouds cleared for a satellite view of volcanic activity in the remote South Atlantic.
With austral winter nearing its end, clouds cleared for a satellite view of volcanic activity in the remote South Atlantic. The post A Bright Spot at Mount Michael appeared first on NASA Science .
The Pelican Nebula is slowly being transformed.
Nature Astronomy, Published online: 07 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02973-9 Evidence for phenylium reactivity under interstellar-relevant conditions
Nature Astronomy, Published online: 07 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02971-x On our bookshelf
Nature Astronomy, Published online: 07 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02967-7 The “Little Red Dots 2026” online workshop brought together 33 invited speakers, 19 flash talks and in total 230 participants. The workshop was dedicated to the discussion of these newly discovered compact red objects in the early Universe and their physical nature.
Nature Astronomy, Published online: 07 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02972-w Reply to: Evidence for phenylium reactivity under interstellar-relevant conditions
Nature Astronomy, Published online: 07 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02958-8 At IAU Symposium 405 in Brno, Czech Republic, the Galactic Centre emerged as a nearby laboratory for galactic nuclei, which links the central supermassive black hole, dense stellar populations and multiphase gas into a connected ecosystem across space and time.
Nature Astronomy, Published online: 07 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02953-z Multi-epoch ALMA and VLA observations reveal the three-dimensional orbital motion of a massive protobinary. The orbits are highly eccentric and close to parabolic, with strong disk–orbit misalignment, suggesting a core-merger pathway for massive binary formation.
Astronomers have directly detected an extremely faint radio signal from hydrogen gas billions of light years away, demonstrating a powerful new way to map the Universe.
Future gravitational wave observatories will be able to see the gravitational waves of close-orbiting binary stars. A newly studied white dwarf system could be one of the first systems we observe.
Out in the solar system, there is a giant rippling curtain of charged particles that is actually the largest structure in our solar system. Known as the Heliospheric Current Sheet (HCS), it marks the spot where the sun flips its magnetic north and south poles, and grows directly out of giant, glowing loops of plasma on its surface called helmet streamers. However, so far, studies of it have only occurred near Earth, using space-based instruments such as SoHo and Wind. But now, a new paper from Keiichi Ogasawara of the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and his team used the joint ESA/NASA mission Solar Orbiter to capture the HCS at only about ⅓ the distance to Earth - before interactions with interstellar space and the solar wind change it. In other words, this paper represents the clearest ever picture of what the solar system’s largest coherent structure is actually made out of.
The fall of 1618 was a standout when it came to notable comets, boasting three visible to the naked eye. In late August, C/1618 Q1 appeared, first spotted in the skies over Hungary. Johannes Kepler observed the comet throughout the month of September, spotting it from Linz, Austria, through a small telescope on Sept. 6. Continue reading "Sept. 6, 1618: The first comet seen through a telescope" The post Sept. 6, 1618: The first comet seen through a telescope appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
A small asteroid impact will occur in the next few hours near NW Australia. The meteor should harmlessly burn up in Earth's atmosphere and poses no danger. The post Small asteroid impact today over the ocean near Australia first appeared on EarthSky .
Researchers have discovered that some microbes in Antarctica are unique to the icy continent and are found nowhere else on Earth. The post These microbes in Antarctica don’t live anywhere else first appeared on EarthSky .
Labor Day is a federal US holiday that falls on the 1st Monday in September and is considered the unofficial end of summer. The post Labor Day: Learn its history and traditions first appeared on EarthSky .
If we ever find life beyond Earth, how will the nations of the world respond? A group of experts give 3 possibilities: cooperation, competition and isolation. The post If we find life beyond Earth, how will nations respond? first appeared on EarthSky .
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 5: Titan near Saturn The waning crescent Moon lies in Gemini today, not far from the 3rd-magnitude star Epsilon (ε) Geminorum, roughly around where western twin Castor’s knee would be. Mars is also in Gemini, closer to the midsection of the Continue reading "The Sky Today on Sunday, September 6: The Moon and Mars in Gemini" The post The Sky Today on Sunday, September 6: The Moon and Mars in Gemini appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Octans and Apus are 2 constellations that you have to be in the Southern Hemisphere to see. Plus, Octans is home to the south celestial pole. The post Octans and Apus circle the south celestial pole first appeared on EarthSky .
The post APOD: 2026 September 6 – Pluto in Enhanced Color appeared first on NASA Science .
暂无摘要
NASA’s Chandra X-Ray Observatory is the agency’s flagship mission for X-ray astronomy. On Sept. 5, 2001, NASA announced that astronomers using Chandra in October of the previous year had witnessed a fast, strong X-ray flare coming from the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy. This black hole, named Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*) Continue reading "Sept. 5, 2001: The Milky Way has a black hole" The post Sept. 5, 2001: The Milky Way has a black hole appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is in space, taking its first steps to explore the cosmos. Relive Roman’s launch—and the emotion that goes along with the roar of a rocket—with NASA experts who worked on the telescope for years. Plus, learn what happens next and when to expect Roman’s first images. The post Roman Series: Liftoff! appeared first on NASA Science .
The planet Venus is arguably the most mischievous planetary body in the solar system. This is because like Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, Venus is shrouded in a thick atmosphere that can’t be viewed with optical telescopes and require radar images to see the surface. Unlike Titan, whose atmosphere looks quite dull, Venus’s swirling and awe-inspiring clouds give observers the impression that its surface is covered in wonderous features. However, the truth is far from ideal, as Venus’s surface is a living hell with searing temperatures and crushing pressures. But, unlike its surface and Titan, Venus’s atmosphere provides many more ideal conditions, even Earth-like conditions. But while life would be hard to exist on its surface, could we find life in the atmospheric clouds of Venus?
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column. September 4: Get in a workout Titan, Saturn’s brightest moon, orbits its parent world with a period of about 16 days. You’ll find this moon passing near Saturn today and tomorrow, when it will be northeast and northwest of the ringed world, Continue reading "The Sky Today on Saturday, September 5: Titan near Saturn" The post The Sky Today on Saturday, September 5: Titan near Saturn appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 September 5 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Chasing the Moon’s […]
The post APOD: 2026 September 5 – Chasing the Moon’s Shadow appeared first on NASA Science .
暂无摘要
The last two spacecraft of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Cluster mission plunged into Earth’s atmosphere this week, closing out 26 years of research into the planet’s magnetic environment — and handing scientists a front-row seat to their destruction. ESA’s Samba spacecraft reentered the atmosphere on Aug. 31 at 5:39 p.m. EDT, disintegrating over a Continue reading "Scientists watch as two satellites burn" The post Scientists watch as two satellites burn appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
The newest DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys map covers three-quarters of the sky and catalogs nearly four billion objects. This publicly-available database contains stars, galaxies, supernovae, gravitational lenses, and much more.
The fire department at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley will perform training on the Moffett Federal Airfield beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8 through Friday, Sept. 11. The training will involve the use of a propane-fueled aircraft fire simulator and be conducted from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. PDT. Because the aircraft simulator is […]
The fire department at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley will perform training on the Moffett Federal Airfield beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8 through Friday, Sept. 11. The training will involve the use of a propane-fueled aircraft fire simulator and be conducted from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. PDT. Because the aircraft simulator is […] The post NASA Ames Fire Department Aircraft Firefighting Training appeared first on NASA Science .
Technology Demonstration Plan link: https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/comprehensive-technology-development-strategic-plan-240808.pdf?emrc=1de25e The post Technology Development Plan appeared first on NASA Science .
The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) has officially launched its twentieth data release (DR20), featuring updated data from multiple observations projects.
KMT-2025-BLG-0975L b is a Neptune-like exoplanet that orbits a Unknown-type star. Its mass is 29.8 Earths, it takes 2.3 years to complete one orbit of its star, and is 0.81 AU from its star. Its discovery was announced in 2026. The post KMT-2025-BLG-0975L b appeared first on NASA Science .
KMT-2025-BLG-1160L b is a Neptune-like exoplanet that orbits a Unknown-type star. Its mass is 25.36 Earths, it takes 5.4 years to complete one orbit of its star, and is 2.56 AU from its star. Its discovery was announced in 2026. The post KMT-2025-BLG-1160L b appeared first on NASA Science .
TOI-4409 b is a Neptune-like exoplanet that orbits a K-type star. Its mass is 14.93793513 Earths, it takes 92.5 days to complete one orbit of its star, and is 0.36574503670244 AU from its star. Its discovery was announced in 2026. The post TOI-4409 b appeared first on NASA Science .
TOI-3278 b is a gas giant exoplanet that orbits a G-type star. Its mass is 0.3 Jupiters, it takes 3.2 days to complete one orbit of its star, and is 0.043 AU from its star. Its discovery was announced in 2026. The post TOI-3278 b appeared first on NASA Science .
TOI-3053 b is a gas giant exoplanet that orbits a G-type star. Its mass is 0.85 Jupiters, it takes 3 days to complete one orbit of its star, and is 0.039 AU from its star. Its discovery was announced in 2026. The post TOI-3053 b appeared first on NASA Science .
HD 50554 c is a super Earth exoplanet that orbits a F-type star. Its mass is 5.3 Earths, it takes 6 days to complete one orbit of its star, and is 0.0652 AU from its star. Its discovery was announced in 2026. The post HD 50554 c appeared first on NASA Science .
HD 50554 d is a super Earth exoplanet that orbits a F-type star. Its mass is 10.4 Earths, it takes 28.1 days to complete one orbit of its star, and is 0.1831 AU from its star. Its discovery was announced in 2026. The post HD 50554 d appeared first on NASA Science .
CD-35 2722 B b is a gas giant exoplanet that orbits a L-type star. Its mass is 0.92 Jupiters, it takes 171.1 days to complete one orbit of its star, and is 0.2 AU from its star. Its discovery was announced in 2026. The post CD-35 2722 B b appeared first on NASA Science .
NASA will host a virtual webinar at 2 p.m. EDT on Friday, Oct. 2, titled “The RS-25 Engine and the Future of Artemis Missions: An Accessible Webinar for the Blind and Low-Vision Community.” This webinar is open to the public, however it is tailored specifically for a blind and low-vision audience. The webinar will last about two hours and […]
Pulsar Timing Arrays have been used to observe the background of gravitational waves in our galaxy. We aren't certain of their origin, but a new study shows a strong source could be early supermassive giants known as dark stars.
On Wednesday, June 17, skywatchers across the United States—and parts of Canada—enjoyed a rare event: a daytime lunar occultation of Venus. A lunar occultation occurs when the Moon moves directly in front of another celestial object from our viewpoint on Earth, briefly hiding it from sight.
On Wednesday, June 17, skywatchers across the United States—and parts of Canada—enjoyed a rare event: a daytime lunar occultation of Venus. A lunar occultation occurs when the Moon moves directly in front of another celestial object from our viewpoint on Earth, briefly hiding it from sight. This time, the Moon slipped in front of Venus […]
Mark Johnston from Scottsdale, Arizona On Aug. 21, 2026, an unusually long-lasting M-class flare erupted from a sunspot group near the Sun’s west limb. As the flare’s stretched magnetic field lines reconnected and relaxed, they filled with hot plasma that cooled and drained along the loops, producing the glowing arcade seen here in Hydrogen-alpha (Hα) Continue reading "The aftermath of a solar flare" The post The aftermath of a solar flare appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Born in Kath, Khwarezm – a region that today would be cover parts of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan – Abu Raihan Muhammad al-Biruni was a man of many scientific talents. His extensive travels throughout the Middle East and modern India and his self-education in Greek, Syriac, Hebrew, and Sanskrit helped him produce respected works in Continue reading "Sept. 4, 973 C.E.: The birth of al-Biruni" The post Sept. 4, 973 C.E.: The birth of al-Biruni appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
A new study from Caltech shows that Mars' southern hemisphere is much hotter than expected deep below the surface. Why is that? The post Mars’ southern hemisphere is unusually hot deep underground first appeared on EarthSky .
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 3: The Moon in Taurus Last Quarter Moon occurs at 3:51 A.M. EDT, leaving our evening sky completely dark and perfect for searching out fainter, deep-sky targets.  High in the southeastern sky two hours after sunset is the constellation Vulpecula, which Continue reading "The Sky Today on Friday, September 4: Get in a workout" The post The Sky Today on Friday, September 4: Get in a workout appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Cassiopeia the Queen is an easy-to-find constellation. It has the shape of a W or M. Look for it in the north-northeast sky on September and October evenings. The post Cassiopeia the Queen ascends in September and October first appeared on EarthSky .
Friday, September 4Last Quarter Moon occurs at 3:51 A.M. EDT Have you heard of the “demon star,” Algol? This strange sun is actually two stars in a system known as an eclipsing binary. As the name would suggest, as they orbit, one star regularly passes in front of and eclipses the other from our point Continue reading "The Sky This Week from September 4 to 11: The Moon joins Jupiter and Mars" The post The Sky This Week from September 4 to 11: The Moon joins Jupiter and Mars appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 September 4 – Na… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Nā ʻUhane […]
The Pacific was buzzing with storms while the Atlantic was notably quiet.
Nature Astronomy, Published online: 04 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02934-2 Little red dots (LRDs) are a new class of object uncovered by deep JWST surveys at high redshift. This Perspective summarizes our current observational understanding of LRDs and considers possible scenarios for their central engines.
暂无摘要
ROSES-25 D.4 Theoretical and Computational Astrophysics Networks
ROSES-25 D.4 理论与计算天体物理学网络（TCAN）项目旨在通过跨机构和跨地域的协作网络，加强美国在理论与计算天体物理学领域的研究与人才培养。该项目重点关注时域多信使天体物理学中的重大挑战，并征集旨在开发集成化理论与计算建模工具的提案。
SSERVI CAN-5: Final Text Released
美国国家航天局（NASA）发布了第五份太阳系探索研究虚拟研究所（SSERVI）合作协议公告（CAN-5）。该公告旨在征集旨在理解月球及其空间环境的研究提案，以支持未来的阿尔忒弥斯（Artemis）载人探测任务。
Reminder: LISA Science Gaps 2026
美国国家航天局（NASA）正征集关于空间激光干涉仪（LISA）科学缺口的社区意见，以支持即将发布的ROSES 2026项目。相关研究人员需在2026年9月16日前提交反馈，重点关注NASA科学地面段（NSGS）的关键需求。
NASA Internship Opportunity on Harnessing AI for Astrophysics Missions
美国国家航天局天体物理学部正在招募实习生，旨在通过人工智能工具提升日常任务的决策效率。实习生将利用生成式人工智能技术，对Fermi伽马射线空间望远镜过去18年的数据使用情况及科研影响力进行梳理与分析。
ROSES-25 D.8 HWO Precursor Science Investigations Correction
ROSES-25 计划下的 HWO 先驱科学研究项目（HWO-PSI）旨在为未来潜在的 HWO 任务奠定科学基础并降低风险。本次公告对 D.8 HWO-PSI 项目进行了更正，补充了开放科学与数据管理计划的相关要求，并重申了申报截止日期。
Orion Fun Facts
本文介绍了美国国家航天局（NASA）猎户座航天器的构造细节、乘员舱设计及各项关键系统。猎户座通过先进的生命保障、热防护及冗余航电系统，确保了宇航员在深空任务中的安全与高效运行。
The Orion Program, managed by NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, is a broad national and international collaboration. Multiple NASA centers, international partners, and industry contractors contribute to the spacecraft, from building hardware to supporting mission operations. The post Management Roles and Facilities appeared first on NASA Science .
The Orion Program conducted rigorous testing of the spacecraft, from element-level testing with test articles for the crew module, service module, LAS, parachute system, and other supporting systems—including both flight tests and ground tests—to integrated testing of the full spacecraft that have flown on Artemis missions. The post Testing appeared first on NASA Science .
The Orion primary flight computers have over 750,000 lines of code that operate all the spacecraft systems, including power, communications, guidance, navigation, control, thermal management, instrumentation, and propulsion. The post Avionics and Software appeared first on NASA Science .
Orion’s launch abort system, also known as the LAS, is designed to carry the crew to safety in the event of an emergency during launch or ascent atop NASA’s SLS rocket. It can activate within milliseconds to pull the spacecraft away from the rocket and position the module for a safe landing. The post Launch Abort System appeared first on NASA Science .
Cross-disciplinary research at Perimeter Institute and University of Maryland shows that dark photons could be lurking in more places than previously thought.
The Moon is busy in September. Coming off of eclipse season in August, the Moon visits no less than two planets, two bright stars and one open cluster in September, as it heads towards the Full Harvest Moon of 2026 on September 26th. No matter where on Earth you happen to be observing from this month, chances are, there’s an occultation of a bright celestial object by the Moon coming to a sky near you.
NASA will provide live coverage of the launch and docking of a Roscosmos cargo spacecraft carrying about three tons of food, fuel, and supplies for the crew aboard the International Space Station. The unpiloted Progress 96 resupply spacecraft is scheduled to launch at 12:15 p.m. EDT (9:15 p.m. Baikonur time), Wednesday, Sept. 9, on a […]
In 1992, Centaur 450P/LONEOS had a close encounter with Saturn, shifting its orbit closer to the Sun. Now astronomers can observe how a small icy body transforms into a comet over time.
Written by Michelle Minitti, MAHLI Deputy Principal Investigator Earth planning date: Friday, Aug. 21, 2026 After Curiosity’s 14 years on the surface, Mars continues to surprise. Both of our workspaces this week contained features unlike quite anything we have seen in the past — broad, shallow pits (like the one in the image above) dotted […]
Video: 02:31:10 Watch the replay of the livestream originally broadcast on 3 September as ESA/JAXA's BepiColombo mission took the first critical step towards arriving at Mercury. After travelling through the inner Solar System together for eight years, BepiColombo's Mercury Transfer Module (MTM) will separate from the rest of the stacked spacecraft on 3 September 2026. This marks the beginning of one of the most complex planetary arrival sequences ever attempted by ESA. Broadcast live from ESA's European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany, the programme includes live views from the iconic Main Control Room, expert analysis, behind-the-scenes insights, and the first signal from the spacecraft following separation. Livestream schedule (CEST): 13:45 – Livestream begins 14:00 – MTM separation 14:30 – Livestream pause 15:30 – Livestream resumes 15:53 – Earliest possible acquisition of signal and spacecraft status check 16:00-16:45 – End of livestream
Now on a three-month, million-mile journey to its final orbit, NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will soon reveal the universe’s darkest secrets. The mission launched at 7:26 a.m. EDT on Aug. 30 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Now on a three-month, million-mile journey to its final orbit, NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will soon reveal the universe’s darkest secrets. The mission launched at 7:26 a.m. EDT on Aug. 30 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Roman pairs a large […]
This Hubble Space Telescope image features a sprawling cosmic vista called N44.
Saturn’s south pole is now known to have a giant, evolving 10-sided wave, similar to the Saturn north pole hexagon. Read more about it here. The post Saturn’s south pole decagon confirmed! A mysterious 10-sided figure first appeared on EarthSky .
Only a little over a month after Viking 1 landed on Mars, Viking 2 followed suit. Though the two Viking landers touched down in different locations, they used identical spacecraft and had the same mission: to create global maps of Mars, observe weather patterns, investigate the surface, measure temperatures, and search for life. Viking 2 Continue reading "Sept. 3, 1976: Viking 2 reaches Mars" The post Sept. 3, 1976: Viking 2 reaches Mars appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
Rare hurricane triplets are currently spinning across the Pacific Ocean: Lowell, Karina and Marie. Did El Niño play a part? Find out here. The post Hurricane triplets spin across the Pacific Ocean first appeared on EarthSky .
The BepiColombo mission has been maneuvering its way into orbit around Mercury for 8 years. On September 3, it successfully released 2 orbiters. The post BepiColombo mission 1 step closer to Mercury today first appeared on EarthSky .
Astronomers have discovered a new giant mega-Earth exoplanet that is a whopping 23 times as massive as Earth and 2.5 times its diameter. The post Giant mega-Earth is 23 times more massive than Earth first appeared on EarthSky .
Corona Australis is a dim constellation lying below the Teapot asterism of Sagittarius. Its sparkling, curving shape befits its name. The post Corona Australis is the sparkling Southern Crown first appeared on EarthSky .
Image: This sprawling cosmic vista and subject of today’s ESA/Hubble Picture of the Month comes from the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). The LMC is the largest of the small galaxies that orbit our Milky Way galaxy . At just 160 000 light-years away, the LMC offers a close look at highly active stellar birthsites like the nebula shown here. This nebula is named LHA 120-N44, or N44 for short, and it’s located in the constellation Dorado. The appearance of this photogenic nebula is dominated by two features: a vast central void and a shell of dense, dusty gas. The central void is a ‘superbubble’ spanning roughly 210 by 140 light-years. The glittering stars at the centre of the void are responsible for its creation; through their powerful stellar winds and explosive supernovae , these stars have expelled much of the gas from which they were born. When the stars of N44’s central star cluster swept away this gas, the expelled gas formed a shell around the superbubble. New stars are forming in this compressed gas shell, making N44 an interesting target for researchers studying the process of star formation. In particular, astronomers have turned to this nebula as an ideal place to time this process from start to finish. Their goal is to understand how long it takes from the collapse of cold gas clouds into dense knots to the moment nuclear fusion ignites in the heart of a newborn star. Researchers used Hubble to survey N44 and take a census of its stars, cataloguing nearly half a million stars within the cluster as well as interlopers drifting in front of it. Of the stars surveyed, nearly 30 000 are what astronomers call pre-main-sequence stars, which have yet to begin fusing hydrogen into helium in their cores. This treasure trove of baby stars was discoverable thanks to the high sensitivity and fine spatial resolution of Hubble’s instruments that can pick out faint objects in crowded clusters. The gas shell surrounding the superbubble is energised by ultraviolet radiation from massive stars, causing it to glow and highlighting several distinct features. Each feature within the broader N44 star-forming complex was catalogued by astronomer Karl Henize in the 1950s. One feature is a smaller bubble, catalogued as N44F, that is located near the upper-right corner of this image. N44F is an interstellar bubble blown by the intense stellar winds of a single hot and massive star. As this previously released Hubble closeup shows , the star’s furious winds and radiation have sculpted the surrounding bubble and created pillars of dusty gas. The data used to create this image come from an observing programme (# 14689 ; PI: Gouliermis) that aimed to probe stars in the N44 complex that have not yet begun fusing hydrogen into heavier elements in their cores. These data help to determine how long the process of star formation takes, as well as what masses newborn stars typically have. Hubble's sensitive observations of the lowest-mass stars in this region open a new window onto star formation in regions that, like the LMC or the galaxies of the early Universe, are poor in elements heavier than helium. [ Image Description: A dense field of stars fills the image, surrounded by wispy clouds of gas and dust. Pale blue and grey nebulosity forms an intricate web across the scene, with darker clouds of dust concentrated towards the lower right. Numerous bright stars appear in shades of blue, white and orange.]
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 2: Venus south of Spica The Moon passes 5° north of Uranus at 7 P.M. EDT. However, you’ll want to check out the pair in the early-morning sky, now located in Taurus the Bull.  Rising about an hour before midnight, Uranus Continue reading "The Sky Today on Thursday, September 3: The Moon in Taurus" The post The Sky Today on Thursday, September 3: The Moon in Taurus appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 September 3 – The… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. The Eclipse […]
With Indonesia gripped by drought, fires are smoldering on the surface and underground.
The Eclipse and the Stork
本文探讨了动物在日全食期间的异常行为表现。通过观察日食对自然界的影响，揭示了鸟类及其他生物在光线变暗时的生理反应。
Physicists Determine Cause of "Runaway" Supermassive Black Hole
加州大学圣塔芭芭拉分校（UCSB）和德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校（UT Austin）的研究人员发现，一次星系合并事件将一个超大质量黑洞抛入了星系际空间。这一发现揭示了黑洞在星系演化过程中的动力学机制。
Clawing through Cassiopeia
龙虾爪星云（Sharpless 2-157）是一个横跨仙后座与仙王座的暗淡发射星云。该星云的结构由仙后座OB2星协中的大质量星及其恒星风共同塑造而成。
NASA’s HASP Scientific Balloon Launches from Fort Sumner
美国国家航天局（NASA）近期在萨姆纳堡成功发射了 HASP 科学气球任务。该项目旨在为学生团队提供搭载实验载荷的球载平台，已持续运行二十年并支持了众多高校学生的科研实践。
NASA’s Dragonfly Gets Wired Up While Titan Landing Area Is Named
NASA的“蜻蜓号”旋翼机已完成关键的电气线束安装，为其在土卫六（Titan）的探测任务奠定基础。同时，国际天文学联合会（IAU）正式将该探测器在土卫六的着陆区命名为Ahmakiq Undae。该任务旨在探索土卫六的有机沙丘及陨击坑（impact crater）区域，以研究生命起源相关的化学环境。
NASA Revamps Challenge Linking Community College Studies to Aerospace Careers
美国国家航天局（NASA）更新了其社区学院航空航天学者（NCAS）学生挑战项目，旨在帮助社区学院学生探索航空航天领域的职业机会。该项目通过提供与专家交流、职业规划指导及奖金激励，助力学生进入STEM领域或相关职场。
Community college students across the U.S. now have another opportunity to discover how their education can lead to fulfilling roles at the forefront of aerospace, science, engineering, and technology. The updated NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) student challenge invites students to learn about the agency and its missions, engage with NASA experts, and explore […] The post NASA Revamps Challenge Linking Community College Studies to Aerospace Careers appeared first on NASA Science .
New Research Shows How Mercury's Crust Formed by Extreme Volcanism
研究人员通过分析月球样本，找到了确定古代水星火山活动性质的方法。该方法基于二氧化硅在行星地壳中的丰度，从而揭示了岩浆与火山活动的演化过程。
NASA’s Hubble Tracks New Decagon Encircling Saturn’s South Pole
美国国家航天局的哈勃空间望远镜在土星南极发现了一个巨大的十边形大气波动。这一特征与土星北极著名的六边形相似，但其演化过程显示出独特的动力学特征。该发现得益于哈勃空间望远镜的长期观测项目以及全球天文爱好者的协同贡献。
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope observes a giant, evolving, 10-sided atmospheric wave encircling Saturn's south pole. The post NASA’s Hubble Tracks New Decagon Encircling Saturn’s South Pole appeared first on NASA Science .
Hubble tracks new decagon encircling Saturn’s south pole
美国国家航天局（NASA）/欧洲航天局（ESA）的哈勃空间望远镜在土星南极发现了一个演化中的十边形大气波。这一发现标志着在土星南半球（southern hemisphere）首次观测到大型规则多边形急流（jet stream）模式，其与北极著名的六边形结构既有相似之处又存在显著差异。
Science Release: Hubble tracks new decagon encircling Saturn’s south pole
美国国家航天局（NASA）/欧洲航天局（ESA）的哈勃空间望远镜在土星南半球（southern hemisphere）发现了一个巨大的十边形大气波。这一发现标志着科学家首次在土星南半球观测到此类规则的急流（jet stream）模式，并为研究巨行星（giant planet）的大气演化提供了难得的机会。
Microbes may make it on the Moon
一项最新研究表明，人类携带的细菌和真菌可能在月面存活一周甚至更久。该研究由戈达德航天中心的研究人员领导，通过模拟月面环境评估了微生物的生存能力。
Unsolicited Proposal Submission
美国国家航天局（NASA）鼓励提交有助于实现其使命的独特创新提案。虽然绝大多数提案是通过公开的资助机会公告（NOFO）征集的，但每年仍会评审并资助少量与NASA相关但又不适合通过NOFO提交的非应邀提案。
August Lunar Eclipse Rises Over Louisiana
八月下旬，北美、南美以及欧洲和非洲部分地区观测到了月食现象。此次月食期间，月球穿过地球阴影，呈现出独特的深红或铜色外观。
Rising Over Louisiana
2026年8月，月球进入地球阴影，在美洲、西欧和西非大部分地区形成了一次月偏食。这张照片拍摄于路易斯安那州，该州是美国国家航天局（NASA）米丘德装配设施的所在地。
On Aug. 28, 2026 (the evening of Aug. 27 in some time zones), the Moon passed into Earth’s shadow, creating a deep partial lunar eclipse. At the moment of greatest eclipse, 12:13 a.m. EDT, 96.3% of the Moon’s disk was immersed in Earth’s umbra—the central, darkest part of the shadow where sunlight is completely blocked. […] The post Rising Over Louisiana appeared first on NASA Science .
Amendment 72: New Opportunity: A.17 Hydrosphere
美国国家航天局（NASA）发布了 ROSES-25 的 A.17 水圈研究项目，旨在推进对地球水循环物理过程的理解。该项目涵盖海洋物理、陆地水文学和降水科学，并鼓励利用商用卫星数据进行相关测量。
Simulations Show That Dark Matter Isn't What Gives Stellar Streams Their Kinks
天文学家通过对银河周围恒星流的模拟研究暗物质。研究发现，这些恒星流中的扭结和团块并非由银河系晕中的暗物质团簇引起。
NASA Rocket Takes First Multi-Point Look Inside Radio-Disrupting Clouds
NASA的探空火箭（sounding rocket）通过部署多个探测器，首次实现了对高层大气中干扰射频的“偶发E层”的多点同步观测。研究发现这些云层并非平坦的结构，而是受到大气湍流影响，呈现出复杂的波图案。
High above Earth, thin veils of metallic haze drift through the edge of space. Known as sporadic E layers, these high-altitude “clouds” form from the vaporized dust of burnt-up meteors, earning their name from the unpredictable way they emerge and then dissipate. Now, new results from a NASA sounding rocket — a suborbital research rocket […] The post NASA Rocket Takes First Multi-Point Look Inside Radio-Disrupting Clouds appeared first on NASA Science .
Scientists Develop Test Setup For New Way To Survive Reentry
航天器再入大气层时通常会损耗部分结构以吸收能量，但这限制了有效载荷并增加了维护成本。东京都立大学的研究人员开发了一种新的测试装置，旨在帮助设计人员评估磁流体动力学（MHD）制动系统在再入过程中的实际表现。
Heliophysics Education Community meeting presentation – August 2025
本报告由Jared Espley博士向太阳物理教育社区介绍，阐述了太阳风如何穿越太阳系并影响各行星。报告重点讨论了地球磁场的保护作用，以及NASA如何利用磁强计研究火星和木星等行星的磁场环境。
Episode 181: Passing Down Knowledge
本集探讨了美国国家航天局（NASA）如何通过工程师的职业流动与经验积累，实现跨项目间的知识传承。嘉宾Heather Koehler分享了如何将航天飞机等项目的技术经验与软技能应用于Artemis计划等新任务中。
SuperCDMS SNOLAB Starts Its Dark Matter Hunt
暗物质低温搜寻计划（Cryogenic Dark Matter Search，简称 SuperCDMS）SNOLAB 探测器已在安大略省正式启动科学运行。该项目旨在未来几年内首次寻找“轻”暗物质的直接证据。
Sept. 2, 1859: The Carrington Event peaks
1859年9月1日，理查德·卡林顿观测到了有记录以来的首次太阳耀斑。随后，一次日冕物质抛射在不到18小时内抵达地球，引发了剧烈的地磁扰动。
Astronomers Might Use Manganese to Clock the Age of Galaxies
天文学家发现了一种测定宇宙时间的新方法。通过研究锰元素，研究人员能够更准确地推断星系的年龄。
Fomalhaut is the Loneliest Star once again
北落师门因其在暗淡的天区中格外明亮而被称为最孤独的恒星。此前土星曾与其相伴，但目前土星正逐渐远离该区域。
The Sky Today on Wednesday, September 2: Venus south of Spica
本文介绍了9月2日金星运行至角宿一以南的天文现象。文中还提到了观测球状星团M30的相关信息，并建议读者查阅每周星空专栏以获取更多天文学资讯。
Will fall migration bring a billion bird night?
本文探讨了今年秋季迁徙期间是否会出现大规模的候鸟迁徙现象。同时，文章还提供了通过关闭室外灯光来保护候鸟的实用建议。
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 September 2 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Solar Eclipses and […]
Scientists Intrigued by a Surprising Result in the Search for Dark Matter
科学家在南达科他州地下深处的实验设施中，记录到了一次无法用普通物质解释的亚原子粒子相互作用。这一异常现象引发了暗物质研究人员的关注，但目前尚无法确定是否探测到了暗物质粒子。
Distant Quasars Provide Crucial Link In Understanding Earliest Supermassive Black Holes
宇宙黎明时期的极端类星体为天体物理学家研究超大质量黑洞的形成提供了重要线索。这些观测结果有助于揭示早期宇宙中黑洞演化的关键机制。
Is a Sea Change Coming for New Horizons Heliospheric Science?
新视野号在完成对木星、冥王星及柯伊伯带天体的探测后，目前仍在进行重要的太阳系科学研究。然而，受美国国家航天局（NASA）预算削减影响，该任务的部分科学研究可能最早于今年10月被迫终止。
Solar Eclipses and Culture
本文探讨了日食（solar eclipse）这一天文现象在不同历史与文化背景下的解读。从古希腊的遗弃之说到Diné人的重生观念，日食深刻影响了人类文明对宇宙的认知。
Publisher Correction: Extended components of little red dots in the rest-frame optical
本文是对发表于《自然-天文学》（Nature Astronomy）上关于“小红点”研究论文的出版方更正。该更正针对静止参考架光学波段下观测到的天体延展成分进行了说明。
Astronomers Find Little Red Dots About to Merge
天文学家利用韦布空间望远镜在早期宇宙中发现了被称为“小红点”的神秘天体。最新研究表明，这些天体可能正处于合并过程中，并最终演化为超大质量黑洞。
NASA Selects Blue Origin as Mars Telecommunications Network Provider
美国国家航天局（NASA）已授予蓝色起源公司一份合同，旨在开发下一代火星通信网络。该系统将为当前及未来的火星任务提供高带宽通信与导航服务，支持人类对火星的持续探索。
ESA, NASA Astronauts Complete Navigation and Science Spacewalk Outside Station
美国国家航天局（NASA）与欧洲空间局（ESA）的宇航员在国际空间站外完成了为期近7小时的太空行走。此次任务包括安装导航反射器、更换高清摄像头以及采集微生物样本。宇航员还为未来的阿尔法磁谱仪散热器更换工作进行了前期准备。
Meet ASTRID, the New High-Resolution Cosmological Simulation
ASTRID 是一项覆盖了从宇宙（universe）早期到现今 z=0 时刻的宇宙学模拟。凭借其高粒子数，该模拟实现了比同类研究更高的分辨率，有助于天文学家（astronomer）预测未来引力波（gravitational wave）观测台的探测目标。
What’s Up: September 2026 Skywatching Tips from NASA
本月天象包括利用月球寻找天蝎座与人马座的恒星，观测达到亮度巅峰的金星，以及迎接秋分。此外，获月（harvest moon）将在月底与土星和海王星相伴出现。
Mahjong Classes
本课程旨在为初学者提供美式麻将的入门指导，涵盖从基础规则到实战技巧的全方位教学。通过轻松互动的课堂环境，学员将掌握麻将牌的识别、计分卡的使用及游戏流程，无需任何经验即可参与。
Photo Release: Hawai‘i Students Name Image of Glittering Galaxy Pair Nā ʻUhane Māhoe Huki Pū i ke Ola
来自夏威夷的学生为双子座北望远镜（Gemini North telescope）拍摄的相互作用星系NGC 7253命名。该项目旨在通过Hōkūlani计划，让当地学生参与天文学研究并深入了解Maunakea的科学与文化意义。
Artemis III RS-25 Engine Processing: #3 Lift
美国国家航天局（NASA）的技术人员正在肯尼迪空间中心（Kennedy Space Center）进行 Artemis III 核心级火箭的发动机集成工作。四台 RS-25 发动机将负责把猎户座（Orion）航天器及其四名机组人员送入近地轨道（low earth orbit）。
Historic Engines Take Their Place on Artemis III
美国国家航天局（NASA）的技术人员已开始为 Artemis III 任务的 SLS 火箭核心级安装四台 RS-25 发动机。这些发动机曾多次执行航天飞机任务，现将助力该任务在 2027 年将乘组送入近地轨道。
CLPS Flight: Intuitive Machines IM-4
Intuitive Machines 的 IM-4 任务将作为美国国家航空航天局（NASA）商业月球载荷服务（CLPS）的一部分，向月球南极附近的 Mons Mouton 运送科学与技术载荷。该任务旨在通过月球科学研究造福全人类，并为未来的载人月面任务提供支持。
Amendment 71: New Opportunity: A.16 Cryosphere
美国国家航天局（NASA）发布了 ROSES-2025 修正案 71，设立了 A.16 冰冻圈研究项目。该项目旨在利用卫星与机载观测数据，针对冰冻圈科学中的紧迫课题开展高影响力研究。
Scientists Model the True Darkness of Venus’s Mysterious UV Absorber
金星在紫外波段呈现出神秘的条纹状特征，其成因长期困扰着科学界。研究人员通过模拟金星云层样本的吸光特性，试图揭示这一被称为“紫外线吸收体”的物质本质。这项研究旨在通过量化云层暗度，为解开这一百年谜题提供新思路。
Why doesn’t the moonrise time change by the same amount of time each day?
月球升起时间的变化取决于其每日在地平线以下下沉的程度。由于我们的卫星（satellite）每天在天球上移动的平均角度约为13.2°，导致其升起时间在不同日期出现波动。
Community Science (Ad ASTRA) Workshop, Sept 2026
美国国家航天局（NASA）天体物理学部门举办了社区科学（Ad ASTRA）研讨会，旨在汇集社区力量共同规划未来的大型战略性天体物理学任务。会议通过科学、能力和任务三个主题日，将科学优先事项与技术准备及任务实施紧密结合，为制定平衡且前瞻的天体物理学项目组合提供支持。
Career Spotlight
本文介绍了美国国家航天局（NASA）工程师的职业角色。他们致力于将创新理念转化为尖端技术，通过研发各类航天器与设备不断拓展人类探索的边界。
Roman Space Telescope lifts off
美国国家航天局（NASA）的下一代天文观测台南希·格雷丝·罗曼空间望远镜于周日上午成功发射。该望远镜由SpaceX的猎鹰重型运载火箭从肯尼迪空间中心送入太空。
Sept. 1, 1804: Karl Harding spots 3 Juno
1804年9月1日，德国天文学家Karl Ludwig Harding利用折射望远镜发现了一颗新的天体。该天体被命名为婚神星，Harding所属的“天体警察”组织致力于寻找提丢斯-波得定则所预言的“缺失行星”。
Pioneer 11: Watching the Saturn Watchers
先驱者11号（Pioneer 11）在47年前成为首个飞掠土星的航天器，首次近距离揭示了这颗环状行星的真容。该任务在行星科学史上具有里程碑意义。
Sapphire: September birthstone comes in many colors
蓝宝石是九月的诞生石，其典型的蓝色源于晶体结构中微量的钛和铁。尽管以蓝色闻名，但这种宝石实际上拥有多种颜色。
The Sky Today on Tuesday, September 1: Visit globular cluster M30
本文介绍了9月1日的天文观测建议，重点推荐了摩羯座中最亮的深空天体M30。读者可在日落后至月出前的短暂黑暗窗口期进行观测。
September 2026: What’s in the sky this month? Neptune reaches opposition with Saturn nearby, and Venus shines after sunset
本月金星（太白）在日落后达到最大亮度，海王星冲日且与土星（镇星）位于同一天区。此外，天王星在暗夜环境下有望肉眼可见，火星（荧惑）亮度缓慢增加，木星（岁星）也已进入观测期。
September 2026: What’s in the Southern Hemisphere sky this month?
2026年9月，金星（Venus）将在傍晚的西方天空与室女座（Virgo）中最亮的恒星（star）角宿一相伴。随着月份推移，金星将逐渐远离该恒星并向高处移动，为天文爱好者提供观测机会。
Mars's Interior is 400°C Hotter Under Southern Hemisphere
火星在数十亿年前曾拥有活跃的火山活动、磁场（magnetic field）和液态水。由于体积较小，其内部冷却速度远快于地球（Earth），导致了地质活动的停止。最新的研究探讨了火星目前内部的热状态。
Astronomers Catch Black Hole Spewing Matter After Feeding
黑洞是宇宙中最神秘的天体之一，其形成与演化机制至今仍令天文学家困惑。研究人员通常通过观测黑洞吞噬恒星等天体时产生的剧烈光芒来间接研究它们，但黑洞进食后的后续过程仍是未解之谜。
Ice Island Survives Run-In With Joe Island
2026年8月，格陵兰岛彼得曼冰川发生了一次大规模冰山崩解事件，产生了一座巨大的冰岛。该冰岛在漂流过程中与乔岛发生碰撞，但并未发生进一步破碎。科学家正通过遥感技术密切监测其后续动向及其对海平面上升的影响。
Quantum Physicist Takes Aim at the Universe's Mysterious Arrow of Time
物理学家与哲学家长期以来一直在探讨时间的本质及其单向流动的特性。英国物理学家Jim Al-Khalili在其新书《On Time》中，针对这些关于时间的深奥问题提出了自己的见解。
A Plane Lunar Eclipse
月食是地球上背对太阳一侧可见的常见天文现象，无需特殊设备即可观测。与日食不同，月食观测过程安全，且通常持续数小时，便于在飞行途中进行拍摄。
Weak evolution of cosmic atomic hydrogen over the past 4.5 billion years
通过对超过250万个星系的光谱学观测，研究发现宇宙在过去45亿年间保留了大部分原子氢。尽管恒星形成率急剧下降，但这一结果表明气体转化效率低下，而非原子气体储备耗尽所致。