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Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/spaceheadlines

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10.                    <title><![CDATA[ Latest from Space.com ]]></title>
11.                <link>https://www.space.com</link>
12.         <description><![CDATA[ All the latest content from the Space.com team ]]></description>
13.                                    <lastBuildDate>Wed, 17 Sep 2025 22:00:00 +0000</lastBuildDate>
14.                            <language>en</language>
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16.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ We've officially found 6,000 exoplanets, NASA says: 'We're entering the next great chapter of exploration' ]]></title>
17.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>It might sound hard to believe, but NASA's exoplanet count just reached 6,000 — and that's with only about 30 years of hunting worlds beyond our solar system. In fact, only three years ago, that figure was at 5,000. At least at face value, the rate of discovery appears to be exponential — which is good, because, theoretically, there should be billions more worlds out there for us to locate.</p><p>"We're entering the next great chapter of exploration — worlds beyond our imagination," a narrator says in a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/38700-nasa-history.html"><u>NASA</u></a> video about the milestone. "To look for planets that could support life, to find our cosmic neighbors and to remind us the universe still holds worlds waiting to be found."</p><p>The news was announced on Wednesday (Sept. 17), which is serendipitously close to the anniversary of when scientists confirmed the existence of the first exoplanet around a sun-like star: <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/how-nobel-winning-alien-planet-found.html"><u>51 Pegasi b.</u></a> Discovered on Oct. 6, 1995 <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://earthsky.org/space/this-date-in-science-first-planet-discovered-around-sunlike-star/" target="_blank"><u>by astronomers</u></a> Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz, 51 Pegasi b is a gas giant 0.64 times as massive as Jupiter that sits approximately 50 light-years from where you're sitting. (To be clear, the very first exoplanet discovery fell in 1992, but that one was around a spinning neutron star, or pulsar. And <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/32661-pulsars.html"><u>pulsars</u></a> are pretty wild. 51 Pegasi b was the first more "normal" exoplanet to be identified.) The right thing to do would be to end this paragraph with the 6,000 exoplanet discovery counterpart to 51 Pegasi b, but that's unfortunately not possible.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_68o0Rbdl_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="68o0Rbdl">            <div id="botr_68o0Rbdl_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>This brings us to the complexity of NASA's announcement. "Confirmed planets are added to the count on a rolling basis by scientists from around the world, so no single planet is considered the 6,000th entry," the agency said in a statement. "There are more than 8,000 additional candidate planets awaiting confirmation."</p><p>In fact, as of writing this article, we're technically at 6,007 exoplanets in NASA's <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://science.nasa.gov/exoplanets/discoveries-dashboard/" target="_blank"><u>alien world tally</u></a>. The "new discovery" featured by NASA is the heftily named KMT-2023-BLG-1896L b, a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://science.nasa.gov/exoplanet-catalog/kmt-2023-blg-1896l-b/" target="_blank"><u>Neptune-like world</u></a> with a mass equal to about 16.35 Earths. NASA is also responsible for the bulk of those exoplanet finds, with its TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) count <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/#:~:text=6%2C007,more%20Planet%20and%20Candidate%20statistics" target="_blank"><u>being at 693</u></a> and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/42461-kepler-exoplanet-hunting-telescope-shuts-down.html"><u>now-retired</u></a> Kepler Space Telescope <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/kepler/" target="_blank"><u>having found</u></a> over 2,600.</p><p>And even though it can be written with just a few keystrokes, each member of that 6,007-strong club represents an entire world comparable to the planets of our solar system, which scientists have been scrutinizing for centuries.</p><p>There are 2,035 Neptune-like worlds in that count, in reference to exoplanets with similar sizes to our solar system's very own Neptune and Uranus. These tend to have "hydrogen and helium-dominated atmospheres with cores of rock and heavier metals," according to NASA. ("Metals" doesn't necessarily mean metallic elements. Somewhat confusingly, in astronomy, that just refers to elements heavier than hydrogen and helium).</p><p>There are 1,984 gas giants (think Jupiter relatives) and 1,761 super-Earths in the court — the latter group is not to be confused with Earth 2.0 candidates. Super-Earths simply refer to exoplanets that are a little larger than Earth but still lighter than planets like Neptune and Uranus.</p><p>NASA's exoplanet count further includes 700 "terrestrial planets," or rocky worlds, and maybe most fascinatingly, seven of "unknown" types.</p><p>Indeed, breaking those categories down even further would require stretching your brain to a place where you can imagine a two-faced world <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/newfound-exoplanet-hd-63433d-lava-hemisphere-tess"><u>half-covered</u></a> in lava, an orb <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/james-webb-space-telescope-diamond-super-earth-exoplanet-atmosphere"><u>made of diamond</u></a> that can regrow its atmosphere, one <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/hypervelocity-star-drags-fastest-exoplanet-1-million-mph"><u>zipping through space</u></a> at over 1 million mph (1.6 million kph) and the physical embodiment of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/james-webb-space-telescope/james-webb-space-telescope-unveils-fiery-origins-of-a-distant-hellish-exoplanet"><u>hell</u></a>.</p><p>"Each of the different types of planets we discover gives us information about the conditions under which planets can form and, ultimately, how common planets like Earth might be, and where we should be looking for them," Dawn Gelino, head of NASA's Exoplanet Exploration Program, located at the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, said in a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-tally-of-planets-outside-our-solar-system-reaches-6000/" target="_blank"><u>statement</u></a>. "If we want to find out if we’re alone in the universe, all of this knowledge is essential."</p><p>Still, in the agency's video about the milestone, an existential aspect of exoplanet-hunting is mentioned. "There's one we haven't found — a planet just like ours."</p><p>At least, not yet."</p><div style="min-height: 250px;">                                <div class="kwizly-quiz kwizly-eBb8Ke"></div>                            </div>                            <script src="https://kwizly.com/embed/eBb8Ke.js" async></script> ]]></dc:content>
18.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/astronomy/exoplanets/weve-officially-found-6-000-exoplanets-nasa-says-were-entering-the-next-great-chapter-of-exploration</link>
19.                                                                            <description>
20.                            <![CDATA[ "There's one we haven't found — a planet just like ours. At least, not yet." ]]>
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24.                                                                        <pubDate>Wed, 17 Sep 2025 22:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Exoplanets]]></category>
25.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Astronomy]]></category>
26.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Monisha Ravisetti ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6dhGwsJRcN7exijmJx76i8-1280-80.jpg">
27.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[NASA&#039;s Goddard Space Flight Center]]></media:credit>
28.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[An artist&#039;s illustration of the various exoplanets found, with rows of colorful planets of all colors and sizes over a dark background]]></media:text>
29.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[An artist&#039;s illustration of the various exoplanets found, with rows of colorful planets of all colors and sizes over a dark background]]></media:title>
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33.                    <item>
34.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Artemis 2 astronauts will double as human science experiments on their trip around the moon ]]></title>
35.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>Artemis 2 astronauts will be studied for how sleep, stress and radiation shape human health in deep space during their moon mission next year.</p><p>The second installment of NASA's Artemis program to return to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/55-earths-moon-formation-composition-and-orbit.html"><u>the moon</u></a> and establish a sustained human presence in deep space is set to be the first crewed flight test of its <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/27824-orion-spacecraft.html"><u>Orion spacecraft</u></a> and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/33908-space-launch-system.html"><u>Space Launch System</u></a> (SLS) rocket. The four-person crew is tasked with putting the vessel through its paces in the cislunar environment, and performing several science experiments during their mission.</p><p>Some of that research involves the astronauts themselves, who will turn into a quartet of biomedical subjects to help <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/38700-nasa-history.html"><u>NASA</u></a> gather in-flight data on the human body beyond <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/low-earth-orbit"><u>low Earth orbit</u></a> for the first time in more than 50 years. As they have with hundreds of physiological tests conducted aboard the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/16748-international-space-station.html"><u>International Space Station</u></a> (ISS), NASA will add the research to its growing understanding of the biological repercussions of life in microgravity, according to a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.nasa.gov/general/artemis-ii-crew-both-subjects-and-scientists-in-nasa-deep-space-research/#hds-sidebar-nav-1" target="_blank"><u>recent release</u></a>.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_bUb0aEgp_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="bUb0aEgp">            <div id="botr_bUb0aEgp_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><h2 id="standard-measures-2">Standard measures</h2><p>One of the experiments the Artemis 2 astronauts will undertake will see them join a long-running NASA effort to build a comprehensive understanding of how spaceflight affects human health. Samples of blood, urine and saliva are being collected in the months before launch, and the astronauts will undergo regular checks during their 10-day mission and follow-ups after their return.</p><p>NASA hopes to use the samples to track changes in cardiovascular health, nutrition, immunity and stress across multiple stages of training, flight and recovery.</p><h2 id="archer-sleep-and-stress-tracking-2">ARCHeR: Sleep and stress tracking</h2><p>The Artemis Research for Crew Health and Readiness (ARCHeR) project will investigate how crew performance might be affected by time spent as such a far distance from <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/54-earth-history-composition-and-atmosphere.html"><u>Earth</u></a> while inside Orion's confined space, combined with the astronauts' demanding schedule.</p><p>Each <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/artemis-2-humans-moon-orbit"><u>Artemis 2</u></a> astronaut will wear wrist sensors to log movement and sleep throughout the mission. Pre- and post-mission evaluations will be compared to in-flight data to better understand how the deep space mission influences the crew's alertness, stress and ability to work together cohesively.</p><h2 id="immune-system-monitoring-2">Immune system monitoring</h2><p>Samples provided by the crew before, during and after their mission will also be used to study their immune systems. In this case, immune system markers in their saliva samples will help researchers evaluate how the body reacts to space radiation.</p><p>To save space and power aboard Orion during their mission, the crew is foregoing refrigeration of their in-flight saliva samples, and will instead make their deposits on specially designed dab papers, which will absorb the samples for simpler storage. Once they return, scientists will test the papers for dormant viruses triggered by the microgravity environment  — a phenomenon seen aboard the ISS, where stress has been documented as a trigger to reactivate illnesses like chickenpox and shingles.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1280px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="ACZursA3VpkTkrC8H8XyVU" name="artemis 2 crew.jpg" alt="four astronauts in orange spacesuits pose for a portrait" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ACZursA3VpkTkrC8H8XyVU.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1280" height="720" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">The crew of NASA's Artemis 2 mission. From left: mission specialist Christina Koch, pilot Victor Glover, commander Reid Wiseman, and mission specialist Jeremy Hansen. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: NASA/Josh Valcarcel)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="avatar-organ-on-a-chip-study-2">AVATAR organ-on-a-chip study</h2><p>Artemis 2 astronauts will also be accompanied by thumb-sized "<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://science.nasa.gov/directorates/smd/avatars-for-astronaut-health-nasa-artemis-ii/" target="_blank">avatars</a>" of themselves, in the form of blood samples grown to simulate bone marrow on organ-on-a-chip devices.</p><p>These chips will ride inside Orion as it passes through the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/33948-van-allen-radiation-belts.html"><u>Van Allen belts</u></a> — zones of charged particles between the Earth and moon — testing how marrow responds to deep space radiation and microgravity. Results will be compared to ISS experiments to see if the chip technology can accurately predict how tissues react outside Earth's radiation-hardened <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/earth-magnetic-field-booms-like-drum.html"><u>magnetosphere</u></a>.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1200px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="22MSm7CrzDfLa6mQ6FfrDM" name="1758115374.jpg" alt="two fingers hold a small transparent pane with intersecting red and blue lines." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/22MSm7CrzDfLa6mQ6FfrDM.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1200" height="675" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">An organ chip for conducting bone marrow experiments in space. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Emulate)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="radiation-2">Radiation</h2><p>During <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/artemis-1-going-back-to-the-moon"><u>Artemis 1</u></a>, Orion carried 5,600 passive and 34 active radiation sensors. For Artemis 2, the spacecraft has been reduced to a modest six active sensors inside the cabin. Additionally, astronauts will wear personal dosimeters.</p><p>The devices will measure the consistent radiation exposure experienced throughout the mission, and detect sudden spikes from things like <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/sun/the-sun-is-slowly-waking-up-scientists-say-a-rise-in-solar-storms-awaits-us"><u>solar storms</u></a>. If readings reach dangerous levels, astronauts can construct a makeshift radiation shield inside Orion, fortifying themselves between the spacecraft's heatshield and water storage canisters, both of which are better at absorbing penetrating radiation than other onboard materials.</p><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">Related Stories:</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text"> —  <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/artemis-2-moon-astronauts-suit-up-and-enter-their-orion-spacecraft-together-for-1st-time">Artemis 2 moon astronauts suit up and enter their Orion spacecraft together for 1st time</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"> —  <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/artemis-2-moon-astronauts-take-viral-bobby-and-pete-fitness-challenge-video">Watch NASA's Artemis 2 moon astronauts take on the viral 'Bobby and Pete' fitness challenge (video)</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"> —  <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/nasas-artemis-2-orion-spacecraft-fuels-up-and-moves-closer-to-launch">NASA's Artemis 2 Orion spacecraft fuels up and moves closer to launch</a></p></div></div><p>NASA has selected <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/nasa-astronaut-reid-wiseman-space-biography"><u>Reid Wiseman</u></a>, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/victor-glover.html"><u>Victor Glover</u></a>, and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/christina-koch"><u>Christina Koch</u></a>, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/artemis-2-moon-mission-canadian-astronaut-jeremy-hansen"><u>Jeremy Hansen</u></a> as the crew for the Artemis 2 mission. They are scheduled to launch no earlier than Feb. 2026, with a launch window that extends through April.</p> ]]></dc:content>
36.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/artemis-2-astronauts-will-double-as-human-science-experiments-on-their-trip-around-the-moon</link>
37.                                                                            <description>
38.                            <![CDATA[ Artemis 2 astronauts will be the subjects of nearly as many experiments as they'll be performing during their trip around the moon. ]]>
39.                                                                                                            </description>
40.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">SFNshZE8QEG3JXhHFPUgB4</guid>
41.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6hxJZRBQVLaWwBDCpifc2c-1280-80.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure>
42.                                                                        <pubDate>Wed, 17 Sep 2025 21:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Artemis]]></category>
43.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Space Exploration]]></category>
44.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Missions]]></category>
45.                                                                                                <author><![CDATA[ jdinner@space.com (Josh Dinner) ]]></author>                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Josh Dinner ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6hxJZRBQVLaWwBDCpifc2c-1280-80.jpg">
46.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Space.com / Brett Tingley]]></media:credit>
47.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[four people in blue flight suits stand in a room. One holds a microphone.]]></media:text>
48.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[four people in blue flight suits stand in a room. One holds a microphone.]]></media:title>
49.                                                    </media:content>
50.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6hxJZRBQVLaWwBDCpifc2c-1280-80.jpg" />
51.                                                                                        </item>
52.                    <item>
53.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ SpaceX moves next Starship spacecraft to launch pad for testing (photos) ]]></title>
54.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>SpaceX has moved its newest Starship spacecraft to the launch pad for testing ahead of the megarocket's upcoming 11th test flight.</p><p>The company documented the milestone today (Sept. 17) via X, in a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1968380376684052830" target="_blank">post</a> that shared three photos of the shiny silver <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-super-heavy.html">Starship</a> upper stage.</p><p>In one of those images, the 171-foot-tall (52-meter-tall) spacecraft — known as Starship, or just "Ship" — is rolling down a road at <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/18853-spacex.html">SpaceX</a>'s Starbase site in South Texas at nighttime. In the other two, Ship is at the pad, nestled in the grasp of the launch tower's "chopstick" arms.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="NRPMZqgqAFniyrMvVLqqY5" name="1758135377.jpg" alt="overhead photo of a large silver spacecraft rolling down a road at night" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NRPMZqgqAFniyrMvVLqqY5.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Ship on the move toward the pad at Starbase. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: SpaceX)</span></figcaption></figure><p>The likely next steps are pressurization and engine tests, which will ensure Ship is ready to fly. The same prep work will also be done with Super Heavy, the huge booster that makes up the bottom half of the fully reusable, stainless-steel Starship.</p><p>The upcoming test flight, whose target date has not yet been announced, will be the 11th for Starship.</p><p><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/private-spaceflight/spacex-launches-starship-flight-10-critical-test-flight-video">Flight 10</a>, which launched on Aug. 26, was a complete success, according to SpaceX; both Super Heavy and Ship hit their splashdown targets (Super Heavy in the Gulf of Mexico and Ship in the Indian Ocean), and the upper stage deployed eight dummy versions of SpaceX's <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-satellites.html">Starlink</a> satellites — a first for a Starship flight.</p><p>It was a welcome bounceback for SpaceX, which had lost Ship prematurely on the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-launches-starship-flight-9-to-space-in-historic-reuse-of-giant-megarocket-video">previous three test launches</a>.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:4096px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="N9PPJESPWFFk75sEwbKfoh" name="G1EXfX-XoAAQPHB" alt="a shiny silver rocket sits at a seaside launch pad" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/N9PPJESPWFFk75sEwbKfoh.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="4096" height="2304" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Ship on the pad at Starbase, on South Texas' Gulf coast. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: SpaceX)</span></figcaption></figure><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">Related Stories:</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/private-spaceflight/spacex-launches-starship-flight-10-critical-test-flight-video">SpaceX's giant Starship Mars rocket nails critical 10th test flight in stunning comeback (video)</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/whats-next-for-spacexs-starship-mars-rocket-after-flight-10-success">What's next for SpaceX's Starship Mars rocket after Flight 10 success?</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-super-heavy.html">Starship and Super Heavy explained</a></p></div></div><p>Flight 11 will be the final mission of Starship Version 2, SpaceX founder and CEO <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/18849-elon-musk.html">Elon Musk</a> has said. The company will then shift to testing Version 3 of the vehicle, which will stand about 408 feet (124.4 meters) tall — roughly 10 feet (3 m) taller than Version 2.</p><p>If Version 3 testing and development go well, a small, uncrewed fleet of these vehicles could launch toward <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/47-mars-the-red-planet-fourth-planet-from-the-sun.html">Mars</a> as early as next year, according to Musk. That would be a big step toward achieving his, and SpaceX's, chief long-term goal — <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/private-spaceflight/humanity-could-settle-mars-by-2055-elon-musk-says">helping humanity settle the Red Planet</a>.</p> ]]></dc:content>
55.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-moves-next-starship-spacecraft-to-launch-pad-for-testing-photos</link>
56.                                                                            <description>
57.                            <![CDATA[ SpaceX has moved its newest Starship spacecraft to the launch pad for testing ahead of the megarocket's upcoming 11th test flight. ]]>
58.                                                                                                            </description>
59.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">EZsEg7DmJUyy9EAhmwqcBY</guid>
60.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BdXjePajabQ32nU7ETygYH-1280-80.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure>
61.                                                                        <pubDate>Wed, 17 Sep 2025 20:30:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Launches &amp; Spacecraft]]></category>
62.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Space Exploration]]></category>
63.                                                                                                <author><![CDATA[ mwall@space.com (Mike Wall) ]]></author>                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Mike Wall ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BdXjePajabQ32nU7ETygYH-1280-80.jpg">
64.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[SpaceX]]></media:credit>
65.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[SpaceX moves a Starship upper stage to the launch pad as part of preparations for the megarocket&#039;s upcoming 11th test flight. SpaceX posted this photo on X on Sept. 17, 2025.]]></media:text>
66.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[SpaceX moves a Starship upper stage to the launch pad as part of preparations for the megarocket&#039;s upcoming 11th test flight. SpaceX posted this photo on X on Sept. 17, 2025.]]></media:title>
67.                                                    </media:content>
68.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BdXjePajabQ32nU7ETygYH-1280-80.jpg" />
69.                                                                                        </item>
70.                    <item>
71.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Are interstellar invaders like comet 3I/ATLAS seeding the universe with exoplanets? ]]></title>
72.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>Astronomers have a new theory about planetary formation, and it revolves around one mysterious concept: interstellar visitors. No, not little green men, but rather deep-space wanderers like the peculiar <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/comets/new-interstellar-comet-3i-atlas-is-hurtling-through-the-solar-system-and-you-can-watch-it-live-online-today"><u>comet 3I/ATLAS</u></a> discovered this summer.</p><p>A new study presented by professor Susanne Pfalzner of Forschungszentrum Jülich at the Joint Meeting of the Europlanet Science Congress and the Division of Planetary Sciences last week suggests such interstellar objects could serve as "seeds" for <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/17738-exoplanets.html"><u>exoplanet</u></a> growth around young <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/57-stars-formation-classification-and-constellations.html"><u>stars</u></a>.</p><p>Planetary formation is believed to occur through a process called accretion — which involves small particles in dusty, gas-rich disks around young stars colliding and sticking together, gradually growing to the size of planets. But there's a bit of a blip in the story. Collisions between boulder-size objects should tend to cause them to bounce or shatter rather than merge.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_uSMVpmHJ_ANn1bv7q_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="ANn1bv7q"            data-playlist-id="uSMVpmHJ">            <div id="botr_uSMVpmHJ_ANn1bv7q_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>Pfalzner's models show that interstellar objects — bodies ejected from other star systems — could be captured by these planet-forming disks. These objects could "seed" the disks, sweeping past the growth barrier by providing substantial mass onto which more material can accrete.</p><p>"Interstellar objects may be able to jump-start planet formation, in particular around higher-mass stars," Pfalzner said in a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.europlanet.org/epsc-dps2025-how-interstellar-objects-similar-to-3i-atlas-could-jump-start-planet-formation-around-infant-stars/" target="_blank"><u>statement</u></a>, noting that simulations predict millions of interstellar bodies could be captured per disk.</p><p>This discovery might also solve another mystery. <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/7-jupiter-largest-planet-solar-system.html"><u>Jupiter</u></a>-like giant gas planets are most commonly found around more massive stars rather than smaller ones. But the protoplanetary disks around these massive stars only last around 2 million years before dispersing — and that's not quite enough time to create <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/30372-gas-giants.html"><u>gas giants</u></a>. But the arrival of interstellar objects into a massive star's disk might speed up the process.</p><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">RELATED STORIES</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/comets/interstellar-visitors-like-comet-3i-atlas-are-the-most-common-objects-in-the-milky-way-theres-almost-always-one-within-the-solar-system">Interstellar visitors like comet 3I/ATLAS are the most common objects in the Milky Way: 'There's almost always one within the solar system'</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/dwarf-planets/1st-known-interstellar-visitor-oumuamua-is-an-exo-pluto-a-completely-new-class-of-object-scientists-say">1st known interstellar visitor 'Oumuamua is an 'exo-Pluto' — a completely new class of object, scientists say</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/comets/i-watched-scientists-view-the-interstellar-comet-3i-atlas-in-real-time-heres-what-they-saw">I watched scientists view the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS in real time. Here's what they saw</a></p></div></div><p>"Higher-mass stars are more efficient in capturing interstellar objects in their disks," said Pfalzner. "Therefore, interstellar-object-seeded planet formation should be more efficient around these stars, providing a fast way to form giant planets. And, their fast formation is exactly what we have observed."</p><p>This summer's discovery of 3I/ATLAS — only the third confirmed interstellar object ever observed passing through our <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/16080-solar-system-planets.html"><u>solar system</u></a>, after 1I/'Oumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 201— adds credence to this theory. Its detection suggests such objects may be far more common than previously thought, increasing the plausibility that young stars frequently acquire these alien building blocks.</p><div style="min-height: 250px;">                                <div class="kwizly-quiz kwizly-X18ppO"></div>                            </div>                            <script src="https://kwizly.com/embed/X18ppO.js" async></script> ]]></dc:content>
73.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/astronomy/exoplanets/interstellar-objects-might-seed-planetary-formation</link>
74.                                                                            <description>
75.                            <![CDATA[ Alien objects may be seeding the universe. Here's what that means. ]]>
76.                                                                                                            </description>
77.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">db83uUXxjsCXWNC9rt7kTJ</guid>
78.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Sye7gV5yuME9CoKuHsW8ge-1280-80.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure>
79.                                                                        <pubDate>Wed, 17 Sep 2025 20:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Exoplanets]]></category>
80.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Astronomy]]></category>
81.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Stefanie Waldek ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Sye7gV5yuME9CoKuHsW8ge-1280-80.jpg">
82.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[NASA/ESA/David Jewitt (UCLA)/ Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI)]]></media:credit>
83.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[A blue ball of light shines between streaks of blueish light from stars in outer space]]></media:text>
84.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[A blue ball of light shines between streaks of blueish light from stars in outer space]]></media:title>
85.                                                    </media:content>
86.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Sye7gV5yuME9CoKuHsW8ge-1280-80.jpg" />
87.                                                                                        </item>
88.                    <item>
89.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Bad news for astronauts? Human stem cells age more rapidly in space, study suggests ]]></title>
90.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>Spaceflight may make certain types of human stem cells age faster, a study suggests — but at least some of the damage may be reversible.</p><p>Spending time aboard the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/16748-international-space-station.html"><u>International Space Station</u></a> (ISS) induced aging-like changes in a group of cells key for the health of blood and the immune system, known as hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), a new study in the peer-reviewed Cell Stem Cell journal reports.</p><p>"The findings show that the cells lost some of their ability to make healthy new cells, became more prone to DNA damage and showed signs of faster aging at the ends of their chromosomes after spaceflight — all signs of accelerated aging," representatives of the University of California San Diego said in a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://today.ucsd.edu/story/spaceflight-accelerates-human-stem-cell-aging-uc-san-diego-researchers-find" target="_blank"><u>statement about the study</u></a>. (The paper's first author is UC San Diego's Jessica Pham.)</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_E0PcsuFR_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="E0PcsuFR">            <div id="botr_E0PcsuFR_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>According to the statement, radiation and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/23017-weightlessness.html"><u>microgravity</u></a> were likely the chief stressors on the HSPCs, which were made up of four sets sent on <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/18853-spacex.html"><u>SpaceX</u></a> commercial resupply missions to the orbiting complex aboard the company's <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/18852-spacex-dragon.html"><u>Dragon</u></a> spacecraft.</p><p>"Understanding these changes not only informs how we protect astronauts during long-duration missions but also helps us model human aging and diseases like cancer here on <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/54-earth-history-composition-and-atmosphere.html"><u>Earth</u></a>," study co-author Catriona Jamieson, director of the Sanford Stem Cell Institute and a professor of medicine at UC San Diego, added in the same statement.</p><p>The research is one of many follow-ons to a study on now-retired NASA astronauts <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/32907-scott-kelly-astronaut-biography.html"><u>Scott Kelly</u></a> and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/33111-mark-kelly-astronaut-biography.html"><u>Mark Kelly</u></a>, who are identical twins. Scott spent nearly a year in space on the ISS from 2015 to 2016, while Mark remained on the ground during the same period. The <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/nasa-twins-study-kelly-astronauts-results.html"><u>Twins Study</u></a>, as NASA termed the collection of research, "helped scientists better understand the impacts of spaceflight on a human body through the study of identical twins," according to an <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/twins-study/about/" target="_blank"><u>agency description of the research</u></a>.</p><p>NASA's Twins Study site emphasizes that the human body shows "resilience and robustness" to spaceflight conditions. For example, 91.3% of Scott's gene expression levels returned to normal in the first half-year after his mission concluded.</p><p>Some novel findings were observed, however, such as what happened to Scott's telomeres. NASA has said that telomeres, or the ends of DNA strands, protect chromosomes the way that <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/twins-study/faqs-nasa-twins-study/" target="_blank"><u>plastic handles protect jump ropes</u></a>.</p><p>"Without telomeres, DNA becomes 'frayed' and damaged, and cells don't work properly," NASA officials wrote. "One of the most striking discoveries from the NASA Twins Study was that Scott experienced a change in telomere length dynamics during his flight. These changes may help evaluate general health and potential long-term risks."</p><p>Of the telomeres that lengthened during Scott's flight, NASA stated, most of them returned to normal in just 48 hours after returning to Earth. The new UC San Diego statement stresses, however, that studying telomeres and gene expression changes "could be relevant for longer space missions."</p><p>For the new study, which was <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.cell.com/cell-stem-cell/fulltext/S1934-5909(25)00270-X" target="_blank"><u>published on Sept. 4</u></a>, the researchers created an ISS platform that allowed the human stem cells to be "cultured in space, and monitored with AI-powered imaging tools," according to UC San Diego. The study included HSPCs that were in space for between 32 days and 45 days. (For comparison, a typical ISS mission is six months, or roughly 180 days.)</p><p>The research team observed some changes, as well as signs that at least some of the damage could be reversed. Some cells, after weeks in space, began to recover when put in a "young, healthy environment" here on Earth, UC San Diego representatives wrote.</p><p>While the statement did not specify what that environment was, the study notes that the cells were placed either into bone marrow layers from the same individual from which they were cultured, or a connective-tissue-promoting cell line from a 30-year-old male donor.</p><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">RELATED STORIES</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text"> —  <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/spacex-axiom-space-ax-2-astronaut-mission-stem-cells">SpaceX Ax-2 private astronaut mission will grow 1st stem cells in space</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"> —  <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/heart-cells-iss-space-medicine">Heart tissues beat half as strongly on the ISS as they do on Earth</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"> — <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/nasa-twins-study-kelly-astronauts-results.html">Landmark NASA 'Twins Study' reveals space travel's effects on the human body</a></p></div></div><p>As for the observed HSPC changes, the researchers saw more activity, less ability for cells to recover and regenerate and (inside the cells' mitochondria, the heart of energy production) more stress and inflammation that led to normally inactive genome sections being activated.</p><p>The exposed spaceflight cells also had decreased ability to manufacture new and healthy cells. Simultaneously, "signs of molecular wear and tear, like DNA damage and shorter chromosome ends … became more pronounced," the new statement noted.</p><p>The university has now concluded 17 missions overall to the ISS, and more launches focused on HSPCs may be coming. UC San Diego plans ISS missions and astronaut studies, including "real-time monitoring of molecular changes" as well as countermeasures.</p><div style="min-height: 250px;">                                <div class="kwizly-quiz kwizly-X7b1dO"></div>                            </div>                            <script src="https://kwizly.com/embed/X7b1dO.js" async></script> ]]></dc:content>
91.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/bad-news-for-astronauts-human-stem-cells-age-more-rapidly-in-space-study-suggests</link>
92.                                                                            <description>
93.                            <![CDATA[ A new study suggests that a group of cells, key for the health of blood and the immune system, are vulnerable to aging-like processes after spending time on the ISS. ]]>
94.                                                                                                            </description>
95.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">EVdKp38g7Wjq3t9eKW34wB</guid>
96.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mPFET8wxkZENQazxvRg7K5-1280-80.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure>
97.                                                                        <pubDate>Wed, 17 Sep 2025 19:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[International Space Station]]></category>
98.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Space Exploration]]></category>
99.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Missions]]></category>
100.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Elizabeth Howell ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mPFET8wxkZENQazxvRg7K5-1280-80.jpg">
101.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[NASA]]></media:credit>
102.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[international space station]]></media:text>
103.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[international space station]]></media:title>
104.                                                    </media:content>
105.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mPFET8wxkZENQazxvRg7K5-1280-80.jpg" />
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108.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Apple TV+'s sci-fi saga 'Foundation' is getting a Season 4: 'We look forward to continuing the epic' ]]></title>
109.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>Ah, it's wonderful to be a sci-fi fan these days as this summer's streaming roster has been sufficiently crammed with riveting shows like "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds," "Invasion," "<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/everything-we-know-about-the-alien-tv-series"><u>Alien: Earth</u></a>," and the highly-anticipated return of Hulu's animated comedy, "<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/entertainment/futurama-is-back-on-hulu-and-season-13-looks-bigger-and-better-than-ever-video"><u>Futurama</u></a>."</p><p>But making a loud cannonball-like splash in this ocean of imaginative entertainment has been "<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/entertainment/it-starts-with-a-bang-this-season-and-we-dont-give-you-room-to-breathe-foundation-season-3s-stars-on-completing-the-far-future-sci-fi-saga-exclusive"><u>Foundation</u></a>" Season 3, and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/entertainment/hari-seldon-and-the-mule-face-off-outside-the-vault-in-tense-new-clip-for-foundation-season-3-episode-8"><u>Apple TV+</u></a> recently rewarded that undeniable fact by greenlighting a Season 4 on the eve of its jaw dropping finale episode which just aired Friday, Sept. 12.</p><p>By delivering a serious vote of confidence for this impressive adaptation of Isaac Asimov's 'Foundation Trilogy," followers of the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-movies-shows/foundation-stars-laura-birn-and-lee-pace-talk-heavy-burdens-and-being-an-intergalactic-stoner-for-season-3-exclusive"><u>far future saga</u> </a>will be able to enjoy more of Hari Seldon and Gaal Dornick's complicated plan to save the galaxy from a prolonged period of darkness using their <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/entertainment/foundation-season-3-what-is-the-strange-science-of-psychohistory-in-apple-tv-s-sci-fi-saga"><u>psychohistory</u></a> calculations. Season 4 will begin production in early 2026.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1410px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:48.51%;"><img id="Cqi4AQRH4ZQuMQGFzBtbsN" name="foundation3" alt="Three sci-fi characters on a TV series promo banner" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Cqi4AQRH4ZQuMQGFzBtbsN.png" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1410" height="684" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Apple TV+ has thankfully approved "Foundation" for Season 4! </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Apple TV+)</span></figcaption></figure><p>"There is no series quite like 'Foundation,' and we feel lucky and honored to be carrying the torch forward as co-showrunners into season four," co-showrunners and executive producers Ian Goldberg and David Kob exclaimed in an official statement. "We look forward to continuing the epic, emotional, storytelling that defined the first three seasons of the show, and to be working alongside some of the most talented, passionate creative partners in the business."</p><p>"Foundation" stars Jared Harris, Lee Pace, Lou Llobell, Laura Birn, Cassian Bilton, Terrence Mann and Rowena Kingwith, with newcomers Cherry Jones, Brandon P. Bell, Synnøve Karlsen, Cody Fern, Tómas Lemarquis, Alexander Siddig, Troy Kotsur, and Pilou Asbæk as The Mule.</p><p>"It's been fantastic to watch 'Foundation' become such a global phenomenon, with fans tuning in from every corner of the world," added Matt Cherniss, chief of programming at Apple TV+. "With each new season, the excitement around this trailblazing sci-fi epic just keeps building due to the bold storytelling and collective artistry of this extraordinarily talented cast and creative team. We're excited to keep exploring this universe together in season four."</p><p>Produced by Paramount Television Studios, all three seasons of  "Foundation" are currently streaming exclusively on Apple TV+.</p> ]]></dc:content>
110.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-movies-shows/apple-tv-s-sci-fi-saga-foundation-is-getting-a-season-4-we-look-forward-to-continuing-the-epic</link>
111.                                                                            <description>
112.                            <![CDATA[ "It's been fantastic to watch 'Foundation' become such a global phenomenon, with fans tuning in from every corner of the world." ]]>
113.                                                                                                            </description>
114.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">VZa9WqcDojhjwwThKYbJsC</guid>
115.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z8Ca4DLqgf5ibiDwtAeGQ6-1280-80.png" type="image/png" length="0"></enclosure>
116.                                                                        <pubDate>Wed, 17 Sep 2025 18:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Space Movies &amp; Shows]]></category>
117.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>
118.                                                                                                <author><![CDATA[ stingrayghost@gmail.com (Jeff Spry) ]]></author>                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Jeff Spry ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/png" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z8Ca4DLqgf5ibiDwtAeGQ6-1280-80.png">
119.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Apple TV+]]></media:credit>
120.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[A bearded man stares at us with a piercing light in the background]]></media:text>
121.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[A bearded man stares at us with a piercing light in the background]]></media:title>
122.                                                    </media:content>
123.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z8Ca4DLqgf5ibiDwtAeGQ6-1280-80.png" />
124.                                                                                        </item>
125.                    <item>
126.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Don't miss the beautiful summer Milky Way next week as the new moon goes dark on Sept. 21 ]]></title>
127.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>The moon is at new phase on Sept. 21 and during this upcoming week will appear first as a gradually diminishing crescent of light in the predawn hours, and during next week as a slender sliver of light in the early evening skies, and won't be much of a hindrance at all to stargazing. This combined with the fact that at this particular time of the year the hazy skies of summer are giving way to clearer skies and cooler overnight temperatures.</p><p>This means that this is an optimum week to check out the beautiful summer <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/19915-milky-way-galaxy.html"><u>Milky Way</u></a>. As soon as darkness falls, it becomes evident as a wide glowing arch of variety and beauty, stretching across the sky from the northeast to southwest.</p><p>Sweep with binoculars from the Scorpion's tail in the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/16947-scorpius-constellation.html"><u>Scorpius constellation</u></a>, through the Summer Triangle, and then down to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/29132-cassiopeia-the-banished-queen-of-constellations.html"><u>Cassiopeia</u></a> and Perseus. You'll find concentrations of stars, clusters, large apparent gaps (such as the "Great Rift" in Cygnus), and more stars than you probably thought existed.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_sT3QY0MQ_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="sT3QY0MQ">            <div id="botr_sT3QY0MQ_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><h2 id="city-dwellers-always-miss-out-2">City dwellers always miss out</h2><p>Unfortunately, because of the tremendous increase in light pollution over the past 50-years, the majority of our current generation has never really seen the night sky in all its grandeur. Indeed, the Milky Way has been one of the chief victims of atmospheric pollution — <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/light-pollution-loss-dark-skies-noctalgia"><u>by light</u></a> and other factors. In most major metropolitan areas, there is very little hope of ever seeing this broad path of light at all (save for a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/16577-milky-way-galaxy-nyc-blackout.html"><u>major power blackout</u></a>).</p><p>When I was growing up in the Throggs Neck section of The Bronx, I would regularly observe the night sky from my backyard. On some nights, I could see a fair number of faint <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/57-stars-formation-classification-and-constellations.html"><u>stars</u></a>, though sighting the Milky Way was always just out of reach. Today, it would be quite impossible to see any stars at all because the public school across the street from where I used to live has installed brilliant security lighting on its roof.</p><p>In addition, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LED_street_light" target="_blank"><u>LED streetlights</u></a> add their own dazzling illumination to such a degree that the general surroundings are bathed in a sort of artificial twilight; it's now so bright that you can readily read the fine print in a newspaper in the middle of the night, if you were so inclined.</p><h2 id="so-bright-it-cast-shadows-2">So bright it cast shadows!</h2><p>Our eyes have some detail-discerning properties that not even the best long-exposure photograph can match. This advantage is considerable in the case of the Milky Way, which has such great extent that it does not require a telescope. I can recall with great fondness one particular night 50-years ago, spent under the dark skies of upstate New York's Adirondack Mountains, near the community of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://visitthurman.com/" target="_blank"><u>Thurman,</u></a> about 8 miles northwest of Warrensburg.</p><p>It was there, during the overnight hours of August 14-15, 1975, that I and one of my closest friends, Glenn Schneider, experienced an incredibly dark and starry night. In my nearly sixty years as an amateur astronomer, I rarely have seen such a spectacularly beautiful sky as what Glenn and I came away seeing after a waxing gibbous moon set soon after midnight.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1290px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:53.95%;"><img id="VU57MXYswYNDWtHcAfNWEd" name="JOE & GLENN 1975" alt="two men look up to the sky while operating a telescope" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VU57MXYswYNDWtHcAfNWEd.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1290" height="696" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Joe Rao and Glenn Schneider, August 1975. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Joe Rao)</span></figcaption></figure><p>The two of us — then in our late teens — had our telescopes on hand. Mine was a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.cloudynights.com/articles/cat/user-reviews/edmund-425%e2%80%9d-deluxe-space-conqueror-r2746" target="_blank"><u>4.25-inch Edmund Space Conqueror</u></a>, while Glenn had his <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://explorescientific.com/pages/historic-amateur-telescopes-the-criterion-rv-6-dynascope?srsltid=AfmBOopXN8w_Z_En3JJTL3UvH-mE5myD5X00lYS95OVTAbJL4FKNH4rE" target="_blank"><u>RV-6 Dynascope</u></a> — a classic amateur telescope of that era. I must now also confess here, however, that we hardly used them at all that night, except to pick out deep-sky objects (star clusters or nebulae) of interest. Looking at Via Lactea (the Milky Way's Latin name) with a telescope — except to view certain highlights — is akin to closely scrutinizing a painting with a magnifying glass, which only reveals the coarse canvas, and not the actual art itself.</p><p>And so, we ended up spending a considerable amount of time using just our eyes savoring the Milky Way in all of its magnificence. So clear was the sky, that rather than appearing as a filmy band of light, the Milky Way appeared granulated in texture, and glowed so bright that it actually cast faint shadows!</p><h2 id="a-night-to-remember-2">A night to remember</h2><p>Together, we made many estimates of what the "limiting <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/21640-star-luminosity-and-magnitude.html"><u>magnitude</u></a>" of the sky was — that is, what was the faintest star that we could perceive using just our naked eyes alone. I knew this was a special night, when I could readily see M33, otherwise known by some as <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangulum_Galaxy" target="_blank"><u>The Great Triangulum Spiral.</u></a> According to the legendary deep sky observer, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Scott_Houston" target="_blank"><u>Walter Scott Houston</u></a> (1912-1993), this galaxy "... is a favorite of photographers and the despair of many visual observers" primarily because it is extremely difficult to well-nigh impossible to perceive with just bare eyes alone.</p><p>Yet, on this night, both Glenn and I were able to see it as a conspicuous patch of light. I have never been able to repeat that observation in all these years since.</p><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">Capture the Milky Way with the Nikon Z8</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><figure class="van-image-figure "  ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' ><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="KN8D9BxewdyFgNQNTa9uiU" name="Nikon-z8-main-image-16x9.jpg" caption="" alt="Nikon Z8 on a white table" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KN8D9BxewdyFgNQNTa9uiU.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="" height="" attribution="" endorsement="" class="pinterest-pin-exclude"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)</span></figcaption></figure><p class="fancy-box__body-text">The <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.adorama.com/nkz8.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nikon Z8</a> excels in just about every department and we rate it as the best overall camera out there. It features a full-frame 45.7MP sensor, 8K video capabilities, excellent low-light performance, very high FPS burst speed and more. It is pricey, but you get a lot of bang for your buck. Check out our <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/nikon-z8-review">Nikon Z8 review</a> for a more in-depth look.</p></div></div><p>Later than morning, we both finally agreed that we had seen stars down to magnitude +7.3. Keep in mind that for most people with average vision, the threshold of naked-eye visibility for faint stars is generally accepted to be +6.5 (the higher the value, the fainter the star).</p><p>Because the sky was exceptionally transparent, and our eyes were fully dark-adapted — that process by which the human eye becomes more sensitive to light in low-illumination conditions — we were seeing roughly <em>twice as many faint stars</em> as we might otherwise view under normal circumstances. This occurs as the retinal rods increase their sensitivity by regenerating <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodopsin" target="_blank"><u>rhodopsin</u></a>, a light-sensitive pigment, over a period of time. Full dark adaptation can take 20 to 30 minutes and allows the eye to detect stars and other objects that are invisible to it in daylight or under light-polluted conditions. But we had already been outside for several hours.</p><p>"We'll probably remember this night for the rest of lives," Glenn noted.</p><p>Wistfully, in recent days, I been thinking back to that magical night, and of Glenn who for over 30 years served as an astronomer and principal investigator at the University of Arizona and also served as the project instrument scientist for the Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://esahubble.org/about/general/instruments/nicmos/" target="_blank"><u>(NICMOS)</u></a> installed on the Hubble Space Telescope. He was also one of the world's foremost eclipse chasers.</p><p>Sadly, Glenn <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://astro.arizona.edu/news/astronomy-has-lost-one-its-most-passionate-chasers-total-solar-eclipses-passing-astronomer" target="_blank"><u>passed away</u></a> last winter. He was 69.</p><h2 id="the-bortle-scale-2">The Bortle scale</h2><p>Another long-time friend of mine and a well-known authority on comets, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E._Bortle" target="_blank"><u>John Bortle</u></a>, assiduously observes the night sky from Dutchess County, New York. Back in 2001 he developed <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bortle_scale" target="_blank"><u>a nine-point scale</u></a> which allows a person to judge just how dark (or bright) their local sky is. For the kind of sky that now exists around my old stomping grounds in The Bronx, Mr. Bortle would likely call it a "Class 9." Specifically defined: The entire sky is brightly lit. Many stars making up familiar constellation figures are invisible, and dim constellations such as Cancer and Pisces are not seen at all. The only celestial objects that really provide pleasing telescopic views are the moon, the planets, and a few of the brightest star clusters (if you can find them).</p><p>People who live up to 50 miles (80 km) from a large metropolitan area probably have a "Class 5" sky on the Bortle scale. That's a sky where the Milky Way is very weak or invisible near the horizon and looks rather washed out overhead. Light sources are evident in most if not all directions. Over most or all of the sky, clouds are quite noticeably brighter than the sky itself.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1283px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:149.65%;"><img id="UaVHCvaNtaiAfxAEprkEEb" name="BELLAVIA 2" alt="a streak of white cloudy light crosses the night sky" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UaVHCvaNtaiAfxAEprkEEb.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1283" height="1920" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">A stretch of the summer Milky Way extending from the stars of Aquila (upper left) to the tail of Scorpius (lower right). This image was taken by amateur astronomer Steven Bellavia of Smithfield, Virginia on July 25, 2025 from Pennsylvania's Cherry Springs State Park.  </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Steven Bellavia)</span></figcaption></figure><p>People who live in a rural location, out to 75 miles or more from a major city, likely have access to a "Class 4" sky: Some indication of light pollution is still evident along the horizon, but now the Milky Way appears somewhat impressive but still lacks detail. Surroundings are clearly visible even at a distance.</p><p>But for the ultimate in skywatching, there is the "Class 1" sky, the kind that Glenn and I enjoyed in the Adirondacks all too many of those years ago: From such a sky the Milky Way is capable of casting obvious diffuse shadows on the ground. The presence of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/7-jupiter-largest-planet-solar-system.html"><u>Jupiter</u></a> or <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/44-venus-second-planet-from-the-sun-brightest-planet-in-solar-system.html"><u>Venus</u></a> in the sky actually hinders your attempt to adapt to the darkness. Airglow (a very faint, naturally occurring glow most evident near to the horizon) is readily apparent. If you are observing on a grass-covered field bordered by trees, your telescope, companions, and vehicle are almost totally invisible.</p><p>Or as Mr. Bortle so eloquently put it: "This is an observer's Nirvana!"</p><p><em>Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's </em><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.amnh.org/our-research/hayden-planetarium" target="_blank"><u><em>Hayden Planetarium</em></u></a><em>. He writes about astronomy for </em><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/" target="_blank"><u><em>Natural History magazine</em></u></a><em>, </em><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://skyandtelescope.org/" target="_blank"><u><em>Sky and Telescope</em></u></a><em> and other publications.</em></p> ]]></dc:content>
128.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/stargazing/dont-miss-the-beautiful-summer-milky-way-next-week-as-the-new-moon-goes-dark-on-sept-21</link>
129.                                                                            <description>
130.                            <![CDATA[ The moon is near new phase this week, and clearer skies and cooler overnight temperatures means that this is also an optimum week to check out the beautiful summer Milky Way. ]]>
131.                                                                                                            </description>
132.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">AZk9vFpJS9uHapeRfUbP9H</guid>
133.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Tc5ydx6T5hMsPHW75Puk37-1280-80.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure>
134.                                                                        <pubDate>Wed, 17 Sep 2025 17:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Stargazing]]></category>
135.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Joe Rao ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Tc5ydx6T5hMsPHW75Puk37-1280-80.jpg">
136.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Steven Bellavia]]></media:credit>
137.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[a wisp of white light crosses the night sky]]></media:text>
138.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[a wisp of white light crosses the night sky]]></media:title>
139.                                                    </media:content>
140.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Tc5ydx6T5hMsPHW75Puk37-1280-80.jpg" />
141.                                                                                        </item>
142.                    <item>
143.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Watch an asteroid the size of the Washington Monument zoom past Earth live on Sept. 18 (video) ]]></title>
144.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <div class="youtube-video" data-nosnippet ><div class="video-aspect-box"><iframe data-lazy-priority="low" data-lazy-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P59gDIPxY6g" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div><p>A potentially hazardous asteroid spanning the length of the Washington Monument will make a safe, close approach to Earth on Sept. 18 and you can watch the flyby live online courtesy of the Virtual Telescope Project.</p><p>2025 FA22's next flyby of Earth will occur at 3:42 a.m. EDT (0742 GMT) on Sept. 18, when the asteroid will pass 523,206 miles (842018 kilometers) from our planet — the equivalent to around 2.2 lunar distances — posing zero risk to us, or <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/55-earths-moon-formation-composition-and-orbit.html"><u>the moon</u></a>.</p><p>Stargazers can tune in to the Virtual Telescope Project's YouTube stream <strong>beginning at 11 p.m. EDT on Sept. 17</strong> (3:00 GMT Sept. 18) to see live views from the organization's robotic telescopes located in Italy as the asteroid approaches its minimum distance to Earth.</p><p>The 427-951-foot-wide (130-290 meters-meter-wide (427-951 ft) <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/51-asteroids-formation-discovery-and-exploration.html"><u>asteroid</u></a> 2025 FA22 was discovered in March earlier this year by the Pan-STARRS wide-field imaging facility. The wandering <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/16080-solar-system-planets.html"><u>solar system</u></a> body was later classified as a Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA) owing to its size/brightness and orbit, which give it the potential to one day make a threateningly close approach to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/54-earth-history-composition-and-atmosphere.html"><u>Earth</u></a>.</p><p>"While, we repeat, this is a safe approach, it is still remarkable: a similar close encounter, involving an object of that size coming that close, happens one time every ten years on average, accordingly to JPL Center for NEO Studies," wrote Virtual Telescope Institute founder Gianluca Masi <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.virtualtelescope.eu/2025/09/08/potentially-hazardous-asteroid-2025-fa22-close-encounter-online-observation-18-sept-2025/" target="_blank"><u>in a blog post</u></a> announcing the livestream.</p><p>Following the close pass, 2025 FA22 will continue its 668-day looping path through the inner solar system that takes it well beyond the orbit of Mars.</p><p><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/asteroids/facts/" target="_blank"><u>NASA estimates</u></a> that an asteroid the size of 2025 FA22 strikes our planet just once every 20,000 years and creates an impact crater measuring up to 1.3 miles (2.1 km) in diameter.</p> ]]></dc:content>
145.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/stargazing/watch-asteroid-size-of-washington-monument-zoom-past-earth-live-sept-18-2025-video</link>
146.                                                                            <description>
147.                            <![CDATA[ Watch live as a potentially hazardous asteroid makes a close flyby of Earth on Sept. 18. ]]>
148.                                                                                                            </description>
149.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">Fe7v8TnHGc7izntNXdHi7X</guid>
150.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4KmnddGHu3TfPw8SkRVcd6-1280-80.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure>
151.                                                                        <pubDate>Wed, 17 Sep 2025 16:15:10 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Stargazing]]></category>
152.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Anthony Wood ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4KmnddGHu3TfPw8SkRVcd6-1280-80.jpg">
153.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[NASA, ESA and the Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration. Livestream: Virtual Telescope Project.]]></media:credit>
154.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[ A laptop is pictured showing the orbital path of an asteroid around Earth.]]></media:text>
155.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[ A laptop is pictured showing the orbital path of an asteroid around Earth.]]></media:title>
156.                                                    </media:content>
157.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4KmnddGHu3TfPw8SkRVcd6-1280-80.jpg" />
158.                                                                                        </item>
159.                    <item>
160.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Breathtaking timelapse photos capture September's blood moon total lunar eclipse over Egypt's White Desert ]]></title>
161.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>Photographer Osama Fathi has produced a pair of breathtaking images showing the dramatic transformation of the moon during the total lunar eclipse on Sept. 7, as it fell into the deepest part of Earth's shadow above the White Desert National Park in Egypt.</p><p>A <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/15689-lunar-eclipses.html"><u>lunar eclipse</u></a> takes place when <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/54-earth-history-composition-and-atmosphere.html"><u>Earth</u></a> passes directly between the sun and moon during a full moon phase, casting its shadow across the lunar surface. The most dramatic moment occurs as the moon slips entirely into our world's inner shadow, known as the umbra, and is bathed in the combined light of every sunrise and sunset on Earth, transforming it into a red, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/39471-what-is-a-blood-moon.html"><u>blood moon</u></a>.</p><p>Fathi captured the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/stargazing/eclipses/total-lunar-eclipse-september-2025-when-and-where-to-see-the-blood-moon-lunar-eclipse"><u>Sept. 7-8 lunar eclipse</u></a> using a combination of three lenses as <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/55-earths-moon-formation-composition-and-orbit.html"><u>the moon</u></a> rose high over the White Desert's chalk formations. "Standing under a blood-red Moon while the Milky Way slowly brightened was surreal — time felt elastic," Fathi told <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="http://space.com"><u>Space.com</u></a> in an email. "The light fell away in minutes, the horizon cooled, and every click felt like threading a needle while the sky kept changing beneath my hands".</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_KGebeMDr_ANn1bv7q_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="ANn1bv7q"            data-playlist-id="KGebeMDr">            <div id="botr_KGebeMDr_ANn1bv7q_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>Fathi used a 600 mm telephoto lens to capture exquisite detail on the lunar surface, and 50 mm and 14 mm lenses to image the striking chalk formations of the White Desert. Throughout, Fathi worked under red light to preserve his night vision, adjusting exposure times, manually focusing and fighting gusts of wind that threatened to blur carefully timed shots.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="AsfTKcqgQ7LgsTw4deL3pP" name="Eclipse over the White Desert" alt="A composite image showing the phases of a blood moon total lunar eclipse unfolding in a line through a starry sky above a desert featuring two large chalk formations." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AsfTKcqgQ7LgsTw4deL3pP.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">The phases of the Sept. 7 blood moon arrayed over the White Desert in Egypt. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: © Osama Fathi / Night Sky Watcher.)</span></figcaption></figure><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">Nikon Z8</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><figure class="van-image-figure "  ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' ><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="KN8D9BxewdyFgNQNTa9uiU" name="Nikon-z8-main-image-16x9.jpg" caption="" alt="Nikon Z8 on a white table" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KN8D9BxewdyFgNQNTa9uiU.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="" height="" attribution="" endorsement="" class="pinterest-pin-exclude"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Jase Parnell-Brookes)</span></figcaption></figure><p class="fancy-box__body-text">The <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.adorama.com/nkz8.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nikon Z8</a> excels in just about every department and we rate it as the best overall camera out there. It features a full-frame 45.7MP sensor, 8K video capabilities, excellent low-light performance, very high FPS burst speed and more. It is pricey, but you get a lot of bang for your buck. Check out our <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/nikon-z8-review">Nikon Z8 review</a> for a more in-depth look.</p></div></div><p>The result is a spectacular vista that chronicles the shifting face of September's blood moon in contrast to the stillness of the desert below. "This composite image traces the full sequence of the total lunar eclipse as it arced above the iconic Mushroom and Chicken Rock formations," Fathi said. "From first contact with Earth's shadow through the deep red glow of totality, and then back to the brilliance of a full Moon, each phase is captured in precise order."</p><p>Fathi went on to combine detailed shots of the eclipse — captured using a Nikon Z6III camera with a Nikkor Z 180-600 mm long lens — to create a mesmerizing lunar swirl reminiscent of a cosmic ammonite shell. "The image highlights both the aesthetic beauty of the event and the scientific principle once used by ancient astronomers to deduce Earth's spherical nature," explained Fathi. "It is presented as both an artistic mosaic and an educational visualization of Earth's shadow geometry".</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1864px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:79.99%;"><img id="H5GgnEyigBKSDEEWzKRRC7" name="Eclipse Swirl" alt="A composite image showing a series of lunar disks imaged during a total lunar eclipse arrayed in a shell-like spiral The images of the moon become progressively more eclipsed as they near the center." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/H5GgnEyigBKSDEEWzKRRC7.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="1864" height="1491" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">A cosmic spiral created from images of the Sept. 7 blood moon total lunar eclipse. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: © Osama Fathi / Night Sky Watcher.)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Photographers interested in capturing the ever-shifting face of the lunar surface for themselves should check out our roundup of the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/best-cameras-for-astrophotography"><u>best astrophotography cameras</u></a> and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/best-lenses-for-astrophotography"><u>lenses available in 2025</u></a>, along with our guide on <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/how-to-photograph-the-moon-camera"><u>how to image the moon using a DSLR camera</u></a>.</p><p><em><strong>Editor's Note: </strong></em><em>If you would like to share your lunar photography with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments and name alongside the location of your shoot to spacephotos@space.com. </em></p><div style="min-height: 250px;">                                <div class="kwizly-quiz kwizly-XmqyRX"></div>                            </div>                            <script src="https://kwizly.com/embed/XmqyRX.js" async></script> ]]></dc:content>
162.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/stargazing/astrophotography/timelapse-photos-capture-september-blood-moon-total-lunar-eclipse-over-egypt-white-desert-september-2025</link>
163.                                                                            <description>
164.                            <![CDATA[ See breathtaking images of September's blood moon total lunar eclipse from Egypt. ]]>
165.                                                                                                            </description>
166.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">k2gLWzAWuB4q7ir5SMRie</guid>
167.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nsyw3aXZ5SxuQU9zPoDqy7-1280-80.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure>
168.                                                                        <pubDate>Wed, 17 Sep 2025 16:13:48 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Astrophotography]]></category>
169.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Stargazing]]></category>
170.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Anthony Wood ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nsyw3aXZ5SxuQU9zPoDqy7-1280-80.jpg">
171.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[© Osama Fathi / Night Sky Watcher.]]></media:credit>
172.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[ A composite image showing the phases of a blood moon total lunar eclipse unfolding in a line through a starry sky above a desert featuring two large chalk formations.]]></media:text>
173.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[ A composite image showing the phases of a blood moon total lunar eclipse unfolding in a line through a starry sky above a desert featuring two large chalk formations.]]></media:title>
174.                                                    </media:content>
175.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nsyw3aXZ5SxuQU9zPoDqy7-1280-80.jpg" />
176.                                                                                        </item>
177.                    <item>
178.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ 5 forecasts early climate models got right – the evidence is all around you ]]></title>
179.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p><em>This article was originally published at </em><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="http://theconversation.com/" target="_blank"><em>The Conversation.</em></a><em> The publication contributed the article to Space.com's </em><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/tag/expert-voices"><em>Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights</em></a><em>.</em></p><p>Climate models are complex, just like the world they mirror. They simultaneously simulate the interacting, chaotic flow of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/17683-earth-atmosphere.html">Earth's atmosphere</a> and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/spacecraft-deorbiting-over-earth-oceans-ethical-concerns">oceans</a>, and they run on the world's largest <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/40927-fastest-supercomputer.html">supercomputers.</a></p><p>Critiques of climate science, such as the report written for the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2025-07/DOE_Critical_Review_of_Impacts_of_GHG_Emissions_on_the_US_Climate_July_2025.pdf" target="_blank">Department of Energy</a> by a panel in 2025, often point to this complexity to argue that these models are too uncertain to help us understand present-day warming or tell us anything useful about the future.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_xDYEf2cK_ANn1bv7q_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="ANn1bv7q"            data-playlist-id="xDYEf2cK">            <div id="botr_xDYEf2cK_ANn1bv7q_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>But the history of climate science tells a different story.</p><p>The earliest climate models made specific forecasts about <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/science/climate-change/56-million-years-ago-earth-underwent-rapid-global-warming-heres-what-it-did-to-pollinators">global warming</a> decades before those forecasts could be proved or disproved. And when the observations came in, the models were right. The forecasts weren't just <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="http://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL085378" target="_blank">predictions of global average warming</a> – they also <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate3224" target="_blank">predicted geographical patterns</a> of warming that we see today.</p><p>These early predictions starting in the 1960s emanated largely out of a single, somewhat obscure government laboratory outside Princeton, New Jersey: the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory. And many of the discoveries bear the fingerprints of one particularly prescient and persistent climate modeler, Syukuro Manabe, who was awarded the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/2021/summary/" target="_blank">2021 Nobel Prize</a> in physics for his work.</p><p>Manabe's models, based in the physics of the atmosphere and ocean, forecast the world we now see while also drawing a blueprint for today's climate models and their <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.gfdl.noaa.gov/blog_held/60-the-quality-of-the-large-scale-flow-simulated-in-gcms/" target="_blank">ability to simulate</a> our large-scale climate. While <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="http://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2024.1391634" target="_blank">models have limitations</a>, it is this track record of success that gives us confidence in interpreting the changes we’re seeing now, as well as predicting changes to come.</p><h2 id="forecast-no-1-global-warming-from-co2-2">Forecast No. 1: Global warming from CO2</h2><p>Manabe's first assignment in the 1960s at the U.S. Weather Bureau, in a lab that would become the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, was to accurately model the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone/how-climate-works/greenhouse-effect" target="_blank">greenhouse effect</a> – to show how greenhouse gases trap radiant heat in Earth's atmosphere. Since the oceans would freeze over without the greenhouse effect, this was a key first step in building any kind of credible climate model.</p><p>To test his calculations, Manabe created a very simple climate model. It represented the global atmosphere as a single column of air and included <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-21-0351.1" target="_blank">key components of climate</a>, such as incoming sunlight, convection from thunderstorms, and his greenhouse effect model.</p><p>Despite its simplicity, the model reproduced Earth's overall climate quite well. Moreover, it showed that doubling carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere would cause the planet to warm by about 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Celsius).</p><p>This estimate of Earth's climate sensitivity, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(1967)024%3C0241:TEOTAW%3E2.0.CO;2" target="_blank">published in 1967</a>, has remained <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aba1981" target="_blank">essentially unchanged</a> in the many decades since and captures the overall magnitude of observed global warming. Right now the world is <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo3036" target="_blank">about halfway to doubling atmospheric carbon dioxide</a>, and the global temperature has warmed by about 2.2 F (1.2 C) – right in the ballpark of what Manabe predicted.</p><p>Other greenhouses gases such as methane, as well as the ocean's delayed response to global warming, also affect temperature rise, but the overall conclusion is unchanged: Manabe got Earth's climate sensitivity about right.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:960px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:90.00%;"><img id="CtimAPKxFBUg4zMYXjP2H9" name="Global warming map-creative commons" alt="A flattened globe with various red, orange, and yellow areas corresponding to regions where the temperature has increased over the past 50 years." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CtimAPKxFBUg4zMYXjP2H9.png" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="960" height="864" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">A map shows the steady increase in global temperature over the past 50 years.  </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio, Key and Title by uploader (Eric Fisk) via Wikimedia Commons)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="forecast-no-2-stratospheric-cooling-2">Forecast No. 2: Stratospheric cooling</h2><p>The surface and lower atmosphere in Manabe's single-column model warmed as carbon dioxide concentrations rose, but in what was a surprise at the time, the model's stratosphere actually cooled.</p><p>Temperatures in this upper region of the atmosphere, between roughly 7.5 and 31 miles (12 and 50 km) in altitude, are governed by a delicate balance between the absorption of ultraviolet sunlight by ozone and release of radiant heat by carbon dioxide. Increase the carbon dioxide, and the atmosphere traps more radiant heat near the surface but actually <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://physicsworld.com/a/stratospheric-effect-boosts-global-warming-as-carbon-dioxide-levels-rise/" target="_blank">releases more radiant heat from the stratosphere</a>, causing it to cool.</p><p>This cooling of the stratosphere has been detected over <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2300758120" target="_blank">decades of satellite measurements</a> and is a distinctive fingerprint of carbon dioxide-driven warming, as warming from other causes such as changes in sunlight or El Niño cycles <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1305332110" target="_blank">do not yield stratospheric cooling</a>.</p><h2 id="forecast-no-3-arctic-amplification-2">Forecast No. 3: Arctic amplification</h2><p>Manabe used his single-column model as the basis for a prototype quasi-global model, which simulated only a fraction of the globe. It also simulated only the upper 100 meters or so of the ocean and neglected the effects of ocean currents.</p><p>In 1975, Manabe <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(1975)032%3C0003:TEODTC%3E2.0.CO;2" target="_blank">published</a> global warming simulations with this quasi-global model and again found stratospheric cooling. But he also made a new discovery – that the Arctic warms significantly more than the rest of the globe, by a factor of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-024-01441-1" target="_blank">two to three times</a>.</p><p>This "Arctic amplification" turns out to be a robust feature of global warming, occurring in present-day <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-3-11-2009" target="_blank">observations</a> and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-003-0332-6">subsequent simulations</a>. A warming Arctic furthermore means a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/arctic-sea-ice/?intent=121" target="_blank">decline in Arctic sea ice</a>, which has become one of the most visible and dramatic indicators of a changing climate.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="opiaoKw3exBmpXc5CsrC68" name="polar bear-creative commons" alt="A hunched over, skinny polar bear crawls on an ice floe." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/opiaoKw3exBmpXc5CsrC68.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">A warming of Arctic sea ice can be detrimental to its fragile ecosystems.  </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Andreas Weith via Wikimedia Commons)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="forecast-no-4-land-ocean-contrast-2">Forecast No. 4: Land-ocean contrast</h2><p>In the early 1970s, Manabe was also working to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(1969)026%3C0786:CCWACO%3E2.0.CO;2" target="_blank">couple his atmospheric model</a> to a first-of-its-kind dynamical model of the full world ocean built by oceanographer Kirk Bryan.</p><p>Around 1990, Manabe and Bryan used this coupled atmosphere-ocean model to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0442(1991)004%3C0785:TROACO%3E2.0.CO;2" target="_blank">simulate global warming over realistic continental geography</a>, including the effects of the full ocean circulation. This led to a slew of insights, including the observation that land generally warms more than ocean, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="http://doi.org/10.1029/2006GL028164" target="_blank">by a factor of about 1.5</a>.</p><p>As with Arctic amplification, this land-ocean contrast can be <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="http://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aae46f" target="_blank">seen in observed warming</a>. It can also be <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/guest-post-why-does-land-warm-up-faster-than-the-oceans/" target="_blank">explained from basic scientific principles</a> and is roughly analogous to the way a dry surface, such as pavement, warms more than a moist surface, such as soil, on a hot, sunny day.</p><p>The contrast has consequences for land-dwellers like ourselves, as every degree of global warming will be amplified over land.</p><h2 id="forecast-no-5-delayed-southern-ocean-warming-2">Forecast No. 5: Delayed Southern Ocean warming</h2><p>Perhaps the biggest surprise from Manabe's models came from a region most of us rarely think about: the Southern Ocean.</p><p>This vast, remote body of water encircles Antarctica and has strong eastward winds whipping across it unimpeded, due to the absence of land masses in the southern midlatitudes. These winds continually <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://pubs.aip.org/physicstoday/article/68/1/27/414946/Upwelling-in-the-Southern-OceanBecause-deep-water" target="_blank">draw up deep ocean waters</a> to the surface.</p><p>Manabe and colleagues found that the Southern Ocean <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.1038/342660a0" target="_blank">warmed very slowly</a> when atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations increased because the surface waters were continually being replenished by these upwelling abyssal waters, which hadn’t yet warmed.</p><p>This delayed Southern Ocean warming is also <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2731" target="_blank">visible in the temperature observations</a>.</p><h2 id="what-does-all-this-add-up-to-2">What does all this add up to?</h2><p>Looking back on Manabe's work more than half a century later, it's clear that even early climate models captured the broad strokes of global warming.</p><p>Manabe's models simulated these patterns decades before they were observed: Arctic Amplification was simulated in 1975 but only <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-3-11-2009" target="_blank">observed with confidence in 2009</a>, while stratospheric cooling was simulated in 1967 but <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2300758120" target="_blank">definitively observed</a> only recently.</p><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">RELATED STORIES</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text"> —  <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/satellite-data-climate-change-crisis">How satellite data has proven climate change is a climate crisis</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"> — <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/science/climate-change/earths-continents-are-drying-out-at-unprecedented-rate-satellite-data-reveal">Earth's continents are drying out at unprecedented rate, satellite data reveal</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"> — <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/the-universe/earth/the-next-ice-age-is-coming-in-10-000-years-unless-climate-change-prevents-it">The next ice age is coming in 10,000 years — unless climate change prevents it</a></p></div></div><p>Climate models have their limitations, of course. For instance, they cannot predict <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="http://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2024.1391634" target="_blank">regional climate change</a> as well as people would like. But the fact that climate science, like any field, has significant unknowns should not blind us to what we do know.</p><p><em>This article is republished from </em><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="http://theconversation.com/" target="_blank"><em>The Conversation</em></a><em> under a Creative Commons license. Read the </em><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://theconversation.com/5-forecasts-early-climate-models-got-right-the-evidence-is-all-around-you-263248" target="_blank"><em>original article</em></a><em>.</em></p><iframe allow="" height="1" width="1" id="" style="" data-lazy-priority="low" data-lazy-src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/243022/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced"></iframe> ]]></dc:content>
180.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/science/climate-change/5-forecasts-early-climate-models-got-right-the-evidence-is-all-around-you</link>
181.                                                                            <description>
182.                            <![CDATA[ Climate models are complex, just like the world they mirror. ]]>
183.                                                                                                            </description>
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185.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/opiaoKw3exBmpXc5CsrC68-1280-80.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure>
186.                                                                        <pubDate>Wed, 17 Sep 2025 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Climate Change]]></category>
187.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Science]]></category>
188.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Nadir Jeevanjee ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/opiaoKw3exBmpXc5CsrC68-1280-80.jpg">
189.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Andreas Weith via Wikimedia Commons]]></media:credit>
190.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[A hunched over, skinny polar bear crawls on an ice floe. ]]></media:text>
191.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[A hunched over, skinny polar bear crawls on an ice floe. ]]></media:title>
192.                                                    </media:content>
193.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/opiaoKw3exBmpXc5CsrC68-1280-80.jpg" />
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195.                    <item>
196.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Will the International Space Station be replaced before its fiery death in 2030? ]]></title>
197.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>In 1979, NASA's first space station, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/19607-skylab.html">Skylab</a>, fell to Earth. The intention was for it to crash into the Indian Ocean, but it survived deeper into the atmosphere than anyone expected. Once it finally broke apart, pieces of the lab reached as far as western Australia. The largest pieces of debris landed near the town of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/21092-skylab-space-station-debris-photos.html">Esperance</a>. Pieces of metal were falling from the sky, so town leaders had to do something about it.</p><p>They issued NASA a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/114725-first-fine-for-littering-from-space" target="_blank">$400 citation for littering</a>. The debt went unpaid.</p><p>It was technically a humorous jab, and in 2009, a California radio host raised the funds to pay off the debt. But it highlights how Skylab's fate became something of a joke in the 1970s and how we let a space station fall to Earth without having a replacement waiting in the wings.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_XTVUEdmx_ANn1bv7q_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="ANn1bv7q"            data-playlist-id="XTVUEdmx">            <div id="botr_XTVUEdmx_ANn1bv7q_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>And here we are again, nearly half a century later, facing the potential demise of another space station, without having a replacement ready.</p><p>At least this time around, however, NASA has something approaching a plan: get someone else to build it.</p><p>Since the first modules of the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/16748-international-space-station.html">International Space Station</a> (ISS) went up in 1998, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.nasa.gov/missions/station/iss-research/science-in-orbit-results-published-on-space-station-research-in-2024/" target="_blank">over 4,000 scientific experiments</a> have been conducted there. They have investigated everything from the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/39952-nasa-twin-study-spaceflight-health-effects.html">effects of long-term spaceflight on the human body</a> to the development of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/exotic-matter-quantum-world-on-space-station.html">novel materials that can only be designed in microgravity</a>.</p><p>Most importantly, we've learned how to operate in space for extended missions — what protocols and procedures we need in place, what kinds of systems tend to go wrong and when, and all the other institutional know-how that it will take to make us a true spacefaring species.</p><p><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/how-to-destroy-a-space-station-safely">NASA plans to send the ISS into Earth's atmosphere</a> in 2030, and it has no plans for a replacement — at least, not directly.</p><p>Currently filling NASA's time and budget is the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/lunar-gateway-view-3D-moon-orbit">design of the Lunar Gateway</a>, a smaller version of the ISS designed to orbit the moon and serve as a waystation for extended surface missions. While the Lunar Gateway continues to receive congressional backing, its political future remains uncertain because it's a part of the overall <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/artemis-program.html">Artemis program</a>, which <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/artemis-3-2027-nasa-gao-report">may not make all of its intended goals</a>.</p><p>Either way, NASA is largely leaving behind operations in <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/low-earth-orbit">low Earth orbit</a>. Instead, the space agency has developed a competitive system, called the Commercial LEO Destinations program, to help spur private investment in a space station. The idea is that NASA will fund private companies to create their own stations and then become one of many customers that will rent out time and space on those stations. That way, NASA will not have to do the heavy lifting of creating another iteration of the ISS.</p><p>There are <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/private-space-stations-commercializing-low-earth-orbit">several competitors in this area</a>, including <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/blue-origin-unveils-orbital-reef-private-space-station">Orbital Reef</a>, a joint venture led by Blue Origin and Sierra Space; and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/human-spaceflight/private-starlab-space-station-moves-into-full-scale-development-ahead-of-2028-launch">Starlab</a>, a joint venture between Voyager Technologies and Airbus. But the clear front-runner is Axiom Space, which is nearly finished with the first module of its <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/private-spaceflight/axioms-private-space-station-is-coming-sooner-than-we-thought">Axiom Station</a>.</p><p>Axiom plans to launch that module on board a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/39779-falcon-heavy-facts.html">Falcon Heavy rocket</a> and attach it to the ISS in 2027, when the company will begin getting accustomed to the world of space station care and maintenance. Then, presumably before 2030, Axiom will detach that module from the ISS and continue building it out, with a goal of reaching twice the usable volume of the current station.</p><p><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-launches-historic-private-axiom-4-astronaut-mission-to-the-iss">Axiom already flew private astronauts to the ISS</a> in June, for a practice run of handling ground-crew communication and the operation of scientific experiments.</p><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">RELATED STORIES:</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/haven2-international-space-station-suceed">Vast Space unveils Haven-2, a private space station to follow the ISS after its fiery end (video)</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/commercial-space-stations-next-25-years">Looking ahead to the next 25 years of private space stations</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/will-the-international-space-stations-2031-death-dive-cause-pollution-problems">Will the International Space Station's death dive cause pollution problems?</a></p></div></div><p>If Axiom Space or any of its competitors succeed, then we will indeed have another torchbearer for our continuous presence in low Earth orbit, although this time, it will involve many more partners than the venerable ISS. And hopefully, this early public investment will pay off big time as private companies find many commercial uses for low Earth orbit, such as zero-gravity hotels for <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-tourism-pros-cons">space tourism</a> or mini-factories for producing specialty materials.</p><p>NASA has already seen success with a similar program, the Commercial Crew Program, which spurred and financed the development of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft, both of which now serve both private and government projects. With a little luck, they will avoid the fate of Skylab and the decades-long gap between that station's ignominious end and the launch of the ISS.</p> ]]></dc:content>
198.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/will-the-international-space-station-be-replaced-before-its-fiery-death-in-2030</link>
199.                                                                            <description>
200.                            <![CDATA[ NASA plans to send the ISS into Earth's atmosphere in 2030, and it has no plans for a replacement — at least, not directly. ]]>
201.                                                                                                            </description>
202.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">hXqa8xs48i2BUmqew4y487</guid>
203.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8URvuKiadvT5rH5pM3Zgm7-1280-80.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure>
204.                                                                        <pubDate>Wed, 17 Sep 2025 14:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[International Space Station]]></category>
205.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Space Exploration]]></category>
206.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Missions]]></category>
207.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Paul Sutter ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8URvuKiadvT5rH5pM3Zgm7-1280-80.jpg">
208.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[NASA/ESA–T. Pesquet]]></media:credit>
209.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[a T-shaped space station floats above Earth]]></media:text>
210.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[a T-shaped space station floats above Earth]]></media:title>
211.                                                    </media:content>
212.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8URvuKiadvT5rH5pM3Zgm7-1280-80.jpg" />
213.                                                                                        </item>
214.                    <item>
215.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ 'The sun is slowly waking up': Scientists say a rise in solar storms awaits us ]]></title>
216.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>The sun has grown increasingly active over the past 17 years, bucking a downward trend that had solar physicists wondering whether our star was heading towards a new "grand minimum" of the kind last seen in 1830.</p><p>Beginning in the 1980s, solar activity started decreasing overall, with each subsequent 11-year <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/sunspots-formation-discovery-observations">sunspot</a> cycle seeing fewer sunspots, fewer flares and fewer <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/coronal-mass-ejections-cme">coronal mass ejections</a>. Solar activity reached a nadir in 2008, which was the lull at the beginning of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/solar-cycle-frequency-prediction-facts">solar cycle</a> 24. That year had the weakest solar activity on record.</p><p>"All signs were pointing to the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/58-the-sun-formation-facts-and-characteristics.html">sun</a> going into a prolonged phase of low activity," said Jamies Jasinski of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-analysis-shows-suns-activity-ramping-up/" target="_blank">statement</a>. "So it was a surprise to see that trend reversed. The Sun is slowly waking up."</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_ZauGchVO_ANn1bv7q_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="ANn1bv7q"            data-playlist-id="ZauGchVO">            <div id="botr_ZauGchVO_ANn1bv7q_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>Jasinski led research that compiled data from a variety of missions studying both the sun and the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/22215-solar-wind.html">solar wind</a>, which is a stream of charged particles radiating from the sun.</p><p>The study showed that since 2008, all indicators have been increasing. Among them, solar-wind velocity is up 6%, solar wind density has increased 26%, the solar-wind temperature has seen a rise of 29% and there has been a jump in the strength of the interplanetary magnetic field carried by the solar wind equal to about 31%. This is all reflective of increased magnetic activity on the sun.</p><p>Indeed, with increased solar activity comes more geomagnetic storms that generate <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/15139-northern-lights-auroras-earth-facts-sdcmp.html">auroral lights</a> in <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/54-earth-history-composition-and-atmosphere.html">Earth</a>'s sky; increased coronal mass ejections and radiation flares pose greater danger to satellites, space stations and astronauts.</p><p>Why the sun has reversed course remains a large unknown — though it has happened before.</p><p>Between 1645 and 1715, there was a period that has come to be known as the Maunder Minimum, named after the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century astronomer Edward Maunder, who first noticed the 11-year solar cycle by watching how the number of sunspots waxes and wanes. Looking at historical records, Maunder realized that between 1645 and 1715, there had been no more than 50 sunspots on the sun in total. This is an extraordinarily low number, and is indicative of there being very little magnetic activity of the kind that produces flares and coronal mass ejections. For comparison, during the time of maximum activity in an ordinary solar cycle, there can be more than a hundred sunspots. Another low activity period also occurred between 1790 and 1830.</p><p>Intriguingly, the Maunder Minimum coincided with a period anecdotally referred to as the "Little Ice Age," which saw a sequence of exceptionally cold winters across the Northern Hemisphere, prompting the River Thames in London to completely freeze over on several occasions. While there have been attempts to connect the Little Ice Age with the Maunder Minimum, the Little Ice Age began before the onset of the Maunder Minimum, and some researchers even suggest that it ran from 1300 to 1850.</p><p>The cause of the Little Ice Age is unclear, but volcanic activity belching volcanic ash high into the atmosphere and blocking sunlight is one of the most likely explanations. On the other hand, variations in solar activity such as the Maunder Minimum, the period between 1790 and 1830 and the decrease between the 1980s and 2008 do not seem to have much of an effect on Earth's climate, and any cooling they appear to cause is being overridden by the much greater warming effects resulting from human-induced <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/what-is-climate-change-explained">climate change</a>.</p><p>Nevertheless, periods such as the Maunder Minimum and the years leading up to 2008 are difficult for scientists to explain. Whereas the sun's 11-year cycle of magnetic activity is fairly well understood, "The longer-term trends are a lot less predictable and are something we don't completely understand yet," said Jasinski.</p><p>The findings were published on Sept. 8 in <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/adf3a6" target="_blank">The Astrophysical Journal Letters</a>.</p><div style="min-height: 250px;">                                <div class="kwizly-quiz kwizly-XbwEye"></div>                            </div>                            <script src="https://kwizly.com/embed/XbwEye.js" async></script> ]]></dc:content>
217.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/astronomy/sun/the-sun-is-slowly-waking-up-scientists-say-a-rise-in-solar-storms-awaits-us</link>
218.                                                                            <description>
219.                            <![CDATA[ The turning point seems to have been after 2008, which had the lowest amount of solar activity on record. ]]>
220.                                                                                                            </description>
221.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">zJUhCoe9EQxLJ4nEqw3iU9</guid>
222.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EX2Gq8PLXpv3x5gVrAYudT-1280-80.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure>
223.                                                                        <pubDate>Wed, 17 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[The Sun]]></category>
224.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Astronomy]]></category>
225.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Solar System]]></category>
226.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Keith Cooper ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EX2Gq8PLXpv3x5gVrAYudT-1280-80.jpg">
227.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[NASA/GSFC/Solar Dynamics Observatory.]]></media:credit>
228.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[A close up of the sun, in ultraviolet light, showing rays of heat and solar flares]]></media:text>
229.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[A close up of the sun, in ultraviolet light, showing rays of heat and solar flares]]></media:title>
230.                                                    </media:content>
231.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EX2Gq8PLXpv3x5gVrAYudT-1280-80.jpg" />
232.                                                                                        </item>
233.                    <item>
234.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Mokoqi star projector night light review ]]></title>
235.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">Specification</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text"><strong>Size</strong>: 5.9 x 5.4 x 5.4 inches</p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"><strong>Weight</strong>: 0.42lbs</p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"><strong>Bulb Type</strong>: LED</p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"><strong>Laser</strong>: No</p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"><strong>Control</strong>: On unit only</p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"><strong>Rotation</strong>: Yes</p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"><strong>Sleep timer</strong>: Yes</p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"><strong>Speaker</strong>: No</p></div></div><p>Let's get this out of the way first: The Mokoqi Star Projector Night Light is in no way a star projector aimed at adults. This is, first and foremost, a night light designed for children.</p><p>It doesn't offer realistic projections. Instead, it projects colorful cartoon stars and moons onto the ceiling. They're eye-catching enough, but are a far cry from anything that resembles the actual night sky.</p><p>Mokoqi has designed this star projector with tots in mind, from its simple buttons to the way that a translucent covering can be placed over the top of the projector to turn it into a simple nightlight. It's chunky and ideal for a toddler's bedroom, but if you want some soothing ceiling auroras to unwind with, you're going to have to look elsewhere.</p><p>That's not to say the Mokoqi Star Projector Night Light isn't without merit; it's just that, as adults, we're not its intended audience and it likely won't make our cut of the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/best-star-projectors">best star projectors</a>. If you're shopping for your preschool-aged kids, however, this one is well worth considering.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2133px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.26%;"><img id="453jYVyHcaqm4B94qEECYK" name="Mokoqi Star Projector (3)" alt="Moqoki Star Projector" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/453jYVyHcaqm4B94qEECYK.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2133" height="1200" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">The only controls on the Mokoqi Star Projector are found on the front of the unit. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Kim Snaith)</span></figcaption></figure><h3 class="article-body__section" id="section-mokoqi-star-projector-night-light-design"><span>Mokoqi star projector night light: Design</span></h3><ul><li><strong>Distracting LCD display</strong></li><li><strong>Pleasant dome shape</strong></li><li><strong>Feels cheap</strong></li></ul><p>With a plastic body and a translucent dome on top, the Mokoqi star projector night light looks pleasant enough, but it's a bit light and plasticky to the touch. When this star projector costs roughly $20, though, that's to be expected — it's hardly going to match the quality of, say, a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/technology/sega-toys-homestar-classic-star-projector-review">Sega Toys projector</a>, which can cost upwards of $150. What's neat is that the projector part of the light has a plastic sheath, which essentially blocks the projections and instead turns it into a soothing nightlight.</p><p>Perhaps the most egregious aspect of the Mokoqi Star Projector's design is the red LCD display on the front, which shows a countdown for the sleep timer. It's unnecessary and distracting, and really takes away from the lamp itself. In a dark room, the display is too bright, and we kept finding our eyes drawn to it rather than the device's projections.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2133px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.26%;"><img id="cCBQwyh56xWwZkGtYLbDQG" name="Moqoki Star Projector (1)" alt="Moqoki Star Projector" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cCBQwyh56xWwZkGtYLbDQG.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2133" height="1200" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">The distracting LCD display on the front of the projector, while it's in night light mode. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Kim Snaith)</span></figcaption></figure><h3 class="article-body__section" id="section-mokoqi-star-projector-night-light-performance"><span>Mokoqi star projector night light: Performance</span></h3><ul><li><strong>Cartoonish projections</strong></li><li><strong>Blurry unless really close to a wall or ceiling</strong></li><li><strong>Good coverage</strong></li></ul><p>As we've already said, the projections of the Mokoqi Star Projector Night Light are aimed squarely at young children. The stars projected here are chunky and cartoonish, and are about as far from scientific projections as you can find. The projected images, a cacophony of stars and crescent moons, can appear in white or several other colors. By pressing the buttons on the front of the projector, you can fix one color or have the projections cycle between them.</p><p>The projections can also rotate, but the motor is a little noisy. We preferred turning off rotation altogether to enjoy a fixed image. Since the projector is almost silent when it's not rotating, it's a much better option, particularly if you plan to use this to help children fall asleep.</p><p>Unless you place the projector close to a wall or ceiling, however, the projections are rather blurry. They're still pretty enough, and we think kids will enjoy them, but it's a shame they're not a little sharper. The good news is that the projector has a great coverage range: From roughly 1.5 meters away, we were able to enjoy a projection that covered most of our ceiling.</p><div class="inlinegallery  carousel-layout"><div class="inlinegallery-wrap" style="display:flex; flex-flow:row nowrap;"><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 1 of 2</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2133px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.26%;"><img id="gXziVQ67wKHBXAcLGumFQG" name="Moqoki Star Projector (2)" alt="Mokoqi Star Projector" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gXziVQ67wKHBXAcLGumFQG.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="2133" height="1200" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="caption-text">The projections from the Mokoqi Star Projector show cartoon-like stars and moon shapes </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Kim Snaith)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 2 of 2</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2133px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.26%;"><img id="4MZJLco6TQFfkvpX2XsHPG" name="Moqoki Star Projector (3)" alt="Moqoki Star Projector" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4MZJLco6TQFfkvpX2XsHPG.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="2133" height="1200" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="caption-text">The projections from the Moqoki Star Projector come in different colors. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Kim Snaith)</span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><h3 class="article-body__section" id="section-mokoqi-star-projector-night-light-functionality"><span>Mokoqi star projector night light: Functionality</span></h3><ul><li><strong>No speaker</strong></li><li><strong>No remote control</strong></li><li><strong>USB or battery powered</strong></li></ul><p>The Mokoqi Star Projector Night Light is barebones in that it doesn't come with a speaker and it doesn't have a remote control: It can only be controlled with four buttons on the front of the device. Figuring out what each button does takes a bit of trial and error as they are simply labeled A, B, C and D. It's a little perplexing why more useful labels, or at least symbols, weren't used, but it's another sign of the projector's budget status.</p><p>You can power the projector either with batteries (4x AAA, which you'll have to supply yourself) or by connecting it to a USB outlet. It's handy that you're given the choice, and batteries are useful if you plan to place the projector somewhere where USB power isn't convenient. Keep in mind you will need a screwdriver to change the batteries; however, it at least keeps them safely out of the reach of children.</p><p><br>There's no speaker built into the Mokoqi Star Projector Night Light, Bluetooth or otherwise. Since this is marketed primarily as a sleep aid for children, not including some sort of white noise machine, such as that found in the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/technology/item-emporium-dinosaur-egg-galaxy-star-projector-review">Item Emporium Dinosaur Egg Star Projector</a>, feels like a bit of an oversight. But given the price point of the projector, it's not all that surprising.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2133px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.26%;"><img id="NpEXkLwsSF57zj4T7hCY2i" name="Mokoqi Star Projector (2)" alt="Moqoki Star Projector" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NpEXkLwsSF57zj4T7hCY2i.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2133" height="1200" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">The Mokoqi Star Projector with the night light cover over the top of it. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Kim Snaith)</span></figcaption></figure><h3 class="article-body__section" id="section-should-you-buy-the-mokoqi-star-projector-night-light"><span>Should you buy the Mokoqi star projector night light?</span></h3><p>If you are shopping for a star projector for yourself, no, don't buy the Mokoqi Star Projector Night Light. This isn't a bad projector by any means, but it's very much aimed at children, and we reckon most adults will find its cheap and cheerful cartoonish projection displays more off-putting than relaxing.</p><p>If you're looking for something to help your toddler fall asleep with, however? This is a great choice. It's inexpensive, it's easy to use, and its projections, while not as sharp as we'd like, are bound to mesmerize kids.</p><p>If you want something more adult-appropriate without breaking the bank, the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/technology/fliti-galaxy-projector-review">Fliti Galaxy Projector</a> is worth considering. Or if you want another option that can double as a night light, take a look at the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/technology/jiawen-galaxy-projector-light-star-projector-review">Jiawen Galaxy Projector</a> — we love the build quality of this one.</p> ]]></dc:content>
236.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/technology/mokoqi-star-projector-night-light-review</link>
237.                                                                            <description>
238.                            <![CDATA[ The Mokoqi star projector is aimed at babies and young children and is designed to aid sleep with ambient projections but is not scientifically accurate. ]]>
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242.                                                                        <pubDate>Wed, 17 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
243.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Kim Snaith ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HZLYVYB7G4hb2ukjSxM6Xd-1280-80.jpg">
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251.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Sunrise silhouettes the world's largest telescope | Space photo of the day for Sept. 17, 2025 ]]></title>
252.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>Deep in the Chilean desert, the European <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/40746-extremely-large-telescope.html">Extremely Large Telescope</a> (ELT) is currently under construction. Operated by the European Southern Observatory (<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/18665-european-southern-observatory-major-discoveries.html">ESO</a>), the ELT's design features a 128-foot-wide (39 meters) primary mirror, making it the largest optical and infrared telescope in the world when completed.</p><p><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw2537d/" target="_blank">In this image</a>, cranes flank the rising solar disk with <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/54-earth-history-composition-and-atmosphere.html">Earth</a> still in shadow as the first light silhouettes humanity’s next giant eye on the sky.</p><h2 id="what-is-it-2">What is it?</h2><p>The ELT is one of the most ambitious ongoing projects in astronomy, with a cost of  <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann20034/" target="_blank">1.3 billion euros</a> (around $1.4 billion US). Construction is underway atop Cerro Armazones, a mountaintop in Chile's <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/rare-snowfall-in-atacama-desert-forces-the-worlds-most-powerful-radio-telescope-into-survival-mode">Atacama Desert. </a>Here, the lack of light pollution and moisture will allow the telescope to take more accurate readings of deep space and its structures.</p><h2 id="where-is-it-2">Where is it?</h2><p>This photograph was taken at <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/worlds-largest-telescope-elt-moon-illusion-photo">Cerro Armazones</a> in Chile, at an elevation of 10,052 feet (3,064 m) above sea level.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="p3y6VBiBw2iqMNsAYA8Dnc" name="potw2537d" alt="A large orange sun illuminates the scaffolding of a dome where a telescope is being built, along with cranes next to it." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/p3y6VBiBw2iqMNsAYA8Dnc.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Sunrise illuminates the construction of the ELT. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: B. Häußler/ESO)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="why-is-it-amazing-2">Why is it amazing?</h2><p>The ELT’s size and advanced instrumentation will let astronomers see fainter and more distant objects than ever before. The giant scope will image <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/17738-exoplanets.html">exoplanets</a> in reflected light, explore the earliest galaxies formed after the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/25126-big-bang-theory.html">Big Bang </a>and much more.</p><p>As the sun rises behind the ELT, the image stands for the dawning of a new era in astronomical discovery. When operational, the ELT will help us observe light from the most ancient parts of the universe.</p><h2 id="want-to-learn-more-2">Want to learn more?</h2><p>You can read more about <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/">astronomy </a>and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/worlds-largest-telescope-elt-construction-photos-june-2024">telescopes in Chile. </a></p> ]]></dc:content>
253.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/astronomy/sunrise-silhouettes-the-worlds-largest-telescope-space-photo-of-the-day-for-sept-17-2025</link>
254.                                                                            <description>
255.                            <![CDATA[ Astronomy isn’t just about distant stars; it’s also about the human effort here on Earth that makes it possible to extend our vision out into the cosmos. ]]>
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259.                                                                        <pubDate>Wed, 17 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Astronomy]]></category>
260.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Kenna Hughes-Castleberry ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/p3y6VBiBw2iqMNsAYA8Dnc-1280-80.jpg">
261.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[B. Häußler/ESO]]></media:credit>
262.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[A large orange sun illuminates the scaffolding of a dome where a telescope is being built, along with cranes next to it.]]></media:text>
263.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[A large orange sun illuminates the scaffolding of a dome where a telescope is being built, along with cranes next to it.]]></media:title>
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268.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Vaonis Vespera Pro smart telescope review ]]></title>
269.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>Observing and doing astrophotography with a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/15693-telescopes-beginners-telescope-reviews-buying-guide.html">telescope</a>, is an acquired skill that undoubtedly rewards the amateur astronomer, but not everyone has the time, patience or long spells of clear skies to get to sufficiently learn these skills.</p><p><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/best-smart-telescopes">Smart telescopes</a> take away that learning curve, and replace it with computer-aided, remote-controlled technology that will have you taking fabulous images of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/star-clusters">star clusters</a>, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/nebula-definition-types">nebulas</a> and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/15680-galaxies.html">galaxies</a> within minutes. But smart telescopes are not just useful to novices, because experienced observers can also take advantage of them, perhaps to image quickly in a break in the clouds, or see a faint object better than through a traditional <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/best-eyepieces-for-telescopes">eyepiece</a>.</p><p>The French company Vaonis is one of the leading manufacturers of smart telescopes, and the Vespera Pro is their premium model. Our review copy came with three additional filters – a solar filter for observing the sun, a light-pollution filter for night-time observing from urban areas, and a dual-band filter for better observing nebulas.</p><p>We were delighted to find that it is all very straightforward to use, controlled from your smartphone or tablet via Vaonis’ “Singularity” app, which not only controls the telescope, but gives you weather and object information, provides somewhere to store your images and connects you to other Vespera users. The images were fantastic, and it is a thrill to watch star clusters and galaxies appear on your smartphone screen. Unfortunately, this does all come at a cost — a pretty big one, so you’ll need deep pockets to join in on the fun of the Vespera Pro.</p><h2 id="vaonis-vespera-pro-smart-telescope-review-2">Vaonis Vespera Pro smart telescope review</h2><h3 class="article-body__section" id="section-vaonis-vespera-pro-design"><span>Vaonis Vespera Pro: Design</span></h3><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2135px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.21%;"><img id="xTNmZoUNv9sEeML9c2sgd" name="vespera-pro-park-3" alt="The Vaonis Vespera Pro in neutral mode." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xTNmZoUNv9sEeML9c2sgd.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2135" height="1200" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">When removed from its carry case, the Vespera Pro looks like a white egg.  </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Gemma Lavender)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="4">★ ★ ★ ★ ★ </h2><ul><li><strong>Portable with carry case</strong></li><li><strong>Simple and quick set-up</strong></li><li><strong>Quiet operation</strong></li></ul><p>The Vespera Pro joins the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/vaonis-vespera-observation-station-smart-telescope-review">original Vespera</a>, which was released in 2018, as well as its successor, the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/vaonis-vespera-ii-smart-telescope-review">Vespera II</a>, in Vaonis’ line of smart telescopes. All are equipped with 2-inch (50 mm) apertures, and the Vespera II and the Pro model, reviewed here, have longer focal lengths of 250mm compared to the original Vespera, giving a focal ratio of f/5.</p><p>Vaonis’ telescopes look different from other telescopes, and the Vespera Pro is no different. Removed from its carry case, it looks like a white egg and you wonder how this can possibly be a telescope. Once its telescopic arm rotates out, it does look a bit more like a telescope, albeit a futuristic one.</p><div class="inlinegallery  carousel-layout"><div class="inlinegallery-wrap" style="display:flex; flex-flow:row nowrap;"><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 1 of 2</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2133px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.26%;"><img id="o3MtRApiz7uPCcqK8f6Lg" name="vespera-pro-tripod" alt="The Vaonis Vespera Pro tripod set up on a grey table." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/o3MtRApiz7uPCcqK8f6Lg.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="2133" height="1200" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="caption-text">Once assembled, the included tripod serves as a sturdy tabletop tripod for the Vaonis Vespera Pro  </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Gemma Lavender)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 2 of 2</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2132px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.29%;"><img id="ZBKY9ykkmpRa5qPof5Pwo" name="vespera-pro-in-garden" alt="The Vaonis Vespera Pro pointed upwards with the power button visible with trees and grass in the background." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZBKY9ykkmpRa5qPof5Pwo.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="2132" height="1200" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="caption-text">The neat shape of the Vaonis Vespera Pro transforms once the arm rotates out for viewing.  </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Gemma Lavender)</span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><p>The tabletop tripod comes disassembled, but all that is required is to screw in the legs into the central mount, which then screws onto the base of the Vespera Pro. This can be done by yourself but it is easier if you have one person holding the telescope while you screw the tripod in. The Vespera Pro can be attached to a taller tripod if the user wishes and already owns such a tripod. While it functions perfectly fine placed on the floor, this can make it difficult to see targets closer to the horizon. If you use a taller tripod, the setup may be less stable, so be careful during operation.</p><div class="inlinegallery  carousel-layout"><div class="inlinegallery-wrap" style="display:flex; flex-flow:row nowrap;"><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 1 of 3</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2133px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.26%;"><img id="u7cPWcWwu9MZBK5p78p8b" name="vespera-pro-case" alt="The Vaonis Vespera Pro carry case with Vaonis Vespera Pro inside with black cut foam padding." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/u7cPWcWwu9MZBK5p78p8b.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="2133" height="1200" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="caption-text">The Vaonis Vespera Pro comes with a solid carry case that safely fits the tripod and the telescope in black foam padding.  </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Gemma Lavender)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 2 of 3</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2133px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.26%;"><img id="Q3qWtxs5rqLmVH8v2UXFi" name="vespera-pro-park-2" alt="The Vaonis Vespera Pro in neutral position with power button visible with grass and trees in the background." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Q3qWtxs5rqLmVH8v2UXFi.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="2133" height="1200" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="caption-text">By having a short tripod, the Vaonis Vespera Pro is very stable but can limit observation of objects closer to the horizon.  </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Gemma Lavender)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 3 of 3</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2133px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.26%;"><img id="HrsKsHo738fHDhAG9zy6n" name="vespera-pro-active" alt="Vaonis Vespera Pro with lens cap." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HrsKsHo738fHDhAG9zy6n.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="2133" height="1200" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="caption-text">The Vaonis Vespera Pro comes with a neat lens cap that helps protect optics from dust and damage.  </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Gemma Lavender)</span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">Specifications</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text"><strong>Optical design</strong>: Quadruplet apochromatic refractor</p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"><strong>Aperture</strong>: 50 mm (2-inch)</p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"><strong>Focal length</strong>: 250 mm (10 inch)</p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"><strong>Focal ratio</strong>: f/5</p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"><strong>Field of view</strong>: 1.6-degrees x 1.6-degrees</p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"><strong>Limiting magnitude</strong>: 16</p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"><strong>Angular resolution</strong>: 1.6 arcseconds</p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"><strong>Imaging sensor</strong>: IMX676 with STARVIS 2 technology</p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"><strong>Image resolution</strong>: 12MP</p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"><strong>Battery life</strong>: 11 hours</p></div></div><p>The Vespera Pro arrives in a heavy shipping box, inside which the telescope is well-protected in a smart, foam-lined metal case. Inside the case is the telescope wrapped in a protective sheath, the tripod legs and the mount. The tripod is only a small table-top support for the telescope – if you want to image something close to the horizon, you’re probably going to need to position it somewhere high, which then brings increased risk of it being knocked over. Fortunately, we found that most of the time, placing the Vespera Pro on stable ground, such as a patio or decking, or on a firm table, is quite sufficient.</p><p>The Vespera Pro is expensive. Although the quality of images from it is higher, it is debatable whether they are sufficiently better to justify such a higher price.  That said, it’s very quick and easy to set up and there’s not much more to be said – it’s the ultimate get-up-and-go telescope.</p><h3 class="article-body__section" id="section-vaonis-vespera-pro-performance"><span>Vaonis Vespera Pro: Performance</span></h3><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2133px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.26%;"><img id="GCFr5T7sGuHW8WWzSJNHo" name="vespera-pro-active-3" alt="The Vaonis Vespera Pro pointed upwards in a backyard with a cat in the background." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GCFr5T7sGuHW8WWzSJNHo.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2133" height="1200" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">During observation, the Vaonis Vespera Pro looks sleek and modern. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Gemma Lavender)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="5">★ ★ ★ ★ </h2><ul><li><strong>Quick deep-sky imaging </strong></li><li><strong>High-resolution images of star clusters and galaxies</strong></li><li><strong>Wide field of view</strong></li></ul><p>Our first run of observations took place in the evening, more than an hour after sunset. Despite light pollution to the north and a last-quarter moon, the Vespera Pro was able to cut through the conditions like a knife through butter. By incrementally adding 10-second exposures (you can vary the length of exposure up to 30 seconds), the image builds up on the screen of your tablet or smartphone.</p><p>Our first target was Messier 13 (M13), the Great Globular Cluster in the constellation of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/hercules-constellation-guide-history-astronomy">Hercules</a>. Through an eyepiece on a traditional telescope, M13 looks like a fuzzy blob. Within seconds, the Vespera Pro was resolving individual stars in this cluster that is home to hundreds of thousands of stars. Chains of stars radiating from the dense core could be seen, and stars could be resolved all the way into the core. It is a stunning sight, and the Vespera Pro was also able to capture the small magnitude 11.6 spiral galaxy NGC 6207, which appears close to M13 in the sky. The bright bulge of NGC 6207 and its fuzzy disk could be clearly seen. However, in an exposure lasting 5 minutes and 30 stacked exposures, the Vespera Pro did not show another small galaxy, IC 4617, that shines at magnitude 15, close to M13.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2132px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.29%;"><img id="voBUdZXHA2uDQkomHfaMT" name="hercules-globular-cluster" alt="The Hercules globular cluster (M13) as image with the Vaonis Vespera Pro." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/voBUdZXHA2uDQkomHfaMT.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2132" height="1200" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">The Great Globular Cluster in Hercules (M13) with the very small galaxy NGC 6207 on the left. Shot with Vaonis Vespera Pro | Exposure time: 5 minutes (30 frames) | Bortle class 4 </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Gemma Lavender)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Speaking of galaxies, one of the others that we targeted with the Vespera Pro was the popular targets of Messier 81 (M81) and Messier 82 (M82) in the constellation of Ursa Major. M81 is a spiral galaxy tilted at a shallow angle towards us, showing off much of its spiral disk. M82, on the other hand, is seen edge-on, is very dusty and has an active core. It was able to capture both galaxies, which are 31 arcminutes apart — the same as the angular diameter of the full Moon - in the same field of view, M82 at the center, and M81 at the top of the frame. Exposure time was 7 minutes 30 seconds, containing 45 stacked images.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2133px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.26%;"><img id="GzDq9QaeKv2yK8tRGoYPnf" name="m81-m82" alt="The Cigar Galaxy (M82) with M81 as imaged by the Vaonis Vespera Pro." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GzDq9QaeKv2yK8tRGoYPnf.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2133" height="1200" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">The galaxies Messier 82 (center) and Messier 81 (top). Shot with Vaonis Vespera Pro | Exposure time: 7 minutes 30 seconds (45 frames) | Bortle class 4 </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Gemma Lavender)</span></figcaption></figure><p>The dark dust lanes in M82 that cut across perpendicular to its edge-on disk were visible, although details in these dust lanes could not be resolved. M81 appeared larger, but its lower surface brightness meant that its disk was less defined, although its core was bright. The spiral structure in the disk was hinted at, and a longer exposure might accentuate its spiral structure better, particularly if using <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://vaonis.com/collections/accessoires?filter.p.product_type=Filter" target="_blank">Vaonis’ dual-band or light-pollution filters</a>, which are available separately (priced $399 and $229, respectively).</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2134px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.23%;"><img id="KGcAYiuzoMAo58sZBRJKA" name="vespera-pro-filters" alt="The Vespera Light Pollution Filter, Vespera Dual Band Filter and Vespera Solar Filter with boxes on a grey table with grass at the side." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KGcAYiuzoMAo58sZBRJKA.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2134" height="1200" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Vaonis offers a trio of different filters to buy separately: A dual-band filter for nebulas, a solar filter for solar imaging and a light pollution filter for observing in bright locations.  </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Gemma Lavender)</span></figcaption></figure><p>The Vespera Pro is more suited for imaging mainly large or closer deep-sky objects, as well as the sun and the moon. Because of the wide field of view, planets, planetary nebulas and distant galaxies are too small and can be a struggle to make out in detail.  The Vespera Pro really proves its mettle with large objects - the Great Cluster of Hercules, Messier 13, which spans over 15 arcseconds in angular diameter on the sky, stood out well. Large emission nebulas, such as the Orion Nebula or the North America Nebula in Cygnus, fill the field of view nicely and the Vespera Pro offers a view you can never have through an eyepiece.  It’s a wonderful experience to watch a star-forming nebula or a faraway galaxy gradually emerge out of the darkness. You can also take full-disc images of the Moon, or if you have <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://vaonis.com/products/vespera-solar-filter?srsltid=AfmBOorobuQarPgLhkmhOJkze-e-1L-LwqLxrdPPhPHUXnLPq4dWjuZF" target="_blank">Vaonis’ solar filter</a> (at an additional cost of $179), images of the sun.</p><p>We did take the Vespera Pro to a very dark site (Bortle class 2) but had difficulty acquiring targets and we had to input new coordinates for the telescope to plate solve and target accurately – by which time the clouds rolled in. So it is important to remember that the entire setup has to be done from the beginning when observing from a new location.</p><p>Each of the three models makes use of Sony IMX color imaging sensors, but the Pro has the best of the bunch, the IMX 676 chip with 12MP (3536 x 3536 pixels) – just what you would expect from a telescope described as ‘pro’. The image quality is therefore superior to the other models – it has greater resolution (down to 1.6 arcseconds - test this on some tight double stars), a field of view of 1.6 square degrees that’s larger than the original Vespera but not as wide as the Vespera II, so objects don’t appear quite so lost in the frame.</p><h3 class="article-body__section" id="section-vaonis-vespera-pro-functionality"><span>Vaonis Vespera Pro: Functionality</span></h3><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2134px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.23%;"><img id="AHoWrJzXobiioEyGiFKNR" name="vespera-pro-active-7" alt="Vaonis Vespera Pro pointed upwards with solar filter attached." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AHoWrJzXobiioEyGiFKNR.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2134" height="1200" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Gemma Lavender)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="6">★ ★ ★ ★ </h2><ul><li><strong>Free Singularity app can be downloaded easily</strong></li><li><strong>App is very intuitive to use, and offers many observing modes and imaging targets</strong></li><li><strong>Ability to store or share all of your images using the app</strong></li></ul><p>The Vaonis Vespera Pro is a smart telescope, which means that it’s a little different to an ordinary telescope. For one thing, there is no eyepiece! This isn’t a telescope that you look through. Instead, the onboard computer takes the images and wirelessly transfers it to your phone or tablet.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2134px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.23%;"><img id="miopZXTMo4UsDw6hzEPX3o" name="singularity-screenshot" alt="A screenshot of the Vaonis Singularity app showing observable celestial objects." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/miopZXTMo4UsDw6hzEPX3o.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2134" height="1200" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">The Singularity App offers recommended visible deep sky objects for quick observation. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Gemma Lavender)</span></figcaption></figure><p>The interface is Vaonis’ Singularity app, available to download for free from the App Store or Google Play store. There’s a QR code that takes you straight to the download page. Once you’ve downloaded it, you then need to set up the Wi-Fi connection between your device and the telescope. You do this by touching the round power button on the side of the Vespera. The button flashes with either a blue or red light three times (your choice of color, but red preserves night vision) as it powers up and then turns a solid red to indicate that it is now operational.</p><p>You can then go to the Wi-Fi connection set-up on your phone or tablet and you should then see the Vespera listed as an available Wi-Fi network that you can select and join. What’s neat is that up to eight people can join and see what the telescope is imaging, although only one user is designated as the controller. This makes it ideal for outreach work with small groups.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2133px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.26%;"><img id="6kehbDmRC9x8Pf3o9rSnp" name="vespera-pro-red" alt="The Vaonis Vespera Pro in neutral position with the power button visible with trees and grass in the background." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6kehbDmRC9x8Pf3o9rSnp.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2133" height="1200" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">The red light around the power button indicates that the Vespera Pro is operational and helps to preserve night vision.  </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Gemma Lavender)</span></figcaption></figure><p>The Singularity app will then give you the opportunity to name your telescope and select its location, before you click the Initialize button. The telescope’s arm slowly swings out and it begins ‘plate solving’ to determine where it is pointing in the sky. Plate solving involves imaging parts of the sky and then matching them up with maps of the sky stored in its computer. Then it focuses, and you’re ready to begin. It takes about five minutes for this setup process, but it feels longer as you eagerly await its completion.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2133px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.26%;"><img id="yHNP94foJwcmC8xPFQyAe" name="vespera-pro-active-5" alt="A side on view of the Vaonis Vespera Pro pointing up with grass and plants in the background." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yHNP94foJwcmC8xPFQyAe.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2133" height="1200" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">The Vaonis Vespera Pro takes about five minutes to 'plate-solve' and orient itself for accurate observation of targets.  </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Gemma Lavender)</span></figcaption></figure><p>There are a number of options for selecting targets using the Singularity app. It offers up a selection of prominent targets that are available that night, or you can manually search for a target, for example via its Messier or NGC designation. Just select your target and the telescope will swivel and the arm will lower or raise to point at the target, autofocus, and then begin imaging in ten-second incremental exposures.</p><p>You see the image build up over time on your phone or tablet screen as more and more light is gathered, steadily improving the signal-to-noise ratio. Exposures can be as short or as long as you wish, though five minutes to fifty are probably enough depending upon how faint the target is. Once you’ve finished, you press the stop button and the image is automatically saved onto your device.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2133px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.26%;"><img id="U74QRQQgFmF2fEAiHeLJ9" name="vespera-pro-usbc" alt="The bottom of Vaonis Vespera Pro showing the USB-C port with trees and grass in the background." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/U74QRQQgFmF2fEAiHeLJ9.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2133" height="1200" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">A USB-C port on the side of the telescope is used for charging. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Gemma Lavender)</span></figcaption></figure><p>There are different modes that you can use. ‘Expert’ lets you customise the exposure times and other image settings, while ‘Plan My Night’ allows you to program the telescope to perform imaging on a sequence of chosen targets. As long as your phone or tablet is within five meters of the telescope it will keep working, so you can leave your device next to the telescope while you do something else.</p><p>It’s also got a much longer battery life, of 11 hours (this, of course, is subject to environmental conditions - it will drain faster in colder weather) compared to the eight hours of the original Vespera and the paltry four-hour battery life of the Vespera II.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2134px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.23%;"><img id="UUeGhhCgKxmxd6FsKMApf" name="vevspera-pro-solar" alt="The Vaonis Vespera Pro with solar filter pointing upwards with grass in the background." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UUeGhhCgKxmxd6FsKMApf.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2134" height="1200" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">The Vespera Pro features a solar mode for imaging the sun's disc. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Gemma Lavender)</span></figcaption></figure><p>There’s also a solar mode for imaging the sun, but it is important to note that you must use the separate Vaonis solar filter to prevent damaging your telescope’s electronics. Because during the day, no other stars are on show, the Vespera Pro cannot plate solve to find where the Sun is in the sky, so there is a different process that the Singularity app takes you through, safely aligning the telescope for solar observation.</p><h3 class="article-body__section" id="section-vaonis-vespera-pro-user-reviews"><span>Vaonis Vespera Pro: User reviews</span></h3><p>On Amazon the Vaonis Vespera Pro meets with broad approval, with 3.8 out of 5 stars from 10 reviews. The positive reviews praise its ease-of-use and quality of imaging describing its “amazing sights”, but some negative reviews highlight poor after-sales support from Vaonis, its high price — “if you want a budget telescope, this isn’t it” and difficulty downloading files from it.</p><h3 class="article-body__section" id="section-how-we-tested-the-vaonis-vespera-pro"><span>How we tested the Vaonis Vespera Pro</span></h3><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2133px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.26%;"><img id="4rrPbYx8TqVH3ygB8yTem" name="vespera-pro-active-2" alt="The Vaonis Vespera Pro pointed at the sky in a backyard." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4rrPbYx8TqVH3ygB8yTem.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2133" height="1200" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">We tested the Vaonis Vespera Pro on the edge of a town with a Bortle scale of three to four.  </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Gemma Lavender)</span></figcaption></figure><p>The Vaonis Vespera Pro was used from the patio of a south-facing garden in the United Kingdom, on the edge of a town with a Bortle scale of three to four. Observations took place in mid-April 2025, with a last-quarter Moon in the sky. Conditions were fair to good on the clearest of nights, with an average atmospheric pressure of approximately 30 Hg throughout our test run with no wind.</p><h3 class="article-body__section" id="section-should-you-buy-the-vaonis-vespera-pro"><span>Should you buy the Vaonis Vespera Pro?</span></h3><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">Buy it if:</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text">✅ <strong>You have a large budget: </strong>The Vaonis Vespera Pro comes in at $2990 before additional filter purchases but is worth it for easy and premium astrophotography.</p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">✅ <strong>You want easy images of nebulas and larger deep sky objects: </strong>The Vaonis Vespera Pro has a wide field-of-view and is good for capturing expansive nebulas, especially when combined with the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://vaonis.com/products/vespera-dual-band-filter?_pos=3&_fid=8bb7dacb7&_ss=c" target="_blank">Vaonis dual-band filter</a>.</p></div></div><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">Don't buy it if:</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text">❌ <strong>You want to do planetary imaging: </strong>The wide-field of view on this telescope makes it unsuitable for imaging of smaller celestial objects such as planets, planetary nebulas and small galaxies.</p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">❌ <strong>You prefer to look through an eyepiece: </strong>If you prefer observing through an eyepiece, you might be better off looking at a traditional <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/15693-telescopes-beginners-telescope-reviews-buying-guide.html">telescope</a> or a smart telescope with an eyepiece like the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/unistellar-odyssey-review">Unistellar Odyssey Pro</a> or the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/unistellar-evscope-2-telescope-review">Unistellar eVscope 2</a>.</p></div></div><p>The Vaonis Vespera Pro is ideal for beginners or more experienced observers who want a way of imaging quickly. It is also useful for outreach, where up to eight people can join on Wi-Fi and have the images on their devices in real-time. The two-inch (50 mm) aperture is competitive amongst most of the other <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/best-smart-telescopes">smart telescopes</a> on the market and the big, bright deep-sky objects in particular image extremely well. Users who have never imaged before will be amazed by the ease with which they can produce pictures of galaxies, nebulas and star clusters.</p><p>However, if you are a dedicated astro-imager wanting the best, largest optics for mono-imaging with narrowband filters or if you are a planetary imager, then you might feel that the Vespera Pro does not fulfil your needs. In that sense, its imaging abilities are fairly limited, but it is the ultimate grab-and-go imaging device for the casual observer.</p><h3 class="article-body__section" id="section-if-the-vaonis-vespera-pro-isn-t-for-you"><span>If the Vaonis Vespera Pro isn't for you</span></h3><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">Related articles</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text"><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/15693-telescopes-beginners-telescope-reviews-buying-guide.html">Best telescopes</a><br><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/best-smart-telescopes">Best smart telescopes<br></a><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/31229-best-beginner-telescopes.html">Best beginner telescopes<br></a><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/best-telescopes-for-deep-space">Best telescopes for deep space<br></a><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/29798-best-telescopes-for-kids.html">Best telescopes for kids<br></a><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/best-telescopes-for-seeing-planets">Best telescopes for seeing planets<br></a><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/26021-best-binoculars.html">Best binoculars</a><br><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/best-monocular">Best monocular</a><br><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/best-binoculars-for-kids">Best binoculars for kids</a></p></div></div><p>Vaonis has two other smart telescopes, the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/vaonis-vespera-observation-station-smart-telescope-review">original Vespera</a> and the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/vaonis-vespera-ii-smart-telescope-review">Vespera II</a>. ZWO are also offering stiff competition with their high-quality but budget-friendly <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/zwo-seestar-s50-smart-telescope-review">SeeStar S50</a> and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/stargazing/astronomy-kit/zwo-seestar-s30-all-in-one-smart-telescope-review">Seestar S30</a>. Celestron has also entered the smart telescope market with their <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/celestron-origin-intelligent-home-observatory-smart-telescope-review">Origin Intelligent Home Observatory</a>, which is even more expensive than the Vespera Pro at $3999 but has a far larger aperture of 6-inches (152mm).</p> ]]></dc:content>
270.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/stargazing/skywatching-kit/vaonis-vespera-pro-smart-telescope-review</link>
271.                                                                            <description>
272.                            <![CDATA[ Shorter version of strapline ]]>
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276.                                                                        <pubDate>Wed, 17 Sep 2025 11:48:45 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Skywatching Kit]]></category>
277.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Stargazing]]></category>
278.                                                                                                <author><![CDATA[ gemma.lavender@futurenet.com (Gemma Lavender) ]]></author>                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Gemma Lavender ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QSehmfAYb2hcPTVQgL93KG-1280-80.jpg">
279.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Gemma Lavender]]></media:credit>
280.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[The Vaonis Vespera Pro smart telescope pointing at the sky on a brown table with grass in the background.]]></media:text>
281.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[The Vaonis Vespera Pro smart telescope pointing at the sky on a brown table with grass in the background.]]></media:title>
282.                                                    </media:content>
283.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QSehmfAYb2hcPTVQgL93KG-1280-80.jpg" />
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286.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ A Girl Scout was injured in a remote California canyon. Here's how satellites got help to her in minutes ]]></title>
287.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>A Girl Scout who fell into a canyon during a hike in a remote, mountainous part of Southern California earlier this year was rescued within hours after suffering a potentially dangerous concussion thanks to a direct-to-cell satellite service that enables users to get in touch with 911 using a regular smartphone in the absence of terrestrial cell phone coverage.</p><p>Owners of the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://support.apple.com/en-gb/105097" target="_blank">newest iPhones</a> have been able to text 911 in emergency situations via satellites circling the planet in <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/low-earth-orbit">low Earth orbit</a> since late 2022. Those phones, however, needed <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.androidauthority.com/smartphone-satellite-connectivity-3295162/" target="_blank">specialized antennas</a> to connect to dedicated satellite communications frequencies.</p><p>The life-saving service, which automatically shares the caller's precise location, became more widely available earlier this year after mobile operator T-Mobile turned on its text-to-911 service in cooperation with <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/18853-spacex.html">SpaceX</a>'s Starlink satellites for all existing cell phones less than four years old. The service has been available in <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.androidpolice.com/t-mobile-starlink-beta-testing-explainer/#:~:text=Sending%20text%20messages%20under%20the,Mobile%20states%20on%20its%20website." target="_blank">beta testing since February</a> and came fully online this summer.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_dM5TI6lj_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="dM5TI6lj">            <div id="botr_dM5TI6lj_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/24839-satellites.html">Satellite</a> emergency text messaging is now being integrated into the U.S.-wide next-generation 911 (NG911) system that allows people in distress to send text messages instead of calling 911 to get help, John Snapp, vice president of technology at Intrado, told Space.com.</p><p>Intrado is a Nebraska-based public safety communications provider, which developed the infrastructure to incorporate satellite networks into the NG911 system. The company's Emergency Call Relay Center (ECRC) handled the 911 text message sent out by the distressed <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/rescue-underway-for-an-unconscious-young-girl-on-a-girl-scouts-outing-in-los-padres-national-forest/ar-AA1HaRWG" target="_blank">Girl Scout</a> leaders on June 22 of this year after one of their charges slipped and fell into a canyon while exploring the 3,694-foot (1,126 meters) mountain Pico Blanco, in Los Padres National Forest near Big Sur, California.</p><p>The troop of seven teenage girls and their leaders were looking forward to an adventurous night in nature. But the overnight hike took a serious turn when the girl fell, losing consciousness. If not for the recently enabled satellite emergency messaging service, the accident could have ended in tragedy.</p><p>"In the past, they would have to send somebody to hike out and find a spot with regular terrestrial signal and hope that they would find their way back and guide the rescue team there," Snapp said.</p><p>Cell phone coverage is extremely patchy in Los Padres National Forest due to its rugged terrain and remoteness. Although the park attracts millions of nature-loving visitors every year, terrestrial cell phone signal quickly wanes once one wanders off populated areas and away from main roads.</p><p>"When people are lost in remote areas with no knowledge of their location and cellular coverage is too weak for standard communication, pinpointing a 911 caller becomes extraordinarily challenging," Intrado ECRC Manager Jason Davis, who coordinated the emergency response, told Space.com. "In this rescue operation, satellite technology proved absolutely critical. Without satellite-enabled communication and precise location identification, this rescue could have stretched from hours into days, requiring extensive search teams and additional resources to locate the missing hikers."</p><p>Instead, satellite-enabled supplemental coverage from space allowed Intrado's ECRC team to immediately identify the caller's exact position and rapidly coordinate with local first responders. The first helicopter was dispatched in minutes to retrieve the injured girl; a second chopper followed about an hour later to bring the rest of the troop to safety.</p><p>Snapp said that terrestrial cellular networks cover only about 80% of U.S. territory. The scenic slopes of the Los Padres National Forest are among the remaining 20% of the U.S. landmass that, prior to the introduction of satellite direct-to-cell services, was completely off-grid.</p><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">RELATED STORIES</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-satellites.html">Starlink satellites: Facts, tracking and impact on astronomy</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/43202-earth-satellites-save-lives-natural-disasters.html">How satellites save lives during natural disasters</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-launches-20-starlink-satellites-to-orbit-from-california">SpaceX completes 1st Starlink direct-to-cell constellation with launch from California (video)</a></p></div></div><p><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-satellites.html">Starlink</a> was founded with the mission to provide broadband connectivity to remote areas around the world. Out of its fleet of around 8,000 satellites currently in orbit, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2025/03/fcc-allows-spacex-starlink-direct-to-cellphone-power-for-4g-5g-speeds.html" target="_blank">over 500 enable direct-to-cell text messaging</a>. Other satellite operators are working to support direct-to-cell services as well. <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/smart-living/everything-you-need-to-know-about/direct-to-smartphone-satellite-service-everything-you-need-to-know/" target="_blank">Vodafone</a> and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://about.att.com/story/2025/ast-spacemobile-video-call.html" target="_blank">AT&T</a> have partnerships to provide 4G and 5G connectivity via satellite with AST SpaceMobile. The early Apple service relied mostly on the U.S. constellations Iridium and GlobalStar, which are otherwise known for providing satellite telephony requiring dedicated and rather costly handsets.</p><p>"The important thing is that these services now work completely seamlessly on the phone," Snapp said. "The satellite is like just another cell tower, only in space, and the phone is constantly looking for a cell site to connect with. It gives you ubiquitous coverage wherever people are."</p><p>Snapp said the technology will be a gamechanger for adventurers of all sorts — and also mariners sailing in international waters worldwide, which are out of the reach of cell towers.</p> ]]></dc:content>
288.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/space-exploration/satellites/a-girl-scout-was-injured-in-a-remote-california-canyon-heres-how-satellites-got-help-to-her-in-minutes</link>
289.                                                                            <description>
290.                            <![CDATA[ "Without satellite-enabled communication and precise location identification, this rescue could have stretched from hours into days." ]]>
291.                                                                                                            </description>
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294.                                                                        <pubDate>Wed, 17 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Satellites]]></category>
295.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Space Exploration]]></category>
296.                                                                                                <author><![CDATA[ tereza.pultarova@futurenet.com (Tereza Pultarova) ]]></author>                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Tereza Pultarova ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qZbWSbPHuvuv6TYxq8Npjc-1280-80.jpg">
297.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[S. Rae CC BY 2.0]]></media:credit>
298.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[photo of a forested mountain peak under blue skies]]></media:text>
299.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[photo of a forested mountain peak under blue skies]]></media:title>
300.                                                    </media:content>
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304.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Northrop Grumman's 'Cygnus XL' cargo spacecraft suffers thruster issue on way to the International Space Station ]]></title>
305.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p><em><strong>Update for 11 p.m. EDT on Sept. 17: </strong></em><em>The Cygnus XL overcame its thruster issue and is now on track to rendezvous with the space station on Thursday (Sept. 18) at 7:18 a.m. EDT (1118 GMT), </em><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2025/09/17/nasa-northrop-grumman-go-to-proceed-with-cygnus-xl-station-arrival/" target="_blank"><em>according to NASA officials</em></a><em>.</em></p><p>The debut mission of Northrop Grumman's new jumbo cargo spacecraft didn't go off without a hitch.</p><p>The company's first "Cygnus XL" freighter suffered a thruster issue in orbit early Tuesday morning (Sept. 16), two days after <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-launch-cygnus-ng-23-cargo-mission-international-space-station">launching </a>toward the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/16748-international-space-station.html">International Space Station</a> (ISS) atop a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/18853-spacex.html">SpaceX</a> Falcon 9 rocket.</p><p>As a result, "the Cygnus XL will not arrive to the space station on Wednesday, Sept. 17, as originally planned, with a new arrival date and time under review," NASA officials announced in an update on Tuesday afternoon.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_5MmQe3cX_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="5MmQe3cX">            <div id="botr_5MmQe3cX_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>The Cygnus XL's "main engine stopped earlier than planned during two burns designed to raise the orbit of the spacecraft for rendezvous with the space station, where it will deliver 11,000 pounds of scientific investigations and cargo to the orbiting laboratory for NASA," agency officials added in the update. "All other Cygnus XL systems are performing normally."</p><p>Cygnus XL is the latest version of Virginia-based Northrop Grumman's <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/cygnus-spacecraft.html">Cygnus</a> freighter. Previous iterations hauled about 8,500 pounds (3,856 kg) to the ISS.</p><p>The current mission is known as NG-23, because it was supposed to be the 23rd cargo effort that Northrop Grumman flies to the ISS for NASA. But the 22nd was <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/nasa-cancels-cargo-launch-to-iss-due-to-damaged-cygnus-spacecraft">canceled</a> after the Cygnus was damaged during transport to the launch site.</p><p>Cygnus is one of three freighters that resupply the ISS, along with SpaceX's <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/18852-spacex-dragon.html">Dragon</a> capsule and Russia's <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/32645-progress-spacecraft.html">Progress</a> vehicle.</p><p>Cygnus and Progress are expendable, while Dragon is reusable. The NG-23 Cygnus XL — named S.S. William "Willie" McCool, after one of the astronauts who died in the 2003 <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/19436-columbia-disaster.html">Columbia space shuttle disaster</a> — is slated to stay attached to the ISS until March 2026, when it will depart to burn up in <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/17683-earth-atmosphere.html">Earth's atmosphere</a>.</p> ]]></dc:content>
306.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/northrop-grummans-cygnus-xl-cargo-spacecraft-suffers-thruster-issue-on-way-to-the-international-space-station</link>
307.                                                                            <description>
308.                            <![CDATA[ Northrop Grumman's new "Cygnus XL" cargo ship won't arrive at the ISS on Wednesday morning (Sept. 17) as planned after suffering a thruster issue in orbit. ]]>
309.                                                                                                            </description>
310.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">KtYBShBmSMBjNq7K5BsQjj</guid>
311.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/awPfrRztmxpXUukmaMa6GC-1280-80.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure>
312.                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2025 23:37:22 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[International Space Station]]></category>
313.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Space Exploration]]></category>
314.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Missions]]></category>
315.                                                                                                <author><![CDATA[ mwall@space.com (Mike Wall) ]]></author>                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Mike Wall ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/awPfrRztmxpXUukmaMa6GC-1280-80.jpg">
316.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[NASA]]></media:credit>
317.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[Northrop Grumman’s 21st Cygnus cargo craft, with its prominent cymbal-shaped UltraFlex solar arrays, is pictured in the grips of the Canadarm2 robotic arm shortly after its capture on Aug. 6, 2024.]]></media:text>
318.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Northrop Grumman’s 21st Cygnus cargo craft, with its prominent cymbal-shaped UltraFlex solar arrays, is pictured in the grips of the Canadarm2 robotic arm shortly after its capture on Aug. 6, 2024.]]></media:title>
319.                                                    </media:content>
320.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/awPfrRztmxpXUukmaMa6GC-1280-80.jpg" />
321.                                                                                        </item>
322.                    <item>
323.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ 'We're really on a different trajectory': How NASA's Artemis moon missions aim to prepare us for Mars ]]></title>
324.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>As NASA prepares to put astronauts on the moon in the next few years, the agency is thinking about "how to live and operate away from the Earth, on other planets" — especially Mars.</p><p>Those comments were delivered during a virtual <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/nasa-preps-key-piece-of-artemis-iv-moon-rocket-for-lunar-mission-space-photo-of-the-day-for-july-17-2025">Artemis 4</a> landing site science <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://sservi.nasa.gov/lssw/artemis-iv-landing-site-workshop/" target="_blank">workshop on Sept. 10</a> by Jacob Bleacher, chief exploration scientist at <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/38700-nasa-history.html">NASA</a>. Bleacher, a planetary geologist by training, has a mandate from NASA for "technology and architecture development to enable human exploration of the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/55-earths-moon-formation-composition-and-orbit.html">moon</a> and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/47-mars-the-red-planet-fourth-planet-from-the-sun.html">Mars</a>," his agency biography <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.nasa.gov/people/jacob-bleacher/" target="_blank">states</a>.</p><p>Bleacher said the greater <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/artemis-program.html">Artemis program</a> will eventually be aiming for far longer stays on the moon than the short two- or three-day <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/apollo-program-overview.html">Apollo missions</a> of the 1960s and 1970s achieved. "We have learned from going to the moon in the past with Apollo, but we're really on a different trajectory here," he said. "We want to begin to learn how to live away from the Earth."</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_mA6VvQe8_ANn1bv7q_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="ANn1bv7q"            data-playlist-id="mA6VvQe8">            <div id="botr_mA6VvQe8_ANn1bv7q_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>The workshop was meant to ask scientists and other community participants for "science figures of merit" to help "evaluate and prioritize candidate landing sites with the highest science potential," the agency added. Some of the factors being considered include learning about evolution of planets, the processes that influence lunar regolith or dust, as well as objectives in fields like <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/58-the-sun-formation-facts-and-characteristics.html">sun</a> science or physical sciences.</p><p>NASA didn't conduct the workshop in isolation. Over the last decade, scientists have gained a better understanding of the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/the-universe/moon/the-shape-of-the-moons-oldest-crater-could-impact-nasas-artemis-missions-heres-how">South Pole-Aitken basin in which Artemis astronauts will land</a>. That science was said to be one of the highest priorities of both the 2013 and 2023 planetary decadal surveys, which are essentially agreements by that community about which space missions to prioritize for science objectives, among other documents.</p><p>Artemis 4 is officially slated to launch no earlier than 2028, although that is pending progress of other missions of the Artemis program. (For perspective, NASA has not yet launched any astronauts on the program, although one crew — for the moon-circling <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/artemis-2-humans-moon-orbit">Artemis 2</a> mission — is readying for a launch as soon as April 2026.)</p><p>Artemis 4 astronauts will spend six days on the moon's surface, return lunar soil samples to Earth, collect data using astronaut observations and mission instruments, and execute up to four extravehicular activities (moonwalks) ranging as far as 1.2 miles (2 km) from the mission's lander, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://sservi.nasa.gov/lssw/artemis-iv-landing-site-workshop/" target="_blank">NASA materials state</a>.</p><p>Picking an exact landing site will take some time, although NASA will place the mission in the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/moon-artemis-3-landing-site-nasa-shadowcam">south pole region of the moon</a> where ice and other critical minerals <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/moon-lunar-ice-poles-artemis-program">may be available for astronauts to use</a> for future excursions.</p><p>And part of what Bleacher would like to see is not only infrastructure for longer lunar missions, but incentive for commercial industry to work alongside the agency for the long haul. He emphasized that the expense and complication of lunar missions means NASA will continue to seek partners, meaning both U.S. commercial partners and international agencies.</p><p>"What we're trying to understand is, what do we — NASA, the United States government — need to put in place that welcomes and encourages that partnership so that we really can develop that longer term presence on the moon, maybe even permanent presence on the moon? And what really drives the development of that lunar economy? Who wants to be there, who wants to be working there, and what can we provide to get that foothold?"</p><p>As the name implies, Artemis 4 will be the fourth mission of the larger Artemis program, including dozens of other nations working together under the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/artemis-accords-explained">Artemis Accords</a>, that seeks to put astronaut boots on the moon again while establishing an American-led framework for deep space exploration.</p><p>An uncrewed mission called <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/artemis-1-going-back-to-the-moon">Artemis 1</a> flew around the moon and back again in 2022. Four astronauts aim to do the same next year aboard <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/artemis-2-humans-moon-orbit">Artemis 2</a>: NASA's <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/nasa-astronaut-reid-wiseman-space-biography">Reid Wiseman</a>, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/victor-glover.html">Victor Glover</a> and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/christina-koch">Christina Koch</a>, as well as <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/22534-canadian-space-agency.html">Canadian Space Agency</a> astronaut <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/artemis-2-moon-astronaut-canada-jeremy-hansen">Jeremy Hansen</a>.</p><p>The next mission would be <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/artemis-3-moon-landing-mission">Artemis 3</a>, currently aiming for a moon landing. NASA's official schedule has a target date of 2027, but that is pending readiness of SpaceX's <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/spacex-and-nasa-show-off-how-starship-will-help-astronauts-land-on-the-moon-images">Starship Human Landing System (HLS)</a> to carry humans for a landing. Artemis 4 would be the next mission after that.</p> ]]></dc:content>
325.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/were-really-on-a-different-trajectory-how-nasas-artemis-moon-missions-can-help-prepare-us-for-mars</link>
326.                                                                            <description>
327.                            <![CDATA[ NASA is working on finding landing sites for future moon astronauts. Part of the work includes thinking about how to prepare for eventual Mars missions with astronauts. ]]>
328.                                                                                                            </description>
329.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">ufMX6ubJa3sMD3EJA9msm</guid>
330.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gHvjmC5EthYrxK6UfPS4vg-1280-80.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure>
331.                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2025 22:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Artemis]]></category>
332.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Space Exploration]]></category>
333.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Missions]]></category>
334.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Elizabeth Howell ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gHvjmC5EthYrxK6UfPS4vg-1280-80.jpg">
335.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[NASA]]></media:credit>
336.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[Artistic depiction of NASA astronauts at the lunar south pole carrying out early work to establish an Artemis Base Camp. ]]></media:text>
337.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Artistic depiction of NASA astronauts at the lunar south pole carrying out early work to establish an Artemis Base Camp. ]]></media:title>
338.                                                    </media:content>
339.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gHvjmC5EthYrxK6UfPS4vg-1280-80.jpg" />
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341.                    <item>
342.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Doomed 'cannibal' star could soon explode in a supernova so bright it would be visible during the day ]]></title>
343.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>Betelgeuse may have competition for the most exciting star about to go nova near Earth.</p><p>Astronomers have discovered the secret of a strange star system that has baffled them for years, finding it contains a dead star about to erupt after overfeeding on a stellar companion. The <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/6638-supernova.html">supernova</a> explosion of this cosmic cannibal could be as bright as the moon, making it visible with the naked eye over Earth even in broad daylight.</p><p>The system in question is the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/22509-binary-stars.html">double star</a> V Sagittae located around 10,000 light-years from Earth, containing a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/23756-white-dwarf-stars.html">white dwarf</a> stellar remnant and its victim companion star, which orbit each other roughly twice every Earth day. The new research and the revelation of this white dwarf's imminent catastrophic fate answer questions about V Sagittae that have lingered for 123 years!</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_UfcwpO2A_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="UfcwpO2A">            <div id="botr_UfcwpO2A_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>"V Sagittae is no ordinary star system - it's the brightest of its kind and has baffled experts since it was first discovered in 1902," team member and University of Southampton researcher Phil Charles <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk/news/2025/09/hungry-star-is-eating-its-cosmic-twin.page" target="_blank">said in a statement</a>. "Our study shows that this extreme brightness is down to the white dwarf sucking the life out of its companion star, using the accreted matter to turn it into a blazing inferno.</p><p>"It's a process so intense that it's going thermonuclear on the white dwarf's surface, shining like a beacon in the night sky."</p><h2 id="final-fate-of-a-cosmic-cannibal-2">Final fate of a cosmic cannibal</h2><p>White dwarfs represent the final stage of stars with masses around that of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/58-the-sun-formation-facts-and-characteristics.html">the sun</a>, occurring when they run out of fuel for <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/what-is-nuclear-fusion">nuclear fusion</a>. Indeed, our star will end its life as a cooling white dwarf when it runs out of hydrogen in around 5 billion to 6 billion years.</p><p>While this smoldering cosmic ember state represents the end for single stars going out with a whimper rather than a bang, white dwarfs that have a stellar companion can get a second lease on life and a more conclusive and explosive end. This happens when its dense stellar corpse is close enough to its companion star to allow its gravity to begin stripping away the partner's stellar material.</p><p>This material can't fall straight to the white dwarf because it has angular momentum, or spin. That means it forms a swirling, flattened cloud of matter around the white dwarf called an <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/supermassive-black-hole-disk-on-edge-first-time">accretion disk</a>, which gradually dumps matter to its surface.</p><p>This situation continues, and the stolen stellar material piles up on the surface of the white dwarf until it pushes this stellar remnant past the so-called <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/chandrasekhar-limit">Chandrasekhar limit</a> of 1.4 solar masses. This is the mass limit that a stellar remnant has to exceed to trigger a supernova. The result is a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/19198-most-distant-supernova-hubble-discovery-aas221.html">Type Ia supernova</a> that usually completely destroys the greedy white dwarf star.</p><p>However, this team found something very different and extraordinary happening with the stellar material being stolen by the white dwarf in V Sagittae.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:424px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:128.77%;"><img id="hTxcuR2mnfvMMs6a7sjRsD" name="swinburne.png" alt="A diagram showing an orange orb growing larger" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hTxcuR2mnfvMMs6a7sjRsD.png" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="424" height="546" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">An example of how a white dwarf can "feed" on a companion star. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: winburne University of Technology)</span></figcaption></figure><p>The team uncovered the violent nature of V Sagittae using the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/40736-very-large-telescope.html">Very Large Telescope </a>(VLT), comprised of four individual telescopes located almost 9,000 feet (2,636 meters) on Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile.</p><p>This investigation revealed that there is a giant halo of gas comprised of material stolen from the companion star wrapped around both the cannibal white dwarf <em>and</em> its stellar victim. This is the result of the incredible amount of energy being generated in the system by the white dwarf as it strips material from its companion star.</p><p>This vast system-wide gas halo indicates that the white dwarf is snatching way more matter than it can handle. It also implies that this situation isn't going to continue for long, though when the end will come for this white dwarf isn't quite certain.</p><p>"The white dwarf cannot consume all the mass being transferred from its hot star twin, so it creates this bright cosmic ring," team member Pasi Hakala from the University of Turku said. "The speed at which this doomed stellar system is lurching wildly, likely due to the extreme brightness, is a frantic sign of its imminent, violent end."</p><p>"The matter accumulating on the white dwarf is likely to produce a nova outburst in the coming years, during which V Sagittae would become visible with the naked eye," Pablo Rodríguez-Gil from Spain’s Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias said. "But when the two stars finally smash into each other and explode, this would be a supernova explosion so bright it'll be visible from Earth even in the daytime."</p><p>The team's research was published on Thursday (Sept. 11) in the journal <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://academic.oup.com/mnras/advance-article/doi/10.1093/mnras/staf1284/8233646?login=true" target="_blank">Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society</a>.</p> ]]></dc:content>
344.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/astronomy/exoplanets/doomed-cannibal-star-could-soon-explode-in-a-supernova-so-bright-it-would-be-visible-during-the-day</link>
345.                                                                            <description>
346.                            <![CDATA[ Astronomers have solved the mystery of a star that has baffled scientists for over a century, finding it is a cannibal white dwarf about to blow in an explosion that will be visible with the naked eye. ]]>
347.                                                                                                            </description>
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350.                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2025 21:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Exoplanets]]></category>
351.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Astronomy]]></category>
352.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Robert Lea ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/png" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KMr7BGvamQ7b9uvx5Fr3Jc-1280-80.png">
353.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Robert Lea (created with Cnva)]]></media:credit>
354.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[An illustration of a white dwarf about to explode as it feeds on a companion star]]></media:text>
355.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[An illustration of a white dwarf about to explode as it feeds on a companion star]]></media:title>
356.                                                    </media:content>
357.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KMr7BGvamQ7b9uvx5Fr3Jc-1280-80.png" />
358.                                                                                        </item>
359.                    <item>
360.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Surprise solar storm sparks stunning auroras across the US (photos) ]]></title>
361.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>Aurora chasers around the world were treated to dazzling shows after a "secret" island within a coronal hole triggered an unexpected strong (G3) level geomagnetic storm overnight on Sunday (Sept. 14-15).</p><p>The outburst sent <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/15139-northern-lights-auroras-earth-facts-sdcmp.html"><u>auroras</u></a> spilling far beyond their usual range, thrilling aurora chasers across the U.S.</p><p>Space weather physicist Tamitha Skov explained in her <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=YLN1e5BfIeLRV0fD&v=xzoxXGTDLyM&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">latest aurora forecast on YouTube</a> that the true culprit wasn't the big eruptions everyone was watching, but something hidden in plain sight. "The source of the big solar storm is due to this coronal hole right here, which is a really noteworthy coronal hole for a number of reasons," Skov said.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_YFY46hrE_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="YFY46hrE">            <div id="botr_YFY46hrE_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>What made this coronal hole so unusual was a subtle, but influential magnetic twist. The coronal hole had a negative polarity that wasn't supposed to give us big geomagnetic storms or subsequent auroras, Skov explained. But as it moved across the sun's disk, something changed. An "island" of positive polarity appeared in the middle of the coronal hole. "That positive polarity is what ended up giving us about 6 hours worth of really intense storming," Skov explained.</p><p>The result was a stunning aurora show. "Little things like this can really make a big difference and change a nothingburger into a G3-level solar storm," Skov said.</p><h2 id="forecasts-underestimated-the-storm-2">Forecasts underestimated the storm</h2><p>Just days earlier, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/stargazing/auroras/aurora-alert-butterfly-shaped-hole-in-suns-atmosphere-could-spark-geomagnetic-storm-sept-13-14"><u>forecasters had warned</u></a> of possible G1 (minor) to G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storms from the same butterfly-shaped coronal hole. But when the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/22215-solar-wind.html"><u>solar wind</u></a> arrived, the hidden polarity island turned what was expected to be a moderate event into a full G3 solar storm, surprising scientists and delighting skywatchers worldwide.</p><p>Geomagnetic storms are classified <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation" target="_blank"><u>using a G-scale</u></a>, which ranks their intensity from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme). Auroras occur when solar wind interacts with <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/earths-magnetic-field-explained"><u>Earth's magnetic field</u></a>. The charged particles from <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/58-the-sun-formation-facts-and-characteristics.html"><u>the sun</u></a> collide with gases in the upper atmosphere, such as oxygen and nitrogen, transferring energy to them. This energy is released as light, producing the colorful displays seen in the night sky. The stronger the solar wind, the more dynamic and widespread the auroras can become.</p><h2 class="article-body__section" id="section-northern-lights-across-the-us-photos-videos"><span>Northern lights across the US (photos & videos)</span></h2><p>The surprise solar storm delivered mesmerizing northern lights shows across the U.S.</p><p>Photographer Ross Harried captured the stunning northern lights display in the sky above Monroe, Wisconsin, U.S., on Sept. 14.</p><div class="inlinegallery  carousel-layout"><div class="inlinegallery-wrap" style="display:flex; flex-flow:row nowrap;"><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 1 of 4</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1024px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:75.00%;"><img id="uwzTcLCofmstYa59n9VbQj" name="GettyImages-2235059552 (1)" alt="northern lights above southern wisconsin appearing as curtains and pillars of magenta and green light." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uwzTcLCofmstYa59n9VbQj.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="1024" height="768" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Photo by Ross Harried/NurPhoto via Getty Images)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 2 of 4</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1024px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:75.00%;"><img id="jWQUXHSq4rY99xnCP3NtQj" name="GettyImages-2235059506" alt="northern lights above southern wisconsin appearing as curtains and pillars of magenta and green light." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jWQUXHSq4rY99xnCP3NtQj.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="1024" height="768" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Photo by Ross Harried/NurPhoto via Getty Images)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 3 of 4</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1024px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:75.00%;"><img id="5zaeJZccLwZ4kWUKTGJ9Qj" name="GettyImages-2235059947" alt="northern lights above southern wisconsin appearing as curtains and pillars of magenta and green light." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5zaeJZccLwZ4kWUKTGJ9Qj.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="1024" height="768" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Photo by Ross Harried/NurPhoto via Getty Images)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 4 of 4</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1024px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:75.00%;"><img id="tY9NAjY2cmdZ6vHtDQj2Rj" name="GettyImages-2235059612" alt="northern lights above southern wisconsin appearing as curtains and pillars of magenta and green light." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tY9NAjY2cmdZ6vHtDQj2Rj.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="1024" height="768" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Photo by Ross Harried/NurPhoto via Getty Images)</span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><p>Harried enjoyed a colorful green and purple display with vast pillars reaching high into the sky, as well as a subtle green glow as activity began to wane.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1024px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:75.00%;"><img id="zCujqKUSVsRyVH45UcoEQj" name="GettyImages-2235059715" alt="northern lights above southern wisconsin appearing as curtains and pillars of magenta and green light." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zCujqKUSVsRyVH45UcoEQj.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="1024" height="768" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Aurora borealis glowing green in rural southern Wisconsin, U.S. on Sept. 14, 2025. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Photo by Ross Harried/NurPhoto via Getty Images)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Auroras also danced above Anchorage, Alaska, U.S., on Sept. 15 during the geomagnetic storm. Photographer Hasan Akbas captured this lovely green display alongside the nearly half-lit moon.</p><div class="inlinegallery  carousel-layout"><div class="inlinegallery-wrap" style="display:flex; flex-flow:row nowrap;"><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 1 of 2</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:3840px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:66.67%;"><img id="W5PS23pcyC5hpbsegVoxvT" name="GettyImages-2235122606" alt="green northern lights above Anchorage, Alaska on Sept. 15. The aurora appears as a green ribbon in the sky." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/W5PS23pcyC5hpbsegVoxvT.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="3840" height="2560" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Photo by Hasan Akbas/Anadolu via Getty Images)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 2 of 2</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:3000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:66.67%;"><img id="TVGfa69r5ryiWZpjoXbByT" name="GettyImages-2235122592" alt="green northern lights above Anchorage, Alaska on Sept. 15. The aurora appears as a green ribbon in the sky." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TVGfa69r5ryiWZpjoXbByT.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="3000" height="2000" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Photo by Hasan Akbas/Anadolu via Getty Images)</span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><p>Many aurora chasers took to X to share their stunning aurora photos during the recent geomagnetic storm.</p><p>Photographer <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://x.com/Andrew__Towne" target="_blank">Andrew Towne</a> saw a vibrant northern lights display above Casper, Wyoming, U.S. As well as capturing a stunning shot of the Milky Way.</p><div class="see-more see-more--clipped"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet hawk-ignore" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What an #Aurora show tonight north of Casper, Wyoming (plus a bonus shot of the Milky Way)! pic.twitter.com/I2MIX6C6ZP<a href="https://twitter.com/cantworkitout/status/1967443025535402199">September 15, 2025</a></p></blockquote><div class="see-more__filter"></div></div><p><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://x.com/Tony_Rod" target="_blank">Tony Rodriguez</a> captured striking red and green aurora pillars above Seneca Lake, New York, U.S.</p><p>"Spectacular #aurora on the southern shore of Seneca Lake in NY! The structures were visible to the naked eye. It was quite a show!" Rodriguez <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://x.com/Tony_Rod/status/1967549278492238074" target="_blank">wrote</a> in a post on X.</p><div class="see-more see-more--clipped"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet hawk-ignore" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Spectacular #aurora on the southern shore of Seneca Lake in NY! The structures were visible to the naked eye. It was quite a show! pic.twitter.com/IOYbRf4iNU<a href="https://twitter.com/cantworkitout/status/1967549278492238074">September 15, 2025</a></p></blockquote><div class="see-more__filter"></div></div><p>Aurora chaser <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://x.com/ShwaWX" target="_blank">Joshua Grisewood</a> also enjoyed the surprise aurora show from Pavilion, New York, U.S.</p><p>"Awesome surprise Aurora here in New York! Generally I am on top of these but tonight caught me off guard for sure," Grisewood wrote in a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://x.com/ShwaWX/status/1967454127031816585" target="_blank">post</a> on X.</p><div class="see-more see-more--clipped"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet hawk-ignore" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Awesome surprise Aurora here in New York! Generally I am on top of these but tonight caught me off guard for sure. Here is a few shots from Pavilion, NY while I finish up this exciting time-lapse!#Aurora #wxtwitter #wx #stormchasers #northernlights pic.twitter.com/vnJmgwhEuI<a href="https://twitter.com/cantworkitout/status/1967454127031816585">September 15, 2025</a></p></blockquote><div class="see-more__filter"></div></div><p>Aurora chaser <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://x.com/Tornadof123?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1967638865012990080%7Ctwgr%5E41dd40311375f113cf23a1b02447dc2ba4db9944%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.twitter.com%2F%3Furl%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FTornadof123%2Fstatus%2F1967638865012990080" target="_blank">Colton Flint</a> shared an incredible timelapse of the northern lights display from  Massachusetts. <br><br>The footage shows just how dynamic auroras can be, with the activity appearing to ramp up out of nowhere!</p><div class="see-more see-more--clipped"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet hawk-ignore" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Timelapse of last nights northern lights display from Massachusetts. This was one of the best ones we’ve had in the last year #mawx pic.twitter.com/3rz53oxHCR<a href="https://twitter.com/cantworkitout/status/1967638865012990080">September 15, 2025</a></p></blockquote><div class="see-more__filter"></div></div><p>Photographer <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://x.com/BlakeBrownWx" target="_blank">Blake Brown</a> managed to capture the show as far south as Texas.</p><p>"Northern lights made an appearance down to Texas tonight! With a lightning cameo as well," Brown wrote in a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://x.com/BlakeBrownWx/status/1967451259646210409" target="_blank">post on X</a>.</p><div class="see-more see-more--clipped"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet hawk-ignore" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Northern lights made an appearance down to Texas tonight! With a lightning cameo as well. @Vincent_Ledvina #txwx @TamithaSkov #Aurora pic.twitter.com/2yMu22F8Gs<a href="https://twitter.com/cantworkitout/status/1967451259646210409">September 15, 2025</a></p></blockquote><div class="see-more__filter"></div></div><p><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://x.com/GabezWX" target="_blank">Gabe Zago</a> captured a truly remarkable show as auroras competed against lightning to take center stage.</p><p>"Bro this day will be impossible to beat forever," Zago wrote in a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://x.com/GabezWX/status/1967422627284402455" target="_blank">post on X.</a></p><div class="see-more see-more--clipped"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet hawk-ignore" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bro this day will be impossible to beat forever. #ndwx #wx #Aurora #northernlight #wxtwitter pic.twitter.com/1uZzMnKEuR<a href="https://twitter.com/cantworkitout/status/1967422627284402455">September 15, 2025</a></p></blockquote><div class="see-more__filter"></div></div><h2 class="article-body__section" id="section-latest-forecast"><span>Latest forecast</span></h2><p>For the latest space weather outlook, and a deeper dive into what caused this surprise G3 storm, check out Skov's full space weather forecast, available below and also on her <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/@TamithaSkov" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a>.</p><div class="youtube-video" data-nosnippet ><div class="video-aspect-box"><iframe data-lazy-priority="low" data-lazy-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xzoxXGTDLyM" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div> ]]></dc:content>
362.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/stargazing/auroras/secret-island-on-sun-sparks-surprise-solar-storm-and-stunning-auroras-across-the-us-photos</link>
363.                                                                            <description>
364.                            <![CDATA[ A hidden magnetic island inside a coronal hole unleashed a surprise G3 storm, sparking dazzling displays across the US. ]]>
365.                                                                                                            </description>
366.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">hLmzmbaTkLBoa66GEH6fBN</guid>
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368.                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2025 20:30:14 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Auroras]]></category>
369.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Stargazing]]></category>
370.                                                                                                <author><![CDATA[ daisy.dobrijevic@space.com (Daisy Dobrijevic) ]]></author>                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Daisy Dobrijevic ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A4gVefuLMdkfH7u6y7CDk9-1280-80.jpg">
371.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Photo by Ross Harried/NurPhoto via Getty Images]]></media:credit>
372.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[northern lights appear as pillars and curtains of magenta and green light in the sky. in the foreground is a children&#039;s play area.]]></media:text>
373.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[northern lights appear as pillars and curtains of magenta and green light in the sky. in the foreground is a children&#039;s play area.]]></media:title>
374.                                                    </media:content>
375.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A4gVefuLMdkfH7u6y7CDk9-1280-80.jpg" />
376.                                                                                        </item>
377.                    <item>
378.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Forget supercomputers — scientists say a laptop could map the universe in minutes ]]></title>
379.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>As you might imagine, mapping the universe on the largest of scales and tracing threads of the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/24431-dark-matter-cosmic-web-first-image.html">cosmic web</a> is no mean feat.</p><p>To do so, you'd need to take observational evidence and combine it with theoretical models such as the Effective Field Theory of Large-Scale Structure (EFTofLSS). Only then would you be on the road to developing a statistical map of the universe's 3D skeleton. This is a task way beyond human minds alone, requiring a vast amount of computing time — and that's very valuable time, especially as catalogues of astronomical data continue to grow exponentially.</p><p>So, how can we cut down the time such analyses take without sacrificing precision? An international team of researchers thinks it has come up with a solution to this problem: an emulator dubbed "Effort.jl." Effort.jl should, the team says, deliver the same precision of EFTofLSS while running on a laptop rather than a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/40927-fastest-supercomputer.html">supercomputer</a> and taking mere minutes.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_HuWjFRNE_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="HuWjFRNE">            <div id="botr_HuWjFRNE_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>"Imagine wanting to study the contents of a glass of water at the level of its microscopic components, the individual atoms, or even smaller: in theory, you can. But if we wanted to describe in detail what happens when the water moves, the explosive growth of the required calculations makes it practically impossible," Marco Bonici, study team leader and a researcher at the University of Waterloo<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1097832" target="_blank">, said in a statement.</a><strong> </strong>"However, you can encode certain properties at the microscopic level and see their effect at the macroscopic level, namely, the movement of the fluid in the glass.</p><p>"This is what an effective field theory does, that is, a model like EFTofLSS, where the water in my example is the universe on very large scales and the microscopic components are small-scale physical processes."</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1773px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.23%;"><img id="trVBQDVPrkmFfM6jBbWG3P" name="How_Euclid_scans_the_sky-crop.jpg" alt="An illustration of a gray and gold device in space creating a map that looks like brick outlines in space." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/trVBQDVPrkmFfM6jBbWG3P.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1773" height="997" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Euclid's view of the cosmos will deliever a huge amount of data for astronomers to deal with. Emulators could help </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: ESA)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Theoretical models like EFTofLSS take astronomical data and make predictions that explain those datapoints. The problem is, however, that such surveys like that conducted by the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/desi-einstein-gravity-dark-energy">Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument</a> (DESI), which delivered its first results in April 2024, and the European Space Agency (ESA) spacecraft <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/euclid-dark-universe-telescope-1st-sparkling-images-cosmos">Euclid</a> are composed of incredibly large data sets. That volume of data is impractical to fit theoretical models to deliver large-scale, accurate predictions.</p><p>"This is why we now turn to emulators like ours, which can drastically cut time and resources," Bonici said.</p><p>Emulators like Effort.jl are built on neural networks trained using theoretical models, learning parameters, and predictions already made, meaning they can mimic the function of these models. That means while emulators can't understand the physics they are dealing with, they can take a new input and output a prediction that conforms to what the traditional model itself would predict.</p><p>Effort.jl, in fact, takes this further by integrating the knowledge of how predictions will change if the parameters of a model are changed. This emulator can also account for how predictions will shift if parameters are merely tweaked by tiny amounts. This means Effort.jl can learn with fewer examples being fed to it than other emulators. This means it can run with less computing power.</p><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">Related Stories:</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/new-pulsar-explain-black-widow-binary-star-system">New kind of pulsar may explain how mysterious 'black widow' systems evolve</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"> — <strong> </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/white-dwarf-type-1a-supernovas-artificial-intelligence">'Vampire stars' explode after eating too much — AI could help reveal why</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">—<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/a-spinning-universe-could-crack-the-mysteries-of-dark-energy-and-our-place-in-the-multiverse">A spinning universe could crack the mysteries of dark energy and our place in the multiverse</a></p></div></div><p>The new research from Bonici and colleagues validates the accuracy of Effort.jl when tackling real astronomical data and simulated data, with predictions conforming closely to those produced by the EFTofLSS.</p><p>"In some cases, where with the model you have to trim part of the analysis to speed things up, with Effort.jl we were able to include those missing pieces as well," Bonici added.</p><p>That makes Effort.jl a promising ally for next-generation cosmological efforts such as those conducted by DESI and Euclid in our ongoing effort to better understand the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/27804-quasar-alignment-photo.html">large-scale structure of our universe.</a></p><p>The team's research was published on Tuesday (Sept. 16) in the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.04639" target="_blank">Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics (JCAP).</a></p> ]]></dc:content>
380.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/astronomy/forget-supercomputers-scientists-say-a-laptop-could-map-the-universe-in-minutes</link>
381.                                                                            <description>
382.                            <![CDATA[ A new emulator is tackling the near-impossible task of mapping the universe's large-scale structure without sacrificing intricate details. ]]>
383.                                                                                                            </description>
384.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">GJjh5emo8kpuv6dvPT2ypZ</guid>
385.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wUx53AGN62CRwCSWxRfwpS-1280-80.png" type="image/png" length="0"></enclosure>
386.                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2025 20:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Astronomy]]></category>
387.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Robert Lea ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/png" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wUx53AGN62CRwCSWxRfwpS-1280-80.png">
388.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[DESI Collaboration/DOE/KPNO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/R. Proctor/ Robert Lea (created with Canva)]]></media:credit>
389.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[Two &quot;fans&quot; representing DESI observations above and below the plane of the Milky Way]]></media:text>
390.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Two &quot;fans&quot; representing DESI observations above and below the plane of the Milky Way]]></media:title>
391.                                                    </media:content>
392.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wUx53AGN62CRwCSWxRfwpS-1280-80.png" />
393.                                                                                        </item>
394.                    <item>
395.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ 'We have to fully fund NASA': Lawmaker joins space agency employees in protest outside DC headquarters ]]></title>
396.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>Chants of "Save NASA!" echoed through downtown Washington, D.C., Monday(Sept. 15) as agency workers and supporters rallied outside NASA headquarters. Carrying signs and repeating calls, protestors urged lawmakers to protect the space agency's future.</p><p>It was the third such demonstration this summer, and part of a campaign organized by NASA Needs Help that the group says is growing as the budget fight intensifies. Demonstrators warned that layoffs, mission shutdowns and the loss of union rights are already sinking morale and threatening safety across <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/38700-nasa-history.html">NASA</a> centers.</p><p>Protestors argued that the agency is being hollowed out before Congress finalizes <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/trumps-2026-budget-would-slash-nasa-funding-by-24-percent-and-its-workforce-by-nearly-one-third">NASA's next budget,</a> and that the damage to science and the U.S. space program could be irreparable. "Like other federal employees, the people of NASA have suffered months of attacks on their work," one protest organizer, Helen, who did not provide a last name, told the gathered crowd through a microphone. "They've endured shortsighted decisions, paralyzing uncertainty, and a steady erosion of the very expertise that makes these missions possible."</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_98raMFlt_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="98raMFlt">            <div id="botr_98raMFlt_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>At the center of their concerns is President Donald Trump's <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/what-a-waste-us-scientists-decry-trumps-47-percent-cuts-to-nasa-science-budget">proposed fiscal year 2026 (FY 26) budget. </a>The White House's plan would reduce NASA's overall funding by nearly a quarter, slash science programs almost in half, and cancel 41 active or planned science missions, including spacecraft already operating in Earth orbit and beyond.</p><p>Protestors warn that those cuts threaten not just individual projects but also NASA's position as the world leader in science and innovation. Several in attendance Monday took the opportunity to address the crowd, arguing that canceling active missions wastes taxpayer dollars already spent and undermines relationships with international partners who have invested their own time and resources in such projects.</p><p>Colette Delwalla, executive director of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/nearly-300-nasa-scientists-sign-voyager-declaration-to-protest-trump-space-science-budget-cuts">Stand Up For Science</a>, framed the threat as an attack on American ideology. "NASA is a tangible product of the greatest expression of the American dream," she said. "All of humanity has mused about reaching into the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/57-stars-formation-classification-and-constellations.html">stars</a>, and through decades of unified support by Congress, by presidents and the American public, we've done it. Dismantling this American institution is a travesty that no one voted for."</p><p>Delwalla argued that the U.S. is on the verge of relinquishing its global leadership in science, "in exchange for tax cuts for the ultrawealthy."</p><p>"We didn't accidentally land on <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/55-earths-moon-formation-composition-and-orbit.html">the moon</a>," Delwalla said. "We did it through unified investment in science, and we cannot separate the benefits of science from that investment."</p><p>But those benefits are already walking out the door. Since January, at least 4,000 employees have departed NASA through layoffs, early retirements and voluntary separations through the Trump administration's deferred resignation programs (DRPs). Protestors fear that includes an institutional knowledge base that may not be recoverable.</p><p>The group's pleas haven't gone unnoticed on Capitol Hill. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.), a member of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, addressed protestors Monday, telling the crowd that the people at NASA are central to U.S. leadership.</p><p>"NASA is one of the best investments we can make in our country, and NASA's workforce is critical to making our country great," he said. "We have to fully fund NASA in our budget, return those 4,000 jobs back to NASA and continue to support science all across this country."</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:3888px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="iubA6opoiYGgtsv5XEL6SS" name="NNH-15" alt="A series of images from the recent NASA protests showing various individuals holding microphones and signs outside of NASA's D.C. headquarters with the red lettering logo in front of glass doors" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iubA6opoiYGgtsv5XEL6SS.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="3888" height="2187" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.) speaks to the crowd at the recent NASA protest. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: NASA Needs Help)</span></figcaption></figure><p>The protest also spotlighted an Aug. 28 <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/trump-moon-mining-space-resources-executive-order.htmlhttps://www.space.com/space-exploration/nasa-employees-fear-worsening-conditions-as-new-trump-executive-order-eliminates-their-right-to-unionize">executive order</a> signed by Trump that eliminated collective bargaining rights at NASA and a handful of other federal agencies in the name of national security. Union representatives at Monday's demonstration said the order has already forced the cancellation of contracts, the closure of union offices and an end to payroll dues contributions.</p><p>An area vice president for the Goddard Engineers, Scientists and Technicians Association (GESTA), Monica Gorman, said the order is creating a climate of uncertainty and fear. She warned that undermining unions isn't only about job protections — it directly threatens mission safety as well.</p><p>Gorman pointed to past tragedies like the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/17338-apollo-1.html">Apollo 1</a> fire and the Challenger and Columbia space shuttle accidents, arguing that creating an environment in which engineers and technicians feel silenced prevents problems from being raised before they turn into disasters. "If they don't have the trust that they can speak up and bring those concerns forward without retaliation, then those concerns get buried, and people will die," she said.</p><p>Matthew Biggs, president of the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers, said the union crackdown is part of a larger effort to make it easier for the administration to reduce NASA's workforce. "They're literally evicting our unions from their office space," Biggs said, calling Trump "the number one union-busting president in U.S. history."</p><p>Biggs pointed at NASA's headquarters adjacent to the protest area, saying that it's "NASA leadership that's right in this building right here that's implementing what Trump wants them to do."</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:904px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.31%;"><img id="cRLJowsHdJgStAceCM6dtR" name="Group 4" alt="A series of images from the recent NASA protests showing various individuals holding microphones and signs outside of NASA's D.C. headquarters with the red lettering logo in front of glass doors" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cRLJowsHdJgStAceCM6dtR.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="904" height="509" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">NASA protestors stand near its D.C. headquarters.  </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: NASA Needs Help)</span></figcaption></figure><p>A NASA representative confirmed to Space.com that the agency was aware of the protest. "NASA is not affiliated with the demonstration outside the agency's headquarters building in Washington on Monday. This activity was permitted by the Metropolitan Police Department," the spokesperson wrote in an email.</p><p>Representatives of other federal agencies showed up to add their voices to the union frustrations. National Institutes of Health (<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/36681-science-funding-unchanged-through-2017.html">NIH</a>) geneticist Mollie Manier turned her remarks toward Congress, arguing for a strong continuing resolution (CR) to extend last year's funding levels.</p><p>Lawmakers face a Sept. 30 deadline to pass a funding bill for FY 26 or else face a government shutdown. If they don't reach an agreement, passing a CR will keep agencies operating. A "clean CR," Manier explained, continues existing budgets with no changes. A "dirty CR" adds policy "poison pills" that can alter or weaken agency programs.</p><p>Manier said Congress needs to go further, pressing for what she described as a "fighting CR." Citing a "dirty CR" passed by Congress in March, Manier said, "This time needs to be different. This time we want Congress to pass a fighting CR that not only keeps the lights on but includes checks on this administration's authoritarian overreach and protections for institutions, including fully funding NASA, NIH, science, and provides protections for federal workers and due process and civil liberties."</p><p>Jack Kiraly, who has long spearheaded the effort to raise awareness about cuts to NASA programs, was the final scheduled speaker at Monday's demonstration. Kiraly, the director of government relations for the nonprofit Planetary Society, assured protestors that their efforts are having real impacts. "Your advocacy is working," he said. "We have budgets in the House and Senate that keep NASA fully funded … Both sides understand what NASA means for jobs, for inspiration, and for America's leadership in science."</p><p>Kiraly compared the early wins in Congress to a political campaign gaining traction. "This is like winning the first straw poll or winning the first debate. It means the message is working," he said. "Republicans, Democrats, Independents — everyone I've met with on the Hill understands what NASA represents."</p><p>With days remaining before the Sept. 30 deadline, Kiraly urged protestors to keep up the pressure in Washington and at NASA centers across the country.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:3746px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="J3xcbxuLfnKjxmqyvkQtTS" name="NNH-109" alt="A series of images from the recent NASA protests showing various individuals holding microphones and signs outside of NASA's D.C. headquarters with the red lettering logo in front of glass doors" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/J3xcbxuLfnKjxmqyvkQtTS.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="3746" height="2107" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Director of government relations for the nonprofit Planetary Society, Jack Kiraly, speaks to the crowd at the NASA protest.  </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: NASA Needs Help)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Organizers stressed that Congress' actions in the coming weeks will determine not only whether jobs and missions are saved, but whether the U.S. retains its scientific authority and space exploration dominance.</p><p>A day after the protest, two more lawmakers added their voices to the effort, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://chu.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/chu.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/09_15_2025-letter-to-house-appropriators-on-nasa-funding-during-cr-final.pdf" target="_blank">sending a bipartisan letter</a> to the House Appropriations Committee urging the body to safeguard NASA funding at FY 25 levels. In it, Reps. Judy Chu (Democrat, CA-28) and Don Bacon (Republican, NE-02) warned that "without a [CR] anomaly providing guidance on the NASA budget … a budgetary interruption of this magnitude would be devastating and poses a number of serious concerns that will affect every state and nearly every congressional district."</p> ]]></dc:content>
397.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/space-exploration/we-have-to-fully-fund-nasa-lawmaker-joins-space-agency-employees-in-protest-outside-dc-headquarters</link>
398.                                                                            <description>
399.                            <![CDATA[ Chants of "Save NASA!" echoed through downtown Washington, D.C., Monday (Sept. 15) as agency workers and supporters rallied outside NASA headquarters. ]]>
400.                                                                                                            </description>
401.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">tkU4dnxnjWWgsdomgQKKu6</guid>
402.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xoQpj489kFdcQcffj9hijS-1280-80.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure>
403.                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2025 19:44:12 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Space Exploration]]></category>
404.                                                                                                <author><![CDATA[ jdinner@space.com (Josh Dinner) ]]></author>                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Josh Dinner ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xoQpj489kFdcQcffj9hijS-1280-80.jpg">
405.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[NASA Needs Help]]></media:credit>
406.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[A series of images from the recent NASA protests showing various individuals holding microphones and signs outside of NASA&#039;s D.C. headquarters with the red lettering logo in front of glass doors]]></media:text>
407.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[A series of images from the recent NASA protests showing various individuals holding microphones and signs outside of NASA&#039;s D.C. headquarters with the red lettering logo in front of glass doors]]></media:title>
408.                                                    </media:content>
409.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xoQpj489kFdcQcffj9hijS-1280-80.jpg" />
410.                                                                                        </item>
411.                    <item>
412.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ 'Totally unexpected': Stunning new imagery shows big changes in the 1st black hole ever captured by humanity (photo, video) ]]></title>
413.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_mUTJHnB8_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="mUTJHnB8">            <div id="botr_mUTJHnB8_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) has captured stunning, newly revealed images of the supermassive black hole that lies at the heart of the galaxy M87. The EHT made this black hole, known as M87*, famous in April 2019 when it was revealed as the first black hole ever imaged by humanity.</p><p>These images of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/m87-galaxy-first-3d-map-hubble-keck">M87*</a>, located around 55 million light-years from Earth, show that the polarization of the magnetic fields around the black hole reversed over a period of four years. The new observations of M87* also show the telltale signs of a jet of matter emerging from around the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/15421-black-holes-facts-formation-discovery-sdcmp.html">black hole</a>, with its base connected to the bright ring around the outer boundary, or "<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/black-holes-event-horizon-explained.html">event horizon</a>," around M87*.</p><p>The images could help scientists further develop theories of how matter behaves in the extreme environments around <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/supermassive-black-hole">supermassive black holes</a>, which have masses of millions or even billions of suns and are found at the hearts of all large galaxies.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:18055px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:32.92%;"><img id="8yjkGGYkLm7BKshJq82wAQ" name="triptych_EHT_labeled" alt="three images of a supermassive black hole, each one showing it as a dark blotch surrounded by an orangish disk" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8yjkGGYkLm7BKshJq82wAQ.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="18055" height="5943" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">New images of M87* show the magnetic fields around the black hole swirling one way in 2017 then another in 2021. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: EHT collaboration)</span></figcaption></figure><p>"The fact that the polarization pattern flipped direction from 2017 to 2021 was totally unexpected," EHT team member Jongho Park, a researcher at Kyunghee University in South Korea, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://eventhorizontelescope.org/new-eht-images-reveal-unexpected-polarization-flips-at-m87" target="_blank">said in a statement</a>. "It challenges our models and shows there’s much we still don’t understand near the event horizon."</p><p>The observations showed the ring of superheated, highly magnetized gas, or plasma, flowing one way around this 6.5-billion-solar-mass black hole in 2017, then settling in 2018 before reversing and spiraling in the opposite direction in 2021. And, to make matters more intriguing, not everything about the plasma changed between 2017 and 2021.</p><p>"What’s remarkable is that, while the ring size has remained consistent over the years, confirming the black hole's shadow predicted by Einstein’s theory [of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/17661-theory-general-relativity.html">general relativity</a>], the polarization pattern changes significantly," said team co-leader  Paul Tiede, an astronomer at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian. "This tells us that the magnetized plasma swirling near the event horizon is far from static; it's dynamic and complex, pushing our theoretical models to the limit."</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1200px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:100.00%;"><img id="UKSCuhkMmdL7ym98sdksyd" name="blackhole1.jpeg" alt="Matter swirling into the supermassive black hole at the centre of M87." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UKSCuhkMmdL7ym98sdksyd.jpeg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="1200" height="1200" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">The first image of a black hole ever captured by humanity shows a ring of plasma swirling around M87.* </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Event Horizon Telescope)</span></figcaption></figure><p>The changing polarization of plasma around M87* seems to indicate an evolving and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/first-black-hole-imaged-m87-turbulent-feeding-captured">turbulent environment around this black hole</a>, which could be impacting how it feeds on surrounding matter. The cause of the reversal isn't clear yet, but it could be the result of the magnetic structure of the plasma combined with external effects.</p><p>The newly released images also allowed the team to home in on the base of the jet of particles erupting from around M87* at near-<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/15830-light-speed.html">light speed</a> with the EHT for the first time. This is an important breakthrough, because jets like this one, which are comprised of particles channeled to the poles of black holes by magnetic fields, are thought to represent one of the ways supermassive black holes sculpt the galaxies in which they sit by pumping vast amounts of energy into their surroundings.</p><p>The new images also illustrate changes that the EHT itself has undergone. The final image, collected in 2021, is sharper due to the addition of two new telescopes, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/26898-kitt-peak-facts.html">Kitt Peak</a> in Arizona and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/noema-radio-telescope-unprecedented-observations">NOEMA</a> (Northern Extended Millimeter Array) in France, to the 25 Earth- and space-based instruments that make up the EHT network, which boosted the project's sensitivity.</p><p>"These results show how the EHT is evolving into a fully fledged scientific observatory, capable not only of delivering unprecedented images, but of building a progressive and coherent understanding of black hole physics," said EHT scientist Mariafelicia De Laurentis, an astronomer at the University of Naples Federico II in Italy. "Each new campaign expands our horizon, from the dynamics of plasma and magnetic fields to the role of black holes in cosmic evolution. It is a concrete demonstration of the extraordinary scientific potential of this instrument."</p><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">Related Stories:</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/event-horizon-telescope.html">Event Horizon Telescope: A complete guide</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/m87-black-hole-unexpected-gamma-rays">1st monster black hole ever pictured erupts with surprise gamma-ray explosion</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/brightest-quasar-ever-powered-black-hole-solar-mass-accretion-disk">Brightest quasar ever seen is powered by black hole that eats a 'sun a day'</a></p></div></div><p>Future images from the EHT are set to improve thanks to upgrades to two telescopes in its network, the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/event-horizon-black-hole-image-tests">Greenland Telescope </a>and the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/black-holes/new-technique-promises-clearer-more-frequent-views-of-black-holes">James Clerk Maxwell Telescope</a>. Thus, the EHT will continue playing a crucial role in our understanding of black hole physics for years to come, team members said.</p><p>"Year after year, we improve the EHT — with additional telescopes and upgraded instrumentation, new ideas for scientific explorations, and novel algorithms to get more out of the data," said team co-leader Michael Janssen, of Radboud University in the Netherlands. "For this study, all these factors nicely conspired into new scientific results and new questions, which will certainly keep us busy for many more years."</p><p>The team's research was published in the August edition of the journal <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.aanda.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202555855" target="_blank"><u>Astronomy & Astrophysics.</u></a></p> ]]></dc:content>
414.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/astronomy/black-holes/totally-unexpected-stunning-new-imagery-shows-big-changes-in-the-1st-black-hole-ever-captured-by-humanity-photo-video</link>
415.                                                                            <description>
416.                            <![CDATA[ Newly released images of the supermassive black hole at the heart of the galaxy M87 show that the plasma that swirls around it has unexpectedly reversed directions. ]]>
417.                                                                                                            </description>
418.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">J7j6HrgCLo5pNL4nrcU8SM</guid>
419.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Qeei6bvQjFNMFLnFzpmbyd-1280-80.png" type="image/png" length="0"></enclosure>
420.                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2025 18:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Black Holes]]></category>
421.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Astronomy]]></category>
422.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Robert Lea ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/png" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Qeei6bvQjFNMFLnFzpmbyd-1280-80.png">
423.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[ EHT Collaboration]]></media:credit>
424.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[three images of a supermassive black hole, each one showing it as a dark blotch surrounded by an orangish disk]]></media:text>
425.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[three images of a supermassive black hole, each one showing it as a dark blotch surrounded by an orangish disk]]></media:title>
426.                                                    </media:content>
427.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Qeei6bvQjFNMFLnFzpmbyd-1280-80.png" />
428.                                                                                        </item>
429.                    <item>
430.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ 'Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition' hatches surprise Xbox Series X|S release with chaotic launch trailer (video) ]]></title>
431.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>As the Alien franchise enjoys a resurgence across film and TV following 2024's <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/alien-romulus--movie-review"><u>Alien: Romulus</u></a> and the just-released <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-movies-shows/alien-earth-is-an-intelligent-and-thought-provoking-bloodbath-and-everything-we-ever-wanted-from-an-alien-show-review"><u>Alien: Earth</u></a> show, it comes as no surprise that 20th Century Studios is also ramping up the number of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/best-alien-games-of-all-time"><u>video game projects</u></a> featuring <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/alien-xenomorph-lifecycle-explained"><u>Xenomorphs</u></a>.</p><p>After a timid launch targeting <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/best-vr-headsets"><u>VR headsets</u></a> last year, <strong>Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition is bringing the bug hunt to gamers without access to VR on September 30.</strong></p><p>After an <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-games/alien-rogue-incursion-set-to-burst-onto-ps5-and-pc-this-fall-with-non-vr-evolved-edition-video"><u>announcement trailer</u></a> back in May, many were wondering whether this tense first-person action-horror game would disembark on the current-gen Xbox consoles as well. Now, the launch trailer that's dropped two weeks in advance has revealed a last-minute deal to bring Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition to Xbox Series X|S too. Watch the full action-packed trailer below:</p><div class="youtube-video" data-nosnippet ><div class="video-aspect-box"><iframe data-lazy-priority="low" data-lazy-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TF79l6It5fo" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div><p>The preview doubles down on the idea of one ex-Colonial Marine, Zula Hendricks, who must blast her way through "hundreds" of Xenomorphs with "thousands" of bullets and more than a few explosives. It's safe to say getting 'facehugged' without a VR headset won't be as intense, but Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition probably isn't for the faint of heart regardless.</p><p>The character of Zula Hendricks was first introduced in the 12-issue series <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://avp.fandom.com/wiki/Aliens:_Defiance"><u>Aliens: Defiance</u></a> by Dark Horse Comics. Rogue Incursion's plot is centered on "black-site experiments" conducted by <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-movies-shows/new-predator-badlands-trailer-confirms-an-unexpected-alliance-with-ties-to-the-alien-universe"><u>Weyland-Yutani</u></a> (of course) on the uncharted planet of Purdan. The trailer alone reveals bigger and meaner types of Xenomorphs, so who knows what else is hiding in the shadows ...</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="YPeAXPeTT9KfsHDFuxEZkh" name="AlienRogueLaunch_1" alt="screenshots from a video game showing a first-person view of a character in a darkly-lit spaceship with insect-like aliens running through it" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YPeAXPeTT9KfsHDFuxEZkh.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Screenshot from "Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition." </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Survios)</span></figcaption></figure><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">More Alien articles</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><figure class="van-image-figure "  ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' ><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="hwWdB5Dpx5WpHnDY8x4qMK" name="romhero.jpg" caption="" alt="Alien: Romulus" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hwWdB5Dpx5WpHnDY8x4qMK.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="" height="" attribution="" endorsement="" class="pinterest-pin-exclude"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: 20th Century Studios)</span></figcaption></figure><p class="fancy-box__body-text"><ul><li><strong></strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/alien-movies-in-order" target="_blank"><strong>Alien movies in order: chronological and release order</strong></a><strong></strong></li><li><strong></strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/alien-movies-ranked-worst-to-best" target="_blank"><strong>Alien movies ranked, worst to best</strong></a><strong></strong></li><li><strong></strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/everything-we-know-about-the-alien-tv-series" target="_blank"><strong>Alien: Earth: Release window, plot, cast & everything we know</strong></a></li></ul></p></div></div><p>As a reminder, we're still waiting for news on 'Part Two' of Rogue Incursion; neither the VR version nor this Evolved Edition are the full story. That said, 'Part One' takes around 9 hours to beat. At $29.99, it feels like a perfectly sized piece of sci-fi survival horror.</p><p><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.metacritic.com/game/alien-rogue-incursion/"><u>Reviews</u></a> for the VR release were mostly favorable, with the controls and presentation receiving the most praise; enemy AI, on the other hand, was heavily criticized, so maybe Survios has paid special attention to those issues in the re-release.</p><p>Pre-orders are now live across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store). The accompanying press release also confirms Rogue Incursion's re-release is getting PS5 Pro-exclusive graphical improvements.</p><p><em><strong>Alien: Rogue Incursion</strong></em><strong> is currently available to buy as a VR-only title for PS VR2, Meta Quest 3, and Steam VR. This non-VR </strong><em><strong>Evolved Edition </strong></em><strong>is a separate release.</strong></p> ]]></dc:content>
432.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-games/alien-rogue-incursion-evolved-edition-hatches-surprise-xbox-series-x-s-release-with-chaotic-launch-trailer-video</link>
433.                                                                            <description>
434.                            <![CDATA[ The updated and non-VR version of the latest first-person Alien video game is spreading to all current-gen platforms. ]]>
435.                                                                                                            </description>
436.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">VkCQYi6xcXQjLxNvekpt6X</guid>
437.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/M4LQs2XmjowsPuVznicrhh-1280-80.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure>
438.                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2025 17:30:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Space Games]]></category>
439.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>
440.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Fran Ruiz ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/M4LQs2XmjowsPuVznicrhh-1280-80.jpg">
441.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Survios]]></media:credit>
442.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[screenshots from a video game showing a first-person view of a character in a darkly-lit spaceship with insect-like aliens running through it]]></media:text>
443.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[screenshots from a video game showing a first-person view of a character in a darkly-lit spaceship with insect-like aliens running through it]]></media:title>
444.                                                    </media:content>
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448.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Humanity could settle Mars by 2055, Elon Musk says ]]></title>
449.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>A Red Planet settlement isn't a mere pipe dream, according to Elon Musk.</p><p>The <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/18853-spacex.html">SpaceX</a> founder and CEO thinks humanity can get a sustainable, self-sufficient <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/47-mars-the-red-planet-fourth-planet-from-the-sun.html">Mars </a>settlement up and running by 2055, as long as we make some key advances with our heavy-lift launch technology.</p><p>"I think it can be done in in 30 years, provided there's an exponential increase in the tonnage to Mars with each successive Mars transfer window, which is every two years," <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/18849-elon-musk.html">Elon Musk</a> said <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeZqZBRA-6Q" target="_blank">via video on Sept. 9</a> during the All-In Summit, an event organized by the All-In podcast. (Earth and the Red Planet align properly for interplanetary missions just once every 26 months.)</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_oik3zSYI_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="oik3zSYI">            <div id="botr_oik3zSYI_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>Ramping up the tonnage is important, he stressed, because a Mars settlement will need lots of stuff, from habitat modules to helper robots. And, to be truly self-sufficient, it will also need "to have all of the ingredients of civilization," Musk said — the materials that will enable settlers to grow food, generate fuel from the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/16903-mars-atmosphere-climate-weather.html">Martian atmosphere</a> and build microchips, computers and rockets, among many other things.</p><p>Musk has one particular rocket in mind to make this Red Planet dream come true — SpaceX's <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-super-heavy.html">Starship</a>, the biggest and most powerful launch vehicle ever built.</p><p>Starship consists of two elements, both of which are designed to be fully and rapidly reusable — a booster called Super Heavy and an upper-stage spacecraft called Starship, or Ship for short. Both are made of stainless steel and powered by SpaceX's next-gen Raptor engine, which burns liquid oxygen and liquid methane (both of which can be produced on Mars, Musk has stressed).</p><p>The vehicle is still under development. It has flown in a fully stacked configuration 10 times to date, most recently on Aug. 26. <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/private-spaceflight/spacex-launches-starship-flight-10-critical-test-flight-video">Flight 10</a> went well; Starship notched all of its main mission milestones, including its first-ever payload deployment in space (eight dummy versions of SpaceX's <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-satellites.html">Starlink</a> broadband satellites).</p><p>This was an important bounce-back mission for Ship, which was lost prematurely on the previous three Starship test flights.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_insjqzqd_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="insjqzqd">            <div id="botr_insjqzqd_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>The next Starship test flight will be the final launch of the vehicle's current Version 2 design, Musk said at the All-In Summit.</p><p>"Thereafter, it's Version 3, which is a gigantic upgrade, because that's got Raptor 3, and pretty much everything changes on the rocket," he said, referring to the next engine iteration. "So, Version 3 might have some initial teething pains because it's such a radical redesign, but it's capable of over 100 tons to orbit, fully reusable."</p><p>That's about 2.5 times the lift capacity of SpaceX's <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/39779-falcon-heavy-facts.html">Falcon Heavy</a> rocket in reusable mode, he noted. But the Heavy, like its cousin the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/18962-spacex-falcon-9.html">Falcon 9</a>, is only partially reusable; the vehicle's upper stage is expendable. Each Super Heavy and Ship, by contrast, will fly many times, if all goes according to plan.</p><p>SpaceX has already demonstrated reusability with Super Heavy, flying the same booster on both Flight 7 and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-launches-starship-flight-9-to-space-in-historic-reuse-of-giant-megarocket-video">Flight 9</a>. But it has yet to do so with Ship, which is understandable given the challenges involved.</p><p>"For full reusability of the Ship, there's still a lot of work that remains on the heat shield," Musk said.</p><p>"No one's ever made a fully reusable orbital heat shield. The [space] shuttle heat shield had to go through nine months of repair after every flight," he added. "We really are looking at the fundamental physics here — again, physics first principles, and trying to figure out, 'How do we make something that can withstand the heat, is very light [and] doesn't transmit the heat to the primary structure?' And then, all the tiles stay on and they don't crack."</p><p>Still, Musk voiced optimism about SpaceX's ability to clear such hurdles in a timely fashion.</p><p>"I think, unless we have some very major setbacks, SpaceX will demonstrate full reusability next year, catching both the booster and the Ship, and being able to deliver over 100 tons to a useful orbit," he said.</p><p>(Starship's eventual flight plan involves both Super Heavy and Ship coming back to the launch pad, where they'll be snagged by the "chopstick" arms of the launch tower.)</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_I82ZzN8h_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="I82ZzN8h">            <div id="botr_I82ZzN8h_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">Related stories:</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/private-spaceflight/spacex-launches-starship-flight-10-critical-test-flight-video">SpaceX's giant Starship Mars rocket nails critical 10th test flight in stunning comeback (video)</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-launches-starship-flight-9-to-space-in-historic-reuse-of-giant-megarocket-video">SpaceX reached space with Starship Flight 9 launch, then lost control of its giant spaceship (video)</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-super-heavy.html">Starship and Super Heavy explained</a></p></div></div><p>Starship Version 3 will stand about 408 feet (124.4 meters) tall, compared to Version 2's 397 feet (121 m), Musk has said. Version 3 will be the first iteration of the vehicle that can fly to Mars — and SpaceX hopes to launch the first uncrewed test flights to the Red Planet with it <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/private-spaceflight/elon-musk-says-spacex-will-launch-its-biggest-starship-yet-this-year-but-mars-in-2026-is-50-50">next year</a>.</p><p>But most of the Mars-settlement heavy lifting could be done by an even bigger Starship: Musk has said the vehicle will eventually stand a whopping 466 feet (142 m) tall when fully stacked.</p><p>Musk will likely stay committed to the Mars-settlement goal over the long haul, as it has long been a driving force for him and SpaceX. Indeed, Musk has stressed that he founded the company in 2002 primarily to help humanity expand its footprint beyond Earth.</p><p>"What really matters is that Mars is self-sustaining, that we are truly a multi-planet species, such that we've achieved planetary redundancy," he said at the All-In Summit. "There's always some risk of an annihilation event on Earth — like I said, self annihilation, or some natural disaster — and so the probable lifespan of consciousness increases dramatically as soon as we are a multi-planet species, with the key test being: Can [the settlement on] Mars survive if the resupply ships stop coming?"</p> ]]></dc:content>
450.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/space-exploration/private-spaceflight/humanity-could-settle-mars-by-2055-elon-musk-says</link>
451.                                                                            <description>
452.                            <![CDATA[ Humanity can establish a self-sustaining settlement on Mars in the next 30 years, provided our heavy-lift launch technology advances as planned, SpaceX chief Elon Musk said. ]]>
453.                                                                                                            </description>
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455.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4BjHDegTnLkzN9zHM28haK-1280-80.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure>
456.                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2025 17:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Private Spaceflight]]></category>
457.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Space Exploration]]></category>
458.                                                                                                <author><![CDATA[ mwall@space.com (Mike Wall) ]]></author>                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Mike Wall ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4BjHDegTnLkzN9zHM28haK-1280-80.jpg">
459.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[SpaceX]]></media:credit>
460.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[Artist&#039;s illustration of a human settlement on Mars, with SpaceX Starships in the background.]]></media:text>
461.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Artist&#039;s illustration of a human settlement on Mars, with SpaceX Starships in the background.]]></media:title>
462.                                                    </media:content>
463.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4BjHDegTnLkzN9zHM28haK-1280-80.jpg" />
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466.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ The best viral star projector is now under $50 on Amazon at its lowest-ever price and  ]]></title>
467.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>The Orzroz Galaxy Lite Star Projector sits on our top row of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/best-star-projectors">the best star projectors</a> as the best viral option on the market. Now, it's under $50 and its lowest-ever price.</p><p><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.amazon.com/Projector-Orzorz-Planetarium-Rechargeable-Presentation/dp/B0B1ZRVDC1/ref=sr_1_52"><em><strong>Save 38% on the Orzorz Galaxy Lite Star Projector </strong></em></a><em><strong>ahead of </strong></em><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/amazon-prime-day-space-deals"><em><strong>Amazon's Prime Day</strong></em></a><em><strong> in October (a.k.a. Big Deal Days) event and get its lowest-ever price.</strong></em></p><p>In <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/orzorz-galaxy-lite-star-projector-review">our review of the Orzorz Galaxy Lite Star Projector</a>, we praised it for its design, functionality and performance. In short, it rivals some of the big names as It has a lot of the functions we like in premium star projectors and it projects vivid imagery. It can be both battery and mains powered, so what more can you ask for? If you want more star projector content, check out our guides to the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/stargazing/astronomy-kit/best-star-projectors-for-kids">best star projectors for kids </a>and<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/technology/best-star-projectors-under-100-dollars"> the best star projectors under $100</a>.</p><div class="product"><a data-dimension112="e4ab0448-e44a-4c36-ba7d-0b14fda15831" data-action="Deal Block" data-label="Save over $30 on an excellent star projector that we rate as one of the best. It has 180-degree positioning, a disk slot, can be mains and battery powered, projects vivid imagery and it has a rotation option and a sleep timer." data-dimension48="Save over $30 on an excellent star projector that we rate as one of the best. It has 180-degree positioning, a disk slot, can be mains and battery powered, projects vivid imagery and it has a rotation option and a sleep timer." data-dimension25="$49.50" href="https://www.amazon.com/Projector-Orzorz-Planetarium-Rechargeable-Presentation/dp/B0B1ZRVDC1/ref=sr_1_52" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><figure class="van-image-figure "  ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1040px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:100.00%;"><img id="zF4hQxZSoyG9knRPPcvZpG" name="Orzorz star projector.jpg" caption="" alt="" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zF4hQxZSoyG9knRPPcvZpG.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1040" height="1040" attribution="" endorsement="" credit="" class=""></p></div></div></figure></a><p><em><strong>Save over $30 </strong></em>on an excellent star projector that we rate as one of the best. It has 180-degree positioning, a disk slot, can be mains and battery powered, projects vivid imagery and it has a rotation option and a sleep timer. <a class="view-deal button" href="https://www.amazon.com/Projector-Orzorz-Planetarium-Rechargeable-Presentation/dp/B0B1ZRVDC1/ref=sr_1_52" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" data-dimension112="e4ab0448-e44a-4c36-ba7d-0b14fda15831" data-action="Deal Block" data-label="Save over $30 on an excellent star projector that we rate as one of the best. It has 180-degree positioning, a disk slot, can be mains and battery powered, projects vivid imagery and it has a rotation option and a sleep timer." data-dimension48="Save over $30 on an excellent star projector that we rate as one of the best. It has 180-degree positioning, a disk slot, can be mains and battery powered, projects vivid imagery and it has a rotation option and a sleep timer." data-dimension25="$49.50">View Deal</a></p></div><ul><li><em><strong>We've got you covered with reviews and rankings of the </strong></em><a href="https://www.space.com/15693-telescopes-beginners-telescope-reviews-buying-guide.html"><em><strong>best telescopes</strong></em></a><em><strong>, </strong></em><a href="https://www.space.com/26021-best-binoculars.html"><em><strong>binoculars</strong></em></a><em><strong>, </strong></em><a href="https://www.space.com/best-star-projectors"><em><strong>star projectors</strong></em></a><em><strong>, </strong></em><a href="https://www.space.com/best-cameras"><em><strong>cameras</strong></em></a><em><strong>, </strong></em><a href="https://www.space.com/best-drones"><em><strong>drones</strong></em></a><em><strong>, </strong></em><a href="https://www.space.com/38810-best-lego-deals.html"><em><strong>Lego</strong></em></a><em><strong>, </strong></em><a href="https://www.space.com/streaming-deals-guide"><em><strong>streaming</strong></em></a><em><strong> and more. Check out our top picks of the best early </strong></em><a href="https://www.space.com/amazon-prime-day-space-deals"><em><strong>Amazon Prime Day deals</strong></em></a><em><strong>, too.</strong></em></li></ul><div class="inlinegallery  carousel-layout"><div class="inlinegallery-wrap" style="display:flex; flex-flow:row nowrap;"><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 1 of 5</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2133px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.26%;"><img id="hrN4Ad6B7gZ9QVmiZszioC" name="Space-image-template-1200px-16-9_0002_PXL_20240920_094825978.jpg" alt="The Orzorz Galaxy Lite star projector" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hrN4Ad6B7gZ9QVmiZszioC.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="2133" height="1200" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="caption-text">The Orzorz Galaxy Lite Star Projector is now on sale with 38% off; it's pictured here with its disks. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tantse Walter)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 2 of 5</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2133px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.26%;"><img id="wWsq8KJmvVm4SnjnLi88UC" name="Space-image-template-1200px-16-9_0005_PXL_20240920_094947981.jpg" alt="The Orzorz Galaxy Lite star projector" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wWsq8KJmvVm4SnjnLi88UC.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="2133" height="1200" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="caption-text">The Orzorz Galaxy Lite Star Projector is now on sale with 38% off </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tantse Walter)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 3 of 5</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2133px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.26%;"><img id="f29N7iVjWnZhr33ydtbXLC" name="Space-image-template-1200px-16-9_0008_PXL_20240920_094830826.jpg" alt="The Orzorz Galaxy Lite star projector" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f29N7iVjWnZhr33ydtbXLC.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="2133" height="1200" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="caption-text">The buttons on the Orzorz Galaxy Lite Star Projector </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tantse Walter)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 4 of 5</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2133px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.26%;"><img id="JcMXjr5BBhzPoRcZn7Ef4D" name="Space-image-template-1200px-16-9_0007_PXL_20240920_094846703.jpg" alt="The Orzorz Galaxy Lite star projector" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JcMXjr5BBhzPoRcZn7Ef4D.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="2133" height="1200" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="caption-text">The disk tray and some of the disks of the Orzorz Galaxy Lite Star Projector </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tantse Walter)</span></figcaption></figure></div><div class="inlinegallery-item" style="flex: 0 0 auto;"><span class="slidecount">Image 5 of 5</span><figure class="van-image-figure " data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2133px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.26%;"><img id="xra7X3SD5VL8y3xjW8PALD" name="Space-image-template-1200px-16-9_0000_20230409_020534.jpg" alt="The Orzorz Galaxy Lite star projector" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xra7X3SD5VL8y3xjW8PALD.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="2133" height="1200" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="caption-text">An example of the projections from the Orzorz Galaxy Lite Star Projector. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tantse Walter)</span></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><p>So, 38% off is a lot, but what makes the projector itself so good? Well, firstly, it has a really sleek design and it looks like a premium model, which already separates it from some similarly priced options. It has functions you would find on premium models too, like a sleep timer, which you can set to 15, 30 or 60 minutes. It also has a rotation option, which can be controlled by one of the three buttons on the body; the other two are to control the sleep timer and the power. Above all else, it projects high-definition, vivid images and colors, which is key to making a star projector good or not.</p><p>The projector comes with a USB-C to USB-A cable, so that it can be powered by the mains. However, the rechargeable battery means that it can be a portable star projector, which really helps it stand out from some of its competitors. The projector stands on a sturdy base and it can be positioned anywhere within a 180-degree angle. It has a very quiet motor and an expandable disk collection.</p><p><strong>Key features:</strong> 38% discount, vivid imagery, battery and mains powered, sleek design, sleep timer, rotation, 180-degree positioning, and expandable disk collection.</p><p><strong>Price history:</strong> Before today's deal, we would usually see the Orzorz Galaxy Lite Star Projector on sale for between $60 and $80, and we've very rarely seen the price dip as low as today's.</p><p><strong>Reviews consensus:</strong> Rated as our best viral star projector, the Orzorz boasts the functionality we love to see in premium star projectors, at a lower price. It's simple to use and is simply one of the better options on the market.</p><p><strong>Space: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/orzorz-galaxy-lite-star-projector-review">★★★★</a><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/lg-c2-oled-oled65c2"><strong>★</strong></a></p><p><strong>Featured in guides: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/best-star-projectors">Best star projectors</a>, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/technology/best-star-projectors-under-100-dollars">Best star projectors under $100</a></p><p><strong>✅ Buy it if:</strong> You want a very good star projector without paying a premium for one. This is up there with the best value-for-money options on the market.</p><p><strong>❌ Don't buy it if: </strong>You want a known brand, like Sega Toys or National Geographic.</p><p><em>Check out our other guides to the </em><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/15693-telescopes-beginners-telescope-reviews-buying-guide.html"><em>best telescopes</em></a><em>, </em><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/26021-best-binoculars.html"><em>binoculars</em></a><em>, </em><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/best-cameras"><em>cameras</em></a><em>, </em><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/best-star-projectors"><em>star projectors</em></a><em>, </em><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/best-drones"><em>drones</em></a><em>, </em><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/best-lego-space-sets"><em>lego</em></a><em> and much more.</em></p> ]]></dc:content>
468.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/technology/the-best-viral-star-projector-is-now-at-its-lowest-ever-price-and-under-50-dollars-on-amazon</link>
469.                                                                            <description>
470.                            <![CDATA[ We rate the Orzorz as the best viral star projector on the market and it's now under $50 before Amazon's Prime Day in October offers are live. ]]>
471.                                                                                                            </description>
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474.                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2025 16:50:38 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
475.                                                                                                <author><![CDATA[ acox@space.com (Alexander Cox) ]]></author>                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Alexander Cox ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SHZBkqwGZ2oM6oVyqndLDn-1280-80.jpg">
476.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Future]]></media:credit>
477.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[A white projector is balanced on a wide-based stand with buttons on the front, next to four black disks in a light wooden surface and in front of a grey background.]]></media:text>
478.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[A white projector is balanced on a wide-based stand with buttons on the front, next to four black disks in a light wooden surface and in front of a grey background.]]></media:title>
479.                                                    </media:content>
480.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SHZBkqwGZ2oM6oVyqndLDn-1280-80.jpg" />
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483.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ What to expect from each stage of the partial solar eclipse on Sept. 21 ]]></title>
484.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>On Sept. 21-22, a partial solar eclipse will see the moon sweep over the sun's disk, blocking its light over a swathe of the southern hemisphere! Here's what you can expect as the solar system alignment unfolds.</p><p>A partial <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/15584-solar-eclipses.html">solar eclipse</a> takes place when the moon's orbit places the natural satellite directly between the Earth and sun during its monthly <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/17561-new-moon-explained-lunar-phases.html">new moon phase</a>, blocking our view of a portion — but not the totality of — the sun's disk.</p><p>The <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/stargazing/eclipses/partial-solar-eclipse-september-2025-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-solstice-solar-eclipse">Sept. 21-22 partial solar eclipse</a> will be visible to over 16 million people observing from a number of Pacific islands, along with <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/stargazing/solar-eclipses/where-is-solar-eclipse-sept-21-2025-visible">parts of Australia and Antarctica</a>, according to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2025-september-21" target="_blank">Time and Date</a>. The rest of the world will be able to follow along via Time and Date's livestream, which will be hosted on Space.com, providing live views and expert commentary on the event as it unfolds</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_Gr8J3Est_ANn1bv7q_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="ANn1bv7q"            data-playlist-id="Gr8J3Est">            <div id="botr_Gr8J3Est_ANn1bv7q_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><h2 id="stage-1-first-contact-partial-begins-2">Stage 1: First contact (partial begins)</h2><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="fnYgNVkG3AJK2RhNA6mDXF" name="First Contact" alt="The yellow sun's disk is shown against a black sky. The curved silhouette of the moon is visible blocking the upper right extreme of its disk." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fnYgNVkG3AJK2RhNA6mDXF.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">The moon will appear to take a 'bite' out of the upper right corner of the solar disk to viewers in Samoa. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Photo by Jorge Castellanos/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Stargazers will get their first glimpse of the eclipse shortly after its global start at 1:29 p.m. EDT (1729 GMT) on Sept. 21, when the curved silhouette of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/54-earth-history-composition-and-atmosphere.html">Earth</a>'s satellite will begin to graze the upper right region of the solar disk for viewers in the island country of Samoa.</p><h2 id="stage-2-deepening-partial-2">Stage 2: Deepening partial</h2><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="mzXvVaswGfkmTkDQQNw9MV" name="Deepening Partial" alt="An image of the sun's disk against a black background. Its upper third is blocked out by the dark silhouette of the moon during a partial solar eclipse." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mzXvVaswGfkmTkDQQNw9MV.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">The moon pictured partially obscuring the sun's disk. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Photo by AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP via Getty Images)</span></figcaption></figure><p>The hours that follow will see the path of the eclipse sweep over a vast region of the Pacific Ocean encompassing New Zealand, Fiji and a host of smaller islands. All the while, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/55-earths-moon-formation-composition-and-orbit.html">the moon</a>'s silhouette will sink further into the disk of our parent star, transforming its usually perfect sphere into a radiant crescent.</p><h2 id="stage-3-maximum-eclipse-2">Stage 3: Maximum eclipse</h2><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="vMXHbSx7xfrm5zmcvR5zwn" name="Eclipse Maximum (1)" alt="A picture of the sun's disk almost completely obscured by the moon's silhouette against a black sky, with only a thin crescent of its lower edge visible." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vMXHbSx7xfrm5zmcvR5zwn.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">The sun's disk pictured almost entirely eclipsed by the moon. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Photo by Camilo Freedman/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)</span></figcaption></figure><p>At 3:41 p.m. EDT (1941 GMT), the eclipse will reach its maximum over a largely uninhabited patch of Pacific Ocean, when most of the sun's disk will be hidden by the moon.. As the eclipse reaches its maximum for your location, points of light shining through small gaps, such as the holes of a colander or spaces between leaves, may appear as tiny crescents, echoing the scene in the sky.</p><p>New Zealand and Antarctica will witness some of the most spectacular views of the eclipse in the hour surrounding the maximum, with over 70% of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/58-the-sun-formation-facts-and-characteristics.html">the sun</a>'s disk covered by the moon's silhouette, forcing it to take on the appearance of an upturned sickle.</p><h2 id="stage-4-waning-partial-2">Stage 4: Waning partial</h2><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="yERit5fgU3xKhFhQhY922k" name="Waning Partial" alt="A picture of the sun's disk with its right side blocked by the moon's silhouette against a black sky." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yERit5fgU3xKhFhQhY922k.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">The moon's silhouette pictured blocking the sun's disk. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Photo by APHOTOGRAFIA/Getty Images)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Over the next few hours, the moon will appear to roll from left to right off the solar disk for viewers in New Zealand, while the final glimpse of the eclipse will be visible from an isolated peninsula of the Antarctic at 5:53 p.m. ET (2153 GMT), assuming there are any humans — or penguins — there to see it.</p><h2 id="how-to-view-the-eclipse-2">How to view the eclipse</h2><p>Because the Sept. 21 event is a partial eclipse, it is <strong>NEVER</strong> safe to observe it with the naked eye — even from locations where most of the sun's disk is covered at maximum.</p><p>Be sure to check out our <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/sun-observing-safety-guide">guide to safely viewing the sun</a>, along with our explainer on <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/36941-solar-eclipse-eye-protection-guide.html">where to buy quality eclipse glasses</a> and how to check that your gear is in good working order.</p><p><em><strong>Editor's Note: </strong></em><em>If you capture an image of the partial solar eclipse and want to share it with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.</em></p><div style="min-height: 250px;">                                <div class="kwizly-quiz kwizly-XbwEye"></div>                            </div>                            <script src="https://kwizly.com/embed/XbwEye.js" async></script> ]]></dc:content>
485.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/stargazing/solar-eclipses/what-to-expect-from-each-stage-partial-solar-eclipse-sept-21-2025</link>
486.                                                                            <description>
487.                            <![CDATA[ A spectacular partial solar eclipse will be visible across a swathe of the southern hemisphere this week. ]]>
488.                                                                                                            </description>
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490.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vMXHbSx7xfrm5zmcvR5zwn-1280-80.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure>
491.                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2025 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Solar Eclipses]]></category>
492.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Stargazing]]></category>
493.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Eclipses]]></category>
494.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Anthony Wood ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vMXHbSx7xfrm5zmcvR5zwn-1280-80.jpg">
495.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Photo by Camilo Freedman/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images]]></media:credit>
496.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[A picture of the sun&#039;s disk almost completely obscured by the moon&#039;s silhouette against a black sky, with only a thin crescent of its lower edge visible.]]></media:text>
497.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[A picture of the sun&#039;s disk almost completely obscured by the moon&#039;s silhouette against a black sky, with only a thin crescent of its lower edge visible.]]></media:title>
498.                                                    </media:content>
499.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vMXHbSx7xfrm5zmcvR5zwn-1280-80.jpg" />
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502.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ 2 billion people will be able to see 'God of Chaos' asteroid Apophis when it buzzes Earth in April 2029 ]]></title>
503.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>An asteroid once thought to pose a threat to Earth may be visible to the naked eye for up to two billion people when it safely whizzes past our planet in 2029.</p><p>"<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/apophis">Apophis</a> is a large, 340-meter <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/51-asteroids-formation-discovery-and-exploration.html">asteroid</a> that will pass safely past the Earth closer than <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/29222-geosynchronous-orbit.html">geosynchronous satellites</a> on April 13, 2029, which happens to be a Friday, because nature has a sense of humor," said Richard Binzel, a professor of planetary sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in a keynote lecture at the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC-DPS2025/session/55375" target="_blank">EPSC-DPS</a> Joint Meeting 2025 in Helsinki on Sept. 8.</p><p>Despite being classified as a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/20151-potentially-dangerous-asteroids-images.html">potentially hazardous asteroid</a>, there is no danger posed to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/54-earth-history-composition-and-atmosphere.html">Earth</a> by Apophis, only opportunities, as it will pass us at a distance of 5.9 Earth radii during the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/asteroid-apophis-satellite-spacecraft-mission-2029">April 2029 flyby</a>. Binzel said that the precision of Apophis' calculated orbital path is due to extensive astrometry and radar ranging over 20 years.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_MqH4jL81_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="MqH4jL81">            <div id="botr_MqH4jL81_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>A close approach to Earth by an asteroid the size of Apophis — which takes its name from the ancient Egyptian deity of chaos and darkness — is extremely rare, occurring just once every 7,500 years on average, according to Binzel. And this exceptional close encounter offers a unique opportunity for both planetary science and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/planetary-defense-explained">planetary defense</a>.</p><p>The coming flyby allows the chance for spacecraft to get up close and observe how interactions with Earth's gravitational field and magnetosphere influences and changes Apophis, boosting our understanding of asteroid physics. Measuring the properties of asteroids is also crucial for planetary defense capabilities, which agencies across the world are developing.</p><p>"I think it's an equation: Planetary defense equals applied planetary science," said Binzel.</p><p>"This will be on the final exam," he quipped. "The final exam is in 2029. We have to study and prepare now for the final exam in 2029."</p><p>Planned missions to study the asteroid with before-and-after observations and flybys include Europe's <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/asteroid-apophis-2029-ramses-esa-mission">RAMSES mission</a> — based on the Hera spacecraft to follow up on NASA's 2022 <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/dart-asteroid-mission">DART mission impact</a> — Japan's DESTINY+, both of which are expected to launch in 2028, and NASA's <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/how-nasa-osiris-apex-asteroid-probe-survived-close-pass-sun">OSIRIS-APEX</a>, which is already en route for a flyby after its sampling mission of asteroid <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/39958-asteroid-bennu.html">Bennu</a>. (OSIRIS-APEX's future is in doubt, however; it's one of the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/trumps-2026-budget-would-slash-nasa-funding-by-24-percent-and-its-workforce-by-nearly-one-third">41 projects slated to be canceled</a> if President Donald Trump's 2026 NASA budget request is enacted.)</p><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">Related Stories:</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/apophis">Apophis: The infamous asteroid we thought might hit us</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/asteroid-apophis-satellite-spacecraft-mission-2029">'God of Destruction' asteroid Apophis will come to Earth in 2029 — and it could meet some tiny spacecraft</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/asteroid-apophis-earth-flyby-2029-space-rock-collision">Asteroid Apophis will swing past Earth in 2029 — could a space rock collision make it hit us?</a></p></div></div><p>While preparations are being made for space-based observations, the asteroid is also expected to attract large numbers of viewers on the ground. Apophis' closest approach is expected to be visible to two billion people living all over Africa and in Western Europe as it passes within just 10% of the Earth-moon distance.</p><p>"This is four times more people than saw <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/15519-neil-armstrong-man-moon.html">Neil Armstrong</a> walk on the moon. Think about what a world event this is going to be," Binzel said.</p><p>"This is an unprecedented natural experiment that has been set up for us that maybe happens once in human history," said Thomas Statler of NASA Headquarters.</p><p>While scientists prepare for making the most of the Apophis event, Binzel stressed that the event will not endanger the planet. "I want you to take away three things," he said. "Those three things are: Apophis will safely pass the Earth. Apophis will safely pass the Earth. Apophis will safely pass the Earth."</p> ]]></dc:content>
504.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/astronomy/asteroids/2-billion-people-will-be-able-to-see-god-of-chaos-asteroid-apophis-when-it-buzzes-earth-in-april-2029</link>
505.                                                                            <description>
506.                            <![CDATA[ The 1,115-foot-wide (340 meters) asteroid Apophis will pass closer to Earth than many satellites fly in April 2029, giving scientists and stargazers a rare front-row seat. ]]>
507.                                                                                                            </description>
508.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">5JzV3945fH9DTsH8yyFKxT</guid>
509.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2YWna38BTfWJyKKPY5mLFL-1280-80.png" type="image/png" length="0"></enclosure>
510.                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2025 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Asteroids]]></category>
511.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Astronomy]]></category>
512.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Solar System]]></category>
513.                                                                                                <author><![CDATA[ andrew.w.jones@protonmail.com (Andrew Jones) ]]></author>                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Andrew Jones ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/png" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2YWna38BTfWJyKKPY5mLFL-1280-80.png">
514.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Robert Lea/NASA]]></media:credit>
515.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[An illustration shows OSRIS-APEX as it watches the asteroid Apophis skim Earth in 2029]]></media:text>
516.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[An illustration shows OSRIS-APEX as it watches the asteroid Apophis skim Earth in 2029]]></media:title>
517.                                                    </media:content>
518.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2YWna38BTfWJyKKPY5mLFL-1280-80.png" />
519.                                                                                        </item>
520.                    <item>
521.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Interstellar visitors like comet 3I/ATLAS are the most common objects in the Milky Way: 'There's almost always one within the solar system' ]]></title>
522.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>Objects such as 'Oumuamua, Borisov and recently 3I/ATLAS have opened our eyes to the reality that outsiders regularly visit our solar system — and we're about to start spotting a whole lot more of them.</p><p><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/comets/new-interstellar-object-3i-atlas-everything-we-know-about-the-rare-cosmic-visitor">3I/ATLAS</a>, an interstellar object currently zipping through the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/16080-solar-system-planets.html">solar system</a>, is capturing the attention of astronomers, the public and even <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/comets/interstellar-comet-3i-atlas-will-fly-by-mars-1-month-from-now-and-europes-red-planet-orbiters-will-be-ready">most of our deep space assets</a>. Its hyperbolic orbit tells us that it is not gravitationally bound to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/58-the-sun-formation-facts-and-characteristics.html">the sun</a> and is just passing through.</p><p>This rare and novel event is, however, representative of a much more regular occurrence, according to astronomers at the Europlanet Science Congress (EPSC) and Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS) joint meeting, which was held in Helsinki last week.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_pRwyrMvA_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="pRwyrMvA">            <div id="botr_pRwyrMvA_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>"These sorts of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/interstellar-space-definition-explanation">interstellar</a> objects are the most common macroscopic objects in the galaxy," Chris Lintott, a professor of astrophysics at the University of Oxford, said during the meeting. "The fact that we've only found three of them is quite fun."</p><p>Interstellar objects, or ISOs, are planetesimals — the rocky building blocks of planets — that have been flung out of their own, original star systems and look like either <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/51-asteroids-formation-discovery-and-exploration.html">asteroids</a> or <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/comets.html">comets</a>. Astronomers think there are on the order of a hundred million trillion to a trillion trillion of these ISOs in our <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/19915-milky-way-galaxy.html">Milky Way</a> galaxy, Lintott said.</p><p>"Therefore, there's almost always one within the solar system. But because they're small, dark and fast-moving, they are difficult to spot," Lintott said. That's expected to change, however, with new, powerful capabilities coming online.</p><p>Rosemary Dorsey, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Helsinki, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC-DPS2025/session/55013" target="_blank">presented</a> her research on simulating surveys and predicting how many ISOs a telescopic campaign may detect,</p><p>Dorsey found that the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), a 10-year, deep astronomical survey conducted by the new <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/vera-rubin-observatory-broad-views-universe">Vera C. Rubin Observatory</a>, is expected to spot between six and 51 ISOs, though simulating ISOs faces challenges in terms of unknowns such as the size distribution and luminosity of the objects.</p><p>Despite the challenges of detection, ISOs offer a tremendous opportunity to learn about the galaxy beyond the boundaries of our own solar system.</p><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">RELATED STORIES</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/comets/new-interstellar-object-3i-atlas-everything-we-know-about-the-rare-cosmic-visitor">New interstellar object 3I/ATLAS: Everything we know about the rare cosmic visitor</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/oumuamua.html">'Oumuamua: A guide to the 1st known interstellar visitor</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/missions/ready-for-the-next-oumuamua-launching-flyby-missions-to-visiting-interstellar-comets-is-feasible-and-affordable-study-says">Ready for the next 'Oumuamua? Launching flyby missions to visiting interstellar comets is 'feasible and affordable,' study says</a></p></div></div><p>"These are our chance to get a sample-return mission from a distant planetary system," said Lintott. He noted that astronomers are working on models to show the expected distribution of interstellar objects based on their composition, and also seeking to use ISOs to better understand the chemical evolution of the Milky Way.</p><p>For now, 3I/ATLAS is the focus of attention and providing new insights as ground-based telescopes, space observatories such as the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/james-webb-space-telescope-takes-1st-look-at-interstellar-comet-3i-atlas-with-unexpected-results">James Webb Space Telescope</a> and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/asteroids/hubble-spots-interstellar-invader-comet-3i-atlas-for-the-first-time">Hubble</a>, and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/interstellar-invader-comet-3i-atlas-could-be-investigated-by-these-spacecraft-as-it-races-past-the-sun-this-could-be-literally-a-once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity">other spacecraft</a> train their sights on the object.</p><p>There is a good chance that 3I/ATLAS is around eight billion years old, said Lintott. If that's the case, he added, it's "the oldest thing we've ever seen" in our neck of the cosmic woods.</p> ]]></dc:content>
523.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/astronomy/comets/interstellar-visitors-like-comet-3i-atlas-are-the-most-common-objects-in-the-milky-way-theres-almost-always-one-within-the-solar-system</link>
524.                                                                            <description>
525.                            <![CDATA[ Astronomers say that mysterious interstellar visitors like 'Oumuamua and 3I/ATLAS are the most common large bodies in the Milky Way — and our best chance to study other planetary systems. ]]>
526.                                                                                                            </description>
527.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">AA9BbH8CsxwpjMPNAfKat7</guid>
528.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WWcf4CcYATdcHLK5qvM2nD-1280-80.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure>
529.                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2025 14:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Comets]]></category>
530.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Astronomy]]></category>
531.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Solar System]]></category>
532.                                                                                                <author><![CDATA[ andrew.w.jones@protonmail.com (Andrew Jones) ]]></author>                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Andrew Jones ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WWcf4CcYATdcHLK5qvM2nD-1280-80.jpg">
533.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Michael Jäger/Gerald Rhemann]]></media:credit>
534.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[A glowing green light is seen in the center of a starry image from space but also in a white cutout box on the left part of the image]]></media:text>
535.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[A glowing green light is seen in the center of a starry image from space but also in a white cutout box on the left part of the image]]></media:title>
536.                                                    </media:content>
537.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WWcf4CcYATdcHLK5qvM2nD-1280-80.jpg" />
538.                                                                                        </item>
539.                    <item>
540.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ A close shave on the ISS | Space photo of the day for Sept. 16, 2025 ]]></title>
541.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>Since 2000, the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/16748-international-space-station.html">International Space Station</a> (ISS) has continuously hosted astronauts from countries including the United States, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/russia-progress-93-cargo-spacecraft-iss">Russia</a>, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/stargazing/meteor-showers/bright-fireball-japan-video-aug-19">Japan</a>, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/22534-canadian-space-agency.html">Canada</a> and parts of Europe. The station serves as a unique platform for research in fields ranging from physics to human health.</p><p>Even though they're far from home, astronauts on the ISS still have normal routines — including getting regular <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/haircut-on-high-getting-a-trim-in-space-space-picture-of-the-day-for-april-17-2025">haircuts. </a></p><h2 id="what-is-it-7">What is it?</h2><p>Living aboard the ISS means living in <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/microgravity-vision-effects-astronauts">microgravity</a>, a state where everything is in continuous free fall. To astronauts, this feels like weightlessness, making everything just a bit more complicated, including basic hygiene.</p><p>There are no <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/29610-showering-in-space-astronaut-video.html">showers</a> on the orbital lab. Instead, astronauts take a sort of "sponge bath" with no-rinse shampoo. Something as simple as trimming nails or cutting hair also takes on new challenges, as without gravity, every tiny clipping would drift around, potentially clogging equipment or entering astronauts' eyes or lungs.</p><h2 id="where-is-it-7">Where is it?</h2><p>The ISS is located at an average altitude of 248 miles (400 kilometers) above <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/54-earth-history-composition-and-atmosphere.html">Earth. </a></p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="VCcsg7a6xHCdqW6zNW3dmC" name="iss073e0602995~large" alt="A man holds a razor attached to a hose and slowly shaves another man's head while aboard the ISS" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VCcsg7a6xHCdqW6zNW3dmC.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">A vacuum is used to collect hair during a haircut. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: NASA)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="why-is-it-amazing-7">Why is it amazing?</h2><p>During long stays aboard the ISS, astronauts' hair grows just as it does on Earth. This means regular haircuts are essential for multiple reasons. Here, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/22672-japan-aerospace-exploration-agency.html">JAXA</a> (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://images.nasa.gov/details/iss073e0602995" target="_blank">uses a razor</a> with a vacuum hose to shave NASA astronaut Mike Fincke's hair, with the hose collecting the hair.</p><p>Regular haircuts are beneficial for an astronaut's overall health (it can be uncomfortable or a safety hazard if it's too long) and for the crew's morale (bringing people together for a common goal).</p><h2 id="want-to-learn-more-7">Want to learn more?</h2><p>You can read more about the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/8876-international-space-station-numbers.html">International Space Station</a> and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/astronauts-arteries-are-a-ok-after-living-on-the-international-space-station-per-a-new-study">astronauts living on the ISS. </a></p> ]]></dc:content>
542.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/a-close-shave-on-the-iss-space-photo-of-the-day-for-sept-16-2025</link>
543.                                                                            <description>
544.                            <![CDATA[ Even though they're far from home, astronauts on the International Space Station still have normal routines, including getting regular haircuts. ]]>
545.                                                                                                            </description>
546.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">M9v7XP2zVDeatEUMFWy7AH</guid>
547.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VCcsg7a6xHCdqW6zNW3dmC-1280-80.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure>
548.                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[International Space Station]]></category>
549.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Space Exploration]]></category>
550.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Missions]]></category>
551.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Kenna Hughes-Castleberry ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VCcsg7a6xHCdqW6zNW3dmC-1280-80.jpg">
552.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[NASA]]></media:credit>
553.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[A man holds a razor attached to a hose and slowly shaves another man&#039;s head while aboard the ISS]]></media:text>
554.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[A man holds a razor attached to a hose and slowly shaves another man&#039;s head while aboard the ISS]]></media:title>
555.                                                    </media:content>
556.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VCcsg7a6xHCdqW6zNW3dmC-1280-80.jpg" />
557.                                                                                        </item>
558.                    <item>
559.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Whose monster is it anyway: Match the literary sci-fi monster to its book ]]></title>
560.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>Monsters in <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/science-fiction-turned-reality.html">science fiction</a> aren't just terrifying — they're symbolic, philosophical, and often heartbreakingly human. Whether they represent the dangers of unchecked science, the fear of the unknown or the consequences of hubris, these creatures have haunted readers for generations.</p><p>Behind every <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/27399-tentacle-robots-planetary-exploration.html">tentacle</a>, fang, or mutated cell lies a story — and an author with a warning or a vision.</p><p>This quiz invites you to explore the darker corners of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/best-sci-fi-books">sci-fi literature</a>, where monsters lurk not just in shadows, but in laboratories, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/39288-new-method-finding-alien-worlds.html">alien worlds</a> and post-apocalyptic wastelands.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_7JPcITs7_ANn1bv7q_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="ANn1bv7q"            data-playlist-id="7JPcITs7">            <div id="botr_7JPcITs7_ANn1bv7q_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>Whether you're a seasoned sci-fi reader or just dipping your toes into the genre's murkier waters, this quiz will test your memory, your instincts, and maybe even your courage.</p><p>Try it out below and see how well you score!</p><div style="min-height: 250px;">                                <div class="kwizly-quiz kwizly-OqAYdO"></div>                            </div>                            <script src="https://kwizly.com/embed/OqAYdO.js" async></script> ]]></dc:content>
561.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/entertainment/whose-monster-is-it-anyway-match-the-literary-sci-fi-monster-to-its-book</link>
562.                                                                            <description>
563.                            <![CDATA[ In this quiz, you'll match iconic sci-fi monsters to the books that birthed them—and the authors who dared to imagine the unimaginable. ]]>
564.                                                                                                            </description>
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567.                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2025 12:30:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>
568.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Kenna Hughes-Castleberry ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/png" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jLiNGwkc4PTJkEoPfXigHG-1280-80.png">
569.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Jun Maegawa, CC BY-SA 3.0]]></media:credit>
570.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[An arch with fiery torches reads &quot;Jurassic Park&quot; in red lettering]]></media:text>
571.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[An arch with fiery torches reads &quot;Jurassic Park&quot; in red lettering]]></media:title>
572.                                                    </media:content>
573.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jLiNGwkc4PTJkEoPfXigHG-1280-80.png" />
574.                                                                                        </item>
575.                    <item>
576.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ New space junk removal idea: Using ion engine exhaust to knock debris out of the sky ]]></title>
577.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>Over 14,000 pieces of junk are clogging up low Earth orbit, but this number could be reduced by a new invention that involves a satellite using the plasma exhaust of its ion engine to knock dangerous chunks of space junk into the atmosphere where they can burn up safely.</p><p>The huge amounts of space junk in orbit, ranging from nuts and bolts to rocket fairings and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/ers-2-satellite-crash-space-junk-wakeup-call">dead satellites</a>, pose a serious hazard to satellites and the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/16748-international-space-station.html">International Space Station</a>, which has to regularly take evasive action to dodge space shrapnel, much of which is moving faster than a bullet.</p><p>Therefore, scientists and engineers have been working on ways to clean up <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/low-earth-orbit">low-Earth orbit</a>. Most solutions proposed have included spacecraft that could grab space junk with robotic arms, nets and tethers. The problem with these ideas, however, is that much of the junk is tumbling. This means there's a risk of the spacecraft getting caught up in the chaotic motion.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_NuE3krJw_ANn1bv7q_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="ANn1bv7q"            data-playlist-id="NuE3krJw">            <div id="botr_NuE3krJw_ANn1bv7q_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>A non-contact method would be safer, and one proposal is to use the exhaust of a spacecraft's ion engine to gradually but firmly push against a piece of space debris, slowing the debris down until it falls out of orbit and into the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/17683-earth-atmosphere.html">atmosphere</a>.</p><p>However, an ion engine is designed to push a spacecraft forward. Firing an ion engine's plasma exhaust at a piece of space junk would therefore push the removal satellite away from the junk.</p><p>Now though, Kazunori Takahashi of Tohoku University in Japan has developed a solution. Rather than having just one exhaust, a removal satellite could have two exhausts pointing in opposite directions. The thrust from each exhaust would cancel the other out, allowing the removal satellite to hold station while it goes about its job of deorbiting space junk.</p><p>Takahashi calls his system a "bidirectional plasma ejection-type electrode-less plasma thruster." An ion engine works by using an inert gas as a propellant; often this gas is xenon, but Takahashi used argon.</p><p>"It can be operated using argon to a similar efficiency as with xenon, but providing a reduced cost for the propulsion device," Takahashi told Space.com.</p><p>The gas fills a chamber, with a cathode on one side producing a cloud of electrons that are then attracted to a positively charged discharge wall. On their way, they interact with the gas and ionize it. Ionized gas is called a plasma, and it is electrically charged such that it can be directed and accelerated by electromagnetic fields out through a thruster nozzle, producing thrust.</p><p>In Takahashi's system, "the plasma can flow along the field lines towards both sides, providing the bi-directional plasma ejection," he said.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:976px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:70.90%;"><img id="BEfADHdgoXdQeQLUC4DPqV" name="182_propulsion_system_may_help_remove_space_debris_fig1" alt="A scientific figure showing two blue cones of bidirectional force moving space debris, with various areas labeled." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BEfADHdgoXdQeQLUC4DPqV.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="976" height="692" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">A simple diagram of how the bi-directional plasma thruster works to deorbit space junk.  </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Tohoku University.)</span></figcaption></figure><p>The thrust from an ion engine is initially small compared to a chemical rocket, but over time it can build up and become comparable. However, with so many pieces of space junk to remove, time is of the essence.</p><p>To deorbit a piece of space junk a meter across and with a mass of 1 ton in less than 100 days requires the constant application of 30 milli-Newtons (mN) of thrust. This is greater than the thrust provided by the ion engine on board the Japanese Aerospace Agency's (JAXA) <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/40161-hayabusa2.html">Hayabusa2</a> mission to the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/51-asteroids-formation-discovery-and-exploration.html">asteroid</a> <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/asteroid-ryugu">Ryugu</a>, for example. Hayabusa2 achieved 10 milli-Newtons (mN) of thrust from 300–500 watts of electrical power produced by its solar arrays.</p><p>Takahashi's bidirectional system is far more power hungry. "It needs to have a few kilowatts," he said.</p><p>In order to boost the power of his system, Takahashi introduced a "magnetic cusp" that is able to keep more of the plasma away from the discharge wall and force more of it out through the thruster nozzle.</p><p>"The specific shape of the cusp provides a geometrical separation of the plasma from the wall, reducing the plasma loss," said Takahashi.</p><p>This means more of the plasma is available to be spewed onto the space junk, and more plasma means more thrust. In laboratory experiments testing his system with large vacuum tubes mimicking conditions in space, Takahashi was able to reach 25 mN, tripling the power output compared to previous experiments.</p><p>Takahashi's bi-directional thruster is designed to be able to take out larger pieces of space junk because they are the ones most likely to lead to a frightening scenario called <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/kessler-syndrome-space-debris">Kessler syndrome</a>. It describes how a collision between a large satellite and a piece of space junk could cause a chain reaction as shrapnel is scattered throughout orbit, instigating more collisions in a runaway effect that could leave huge swathes of low-Earth orbit inaccessible because of the sheer amount of debris would be too hazardous for spacecraft or satellites to pass through.</p><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">RELATED STORIES</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text"> —  <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/satellites/these-2-european-telescopes-use-lasers-to-track-potentially-dangerous-space-junk-video">These 2 European telescopes use lasers to track potentially dangerous space junk (video)</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"> —<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/satellites/space-junk-cleanup-tech-that-could-shepherd-debris-into-earths-atmosphere-gets-us-patent"> Space junk cleanup tech that could 'shepherd' debris into Earth's atmosphere gets US patent</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"> — <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/satellites/how-climate-change-could-make-earths-space-junk-problem-even-worse">How climate change could make Earth's space junk problem even worse</a></p></div></div><p>Long-term, it could completely block our access to space, which is why a means of removing space junk grows increasingly vital as more and more debris begins to encircle the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/54-earth-history-composition-and-atmosphere.html">Earth</a>.</p><p>Takahashi's work on the bidirectional plasma thruster was published on Aug. 20 in the journal <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-16449-9#Sec4" target="_blank">Scientific Reports</a>.</p> ]]></dc:content>
578.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/technology/new-space-junk-removal-idea-using-ion-engine-exhaust-to-knock-debris-out-of-the-sky</link>
579.                                                                            <description>
580.                            <![CDATA[ With a modest amount of thrust and power, a new ion engine system could get rid of 1-ton pieces of space junk in less than 100 days. Here's how it works. ]]>
581.                                                                                                            </description>
582.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">auGAkZsLGCkieHWhshuUaY</guid>
583.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bp6SZKVzjYXMqUaVeip6zD-1280-80.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure>
584.                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
585.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Keith Cooper ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bp6SZKVzjYXMqUaVeip6zD-1280-80.jpg">
586.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Shutterstock]]></media:credit>
587.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[A cluster of satellites and metal parts floating above Earth with an incoming sunrise]]></media:text>
588.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[A cluster of satellites and metal parts floating above Earth with an incoming sunrise]]></media:title>
589.                                                    </media:content>
590.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bp6SZKVzjYXMqUaVeip6zD-1280-80.jpg" />
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592.                    <item>
593.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ 'A game changer': Space shuttle astronaut Pam Melroy joins Venus Aerospace after revolutionary rocket engine breakthrough ]]></title>
594.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>Pam Melroy, one of only two women to ever command a NASA space shuttle, is channeling her decades of experience across the U.S. Air Force, DARPA, the FAA and private industry to pioneer a revolutionary new rocket engine technology.</p><p>Melroy, NASA's former Deputy Administrator, has joined the Board of Directors for Houston-based startup Venus Aerospace just months after the company became first in the U.S. to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/technology/venus-aerospace-debuts-potentially-revolutionary-rocket-engine-with-landmark-1st-flight-video"><u>launch a rotating detonation rocket engine</u></a> (RDRE).</p><p>A Sept. 2 <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/venus-aerospace-appoints-former-nasa-leader-to-its-board-of-directors-302543174.html"><u>announcement</u></a> of Melroy's appointment to Venus' board comes as the company now prepares for a major expansion. Company CEO Sassie Duggleby said bringing Melroy onboard was an easy decision. "Her career has run the gamut of all the areas that we're trying to hit. Once we got introduced to Pam, it was an absolute no-brainer," she told Space.com in an interview.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_rjZv8FMu_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="rjZv8FMu">            <div id="botr_rjZv8FMu_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>Melroy is a bona fide spaceflight expert, and Duggleby said Melroy's background matches the exact markets Venus hopes to disrupt: civil, defense, and commercial aerospace.</p><p>The company's suborbital liftoff on May 14 demonstrated that the RDRE, a propulsion technology that existed only in theory for more than half a century, could operate under real flight conditions rather than just on a test stand. <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/venus-aerospace-hypersonic-plane-design"><u>Venus' RDRE</u></a> launch set off a wave of industry-wide attention, according to Duggleby, which led the company to add Melroy's veteran spaceflight expertise to their ranks.</p><p>"Since our flight, the amount of interest for Venus has been almost overwhelming," Duggleby said.</p><p>The result was a credibility shift. "We had a customer who told us, 'We thought you guys were a PowerPoint presentation,'" Duggleby said. "When we showed them a 40-second engine test, they said, 'Oh my gosh, it works!'"</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2511px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.27%;"><img id="JyYCtwjaW78dzcMuVriRX9" name="Venus RDRE Hot Fire_306" alt="Venus Aerospace tests their revolutionary rotating detonation rocket engine" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JyYCtwjaW78dzcMuVriRX9.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2511" height="1413" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Venus Aerospace conducted the first-ever test flight with its rotating detonation rocket engine on May 14, 2025. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Venus Aerospace)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="what-is-the-rdre-2">What is the RDRE?</h2><p>Melroy told Space.com that she first encountered the idea of RDREs a decade ago while at <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/29273-what-is-darpa.html"><u>DARPA</u></a>, when a breakthrough always seemed just out of reach. "It was one of those technologies that has always seemed elusive," Melroy said, adding that "it was the classic joke: 'it's always about 10 years away.'"</p><p>What sets the RDRE aside from your everyday rocket engine is the way fuel ignites inside the combustion chamber. Conventional engines burn fuel in a steady process, where the flame front (the area at which combustion occurs) moves smoothly through a propellant mixture to produce continuous thrust. RDREs use a detonation wave that races around a circular channel, which produces short, high-pressure bursts that drive up thrust and efficiency. So, instead of a smooth output of flame, the engine runs on a continuous series of controlled explosions.</p><p>The concept has been studied <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://gdilab.engin.umich.edu/rotating-detonation-engines/#:~:text=first%20theorized%20in%201950%E2%80%99s"><u>since the 1950s</u></a>, but engineers struggled to stabilize the detonation long enough for flight. "Most rocket engines flying today are based on 1960s and 1970s technology," Melroy said. "The efficiency jump of RDREs is really a game changer for launch and for other applications."</p><p>Venus claims their RDRE technology offers a 15% increase in efficiency versus conventional rockets, enough to nearly quadruple payload capacity when compared to legacy engines, according to Duggleby.</p><p>The technology a joke no longer, Melroy said, "They've done it. We're there … That's why Venus is getting so much interest."</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1185px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:127.76%;"><img id="2y3U6sW7YG82oerAdcSFK9" name="Venus RDRE Rocket Rail_2" alt="Venus Aerospace tests their revolutionary rotating detonation rocket engine" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2y3U6sW7YG82oerAdcSFK9.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1185" height="1514" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Venus Aerospace test launch May 14, 2025. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Venus Aerospace)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="how-did-venus-aerospace-do-it-2">How did Venus Aerospace do it?</h2><p>The decades-old technological riddle was finally solved thanks to three major advances, according to Duggleby.</p><p>First, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/metal-3d-printing"><u>3D metal printing</u></a> allowed Venus to innovate quickly, by creating an environment where the company could learn from its failures and make fast changes. Duggleby said their innovative speed was increased further by the decision she and her spouse, Andrew Duggleby — Venus co-founder and CTO — made to move the company from Southern California to the Houston Spaceport.</p><p>"We design, manufacture and test all in one single location within 100 yards of each other," she said. "That has allowed us to innovate quickly." Duggleby said Venus' current record stands at eight engine tests in a day, and 28 engine tests in a week. Over the last five years, she said, has made Venus' program, "as far as we know, the fastest new engine development in history."</p><p>The second component making Venus' RDRE breakthrough possible was a high-speed camera. According to Duggleby, Venus engineers used a camera shooting at 1 million frames per second to slow down the RDRE ignition process and observe the engine's detonation sequence in as much detail as possible. "Trying to understand how you can get sustained detonation has been key," Duggleby explained.</p><p>The third breakthrough is for aspiring RDRE competitors to find out for themselves. "I'm going to hold on what the third one is, because I don't know that I want it public," Duggleby said, but added, "there was one more innovation that we used."</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1280px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="ZiW7FBebpUTxppf59BZpLD" name="20250915_110046" alt="Venus Aerospace tests their revolutionary rotating detonation rocket engine" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZiW7FBebpUTxppf59BZpLD.gif" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1280" height="720" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Venus Aerospace)</span></figcaption></figure><p>After proving their concept works with <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/technology/venus-aerospace-debuts-potentially-revolutionary-rocket-engine-with-landmark-1st-flight-video"><u>the successful test launch in May</u></a>, Venus is now focusing on applications for the new engine technology.</p><p>"The engine is proven. It's ready to go," Duggleby said. "There aren't more milestones that we need to go hit to start doing some integration with our existing customers."</p><p>The company is now working to integrate the RDRE into real-world systems for buyers in the defense, civil and commercial space industries — Melroy's specialty. "All three areas are areas that I'm familiar with," she said. "So, ideally, I can help [Venus] as they scale. I think this is a pivotal time for them, so I'm going to make myself very much available."</p><p>Melroy said propulsion integration will be the main challenge ahead, but that May's test shows that Venus knows the path: "It's just a matter of getting the right size, scale, and then the integration to go on."</p><h2 id="san-francisco-to-tokyo-in-two-hours-2">San Francisco to Tokyo in two hours?</h2><p>Venus sees a range of applications for its RDRE as diverse as its customer base. Duggleby said Venus' "North Star," one of its most lofty goals, is high-speed global travel, asking, "How does the world change if you can get from San Francisco to Tokyo in two hours?"</p><p>Focused on that <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/15567-north-star-polaris.html"><u>North Star</u></a>, one of Venus' long-term goals is the Stargazer M4, a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.venusaero.com/"><u>Mach 4 passenger jet</u></a> designed for record fast point-to-point global travel. Its design pairs the RDRE with the Venus Detonation Ramjet (VDR), an air-breathing engine built for sustained hypersonic flight.</p><p>The trajectory puts Venus in a different category than most of its perceivable peers. Over the past decade, several rocket startups have struggled to move beyond prototypes, while a handful have managed to scale into reliable launch providers. Venus, by contrast, is focused on propulsion rather than whole launch vehicles, and has already achieved a technical milestone that no competitor can yet claim. "We flew the first ever high-thrust RDRE," Duggleby said. "I don't know that there's an actual comparison right now."</p><p>Duggleby envisions different versions of Venus' engines flying low in <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/17683-earth-atmosphere.html"><u>Earth's atmosphere</u></a>, or all the way into deep space. "We believe in a future where this is the engine powering everything from launch vehicles to orbital transfer vehicles to landers," Duggleby said. "There's also," she added, "near term applications for munitions." That would be the "defense" portion of Venus' industry-changing holy trio.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:51.77%;"><img id="CgAmNA98oZnJGgxCfGSqD9" name="rdre internal" alt="Venus Aerospace tests their revolutionary rotating detonation rocket engine" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CgAmNA98oZnJGgxCfGSqD9.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1920" height="994" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Venus Aerospace's RDRE and VDR. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Venus Aerospace)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Launch and orbital transfer vehicles that can push vessels into deep space are RDRE applications where efficiency could directly cut costs and boost capacity.</p><p>"One of the things we really learned from the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/16748-international-space-station.html"><u>International Space Station</u></a> is how much logistics people and their science need," Melroy said. "I think we're going to be seeing a lot more orbital transfer vehicles. You can see that's becoming a big thing in <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/54-earth-history-composition-and-atmosphere.html"><u>Earth</u></a> orbit, but I think it's going to be a very logical outcome of [sending] cargo to the cislunar environment," she said.</p><p>Melroy also pointed to landers as another application.</p><h2 id="rdres-on-the-moon-and-mars-2">RDREs on the moon and Mars</h2><p>NASA's <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/artemis-program.html"><u>Artemis program</u></a> is the agency's first endeavor to land astronauts on <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/55-earths-moon-formation-composition-and-orbit.html"><u>the moon</u></a> since Apollo. The program's current architecture utilizes SpaceX's <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-super-heavy.html"><u>Starship</u></a> as the lunar lander for <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/artemis-3-moon-landing-mission"><u>Artemis 3</u></a>, slated for sometime in 2027. <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/18853-spacex.html"><u>SpaceX</u></a> is making progress with the vehicle's development following a successful test launch in August, but still has a number of technological milestones to complete before<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/38700-nasa-history.html"><u> NASA</u></a> clears the spacecraft to land crews on the moon.</p><p>Starship's powerful Raptor engines are fueled by liquid oxygen and liquid methane — both of which require cryogenic cooling to maintain their liquid states, and will need to be transferred between vehicles for refueling in order to reach any destination beyond <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/low-earth-orbit"><u>low Earth orbit</u></a> (LEO). Additionally, even with proper temperature regulation, both propellants will experience supply losses due to boil-off. SpaceX has yet to demonstrate a solution to either, whereas RDREs don't need cryogenic propellants or, as Melroy noted, large engine bells at their base, making them well-suited for moon and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/47-mars-the-red-planet-fourth-planet-from-the-sun.html"><u>Mars</u></a> operations.</p><p>Melroy added that propulsion breakthroughs like the RDRE are going to set the pace for global space competition.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:3840px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="mFpUxBwrygNRG4RvWFQW4A" name="Venus RDRE Flight Rocket on Rail" alt="Venus Aerospace tests their revolutionary rotating detonation rocket engine" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mFpUxBwrygNRG4RvWFQW4A.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="3840" height="2160" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Venus Aerospace test vehicle. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Venus Aerospace)</span></figcaption></figure><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">Related stories:</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/us-army-launches-dark-eagle-hypersonic-missile-from-cape-canaveral-space-force-station">US Army launches hypersonic missile from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">—  <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-force-foo-fighter-satellite-hypersonic-missle-tracking">Space Force aims to launch 1st 'Foo Fighter' satellites in 2027 to track hypersonic threats</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/technology/stratolaunchs-talon-a2-prototype-goes-hypersonic-after-dropping-from-worlds-largest-airplane-photos">Stratolaunch's Talon-A2 prototype goes hypersonic after dropping from world's largest airplane (photos)</a></p></div></div><p>"China is watching. Others are watching," she said. "They're trying to build their own commercial space industry … Protecting our lead with this very innovative propulsion technology will have a huge economic impact for the United States."</p><p>She argued RDREs could "supercharge the growth of the space industry."</p><p>For Venus, that sentiment is fueling interest from across the sector — pushing the startup to scale quickly. Duggleby didn't provide specifics about interested parties, but said "the customer pull that we're getting is incredible."</p><p>Melroy agreed. "Venus isn't going to be small for long."</p> ]]></dc:content>
595.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/technology/a-game-changer-space-shuttle-astronaut-pam-melroy-joins-venus-aerospace-after-revolutionary-rocket-engine-breakthrough</link>
596.                                                                            <description>
597.                            <![CDATA[ Former NASA deputy chief and shuttle commander Pam Melroy has joined Venus Aerospace's board after its groundbreaking RDRE flight, bringing her decades of experience to help scale the startup's propulsion technology. ]]>
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601.                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
602.                                                                                                <author><![CDATA[ jdinner@space.com (Josh Dinner) ]]></author>                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Josh Dinner ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/png" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fCfYqgWnjAHnQVGkcVav8A-1280-80.png">
603.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Venus Aerospace]]></media:credit>
604.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[Venus Aerospace tests their revolutionary rotating detonation rocket engine]]></media:text>
605.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Venus Aerospace tests their revolutionary rotating detonation rocket engine]]></media:title>
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610.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ 'We are ready to drive': Take a look inside Lunar Outpost's moon rover mission control (photos) ]]></title>
611.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>ARVADA, Colorado — Lunar Outpost, a private space company, is putting the pedal to the metal on its lunar terrain vehicle (LTV), a large rover that Artemis astronauts may use to wheel across the moon's dusty, crater-pocked landscape.</p><p>A tour of Lunar Outpost's Mission Control here offered an up-close look at the status of the group's LTV design, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/moon-rovers/lunar-outpost-unveils-sleek-new-eagle-moon-rover-photos">the Eagle</a>, and how use of its Autonomous Test Facility in Rye, Colorado is helping the company develop and mature the off-Earth, off-road vehicle.</p><p>The design is "a mix between a dune buggy and a heavy-duty truck," said Justin Cyrus, Lunar Outpost's CEO and co-founder.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_AM2leFmz_ANn1bv7q_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="ANn1bv7q"            data-playlist-id="AM2leFmz">            <div id="botr_AM2leFmz_ANn1bv7q_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/moon-rovers/spacexs-starship-will-fly-lunar-outposts-rover-to-the-moon">Lunar Outpost</a> is one of three teams <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/nasa-lunar-terrain-vehicle-artemis-moon-rover-contracts">announced by NASA in April 2024</a> to perform a one-year feasibility study for the space agency. The contract was awarded to the Lunar Dawn team, led by Lunar Outpost in collaboration with General Motors, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, MDA Space and Leidos.</p><p>Intuitive Machines and Venturi Astrolab were also selected for LTV work. NASA is expected to announce its LTV selectee by the end of the year.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="YtBSVNfBBej8Ztdmjm8FAk" name="PHOTO 2 Lunar Outpost Mission Control inside.JPG" alt="A man stands behind a row of computers in a dimly lit room" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YtBSVNfBBej8Ztdmjm8FAk.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Justin Cyrus, Lunar Outpost's CEO and co-founder. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Barbara David)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="tantalizingly-close-2">Tantalizingly close</h2><p>A trial run of technology developed by Lunar Outpost — its small Mobile Autonomous Prospecting Platform (MAPP) rover — has already flown to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/55-earths-moon-formation-composition-and-orbit.html">the moon</a>, tucked aboard Intuitive Machine's Athena lunar lander.</p><p>However, Athena <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/moon/heres-why-the-private-athena-lunar-lander-toppled-over-on-the-moon">tipped onto its side</a> during its lunar landing on March 6, 2025. The mishap <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/the-universe/moon/private-mini-rover-aboard-sideways-athena-moon-lander-was-ready-to-roll-but-it-couldnt-get-out">prevented MAPP's deployment</a> to the lunar surface and planned exploration of the lunar south pole environment.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:72.65%;"><img id="DTaztmBpfU3gjXgqntizyd" name="PHOTO 4 EAGLE ON DISPLAY" alt="A large four-wheeled rover made of metal with four seats sits on a square of red carpet with a background and display lights" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DTaztmBpfU3gjXgqntizyd.png" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1453" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Earlier this year, Lunar Outpost unveiled its Lunar Terrain Vehicle prototype, Eagle, at the 40th Space Symposium held in nearby Colorado Springs. The unit that will actually drive on the moon will feature specially designed wheels and suspension to gain traction on the lunar surface. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Lunar Outpost)</span></figcaption></figure><p>"Unfortunately, that first mission didn't go quite as we hoped," Cyrus said. "But we were able to control the rover in cislunar [Earth-moon] space…and were able to get data from the lunar surface."</p><p>"We got tantalizingly close to actually driving on the moon's surface," he added.</p><p>Another Lunar Outpost payload is slated to be on board Intuitive Machine's next moon landing attempt, which is slated for 2026. That mission will target the Reiner Gamma region, to study the mysterious natural feature there that's known as a lunar swirl.</p><h2 id="cozy-setting-2">Cozy setting</h2><p>Lunar Outpost's Mission Control is a cozy setting. A few rows of high-tech, high-definition, fast-refresh-rate computer screens sit under ceiling light fixtures that change the color of the room as the situation dictates.</p><p>"We use red, green, blue, purple for different modes and operations," Cyrus said, noting that a very bright red indicated a crisis situation. Each station tackles a different function, handled by a flight director and support personnel.</p><p>Large screens capture the scene at Lunar Outpost's Autonomous Test Facility in Rye. That site has been specially landscaped with craters, rocks and berms.</p><p>"This is one of our most informative test sites. We can test large-scale vehicles for long periods of time," whether they are under autonomous control or with human interface and interaction, Cyrus pointed out.</p><p>Test evaluations of moon-bound equipment are being run through the "Stargate" Lunar Outpost mission control platform. It is designed to enable operator decisions in real time, providing the human touch while teleoperating robotic systems and tasking them with complex autonomous functions.</p><h2 id="different-operating-modes-2">Different operating modes</h2><p>⁠The Lunar Outpost LTV will be able to make tracks on the moon in different modes. It's designed to be driven actively by astronauts on the surface of the moon, or in full autonomy drive without human intervention, or teleoperated from mission control here on Earth.</p><p>"It can go up to 25 kilometers per hour [15 mph]. You don't want to go faster than that. When you hit a rock at that speed, you can get a pretty dramatic response," said Cyrus. The LTV will normally operate at speeds lower than 15 kph (9 mph). But in emergency traverse scenarios on flat plains, he said, the LTV can clock faster speeds.</p><p>Autonomous LTV operations can be used for repetitive and mundane tasks. A robotic arm on the back of the vehicle can reach out a couple of meters to clean off solar panels or repair moon landing and launch pads. That feature will enable astronauts to spend their precious time on high-value science and exploration objectives, Cyrus said.</p><p>Lunar Outpost's LTV design includes easy grabbing of tools and a workbench for <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/artemis-program.html">Artemis</a> astronauts.</p><p>Cyrus said that astronaut feedback about the LTV has been priceless. For example, astronauts have given advice about the height of the stairs to get in and out of the vehicle, how much they'll be able to raise their knees and the proper positioning of grab handles taking into account the reduced mobility that <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/25844-spacesuit-evolution-space-tech-photos.html">spacesuits</a> impose. All of it has proven invaluable, Cyrus said.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1035px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:50.72%;"><img id="BkzkyUiP7hoLMxTnVQGLJP" name="PHOTO 3 lunar outpost von braun photo" alt="A black and white photo showing a man in a suit in a four-wheeled car rolling down a road." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BkzkyUiP7hoLMxTnVQGLJP.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="1035" height="525" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Wernher von Braun, former director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, driving an Apollo-era Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV). Lunar Outpost retrieved that vehicle as a "cool piece of history" from a junkyard in Alabama. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: NASA)</span></figcaption></figure><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">Related Stories:</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/moon-rovers/lunar-outpost-unveils-sleek-new-eagle-moon-rover-photos">Lunar Outpost unveils sleek new 'Eagle' moon rover (photos)</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/the-universe/moon/private-mini-rover-aboard-sideways-athena-moon-lander-was-ready-to-roll-but-it-couldnt-get-out">Private mini rover aboard sideways Athena moon lander was ready to roll — but it couldn't get out</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/55-earths-moon-formation-composition-and-orbit.html">The moon: Everything you need to know about Earth's companion</a></p></div></div><h2 id="deep-dives-2">Deep dives</h2><p>The LTV will have to be able to operate on the moon during both day and night, so thermal management of the vehicle will be key.</p><p>Cyrus told Space.com that Lunar Outpost is pushing forward on unique technologies that will allow the vehicle to dive deeply into <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/nasa-moon-camera-danuri-korea-pathfinder-lunar-orbiter">permanently shadowed regions</a> (PSRs) on the moon.</p><p>Always in darkness, PSRs are thought to retain <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/future-moon-missions-find-less-water-than-expected-study">water ice</a> that, if present, could be converted into drinkable water, breathable oxygen and rocket fuel.</p><p>"We can not only survive but operate in PSRs for many tens of hours at a time," said Cyrus.</p><p>"We are a lunar mobility company," he added. "We've put in a lot of hard work to 'de-risk' our technology over the years … to validate our critical systems … to get ready for lunar surface missions. We are ready to drive."</p> ]]></dc:content>
612.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/astronomy/moon/we-are-ready-to-drive-take-a-look-inside-lunar-outposts-moon-rover-mission-control-photos</link>
613.                                                                            <description>
614.                            <![CDATA[ The rover's design is "a mix between a dune buggy and a heavy-duty truck." ]]>
615.                                                                                                            </description>
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617.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jjehna6Z6nGjqrcYmDmoqU-1280-80.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure>
618.                                                                        <pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2025 22:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[The moon]]></category>
619.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Astronomy]]></category>
620.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Solar System]]></category>
621.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Leonard David ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jjehna6Z6nGjqrcYmDmoqU-1280-80.jpg">
622.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Barbara David]]></media:credit>
623.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[A man wearing a dark polo button up shirt heads into a blue-lit door with the words &quot;Lunar Outpost: Mission Control&quot; above it.]]></media:text>
624.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[A man wearing a dark polo button up shirt heads into a blue-lit door with the words &quot;Lunar Outpost: Mission Control&quot; above it.]]></media:title>
625.                                                    </media:content>
626.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jjehna6Z6nGjqrcYmDmoqU-1280-80.jpg" />
627.                                                                                        </item>
628.                    <item>
629.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ We can finally predict when Mars' skies will glow green with auroras, scientists say ]]></title>
630.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>Mars may be known as the Red Planet, but under the right cosmic conditions, its skies shimmer emerald with auroras — and for the first time, scientists think they can predict the spectacle.</p><p>Being able to predict Martian auroras, which result from solar storms that also unleash harmful radiation, could provide future astronauts with crucial warning and time to take cover, scientists say.</p><p>Auroras occur when charged particles from the sun slam into a planet's atmosphere and collide with atoms and molecules there, leading to a glow. On Earth, our magnetic field funnels those particles toward the poles, giving rise to the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/15139-northern-lights-auroras-earth-facts-sdcmp.html">famous northern and southern lights</a>. But Mars <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/the-universe/mars/boost-for-mars-life-red-planets-magnetic-field-may-have-lasted-longer-than-thought">lost its global magnetic field</a> long ago, a change that also helped transform it from a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/the-universe/mars/what-happened-to-all-the-water-on-mars-the-debate-continues">wet world into the dry planet</a> we see today. With no shield to steer solar particles, the entire nightside sky can glow with diffuse green light, caused by oxygen atoms less than 60 miles (about 100 kilometers) above the surface.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_dkOjkQtB_ANn1bv7q_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="ANn1bv7q"            data-playlist-id="dkOjkQtB">            <div id="botr_dkOjkQtB_ANn1bv7q_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>In March 2024, NASA's Perseverance rover <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/mars/perseverance-mars-rover-becomes-1st-spacecraft-to-spot-auroras-from-the-surface-of-another-world">made skywatching history</a> by capturing the first visible-light aurora on Mars, marking the first time such a phenomenon had been observed from the ground of another world.</p><p>Last week at the Europlanet Science Congress–Division for Planetary Sciences (EPSC–DPS) meeting in Helsinki, Finland, Elise Knutsen, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oslo, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC-DPS2025/EPSC-DPS2025-1314.html" target="_blank">reported a second detection</a> and described new tools her team developed to forecast when auroras will appear.</p><p>"The fact that we captured the aurora again demonstrates that our method for predicting aurorae on Mars and capturing them works," Knutsen said in a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.europlanet.org/epsc-dps2025-predicting-the-green-glow-of-aurorae-on-the-red-planet/" target="_blank">statement</a>.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1227px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:104.32%;"><img id="bNh2APwBA6sfyH5fsdDtqB" name="SCAM_ZCAM-scaled" alt="Four different static images with different colorations above a graph showing various colored squiggly lines corresponding to various wavelengths" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bNh2APwBA6sfyH5fsdDtqB.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="1227" height="1280" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Martian auroras captured by NASA's Perseverance rover on March 18 and May 18, 2024. The March display was roughly twice as bright, while the dustier May skies dimmed many stars.  </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Elise Wright Knutsen et al.)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Unlike on Earth, where aurora forecasting benefits from decades of data, predicting Martian auroras is still a trial-and-error science. As part of the new study, Knutsen and her team programmed Perseverance's cameras to watch the sky after solar eruptions known as coronal mass ejections (<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/coronal-mass-ejections-cme">CMEs</a>) blasted in the direction of Mars. These massive outbursts hurl billions of tons of charged particles into space — and the faster the CME, the more likely it is to spark an aurora.</p><p>But rover observations must be scheduled about three days in advance, as mission teams on Earth need time to plan, validate and transmit commands to Mars. This forces researchers to make educated bets on which storms are promising enough to target, according to the statement.</p><p>Between 2023 and 2024, the team tried eight times. The first attempts came up empty because the CMEs weren't strong enough. Later, however, by focusing on faster, more intense storms, the researchers succeeded in capturing two instances of glowing green auroras, according to the statement.</p><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">RELATED STORIES</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text"> —  <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/do-other-planets-have-auroras">Do extraterrestrial auroras occur on other planets?</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"> — <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/earth-jupiter-saturn-auroras-space-weather-forecast">How auroras on Earth, Saturn and Jupiter could help forecast risky space weather</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"> —<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/jupiter/jwst-watches-auroras-on-jupiter-glow-hundreds-of-times-brighter-than-those-on-earth-video"> James Webb Space Telescope captures stunning images of bright auroras on Jupiter (video)</a></p></div></div><p>Still, not every powerful CME produced a lightshow. "Statistically there is also a degree of randomness to these things, so sometimes we're just unlucky," Knutsen said in the statement.</p><p>"Predicting the aurora on Earth down to minute precision isn't an exact science either."</p> ]]></dc:content>
631.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/astronomy/mars/we-can-finally-predict-when-mars-skies-will-glow-green-with-auroras-scientists-say</link>
632.                                                                            <description>
633.                            <![CDATA[ "The fact that we captured the aurora again demonstrates that our method for predicting aurorae on Mars and capturing them works." ]]>
634.                                                                                                            </description>
635.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">EbfDNbu7TNGDpGCaYw2rQD</guid>
636.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iSDY3rsb3wSUqs6iD97qXa-1280-80.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure>
637.                                                                        <pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2025 20:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Mars]]></category>
638.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Astronomy]]></category>
639.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Solar System]]></category>
640.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Sharmila Kuthunur ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iSDY3rsb3wSUqs6iD97qXa-1280-80.jpg">
641.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Alex McDougall-Page, University of Strathclyde / AstrollCareers.]]></media:credit>
642.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[An illustration showing a rover sitting under a dark green sky full of northern lights flickering with stars.]]></media:text>
643.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[An illustration showing a rover sitting under a dark green sky full of northern lights flickering with stars.]]></media:title>
644.                                                    </media:content>
645.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iSDY3rsb3wSUqs6iD97qXa-1280-80.jpg" />
646.                                                                                        </item>
647.                    <item>
648.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ See Jupiter and the moon join the Gemini twins in the predawn sky on Sept. 16 ]]></title>
649.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>Turn your eyes to the east in the early morning hours of Sept. 16 to see the moon conspire with Jupiter and the bright stars of the Gemini constellation to create a lopsided rectangular formation in the late summer sky.</p><p><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/7-jupiter-largest-planet-solar-system.html">Jupiter</a> will rise above the eastern horizon roughly an hour-and-a-half after midnight on Sept. 16, with the slender crescent moon shining roughly five degrees above it and the twinkling forms of the bright stars <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/21940-castor-star.html">Castor</a> and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/22068-pollux.html">Pollux</a> close to its left. Remember, 10 degrees is approximately the same width as your clenched fist when held out against the night sky!</p><p>The moon, Jupiter, Castor and Pollux come together to form an irregular slanted rectangle in Earth's predawn sky, one that helps highlight the spectacular diversity of objects that are visible to the naked eye above us.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_sT3QY0MQ_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="sT3QY0MQ">            <div id="botr_sT3QY0MQ_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>Viewing this scene with a telescope with an aperture of 4-inches or greater will allow you to resolve spectacular features in Jupiter's ever shifting cloud bands, along with its four large <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/16452-jupiters-moons.html">Galilean moons</a> — <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/15498-europa-sdcmp.html">Europa</a>, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/16419-io-facts-about-jupiters-volcanic-moon.html">Io</a>, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/16440-ganymede-facts-about-jupiters-largest-moon.html">Ganymede</a> and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/16448-callisto-facts-about-jupiters-dead-moon.html">Callisto</a>. The moon will afford an equally spectacular sight predawn on Sept. 16, with the brooding expanse of the 57-mile-wide (93 kilometer) Copernicus crater lying on the shadowy line separating night from day on the lunar surface, known as the terminator.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="cUgiXx2VQ5m2hcRLFK6CBb" name="Sep16-2025 at 6 am - Crescent Moon Meets Jupiter over Venus" alt="A labeled constellation map of the night sky, including objects like Venus and Regulus. At the top of the image in yellow font Jupiter can be seen just below a crescent moon, with both near Pollux" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cUgiXx2VQ5m2hcRLFK6CBb.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">A crescent moon passes near Jupiter before dawn on Sept. 16. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Starry Night/Chris Vaughan)</span></figcaption></figure><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">TOP TELESCOPE PICK</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><figure class="van-image-figure "  ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' ><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="woBnabYLR9B4bHNgicnyFh" name="Celestron-nexstar-8se-deal-main.jpg" caption="" alt="Celestron NexStar 8SE telescope with orange optical tube on a blue background featuring disco circles with a space.com logo in the top left corner" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/woBnabYLR9B4bHNgicnyFh.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="" height="" attribution="" endorsement="" class="pinterest-pin-exclude"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Future/Adorama)</span></figcaption></figure><p class="fancy-box__body-text">Want to see the moon near Jupiter and the Gemini twins? The<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-11069-Computerised-Schmidt-Cassegrain-Technology/dp/B000GUFOC8/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?tag=georiot-us-default-20&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.f0b1F2bylj60FMX6yPsrGQcyNiWAVxERdtD_hC6sMwheOAQYf2ZKU3dM10XVlFNeJgZ0mGNOUvE9bkVzFvWjvCzyjw_pEI4TtbYvfFRws3QBvQF5YJAPtGYGzK2nOUkkSJtYejE8tjFCkXPw3xT0y9jlmnppgUHsCmniw7gv5rt4a9yLaPZqw96FFL4gFdugvpmSPGkbVlQ6HwPHfxzOlp3mlbxAcorFc78UqiGCtT0.dQWrqG0Cwi1BftKni7oNMJ7FARzekSJWSl4fvILD1MU&dib_tag=se&hvadid=694198857096&hvdev=c&hvexpln=67&hvlocphy=9058761&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=17617777239930721740--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=17617777239930721740&hvtargid=kwd-4686936163&hydadcr=18472_13462150&keywords=celestron%20nexstar%208se&mcid=deadd43652e331aabadee6ae726cd94c&qid=1751535125&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1&ascsubtag=space-us-1346887865419321405-20&geniuslink=true" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Celestron NexStar 8SE</a> is ideal for beginners wanting quality, reliable and quick views of celestial objects. For a more in-depth look at our<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/celestron-nexstar-8se-telescope-review"> Celestron NexStar 8SE review.</a></p></div></div><p>The stars of the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/16659-constellation-orion.html">constellation Orion</a> will be visible to the right of Gemini in the hours following midnight, with the Hyades and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/pleiades.html">Pleiades</a> open star clusters visible above.</p><p><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/48-saturn-the-solar-systems-major-ring-bearer.html">Saturn</a>, meanwhile, will shine above the southwestern horizon as dawn approaches. Its sweeping ring system is currently oriented edge-on to Earth, making it appear as little more than a thin line bisecting the bright amber orb of the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/30372-gas-giants.html">gas giant</a>'s atmosphere through the eyepiece of a telescope.</p><p>Photographers interested in capturing the majesty of the night sky should read our roundup of the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/best-cameras-for-astrophotography">best cameras</a> and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/best-lenses-for-astrophotography">lenses for astrophotography</a>. Those new to navigating the stars should also check out our guide to the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/best-stargazing-apps">top smartphone astronomy apps available in 2025</a>.</p><p><em><strong>Editor's Note: </strong></em><em>If you would like to share your astrophotography with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com. </em></p> ]]></dc:content>
650.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/stargazing/jupiter-moon-join-gemini-stars-in-predawn-sky-sept-16-2025</link>
651.                                                                            <description>
652.                            <![CDATA[ The crescent moon will shine with Jupiter among the stars of Gemini early on Sept. 16. ]]>
653.                                                                                                            </description>
654.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">D52grVsDErfRqbTcDUqvKK</guid>
655.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NieyGALnJiL9X9wvPaPquf-1280-80.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure>
656.                                                                        <pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2025 19:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Stargazing]]></category>
657.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Anthony Wood ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NieyGALnJiL9X9wvPaPquf-1280-80.jpg">
658.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Yaorusheng via Getty Images]]></media:credit>
659.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[A close up of the moon in the darkness of space, with only a crescent shaped beam of light showing the surface]]></media:text>
660.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[A close up of the moon in the darkness of space, with only a crescent shaped beam of light showing the surface]]></media:title>
661.                                                    </media:content>
662.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NieyGALnJiL9X9wvPaPquf-1280-80.jpg" />
663.                                                                                        </item>
664.                    <item>
665.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Are 'little red dots' seen by the James Webb Space Telescope actually elusive 'black hole stars'? ]]></title>
666.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>New research suggests that "little red dots" seen in the early universe may actually be a new class of cosmic object: black hole stars. If this theory is correct, it could explain how black holes managed to grow to supermassive sizes before the universe was even 1 billion years old.</p><p><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/forbidden-black-holes-jwst-tiny-red-dots">Little red dots</a> are one of the most curious celestial objects viewed thus far by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Astronomers theorize that they are early galaxies that existed earlier than 700 million years after the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/25126-big-bang-theory.html">Big Bang</a>, that are unlike anything seen in the local and "modern" 13.8 billion-year-old universe.</p><p>If they are galaxies, these little red dots are surprisingly mature and well-developed for galaxies that exist so soon after the Big Bang, packed with aging and cold red stars. In fact, the concept is so troubling to scientists that some have dubbed little red dots "universe breakers" as they challenge what we thought we knew about galaxy formation and cosmic evolution. This new research, however, could apply some superglue to our broken theories by suggesting a new identity for little red dots and an entirely new class of cosmic object.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_1NCt0mte_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="1NCt0mte">            <div id="botr_1NCt0mte_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>Performing an analysis of the little red dots, the researchers suggested that, rather than being ancient, well-developed galaxies, little red dots may be vast spheres of dense and hot gas that look like the atmospheres of stars. However, rather than being powered by nuclear fusion, like stars are, the engines of these objects are <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/supermassive-black-hole">supermassive black holes</a> greedily feeding on surrounding matter and blasting out energy.</p><p>"Basically, we looked at enough red dots until we saw one that had so much atmosphere that it couldn't be explained as typical stars we'd expect from a galaxy," team member and Penn State University researcher Joel Leja <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/mysterious-red-dots-early-universe-may-be-black-hole-star-atmospheres" target="_blank">said in a statement</a>. "It's an elegant answer, really, because we thought it was a tiny galaxy full of many separate cold stars, but it's actually, effectively, one gigantic, very cold star."</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1280px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="7PUCwvG7nx3whrW2f6nMAh" name="Little red dots NIRCam" alt="some of the "little red dot" galaxies discovered by the JWST" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7PUCwvG7nx3whrW2f6nMAh.png" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="1280" height="720" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Some of the "little red dot" galaxies discovered by the JWST are they actually black hole stars? </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Dale Kocevski (Colby College))</span></figcaption></figure><p>The theory could explain why little red dots appear more massive and much brighter than galaxy formation models suggest. To be so bright, a galaxy would have to be loaded with stars at an impossible density.</p><p>"The night sky of such a galaxy would be dazzlingly bright," Princeton University researcher Bingjie Wang said. "If this interpretation holds, it implies that stars formed through extraordinary processes that have never been observed before."</p><h2 id="little-red-dot-theories-fall-off-the-cliff-2">Little red dot theories fall off 'the Cliff'</h2><p>Initially believing little red dots are ancient galaxies, Leja and colleagues examined light from these objects at different wavelengths, or spectra, throughout 2024. In July of that year, this investigation led to the discovery of an early and large object, which they nicknamed "the Cliff."</p><p>The team realized that the Cliff, located around 12 billion<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/light-year.html"> light-years</a> from Earth, is exactly the sort of object they needed to investigate the nature of the JWST's little red dots.</p><p>"The extreme properties of The Cliff forced us to go back to the drawing board and come up with entirely new models," team member and Max Planck Institute for Astronomy researcher Ann de Graaff said in a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.mpia.de/news/science/2025-06-black-hole-stars" target="_blank">separate statement.</a></p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1600px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="sErEtUR8BxuD56P4YeTvMQ" name="supermassive black hole quasar" alt="An illustration of a supermassive black hole in the early cosmos" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sErEtUR8BxuD56P4YeTvMQ.png" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="1600" height="900" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">An illustration of a supermassive black hole surrounded by a vast disk of gas and dust, is this what the objects known as little red dots are? </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Robert Lea (created with Canva))</span></figcaption></figure><p>The spectra of the Cliff indicated that it is coming from a single object, not a wealth of densely packed stars. In fact, it appears to be the result of a supermassive black hole that is feeding so voraciously that it is cocooned by a fiery sphere of gas.</p><p>Though supermassive black holes sit at the heart of all large galaxies, and some are indeed feeding, scientists aren't exactly sure how they reached masses equivalent to millions or even billions of suns. This is especially perplexing when supermassive black holes are seen in a time when the universe was less than 1 billion years old.</p><p>That's because the merger chains of subsequently larger and larger black holes that are thought to create supermassive black holes should take longer than 1 billion years, even if this growth is supported by the accretion of matter by the black holes involved.</p><p>The mass increase of feeding black holes like the one seen as the Cliff is "turbo-charged," meaning these new black hole stars could help to explain the growth of supermassive black holes.</p><p>"No one's ever really known why or where these gigantic <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/15421-black-holes-facts-formation-discovery-sdcmp.html">black holes</a> at the center of galaxies come from," said Leja. "These black hole stars might be the first phase of formation for the black holes that we see in galaxies today — supermassive black holes in their little infancy stage."</p><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">Related Stories:</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/james-webb-space-telescope-little-red-dots-galaxies-black-hole-growth">James Webb Space Telescope sees little red dots feeding black holes: 'This is how you solve a universe-breaking problem'</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/forbidden-black-holes-jwst-tiny-red-dots">Forbidden black holes and ancient stars hide in these 'tiny red dots' (image)</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/james-webb-space-telescope-overlymassive-black-holes">Supermassive black holes in 'little red dot' galaxies are 1,000 times larger than they should be, and astronomers don't know why</a></p></div></div><p>The JWST is sure to continue to investigate little red dots in the early universe to get to the bottom of their true nature, but the team thinks their theory is the one that best fits the current picture of these perplexing objects.</p><p>"This is the best idea we have and really the first one that fits nearly all of the data, so now we need to flesh it out more," Leja said. "It's okay to be wrong. The universe is much weirder than we can imagine, and all we can do is follow its clues. There are still big surprises out there for us."</p><p>The team's research was published on Wednesday (Sept. 10) in the journal <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2025/09/aa54681-25/aa54681-25.html" target="_blank">Astronomy & Astrophysics.</a></p> ]]></dc:content>
667.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/astronomy/black-holes/are-little-red-dots-seen-by-the-james-webb-space-telescope-actually-elusive-black-hole-stars</link>
668.                                                                            <description>
669.                            <![CDATA[ The mystery of the James Webb Space Telescope's "little red dots" could be solved if they are not ancient galaxies but are entirely new celestial objects called "black hole stars." ]]>
670.                                                                                                            </description>
671.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">5AXwaFi5kRpzeNd5RMtnWo</guid>
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673.                                                                        <pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2025 18:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Black Holes]]></category>
674.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Astronomy]]></category>
675.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Robert Lea ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/png" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Yq4MUyv7oqNZgR6HnD44A4-1280-80.png">
676.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[T. Müller/A. de Graaff/Max Planck Institute for Astronomy]]></media:credit>
677.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[(Main) An illustration of a &quot;black hole star&quot; (Inset) the JWST]]></media:text>
678.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[(Main) An illustration of a &quot;black hole star&quot; (Inset) the JWST]]></media:title>
679.                                                    </media:content>
680.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Yq4MUyv7oqNZgR6HnD44A4-1280-80.png" />
681.                                                                                        </item>
682.                    <item>
683.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ The ultimate comet challenge: A tail of trivia!  ]]></title>
684.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>Comets are among the most captivating wanderers of the solar system — icy relics from its earliest days that blaze across the sky with glowing tails and mysterious origins.</p><p>Often called "<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/comets.html">dirty snowballs</a>," these celestial nomads carry clues about the formation of planets, the chemistry of the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/allan-hills-meteorite-formation-of-solar-system.html">early solar system</a>, and perhaps even the seeds of life itself.</p><p>In this quiz, you'll explore how comets form, where they come from, and what happens when they venture close to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/58-the-sun-formation-facts-and-characteristics.html">the sun.</a></p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_Q1CTFhHr_ANn1bv7q_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="ANn1bv7q"            data-playlist-id="Q1CTFhHr">            <div id="botr_Q1CTFhHr_ANn1bv7q_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>Whether you're a seasoned stargazer or just curious about those streaks of light in the night sky, this quiz will test your knowledge and spark your imagination.</p><p>Try it out below and see how well you score!</p><div style="min-height: 250px;">                                <div class="kwizly-quiz kwizly-X18ppO"></div>                            </div>                            <script src="https://kwizly.com/embed/X18ppO.js" async></script> ]]></dc:content>
685.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/astronomy/comets/the-ultimate-comet-challenge-a-tail-of-trivia</link>
686.                                                                            <description>
687.                            <![CDATA[ This quiz invites you to chase comets through time and space, from ancient omens to modern scientific marvels. ]]>
688.                                                                                                            </description>
689.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">XyuXDnnWxqhiQoXvzzy2gh</guid>
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691.                                                                        <pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2025 17:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Comets]]></category>
692.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Astronomy]]></category>
693.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Solar System]]></category>
694.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Kenna Hughes-Castleberry ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EJR3uDAAertDGgwUHszna3-1280-80.jpg">
695.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[NASA/Dan Bartlett]]></media:credit>
696.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[a green comet with a faint tail in the sky against a backdrop of stars]]></media:text>
697.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[a green comet with a faint tail in the sky against a backdrop of stars]]></media:title>
698.                                                    </media:content>
699.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EJR3uDAAertDGgwUHszna3-1280-80.jpg" />
700.                                                                                        </item>
701.                    <item>
702.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket cleared to fly again after April 29 launch failure ]]></title>
703.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has cleared Firefly Aerospace to resume launches of its Alpha rocket.</p><p>The approval follows a months-long review of the failed "Message in a Booster" mission in April, during which the rocket's first stage <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/firefly-aerospace-alpha-rocket-launch-lm-400-lockheed-martin">broke apart moments after separation</a> and compromised the vehicle's second stage. The closure of the investigation, which was <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://fireflyspace.com/missions/alpha-flta006/" target="_blank">announced</a> on Aug. 26, clears the way for <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/firefly-aerospace-first-alpha-rocket-launch-failure">Firefly</a> to resume Alpha launches, the preparations for which the company says have already begun.</p><p>Alpha's launch on April 29 — its sixth ever — began nominally. The two-stage, 96.7-foot-tall (29.6 meters) rocket lifted off from California's <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/34147-vandenberg-air-force-base.html">Vandenberg Space Force Base</a> and climbed smoothly through first-stage ascent. Shortly after separation, however, a rupture in the booster damaged the engine nozzle on Alpha's second stage, sharply reducing its thrust capabilities.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_N4MaghRb_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="N4MaghRb">            <div id="botr_N4MaghRb_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>Both stages reentered over the Pacific Ocean, splashing down near Antarctica in a pre-cleared safety zone, and did not create a public danger.</p><p>The anomaly resulted in the loss of the payload, Lockheed Martin's LM 400 satellite technology demonstrator, which was supposed to go to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/low-earth-orbit">low Earth orbit</a>.</p><p>The FAA oversaw the review alongside Firefly, with additional support from a board of outside experts from government, industry and the company's customers. The investigation concluded that extreme heat from a phenomenon known as plume-induced flow separation over-taxed portions of Alpha's first stage, which suffered a structural break as a result.</p><p>Investigators determined the heat buildup from the plume-induced flow separation was exacerbated by Alpha's steeper ascent angle compared to previous launches, which was needed for proper payload delivery on this mission. The combination caused the stage to rupture milliseconds after separation, which destroyed the nozzle extension on the second-stage engine.</p><p>The disruption drastically reduced the rocket's thrust, but it wasn't quite cause enough for immediate flight termination. The second stage was able to regain attitude control and managed to climb to a peak altitude of 198 miles (320 kilometers) before exhausting its fuel. Alpha was just three seconds short of reaching orbital velocity, and five seconds shy of its payload's intended orbit, according to Firefly.</p><p>To prevent similar problems during future launches, Firefly will reinforce the first stage's thermal protection system and adjust flight profiles to avoid similar ascent trajectory stresses to reduce heat buildup.</p><p>Company leaders emphasized that the changes should improve Alpha's resilience and reliability going forward. "Technical challenges aren’t roadblocks — they’re catalysts,” said Alpha Chief Engineer Jordi Paredes Garcia in the release.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1280px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="VLdX3MZ6GTmJRPRPaNh7GF" name="firefly aerospace message in a booster" alt="a white rocket flies through a clear blue sky above a plume of fire" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VLdX3MZ6GTmJRPRPaNh7GF.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1280" height="720" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Another look at the "Message in a Booster" launch. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Firefly Aerospace/NSF via YouTube)</span></figcaption></figure><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">Related Stories:</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/firefly-aerospace-noise-of-summer-cubesat-launch">Firefly Aerospace launches 8 cubesats to orbit on 5th-ever launch (video)</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/firefly-aerospaces-alpha-rocket-fails-during-6th-ever-launch-falls-into-the-sea-near-antarctica">Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket fails during launch, falls into the sea near Antarctica</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/firefly-aerospace-rapid-launch-space-force-success">New record! Firefly Aerospace launches Space Force mission 27 hours after receiving order</a></p></div></div><p>"Following all the lessons learned and corrective actions implemented, we were able to further increase Alpha’s reliability.  We are grateful to the FAA, our customers, and the independent review board for their continued support through this process,” Garcia said.</p><p>With the investigation closed and modifications in place, Firefly says it is turning its attention to Alpha Flight 7. That mission will be the company's next chance to demonstrate the rocket's progress as it works to establish Alpha as a competitor in the small-satellite launch market.</p> ]]></dc:content>
704.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/firefly-aerospaces-alpha-rocket-cleared-to-fly-again-after-april-29-launch-failure</link>
705.                                                                            <description>
706.                            <![CDATA[ Firefly Aerospace has completed its investigation into the anomaly that caused its Alpha rocket to a plunge into the sea near Antarctica on April 29. ]]>
707.                                                                                                            </description>
708.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">URarYrh5jQpjMxHWLJKZ6e</guid>
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710.                                                                        <pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2025 17:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Launches &amp; Spacecraft]]></category>
711.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Space Exploration]]></category>
712.                                                                                                <author><![CDATA[ jdinner@space.com (Josh Dinner) ]]></author>                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Josh Dinner ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/png" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uDcySG8CVonwr9X7D2MThN-1280-80.png">
713.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Firefly Aerospace/Sean Parker]]></media:credit>
714.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[a rocket launches at night, leaving a streak of light through the sky]]></media:text>
715.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[a rocket launches at night, leaving a streak of light through the sky]]></media:title>
716.                                                    </media:content>
717.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uDcySG8CVonwr9X7D2MThN-1280-80.png" />
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720.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ 50 years ago, NASA sent 2 spacecraft to search for life on Mars – the Viking missions' findings are still discussed today ]]></title>
721.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p><em>This article was originally published at </em><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="http://theconversation.com/" target="_blank"><em>The Conversation.</em></a><em> The publication contributed the article to Space.com's </em><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/tag/expert-voices"><em>Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights</em></a><em>. </em></p><p>Finding life beyond the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/54-earth-history-composition-and-atmosphere.html">Earth</a> would be a major scientific discovery with significant implications for all areas of science and human thought. Yet, only one direct search for extraterrestrial life has ever been conducted.</p><p>The <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/41689-nasa-viking-mars-life-search-gil-levin.html">NASA Viking</a> spacecraft, which landed on <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/47-mars-the-red-planet-fourth-planet-from-the-sun.html">Mars</a>, conducted this search in the summer of 1976. Viking consisted of two twin orbiters and landers, with experimental chambers in the landers to conduct three biology experiments.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_KYYLl7qD_ANn1bv7q_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="ANn1bv7q"            data-playlist-id="KYYLl7qD">            <div id="botr_KYYLl7qD_ANn1bv7q_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>Over the past half-century, the measurements made during the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/search-for-life/did-nasas-viking-landers-accidentally-kill-life-on-mars-why-one-scientist-thinks-so">Viking biology</a> experiments have been the subject of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.1029%2F2011JE003869" target="_blank">many discussions</a>, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.1029%2F2011JE003880">analyses</a> and speculation. Today, scientists are still discussing the results of these experiments in an attempt to answer the age-old question of whether there is life beyond the Earth.</p><p>The year 2025 marks 50 years since the two spacecraft launched, three weeks apart. These landers achieved humankind's first two successful soft landings of operational and functioning spacecraft on the surface of another planet.</p><p>I'm an atmospheric scientist who worked on the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/viking-1/" target="_blank">Viking missions</a> in the 1970s at the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/38326-langley-research-center.html">NASA Langley Research Center</a>, the laboratory that developed and managed the highly successful Viking missions. The Viking missions' scientific discoveries painted a new picture of Mars’ atmosphere, surface and planetary history.</p><div class="youtube-video" data-nosnippet ><div class="video-aspect-box"><iframe data-lazy-priority="low" data-lazy-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1dCWCJ7XbuM" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div><h2 id="launching-and-landing-the-viking-spacecraft-2">Launching and landing the Viking spacecraft</h2><p>The two Viking spacecraft both consisted of an orbiter and a lander. <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/viking-1/" target="_blank">Viking 1</a> entered Mars' orbit on June 19, 1976, and successfully landed on the surface on July 20, 1976, which was also the seventh anniversary of the first human Moon landing. <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/viking-2/" target="_blank">Viking 2</a> followed, landing on Sept. 3, 1976, at a site farther to the northwest.</p><p>Viking wasn't just looking for life.</p><p>These crafts contained equipment to take pictures; map heat energy, wind and weather; study the chemical composition of the surface, dust and atmosphere; and collect and analyze soil samples.</p><p>Measurements that Viking took of the atmosphere suggested that Mars used to have a much denser atmosphere but <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/viking/" target="_blank">over time lost it</a>. It also observed that the wind picks up tiny dust particles, blowing them into the atmosphere. This process colors the planet’s sky permanently pink.</p><p>The Viking landers also discovered that at any location on Mars, the atmosphere's surface pressure varies seasonally. The planet has <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://earthsky.org/space/mars-polar-caps-carbon-dioxide-mars-reconnaissance-orbiter/" target="_blank">frozen north and south poles</a>, like on Earth. At the Martian poles in summer, the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://marspedia.org/Sublimation" target="_blank">frozen carbon dioxide sublimates</a> – transforming from a frozen solid to a gas – and then at the winter pole condenses back into a frozen solid.</p><p>That process, unique to Mars, affects the atmospheric pressure by changing how much carbon dioxide is in gas form instead of solid form over the planet’s surface.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:899px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:74.97%;"><img id="ZVinZJ8TGKGBPsdnSJDnqL" name="4-viking-biology-experiment.jpg" alt="A labeled diagram of the biological package carried by the Viking 1 and Viking 2 landers to search for evidence of life." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZVinZJ8TGKGBPsdnSJDnqL.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="899" height="674" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">A labeled diagram of the biological package carried by the Viking 1 and Viking 2 landers to search for evidence of life. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: NASA)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="biology-experiments-2">Biology experiments</h2><p>Each of the three <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/0019-1035(78)90053-2" target="_blank">Viking biology experiments</a> brought a soil sample from the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/mars/mars-orbiter-looks-deep-into-chasms-and-valleys-on-the-martian-surface">Martian surface</a> into a sterilized test chamber and exposed the sample to a different nutrient under different atmospheric conditions.</p><p>Researchers wanted to find out whether the soil contained microorganisms, so they monitored how the atmosphere in the chamber changed. <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.khanacademy.org/science/ap-biology/cellular-energetics/cellular-energy/a/overview-of-metabolism" target="_blank">Metabolic processes</a> – like breathing – from organisms consuming the nutrient would change the chemical composition of the chamber’s atmosphere.</p><p>Depending on the experiment, the nutrient contained either carbon, carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide – all of which were radioactive. With radioactive samples, researchers could track the level of radioactivity in the chamber to see if metabolic reactions in the soil samples were raising or lowering it.</p><p>For all three experiments, the researchers could use radio commands to heat up the test chamber, which was still inside the Viking spacecraft on Mars. This would destroy any potential microorganisms in the soil and stop the production of any gases they were creating metabolically.</p><p>In the first experiment, called <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.1029/JS082i028p04659" target="_blank">the carbon assimilation experiment or the pyrolytic release experiment</a>, the researchers simulated the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/16903-mars-atmosphere-climate-weather.html">Martian atmosphere</a> in one of Viking’s test chambers. They filled the chamber with gases such as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide and made these gases radioactive to see how the atmosphere changed from interactions with the soil sample.</p><p>In the second experiment, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.1029/JS082i028p04663" target="_blank">The labeled release experiment</a>, researchers directly injected the soil sample with a nutrient containing radioactive carbon. They monitored the experimental chamber for radioactive carbon dioxide and measured the level of radioactive carbon dioxide after injecting the soil samples. In this experiment, the investigators saw results that could have come from a biological source.</p><p>The third experiment, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.1029/JS082i028p04669" target="_blank">the gas exchange experiment</a>, filled the chamber with <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/helium-chemical-element" target="_blank">helium, which doesn’t react</a> with anything. They exposed the soil to different types of nutrients. Some had been incubating in wet conditions, others in humid conditions and others still in dry conditions.</p><p>Again they monitored the chamber for potential metabolically produced gases. When the soil samples touched the wet nutrient, the humidity immediately caused some changes in the chamber’s chemical environment. Most of these changes were just caused by the water evaporating.</p><p>In one case, superoxides in the soil, which are <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Superoxide" target="_blank">O₂ molecules that have taken on an extra electron</a>, reacted with water. Other changes had to do with oxygen molecules in the soil breaking down. All of these changed the atmosphere in the chamber but likely wouldn’t have been caused by microorganisms.</p><p>The researchers repeated this experiment by resetting the chamber’s atmosphere and adding in fresh nutrients, but they didn't change the soil sample. This time, the soil released only carbon dioxide into the chamber, which likely came from the organic materials in the nutrient they added breaking down.</p><p>The results from this third experiment led the researchers to conclude that there likely weren’t microorganisms in the soil. But together, the results from the three experiments weren’t exactly straightforward.</p><p>Only the labeled release experiment <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.1029/JS082i028p03959" target="_blank">results suggested</a> a biological source for the observed results. The carbon assimilation experiment and the gas exchange experiment suggested that nonbiological or inorganic chemical reactions caused the observed results.</p><p><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.1029/JS082i028p03959" target="_blank">Lead researchers on the project concluded</a> that there was no unambiguous discovery of life by the Viking landers, but it cannot be completely ruled out.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:988px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.28%;"><img id="P3fm6xtAJiBYdskMCh82v3" name="viking 1.jpg" alt="This color picture of the Martian horizon was taken by Viking 1 on July 24, 1976." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/P3fm6xtAJiBYdskMCh82v3.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="988" height="556" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">This color picture of the Martian horizon was taken by Viking 1 on July 24, 1976.  </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: NASA)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="the-molecular-analysis-experiment-2">The molecular analysis experiment</h2><p>Unlike the biology experiments, which experimented on soil samples, another Viking experiment, the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.1029/JS082i028p04635" target="_blank">molecular analysis experiment</a>, directly searched the Martian surface for organic matter. Organic materials are carbon compounds bonded with hydrogen, oxygen or nitrogen that come either directly or indirectly from living organisms.</p><p>To everyone's surprise, this experiment <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.1029/JS082i028p04635" target="_blank">did not detect</a> any organic compounds on the surface of Mars. Researchers had known for years that meteorites containing organic materials had hit Mars repeatedly throughout its history, so to find none at all seemed strange.</p><p>Some scientists theorized that <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/21554-mars-toxic-perchlorate-chemicals.html">Martian soil</a> might contain a compound that quickly converts any organic material on the surface to carbon dioxide. A compound like this would have evaporated any evidence before scientific instruments had the chance to find it.</p><p>In 2008, decades after this finding, NASA found a compound that may be doing just that. <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://science.nasa.gov/mission/mars-phoenix/" target="_blank">Their Phoenix lander</a> detected <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1172466" target="_blank">high concentrations of a compound called perchlorate</a> in the soil.</p><p>When perchlorate is heated – as it was in the Viking molecular analysis experiment – it can chemically destroy organic compounds, and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.040539497" target="_blank">scientists figured</a> it’s <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.1029%2F2010JE003599" target="_blank">the likely culprit</a> behind the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.1029%2F2011JE003854" target="_blank">strange result</a> from the molecular analysis experiment.</p><h2 id="a-new-model-for-life-on-mars-2">A new model for life on Mars</h2><p>Scientists are still using the findings from these experiments today. Recently, Steven A. Benner, the director of the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.52400/USVX5880" target="_blank">developed a new model</a> for present-day life on Mars based on the three Viking biology experiments' measurements.</p><p><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://doi.org/10.52400/OMNN6244" target="_blank">His model predicts</a> that microorganisms could have used the radioactive carbon nutrient in the experiment chamber to create their own food, releasing radioactive carbon dioxide in the process. It also suggests that at night, microorganisms could be absorbing oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide. That could explain the oxygen released from the Mars soil sample when moistened.</p><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">RELATED STORIES</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text"> —  <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/search-for-life/did-nasas-viking-landers-accidentally-kill-life-on-mars-why-one-scientist-thinks-so">Did NASA's Viking landers accidentally kill life on Mars? Why one scientist thinks so</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"> — <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/18234-viking-1.html">Viking 1: First U.S. Lander on Mars</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"> — I<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/mars-viking-lander-1976-results">s it time to revisit what NASA's Viking lander found on Mars in 1976?</a></p></div></div><p>The Benner model suggests that there could be living microorganisms on the surface of Mars, but future research and measurements will need to confirm this very intriguing possibility.</p><p><em>This article is republished from </em><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="http://theconversation.com/" target="_blank"><em>The Conversation</em></a><em> under a Creative Commons license. Read the </em><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://theconversation.com/50-years-ago-nasa-sent-2-spacecraft-to-search-for-life-on-mars-the-viking-missions-findings-are-still-discussed-today-262186" target="_blank"><em>original article</em></a><em>.</em></p><iframe allow="" height="1" width="1" id="" style="" data-lazy-priority="low" data-lazy-src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/243022/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced"></iframe> ]]></dc:content>
722.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/50-years-ago-nasa-sent-2-spacecraft-to-search-for-life-on-mars-the-viking-missions-findings-are-still-discussed-today</link>
723.                                                                            <description>
724.                            <![CDATA[ Viking consisted of two twin orbiters and landers, with experimental chambers in the landers to conduct three biology experiments. ]]>
725.                                                                                                            </description>
726.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">mRhDNT89c4SeVrQadVyMeX</guid>
727.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ujKZowUXMAXbZiE7fyERYf-1280-80.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure>
728.                                                                        <pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2025 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Launches &amp; Spacecraft]]></category>
729.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Space Exploration]]></category>
730.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Joel S. Levine ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ujKZowUXMAXbZiE7fyERYf-1280-80.jpg">
731.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona]]></media:credit>
732.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[A four-legged orbiter sits on the sand, with a dish and a cloth over its parts.]]></media:text>
733.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[A four-legged orbiter sits on the sand, with a dish and a cloth over its parts.]]></media:title>
734.                                                    </media:content>
735.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ujKZowUXMAXbZiE7fyERYf-1280-80.jpg" />
736.                                                                                        </item>
737.                    <item>
738.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ The moon and Venus visit the 'Heart of the Lion' this week. Here's how to see it ]]></title>
739.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>Sometimes an unusual celestial sight will take place at a rather ungodly hour.</p><p>As a budding young amateur astronomer living in the Bronx, I remember the bemused look on my mother's face when I told her I was setting my alarm for 4 a.m. so that I could get a look at a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/meteor-showers-shooting-stars.html">meteor shower</a> or <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/33786-lunar-eclipse-guide.html">lunar eclipse</a>. "How come these things don't happen at a more convenient hour?" she would ask.</p><p>In retrospect, that was a good question, for it seems that most of my nightly forays to observe something interesting tend to occur in the hours after midnight. We have one such event coming our way early on Thursday morning, Sept. 19. But I assure you it will be something well worth getting up for.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_sT3QY0MQ_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="sT3QY0MQ">            <div id="botr_sT3QY0MQ_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><h2 id="a-preview-of-winter-2">A preview of winter</h2><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">TOP TELESCOPE PICK</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><figure class="van-image-figure "  ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' ><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="woBnabYLR9B4bHNgicnyFh" name="Celestron-nexstar-8se-deal-main.jpg" caption="" alt="Celestron NexStar 8SE telescope with orange optical tube on a blue background featuring disco circles with a space.com logo in the top left corner" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/woBnabYLR9B4bHNgicnyFh.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="" height="" attribution="" endorsement="" class="pinterest-pin-exclude"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Future/Adorama)</span></figcaption></figure><p class="fancy-box__body-text">Want to see the crescent moon and Venus together? The<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-11069-Computerised-Schmidt-Cassegrain-Technology/dp/B000GUFOC8/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?tag=georiot-us-default-20&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.f0b1F2bylj60FMX6yPsrGQcyNiWAVxERdtD_hC6sMwheOAQYf2ZKU3dM10XVlFNeJgZ0mGNOUvE9bkVzFvWjvCzyjw_pEI4TtbYvfFRws3QBvQF5YJAPtGYGzK2nOUkkSJtYejE8tjFCkXPw3xT0y9jlmnppgUHsCmniw7gv5rt4a9yLaPZqw96FFL4gFdugvpmSPGkbVlQ6HwPHfxzOlp3mlbxAcorFc78UqiGCtT0.dQWrqG0Cwi1BftKni7oNMJ7FARzekSJWSl4fvILD1MU&dib_tag=se&hvadid=694198857096&hvdev=c&hvexpln=67&hvlocphy=9058761&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=17617777239930721740--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=17617777239930721740&hvtargid=kwd-4686936163&hydadcr=18472_13462150&keywords=celestron%20nexstar%208se&mcid=deadd43652e331aabadee6ae726cd94c&qid=1751535125&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1&ascsubtag=space-us-1346887865419321405-20&geniuslink=true" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Celestron NexStar 8SE</a> is ideal for beginners wanting quality, reliable and quick views of celestial objects. For a more in-depth look at our<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/celestron-nexstar-8se-telescope-review"> Celestron NexStar 8SE review.</a></p></div></div><p>Probably the best month for stargazing is September. After the stretch of hazy, warm and humid summer nights running from June through August, September brings us cooler temperatures and generally clearer and more transparent skies. My good friend, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://mapsplanetarium.org/memorials/george-lovi/" target="_blank">George Lovi</a> (1939-1993), who for many years penned the "Rambling through the Sky" column in "Sky & Telescope" magazine and was a colleague of mine at New York's Hayden Planetarium, was also a railroad buff. At the start of the summer season, in June, the brightest stars of Gemini the Twins, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/22068-pollux.html">Pollux</a> and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/21940-castor-star.html">Castor</a> appear side by side low in the northwest twilight, bringing up the rear of the winter stellar procession in much the same way as the twin marker lights on a caboose bring up the rear of a train.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="CWBuWihrVPKdXZ4E74oLE7" name="41 Ari (2).jpg" alt="gemini constellation high in the winter sky, containing a number of interesting observing targets." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CWBuWihrVPKdXZ4E74oLE7.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">A map of the Gemini constellation </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Daisy Dobrijevic)</span></figcaption></figure><p>And during this week at around 9:30 or 10 p.m., if you look low down toward the north-northeast horizon, you'll see what George often referred to in his planetarium shows as the "headlight,": the brilliant golden-hued star <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/13044-skywatching-capella-goat-star-auriga-constellation.html">Capella.</a> If you want to watch the emergence of the rest of the "celestial train," then stay up all night. By the break of dawn, the southeastern sky, dominated by Orion and his winter retinue, will be magnificent.</p><p>Incidentally, if you don't mind the late hours, this is the time to observe the winter stars in comfortable temperatures. Compare September predawn temperatures in the 40's and 50's to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/43286-why-winter-skywatching-is-worthwhile.html">mid-winter</a> subfreezing (or in some parts of the country) subzero readings!</p><h2 id="ghostly-lunar-ball-2">Ghostly lunar ball</h2><p>And speaking of the break of dawn, that happens nowadays at around 5:15 a.m. local daylight time. And that's the time for when you should set your alarm clock Thursday morning, to see a tight gathering of three celestial objects: the moon, the brightest planet, and one of the brightest stars in the sky.</p><p>One prerequisite here is that you should have an unobstructed view of the east-northeast horizon. This "celestial summit meeting" will appear rather low — just 10 degrees above the horizon. As we have noted many other times, your clenched fist at arm's length measures roughly 10 degrees in width. So, this celestial array will be sitting roughly "one fist" above the horizon.</p><p>The first object to catch your eye will be the moon. It will be a slender waning crescent, only 6 percent illuminated by the sun and just two days prior to the new phase. In addition, you may be able to see the full globe of the moon, appearing as a thin arc of yellowish-white light enclosing a ghostly ball glowing with a bluish-gray hue interposed between the sunlit crescent and not much darker sky. This vision is sometimes called "the old moon in the young moon's arms." <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_da_Vinci" target="_blank">Leonardo da Vinci</a> (1452-1519) was the first to recognize it as <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/30536-crescent-moon-earthshine-skywatcher-photo.html">earthshine.</a></p><p>That faint bluish-gray light is light from the Earth reflected back to the moon. The Earth's light of course is reflected sunlight, so earthshine is really sunlight which is reflected off Earth to the moon and reflected back to Earth. The season of year and an observer's latitude determine the angle a line joining the crescent moon's cusps make with the horizon and on this morning this line is more nearly horizontal, making the crescent looking more like a cup that might hold water — call this a "Wet Moon" if you want to follow old-time tradition.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="k4aZVQCmuR9x7gcKwrt3SF" name="GettyImages-2231011585_earthshine" alt="A photo showing the Earthshine phenomenon, as the crescent moon can be seen next to the rest of the larger moon" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/k4aZVQCmuR9x7gcKwrt3SF.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">This photo shows the Earthshine phenomenon </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Cheng Xin / Getty Images)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="queen-and-a-king-get-together-2">Queen and a king get together</h2><p>The next object that stands out is the planet <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/44-venus-second-planet-from-the-sun-brightest-planet-in-solar-system.html">Venus</a>; queen of the planets. It shines with its usual powerful radiance, though in telescopes it is now a rather small and featureless gibbous disk. Venus blazes at magnitude -3.9 and on the morning of Sept. 19, it will sit less than a degree to the lower right of the moon and itself will be positioned a half-degree to the upper left of the 1st-magnitude star <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/22890-regulus.html">Regulus</a>, the brightest star of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/16845-leo-constellation.html">Leo the Lion</a>. Venus outshines the star by a factor of 120 to 1, and yet their proximity for several mornings intensifies the contrasting yellow-white of the planet and bluish white of the star.</p><p>Copernicus has been credited with giving Regulus its name, a diminutive of Rex, or "king" which may relate to the four "royal stars" (with Aldebaran, Antares and Fomalhaut) about 90 degrees apart in the sky. Arabic astronomers gave the star the name "Qalb al-Asad," or "Heart of the Lion." Ancient Greek astronomers also referred to it by the same name, "Kardia Leontos."</p><p>As the brightest star in Leo, Regulus has been almost universally associated in ancient cultures with the concept of royalty and kingly power. This star lies in the handle of the so-called "<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/11253-sickle-constellation-leo-night-sky.html">Sickle of Leo</a>," a star pattern resembling a large reversed question mark. The Sickle, when rising and climbing the sky at dawn, as it is doing now, is seen cutting upward. To modern sky-watchers the Sickle outlines the majestic head and mane of a great westward-facing lion.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:873px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:71.02%;"><img id="NpRgme6fU7qe9Rg8FTdnkH" name="leo-constellation-sickle.jpg" alt="This sky chart shows where the constellation Leo, the Lion and its trademark sickle appear in the eastern sky as viewed from the Northern Hemisphere during spring. This chart is where the constellation appears at 8 p.m. EDT as viewed from the U.S. East Coast." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NpRgme6fU7qe9Rg8FTdnkH.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="873" height="620" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">This sky chart shows where the constellation Leo, the Lion and its trademark sickle appear in the eastern sky as viewed from the Northern Hemisphere during spring. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Starry Night Software)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="illusion-of-perspective-2">Illusion of perspective</h2><p>These three celestial bodies will appear to be "scrunched" in a line measuring less than 1 and a half degrees in length. Binoculars will accentuate the beauty of this alignment and will make the Earth-lit moon seem like an eerie three-dimensional ball. Keep in mind that what you will be witnessing will be an illusion. The moon will be positioned just 242,000 miles (388,000 km) from Earth. But Venus will be 153.1 million miles (217.3 million km) away, while Regulus is 79 light years distant.</p><p>So, the light you're seeing from Regulus now, started on its journey toward Earth in 1946, one year after the end of the second World War and the year of the premiere of the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" and the introduction of the term "bikini."</p><p><em>Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's </em><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.amnh.org/our-research/hayden-planetarium" target="_blank"><em>Hayden Planetarium</em></a><em>. He writes about astronomy for </em><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/" target="_blank"><em>Natural History magazine</em></a><em>, </em><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://skyandtelescope.org/" target="_blank"><em>Sky and Telescope</em></a><em> and other publications.</em></p> ]]></dc:content>
740.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/stargazing/the-moon-and-venus-visit-the-heart-of-the-lion-this-week-heres-how-to-see-it</link>
741.                                                                            <description>
742.                            <![CDATA[ A striking sight to the unaided eye; even more so with binoculars. ]]>
743.                                                                                                            </description>
744.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">LKR2yvzSw86VmprABDAKHE</guid>
745.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/criQRupM7TkaeChUw8VoWV-1280-80.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure>
746.                                                                        <pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2025 14:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Stargazing]]></category>
747.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Joe Rao ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/criQRupM7TkaeChUw8VoWV-1280-80.jpg">
748.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Starry Night/Chris Vaughan]]></media:credit>
749.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[A map of the night sky, where just over the roof of a red farmhouse is an orange circle enclosing a yellow labeled dot for the moon above a white dot labeled Venus which is above a smaller dot labeled Regulus]]></media:text>
750.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[A map of the night sky, where just over the roof of a red farmhouse is an orange circle enclosing a yellow labeled dot for the moon above a white dot labeled Venus which is above a smaller dot labeled Regulus]]></media:title>
751.                                                    </media:content>
752.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/criQRupM7TkaeChUw8VoWV-1280-80.jpg" />
753.                                                                                        </item>
754.                    <item>
755.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ These 2 European telescopes use lasers to track potentially dangerous space junk (video) ]]></title>
756.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>At a double observatory atop Mount Teide on the Spanish island of Tenerife, a powerful laser is being deployed to track fragments of space debris in orbit and warn when these fragments threaten satellites. Soon, it could even be used to push space debris away from a collision course with a satellite.</p><p>The Izaña-1 and Izaña-2 laser-ranging stations are operated by the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/22562-european-space-agency.html">European Space Agency</a> (ESA) and were constructed by the German company DiGOS, which specializes in laser ranging. Izaña-1 has been active since 2021 and has already been employed in <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/24839-satellites.html">satellite</a> laser-ranging, but with Izaña-2 now complete, the pair of telescopes have a much more ambitious task as part of ESA's Space Safety Program.</p><p>The two telescopes operate synchronously: Izaña-2 fires laser pulses at a piece of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/kessler-syndrome-space-debris">space debris</a> high overhead, and Izaña-1 detects the reflected light. In doing so, the system is able to track the path of the debris, charting its orbit and determining whether it could potentially <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/colliding-space-junk-emits-detectable-signal">collide with a satellite</a>.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_EU7RsbRZ_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="EU7RsbRZ">            <div id="botr_EU7RsbRZ_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>"We had to scale up the power of the laser on Izaña-2 because the plan is to illuminate non-comparative targets; therefore, the amount of photons transmitted back towards the station is limited and we compensate with more energetic pulses," said Andrea Di Mira, an ESA optical system engineer, in a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2025/08/Izana-2_joins_the_laser_game_to_track_space_debris" target="_blank">promotional video</a> on the ESA website.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_6Tx16xb1_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="6Tx16xb1">            <div id="botr_6Tx16xb1_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>An orbital collision could range from bad to potentially very bad. An individual satellite may be severely damaged, which could result in a financial loss, or the loss of research data if the satellite is a scientific one. In the worst-case scenario, a collision could smash a satellite into many more pieces of space debris, which each then go on to collide with more satellites, which produces more chunks of space junk, and so on and so forth. This could result in a runaway and very dangerous cascade called the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/kessler-syndrome-space-debris">Kessler Syndrome</a>, after the NASA scientist Donald Kessler, who first described it. In such a scenario, large sections of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/low-earth-orbit">low Earth orbit</a> could become unusable because the density of space debris becomes too great.</p><p>It is therefore vital that space junk is tracked, so that satellites can maneuver to get out of the way before they are hit.</p><p>The Izaña system currently runs semi-automatically, and can even be used in the daytime. While everything is automated, a team of humans remotely supervise Izaña-1 and Izaña-2, but the aim is for it to one day be completely autonomous.</p><p>"As part of the development roadmap, we're planning to go to [full] automation. This has the great advantage [of] increasing data productivity," said Di Mira.</p><p>The ambition doesn't stop there. Presently, if the Izaña system detects a fragment of space debris hurtling towards a satellite, the satellite then has to take evasive action, firing thrusters to push it out of the way.</p><p>There may, however, be another way, called "laser momentum transfer."</p><p>"One possibility is laser momentum transfer to gently <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-debris-lasers-space-tugs-nasa-report">push the space debris</a> on its orbit a little bit away so it doesn't collide with orbiting satellites," said André Kloth, Managing Director at DiGOS, in the video.</p><p>The laser on Izaña-2 could push space junk out of the way, in the same way that a laser can push a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/solar-sail.html">solar sail</a> through the momentum of photons impacting on it. With the laser coming to the rescue, a satellite doesn't have to move out of the way, so it can conserve its fuel, helping to prolong the mission for as long as possible.</p><p>With Izaña-1 tracking space debris and satellites and Izaña-2 pushing the debris away, ESA potentially has an all-in-one space debris avoidance scheme on its hands that feeds into another of the agency's projects called OMLET, or Orbital Maintenance via Laser momEntum Transfer. OMLET would supply satellite operators with an on-demand system of knowing exactly where their satellites are in relation to space debris, and then the capability to push that debris out of the way. In a sense, OMLET would be like a space-traffic cop, marshaling the orbits of satellites and debris.</p><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">RELATED STORIES</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-debris-lasers-space-tugs-nasa-report">Solving space junk problem may require lasers and space tugs, NASA says</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/kessler-syndrome-space-debris">Kessler Syndrome and the space debris problem</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/ai-powered-lasers-could-help-with-space-debris">AI-powered lasers could zap space debris away from collision courses</a></p></div></div><p>There's even the potential that the laser on Izaña-2 could pull double duty as a testbed for laser communication, firing lasers encoded with data up to satellites that can then relay those laser messages to their destinations. Besides there being less interference than at radio waves, optical and infrared lasers also support <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/europe-quantum-encryption-satellite-planned">quantum encryption</a> — what's known as QKD, or quantum key distribution, in which the key to encrypting the data is encoded into the quantum superposition of the photons.</p><p>Even on a cloudy day, today's lasers can still push through and reach their target. Indeed, orbiting Earth-observation satellites routinely use lasers for light-detection and ranging (lidar) on the planet's surface, despite the clouds and smog, while Chinese scientists have recently conducted the first ever <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/moon/lunar-laser-china-makes-1st-daytime-laser-ranging-measurement-from-earth-to-the-moon">daytime laser-ranging experiment</a> from Earth to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/55-earths-moon-formation-composition-and-orbit.html">the moon</a>.</p><p>Sixty-five years after their invention, it seems that lasers are still lighting the way to a better future in space.</p> ]]></dc:content>
757.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/space-exploration/satellites/these-2-european-telescopes-use-lasers-to-track-potentially-dangerous-space-junk-video</link>
758.                                                                            <description>
759.                            <![CDATA[ The laser system provides real-time positional data on the huge cloud of space debris above our heads in low Earth orbit. ]]>
760.                                                                                                            </description>
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763.                                                                        <pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Satellites]]></category>
764.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Space Exploration]]></category>
765.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Keith Cooper ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZXw9dy9srU57w7AVWKJou-1280-80.jpg">
766.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[ESA]]></media:credit>
767.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[A bright green laser light shines from a darkened dome of an observatory into a starry night sky]]></media:text>
768.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[A bright green laser light shines from a darkened dome of an observatory into a starry night sky]]></media:title>
769.                                                    </media:content>
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771.                                                                                        </item>
772.                    <item>
773.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Interstellar comet 3I ATLAS glows green during lunar eclipse | Space photo of the day for Sept. 15, 2025  ]]></title>
774.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>On Sept. 7 2025, the skies darkened as Earth's shadow consumed the moon. Skywatchers in many parts of the world <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/stargazing/lunar-eclipses/blood-moon-best-photos-total-lunar-eclipse-sept-7-2025">saw the moon turn blood red</a> due to a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/stargazing/lunar-eclipses/a-blood-moon-is-coming-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-total-lunar-eclipse-on-sept-7">total lunar eclipse. </a></p><p>For amateur astronomers Michael Jäger and Gerald Rhemann in Namibia, the eclipse was not only a sight to behold, but it also gave them an unprecedented opportunity: the chance to capture the interstellar comet <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/comets/new-interstellar-object-3i-atlas-everything-we-know-about-the-rare-cosmic-visitor">3I/ATLAS</a> under some of the darkest skies on Earth.</p><p>Using the eclipse's natural dimming of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/55-earths-moon-formation-composition-and-orbit.html">the moon,</a> the duo was able to take some <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=09&month=09&year=2025" target="_blank">deep images </a>of the comet, revealing something surprising: the comet glowed green.</p><h2 id="what-is-it-12">What is it?</h2><p>3I/ATLAS is only the third confirmed <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/comets/spherex-spots-carbon-dioxide-coma-around-comet-3i-atlas">interstellar comet</a> observed passing through our solar system and where it originated from is still a mystery. The comet is classified as interstellar because its trajectory is hyperbolic, meaning it's not gravitationally bound to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/58-the-sun-formation-facts-and-characteristics.html">the sun</a> and most likely originated in another star system (at least that's the most likely theory).</p><p>It follows in the footsteps of two other famous interstellar objects: <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/oumuamua.html">'Oumuamua</a>, a cigar-shaped body that still <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/dwarf-planets/1st-known-interstellar-visitor-oumuamua-is-an-exo-pluto-a-completely-new-class-of-object-scientists-say">sparks debates</a> about its nature, and comet <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/interstellar-comet-borisov-most-pristine-ever">2I/Borisov</a>, the first confirmed interstellar comet, which displayed more of a typical dusty coma and tail.</p><p>Now, 3I/ATLAS provides astronomers with another rare chance to study the chemistry of material formed around a completely different star.</p><h2 id="where-is-it-12">Where is it?</h2><p>This photograph was taken in the Kalahari Desert in Namibia, Africa.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="WWcf4CcYATdcHLK5qvM2nD" name="3I/ATLAS green" alt="A glowing green light is seen in the center of a starry image from space but also in a white cutout box on the left part of the image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WWcf4CcYATdcHLK5qvM2nD.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">A boxout of 3I/ATLAS shows its green glow. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Michael Jäger/Gerald Rhemann)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="why-is-it-amazing-12">Why is it amazing?</h2><p>This is the first image showing a green hue to 3I/ATLAS, hinting at its unique chemistry. With the darkness provided by the lunar eclipse, the first explanation for this green color is that the comet may have diatomic carbon (C<sub>2</sub>). This molecule, made of two carbon atoms bonded together, is known to fluoresce a green glow when energized by sunlight.</p><p>However, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=09&month=09&year=2025" target="_blank">in August</a>, astronomers at <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/26898-kitt-peak-facts.html">Kitt Peak Observatory</a> in Arizona found that 3I/ATLAS is actually poor in carbon-chain molecules, including diatomic carbon. This begs the question however, if diatomic carbon was absent only a month earlier, how is the comet suddenly green now?</p><p>One possibility is that heating by the sun caused fresh layers of ice to melt and release hidden diatomic carbon<sub> </sub>molecules that were previously trapped beneath the surface. Another possibility is that the green glow is coming from other molecules which also glow under sunlight. Because <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/asteroids/astronomers-say-new-interstellar-visitor-3i-atlas-is-very-likely-to-be-the-oldest-comet-we-have-ever-seen">3I/ATLAS is interstellar</a>, it may contain chemistry not commonly seen in our <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/16080-solar-system-planets.html">solar system</a> comets, leading to a false "classic" green glow from an unfamiliar source.</p><p>Whatever the cause, 3I/ATLAS remains a mystery in many aspects as astronomers continue to study it as it moves through our solar system.</p><h2 id="want-to-learn-more-12">Want to learn more?</h2><p>You can read more about <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/comets/telescope-spies-rare-interstellar-comet-3i-atlas-zooming-through-our-solar-system-photos">imaging 3I/ATLAS</a> and<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/comets/i-watched-scientists-view-the-interstellar-comet-3i-atlas-in-real-time-heres-what-they-saw"> its journey</a> toward the sun.</p> ]]></dc:content>
775.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/stargazing/interstellar-comet-3i-atlas-glows-green-during-lunar-eclipse-space-photo-of-the-day-for-sept-15-2025</link>
776.                                                                            <description>
777.                            <![CDATA[ During September's total lunar eclipse, astronomers captured rare images of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS glowing green, suggesting more about its chemistry. ]]>
778.                                                                                                            </description>
779.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">UYmWYfvRBs3vVqxqUWNgpi</guid>
780.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WWcf4CcYATdcHLK5qvM2nD-1280-80.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure>
781.                                                                        <pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Stargazing]]></category>
782.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Kenna Hughes-Castleberry ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WWcf4CcYATdcHLK5qvM2nD-1280-80.jpg">
783.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Michael Jäger/Gerald Rhemann]]></media:credit>
784.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[A glowing green light is seen in the center of a starry image from space but also in a white cutout box on the left part of the image]]></media:text>
785.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[A glowing green light is seen in the center of a starry image from space but also in a white cutout box on the left part of the image]]></media:title>
786.                                                    </media:content>
787.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WWcf4CcYATdcHLK5qvM2nD-1280-80.jpg" />
788.                                                                                        </item>
789.                    <item>
790.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ 15 years on, 'Halo: Reach' continues to be the golden standard of video game prequels ]]></title>
791.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>2010 was an exceptional year for sci-fi video games: <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-games/15-years-on-real-time-strategy-games-are-still-chasing-the-high-of-starcraft-2"><strong>StarCraft 2</strong></a>, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-games-toys/best-space-rpgs-of-all-time-explore-the-galaxy-in-these-stellar-role-playing-games#section-1-mass-effect-legendary-edition"><strong>Mass Effect 2</strong></a>, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/prime-videos-fallout-season-2-is-going-to-new-vegas-what-nods-to-space-could-we-see"><strong>Fallout: New Vegas</strong></a>, Vanquish... But it might be safe to say it was Halo: Reach, arguably the last great <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/halo-games-ranked-worst-to-best"><strong>Halo</strong></a>, that marked the end of a golden era.</p><p>15 years later, we're not here to ask if Halo: Reach is as awesome as we remember it being; you can confirm that for yourself right now. Instead, we want to briefly celebrate how Bungie took a creative swing that paid off, expanding the scope of the Halo universe, before riding into the sunset to work on <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-games/destiny-2-meets-star-wars-in-renegades-expansion-adding-blasters-lightsabers-and-a-wretched-hive-of-scum-and-villainy-video"><strong>Destiny</strong></a>.</p><p>Halo: Reach is the go-to example of how big sci-fi franchises (not just video games) should tackle ambitious prequel stories.</p><h2 id="the-original-rogue-one-2">The original Rogue One</h2><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1280px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="WmyaUgXJsrkzEBHwL4SLwg" name="Reach_1" alt="Screenshot from Halo Reach" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WmyaUgXJsrkzEBHwL4SLwg.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1280" height="720" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Bungie / Microsoft)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Long before the entertainment industry became obsessed with turning any viable IP into an expansive transmedia universe, Microsoft and Bungie were well ahead of the curve with Halo. In fact, the Fall of Reach was already chronicled back in 2001 <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.halopedia.org/Halo:_The_Fall_of_Reach" target="_blank"><strong>with a novel of the same name</strong></a>. They also had another punt at it in the now-defunct <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/action-shows/halo-canceled-after-two-seasons-paramount-plus/" target="_blank"><strong>Halo TV show</strong></a>, but we'd all rather forget about that.</p><p>Prequels have become rather commonplace in sci-fi these days, offering us a window into the event that shaped the world of the original story. <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/why-rogue-one-is-the-most-underrated-star-wars-movie"><strong>Rogue One</strong></a>, the first of the live-action Star Wars spinoffs, may be the most renowned example, but many sci-fi game prequels, like <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.pcgamer.com/deus-ex-human-revolution-review/" target="_blank"><strong>Deus Ex: Human Revolution</strong></a> and the upcoming <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/upcoming-space-games#section-gears-of-war-e-day-tba"><strong>Gears of War: E-Day</strong></a>, also come to mind.</p><p>While many have walked the same road, Halo: Reach's impact on pop culture and video games, specifically, can't be overstated. <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/gears-of-war-games-in-order"><strong>Gears of War</strong></a> having its 'Reach moment' with E-Day was only a matter of time; <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-games-toys/doom-the-dark-ages-release-date-trailers-and-everything-we-know"><strong>Doom has just received the same treatment</strong></a> with The Dark Ages, and lists of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.ign.com/articles/the-10-best-video-game-prequels" target="_blank"><strong>great video game prequels</strong></a> are growing larger almost every year as publishers and developers refuse to bury big money-making franchises. But what made Halo: Reach so special and enduring? We think it's all about the darker tone and 'unsung heroes' narrative angle...</p><h2 id="starting-the-fight-2">Starting the fight</h2><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1280px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="s65mp4tXqxSCd2f288nBwg" name="Reach_2" alt="Screenshot from Halo Reach" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/s65mp4tXqxSCd2f288nBwg.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1280" height="720" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Bungie / Microsoft)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Halo: Reach rejected the larger-than-life action hero figure that was Master Chief, who was a bit of an intergalactic Gary Stu even before he got sadly with the tired Chosen One narrative. Instead, the prequel tells the story of anonymous heroes making the ultimate sacrifice, laying the groundwork for Spartan 117's later victories. It's the sort of story we were all very familiar with by 2010 — turning the UNSC vs. Covenant conflict into a large-scale war movie — but it was oddly refreshing to see a sci-fi video game series move into the space typically inhabited by Medal of Honor and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.gamesradar.com/best-call-of-duty-games/" target="_blank"><strong>Call of Duty</strong></a>.</p><p>Reach wasn't done taking inspiration there, though, also borrowing from <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/gears-of-war-games-ranked-worst-to-best"><strong>Gears of War</strong></a>'s grittier and relentlessly depressing tone. While Master Chief and the UNSC were on the back foot for much of the original trilogy, it's hard to describe their exploits as anything but heroic, the stuff of legends.  Told through the eyes of a group of Spartans sent into the meat grinder to deal with an unstoppable <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/best-alien-invasion-games"><strong>alien invasion</strong></a>, The Fall of Reach is a much more desperate, hopeless affair. Combat Evolved's opening may have suggested that things didn't end well at Reach, but the 2010 game painted an even more dramatic picture, retroactively giving the fight against the Covenant much-needed gravity.</p><p>Elites and Grunts, among other alien species in the Covenant, were often goofy in the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/halo-games-in-order"><strong>original Halo games</strong></a>, even if they consistently made the humans bleed. Master Chief, much like the Doom Slayer, dwarfed most of his foes and was nigh-on invulnerable. The members of NOBLE Team, on the other hand, were instantly presented as vulnerable and expendable despite their years of experience and top-notch augmentations, and the gameplay and level design embraced the idea of warriors dealing with a threat larger than they could handle, too.</p><h2 id="one-last-hurrah-and-a-warning-of-things-to-come-2">One last hurrah... and a warning of things to come</h2><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1280px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="YJZxeFPHb8KVyYwbVX4Zwg" name="Reach_3" alt="Screenshot from Halo Reach" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YJZxeFPHb8KVyYwbVX4Zwg.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1280" height="720" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Bungie / Microsoft)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Halo: Reach's biggest success was making the Covenant truly horrifying. The acts of brutality on display in Reach make it all the more shocking that an alliance between splinter alien factions and the UNSC eventually forms in the wake of their genocidal campaign of destruction. But beyond that, its wins – narrative and playable – can't be counted with one hand. Even Reach's multiplayer took bold new steps, with the introduction of new mechanics and timid moves towards player classes. Not all of these big swings paid off, but regardless, it's abundantly clear Bungie didn't want to just knock another Halo out for the sake of it as 343 Industries prepared to bring <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://halo.fandom.com/wiki/John-117" target="_blank"><strong>John-117</strong></a> back.</p><p>With Reach, the original studio left the franchise on a high note, and we can't shake the feeling that their replacement, 343 Industries, has been trying to chase the Xbox 360 days' high ever since. Neither the new story arcs nor the revised gunplay and mechanics have hit like Bungie's finest work. Perhaps comparing 343's honestly distinct take on the property to what came before feels a tad unfair. Moreover, Reach had already planted the seeds for some of the game design changes – both good and bad – that would fully crystalize with Halo 4 & 5.</p><p>Perhaps it would have been better if Halo could've simply moved on from Master Chief and doubled down on games like ODST, Reach, and the Halo Wars RTS spin-offs. It's a huge galaxy out there, and despite Halo: Infinite reigniting some of the lost magic, failed promises and misguided narrative developments have brought the property's popularity down. With <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://wccftech.com/halo-combat-evolved-remake-2026-release-campaign-only/" target="_blank"><strong>yet another refresh of the original Halo reportedly looming on the horizon</strong></a>, the franchise may never be as engrossing as Reach's tale of defying impossible odds again.</p><p><em><strong>Halo: Reach</strong></em><strong> is available to purchase on PC (Windows) and Xbox consoles as part of the </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/976730/Halo_The_Master_Chief_Collection/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><u><em><strong>Master Chief Collection</strong></em></u></a><strong>. The whole package is included with all </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/best-space-games-on-xbox-game-pass"><u><strong>Game Pass</strong></u></a><strong> subscriptions except for the basic Core tier.</strong></p> ]]></dc:content>
792.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-games/15-years-on-halo-reach-continues-to-be-the-golden-standard-of-video-game-prequels</link>
793.                                                                            <description>
794.                            <![CDATA[ Bungie's Halo swan song remains a fan-favorite installment, and its appeal after all these years is more than just nostalgia. ]]>
795.                                                                                                            </description>
796.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">NhQbSwirWnRKUhnk3UqQ7C</guid>
797.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BywQ8yn2LFCosekUeNAXwg-1280-80.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure>
798.                                                                        <pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2025 11:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Space Games]]></category>
799.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>
800.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Fran Ruiz ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BywQ8yn2LFCosekUeNAXwg-1280-80.jpg">
801.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Bungie / Microsoft]]></media:credit>
802.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[Screenshot from Halo Reach]]></media:text>
803.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Screenshot from Halo Reach]]></media:title>
804.                                                    </media:content>
805.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BywQ8yn2LFCosekUeNAXwg-1280-80.jpg" />
806.                                                                                        </item>
807.                    <item>
808.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Where will the partial solar eclipse be visible on Sept. 21?  ]]></title>
809.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <figure class="van-image-figure pull-right inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:600px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:100.00%;"><img id="w62RBDjbsXXRxYw678fSZG" name="2025_09_21_Partial-solar-eclipse" alt="gif animation showing the path of the partial solar eclipse on Sept. 21, 2025." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/w62RBDjbsXXRxYw678fSZG.gif" mos="" align="right" fullscreen="1" width="600" height="600" attribution="" endorsement="" class="pull-right expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class="pull-right inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">The path of the partial solar eclipse on Sept. 21, 2025. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: <a href="http://eclipsewise.com/eclipse.html" target="_blank">Fred Espenak and Michael Zeiler</a>, licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>. Based on work at <a href="http://eclipsewise.com/eclipse.html" target="_blank">EclipseWise.com</a> and <a href="http://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/" target="_blank">GreatAmericanEclipse.com</a>)</span></figcaption></figure><p>The last solar eclipse of 2025 happens on Sept. 21, just one day before the equinox. The <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/stargazing/eclipses/partial-solar-eclipse-september-2025-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-solstice-solar-eclipse"><u>partial solar eclipse</u></a> will be visible from New Zealand, Antarctica and the South Pacific.</p><p>Although not a total eclipse, this is a deep partial event, with the moon covering up to 86% of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/58-the-sun-formation-facts-and-characteristics.html"><u>the sun</u></a>! Southern New Zealand and Antarctic research stations will see the best views, whilst some Pacific islands will also get a show.</p><p>This rare timing means the eclipse occurs on the doorstep of the September <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/what-is-an-equinox.html"><u>equinox</u></a>, when the sun crosses the celestial equator, marking the start of spring in the Southern Hemisphere and fall in the north.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_Gr8J3Est_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="Gr8J3Est">            <div id="botr_Gr8J3Est_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>Remember: it's never safe to look directly at the sun without certified solar eclipse glasses. Even during the partial phases, proper eye protection is essential. Space.com will also be livestreaming the Sept. 21 eclipse, with details announced closer to the event, and you can follow the latest updates in our <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/news/live/solar-eclipse-live-updates"><u>partial solar eclipse live blog</u></a>.</p><h2 id="antarctica-2">Antarctica</h2><ul><li><strong>Marambio Base</strong>: 5% eclipse</li><li><strong>Mario Zucchelli Station</strong>: 72% eclipse</li><li><strong>McMurdo Station:</strong> 69% eclipse</li><li><strong>Ross Ice Shelf</strong>: about 65% eclipse</li></ul><p>Coverage decreases farther east — the Antarctic Peninsula will see only a 12% eclipse at sunset.</p><h2 id="new-zealand-2">New Zealand</h2><p>New Zealand offers the most accessible views. The eclipse will already be underway at sunrise, creating dramatic crescent-shaped dawns.</p><ul><li><strong>Auckland</strong>: 60% eclipse</li><li><strong>Christchurch</strong>: 69%</li><li><strong>Invercargill:</strong> 72%</li><li><strong>Wellington</strong>: 66% eclipse</li></ul><h2 id="south-pacific-2">South Pacific</h2><p>Island nations will see smaller eclipses, but still notable:</p><ul><li><strong>Tonga</strong>: 32% eclipse</li><li><strong>Fiji</strong>: 27% eclipse</li><li><strong>Cook Islands</strong>: 23% eclipse</li><li><strong>Samoa</strong>: 17% eclipse</li></ul><p>The Sept. 21 partial solar eclipse will be the last <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/15584-solar-eclipses.html"><u>solar eclipse</u></a> of 2025, offering dramatic views from New Zealand, Antarctica and across the South Pacific just before the equinox. Whether you're planning to watch in person or online, don't forget to check out our <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/how-to-photograph-a-solar-eclipse"><u>complete guide to photographing a solar eclipse</u></a> and our recommendations for the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/stargazing/skywatching-kit/best-dedicated-astrophotography-cameras"><u>best cameras for astrophotography</u></a> to help you capture the moment safely and in style.</p> ]]></dc:content>
810.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/stargazing/solar-eclipses/where-is-solar-eclipse-sept-21-2025-visible</link>
811.                                                                            <description>
812.                            <![CDATA[ The 'equinox eclipse' will bring up to 86% coverage across New Zealand, Antarctica and parts of the South Pacific. ]]>
813.                                                                                                            </description>
814.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">UXdeBdDu4EyBFwMwBrmCTg</guid>
815.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7mDVdXgncyAkyyoN3bqbhC-1280-80.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure>
816.                                                                        <pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Solar Eclipses]]></category>
817.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Stargazing]]></category>
818.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Eclipses]]></category>
819.                                                                                                <author><![CDATA[ daisy.dobrijevic@space.com (Daisy Dobrijevic) ]]></author>                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Daisy Dobrijevic ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7mDVdXgncyAkyyoN3bqbhC-1280-80.jpg">
820.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Created in Canva Pro by Daisy Dobrijevic]]></media:credit>
821.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[a graphic of a partial solar eclipse and a location marker below conveying the location of the partial solar eclipse.]]></media:text>
822.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[a graphic of a partial solar eclipse and a location marker below conveying the location of the partial solar eclipse.]]></media:title>
823.                                                    </media:content>
824.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7mDVdXgncyAkyyoN3bqbhC-1280-80.jpg" />
825.                                                                                        </item>
826.                    <item>
827.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ NASA satellites spot brand-new island in Alaska formed by melting glacier (photos) ]]></title>
828.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="HyBFnaX8xiay8PgpxZBWpi" name="ak_alsekglacier_oli2_20250806_lr" alt="two satellite photos of a lake; on the left, much of the surface is covered in ice. on the right, the ice has frozen to reveal blue water and a previously unseen island" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HyBFnaX8xiay8PgpxZBWpi.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Alaska's Alsek Glacier has retreated more than 3 miles (5 kilometers) since 1984, turning Prow Knob into an island. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey.)</span></figcaption></figure><p>NASA satellite imagery has revealed a new island off Alaska's coast that emerged after long-standing glacial ice melted, isolating a small mountain that was once part of the mainland.</p><p>The island sits in Alsek Lake, where the Alsek Glacier has been <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/satellites-show-rapidly-shrinking-glaciers.html">steadily thinning and flooding</a> the region with meltwater. Two <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/19665-landsat.html">Landsat</a> images — captured on July 5, 1984 by the TM (Thematic Mapper) on Landsat 5 and on Aug. 6, 2025 by the OLI-2 (Operational Land Imager-2) on Landsat 9 — show the transformation in striking detail, according to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/154764/alaskas-brand-new-island" target="_blank">a statement</a> from NASA.</p><p>Alsek Glacier once wrapped around a small mountain known as Prow Knob. Over the past four decades, both arms of the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/satellites-show-rapidly-shrinking-glaciers.html">glacier</a> have retreated more than 3 miles (5 kilometers), carving out a proglacial lake in the process. The recent imagery confirms the glacier has now completely separated from Prow Knob, which is surrounded by water and officially an island, according to the statement.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_ocibXy1C_ANn1bv7q_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="ANn1bv7q"            data-playlist-id="ocibXy1C">            <div id="botr_ocibXy1C_ANn1bv7q_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>Glaciologists have been monitoring Alsek Glacier for decades. In the early 20th century, the glacier is believed to have terminated at Gateway Knob, about 3 miles (5 kilometers) west of Prow Knob on the opposite side of what is now Alsek Lake. Since then, the glacier has continued its steady retreat, with satellite data tracking its transformation.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="4sg46QQ8M7k7mhjecSd95U" name="ak_alsekglacier_tm5_19840705" alt="A satellite image of Alsek lake, showing a small island in the middle called Prow Knob" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4sg46QQ8M7k7mhjecSd95U.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Alaska's Alsek Glacier has retreated more than 3 miles (5 kilometers) since 1984, turning Prow Knob into an island. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. )</span></figcaption></figure><p>The retreating glacier has fueled <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/science/climate-change/glacial-lake-flood-hits-juneau-alaska-reflecting-a-growing-global-risk-as-mountain-glaciers-melt">massive lake expansion</a>. Alsek Lake has grown from roughly 17 square miles (45 square km) in 1984 to about 29 square miles (75 km²) today. Its growth is fed not only by Alsek Glacier's meltwater but also by nearby proglacial lakes such as Harlequin and Grand Plateau. In fact, Alsek Glacier remained connected with the northern arm of the Grand Plateau Glacier until around 1999, when both ice masses had receded further, creating a major branch of Alsek Lake seen in later satellite images.</p><p>The newly emerged island measures about 2 square miles (or 5 square km). Based on satellite imagery, scientists believe it formed sometime between July 13 and Aug. 6, 2025. With the separation of Prow Knob, the glacier is now less stable and more prone to calving, when large chunks of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/brunt-ice-shelf-breaks-antarctica">ice break off</a> into the lake, according to the statement.</p><p>The emergence of this island reflects the accelerating pace of glacial retreat in Southeast Alaska and its ability to reshape landscapes within decades. Expanding lakes, unstable ice fronts and newly exposed terrain point to significant shifts underway, with researchers warning that continued ice loss in a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/what-is-climate-change-explained">warming world</a> could alter the region's hydrology and ecosystems.</p> ]]></dc:content>
829.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/science/climate-change/nasa-satellites-spot-brand-new-island-in-alaska-formed-by-melting-glacier-photos</link>
830.                                                                            <description>
831.                            <![CDATA[ Satellite images reveal a new island in Alaska's Alsek Lake, formed as retreating glaciers reshape the landscape. ]]>
832.                                                                                                            </description>
833.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">7uduQbwUiFtukSZJiBVRXY</guid>
834.                                                                                                <enclosure url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HyBFnaX8xiay8PgpxZBWpi-1280-80.jpg" type="image/jpeg" length="0"></enclosure>
835.                                                                        <pubDate>Sun, 14 Sep 2025 14:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Climate Change]]></category>
836.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Science]]></category>
837.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Samantha Mathewson ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HyBFnaX8xiay8PgpxZBWpi-1280-80.jpg">
838.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey.]]></media:credit>
839.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[two satellite photos of a lake; on the left, much of the surface is covered in ice. on the right, the ice has frozen to reveal blue water and a previously unseen island]]></media:text>
840.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[two satellite photos of a lake; on the left, much of the surface is covered in ice. on the right, the ice has frozen to reveal blue water and a previously unseen island]]></media:title>
841.                                                    </media:content>
842.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HyBFnaX8xiay8PgpxZBWpi-1280-80.jpg" />
843.                                                                                        </item>
844.                    <item>
845.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ 1 week to go until the moon takes a ‘bite’ out of the sun during partial solar eclipse on Sept. 21 ]]></title>
846.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>Get ready, sun lovers! We're just one week away from the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/stargazing/eclipses/partial-solar-eclipse-september-2025-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-solstice-solar-eclipse">Sept. 21 partial solar eclipse</a>. The moon will appear to take a "bite" from the sun for observers across the South Pacific, including New Zealand, a sliver of eastern Australia, several Pacific islands and portions of Antarctica.</p><p>A partial <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/15584-solar-eclipses.html">solar eclipse</a> occurs when the moon passes directly in front of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/58-the-sun-formation-facts-and-characteristics.html">the sun</a> during a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/17561-new-moon-explained-lunar-phases.html">new moon</a> phase, occulting a swathe of its disk while stopping short of blocking it entirely.</p><p>Roughly 16.6 million people — or 0.2% of the world population — will see at least some portion of the partial solar eclipse, according to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2025-september-21" target="_blank">Time and Date</a>.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_nXlEg7OB_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="nXlEg7OB">            <div id="botr_nXlEg7OB_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">Celestron EclipSmart Power Viewers</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><figure class="van-image-figure "  ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' ><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="5XCjXEipkeqW3NjJUq99yY" name="Celestron EclipSmart Power Viewers landscape.jpg" caption="" alt="Celestron EclipSmart Power Viewers on a white background" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5XCjXEipkeqW3NjJUq99yY.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="" height="" attribution="" endorsement="" class="pinterest-pin-exclude"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Celestron)</span></figcaption></figure><p class="fancy-box__body-text">These <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MTFQJAT?tag=georiot-us-default-20&th=1&psc=1&ascsubtag=space-us-1275681831390007995-20&geniuslink=true" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Celestron EclipSmart Power Viewers</a> are a must-have for a solar eclipse. They offer a simple 2x magnification and contain lenses that are ISO 12312-2 certified. Great for groups of people who want to enjoy the eclipse together without breaking the bank, make sure pick up a pair for the next solar eclipse! Read our full <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/celestron-eclipsmart-2x-power-viewers-and-solar-eclipse-glasses-kit-review">Celestron EclipSmart Power Viewers review.</a></p></div></div><p>Viewers will first see the moon take its first bite out of the sun at 1:29 p.m. ET (1729 GMT) on Sept. 21. Observers located in territories including southern New Zealand and Antarctica will see over 70% of the solar disk occulted by its natural satellite as the eclipse reaches its maximum at 3:41 p.m. ET (1941 GMT) later that same day.</p><p>The vast majority of the global population, including those in the Americas, won't see this eclipse in person. But you can enjoy the action live online as Space.com will be hosting a livestream of the event, with details to follow closer to the time. You can also keep up with the latest solar eclipse news and progress with our <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/news/live/solar-eclipse-live-updates">partial solar eclipse live blog</a>.</p><h2 id="prepping-for-the-september-partial-solar-eclipse-2">Prepping for the September partial solar eclipse</h2><p>NEVER look directly at the sun without proper eye protection. Staring at the sun with the naked eye can lead to immediate and permanent damage to your vision. As such, anyone hoping to catch a glimpse of the September eclipse, or the upcoming <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/total-solar-eclipse-2026-a-complete-guide">Aug. 12, 2026 total solar eclipse,</a> should read our <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/36941-solar-eclipse-eye-protection-guide.html">eclipse glasses guide</a> to ensure that they have the correct safety gear in proper working order with which to view the sun.</p><p>Photographers may also wish to avail themselves of our guide discussing the equipment and techniques needed to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/how-to-photograph-a-solar-eclipse">safely capture the phases of a solar eclipse</a>. Those lucky enough to find themselves in the path of an upcoming event should also read our <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/sun-observing-safety-guide#section-what-to-look-for-when-observing-the-sun-during-a-total-solar-eclipse">top tips for observing the sun</a>, which details what to look out for as the Sept. 21 solar spectacle unfolds.</p><p><em><strong>Editor's Note: </strong></em><em>If you would like to share your astrophotography with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com. </em></p> ]]></dc:content>
847.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/stargazing/solar-eclipses/1-week-to-go-until-partial-solar-eclipse-sept-21-2025</link>
848.                                                                            <description>
849.                            <![CDATA[ The moon will roll across the face of the sun on Sept. 21 for lucky viewers in the southern hemisphere. ]]>
850.                                                                                                            </description>
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853.                                                                        <pubDate>Sun, 14 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Solar Eclipses]]></category>
854.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Stargazing]]></category>
855.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Eclipses]]></category>
856.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Anthony Wood ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tNWe5giar8tfYMzqxVcxeY-1280-80.jpg">
857.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Photo by YURI CORTEZ/AFP via Getty Images]]></media:credit>
858.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[A photo of the sun captured during a partial solar eclipse. The silhouette of the moon covers the majority of the sun, transforming it into a crescent, or sickle shape.]]></media:text>
859.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[A photo of the sun captured during a partial solar eclipse. The silhouette of the moon covers the majority of the sun, transforming it into a crescent, or sickle shape.]]></media:title>
860.                                                    </media:content>
861.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tNWe5giar8tfYMzqxVcxeY-1280-80.jpg" />
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863.                    <item>
864.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ SpaceX launches Northrop Grumman's biggest-ever cargo spacecraft on its 1st mission to the ISS (video) ]]></title>
865.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_5MmQe3cX_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="5MmQe3cX">            <div id="botr_5MmQe3cX_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>SpaceX launched Northrop Grumman's new "Cygnus XL" cargo ship on its debut mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday evening (Sept. 14).</p><p>A <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/18962-spacex-falcon-9.html">Falcon 9</a> rocket carrying the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/cygnus-spacecraft.html">Cygnus</a> freighter lifted off from Florida's <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/33926-cape-canaveral.html">Cape Canaveral Space Force Station</a> at 6:11 p.m. EDT (2211 GMT).</p><p>The mission is known as NG-23, because it is the 23rd cargo effort that Northrop Grumman flies to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/16748-international-space-station.html">the ISS</a> for NASA. NG-23 is the first Cygnus launch since August 2024, when NG-21 took flight.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="A97ZdcYsgCXxoSxag5KKEe" name="spacex-falcon-9-cygnus-ng23-launch" alt="a white and black rocket lifts off on a bright plume with an orange glow, set against a blue sky with wispy white clouds." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A97ZdcYsgCXxoSxag5KKEe.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">SpaceX launched Northrop Grumman's new "Cygnus XL" cargo ship on its debut mission to the International Space Station on Sunday (Sept. 14). </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: SpaceX/NASA)</span></figcaption></figure><p>NG-22 was supposed to follow in January of this year but was delayed to June due to avionics issues. Then, in late March, NASA announced that <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/nasa-cancels-cargo-launch-to-iss-due-to-damaged-cygnus-spacecraft">NG-22 had been called off</a>, as a result of damage the Cygnus incurred during transport to the launch site.</p><p>NG-23 marks the debut of the Cygnus XL, a larger and more capable version of the veteran freighter. The previous iteration hauled about 8,500 (3,855 kilograms) pounds of cargo to the ISS, but Cygnus XL is taking 11,000 pounds (4,990 kg) up on this trip.</p><p>Among the supplies packed aboard the freighter are "materials to produce semiconductor crystals in space and equipment to develop improvements for cryogenic fuel tanks," NASA officials <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-sets-coverage-for-northrop-grumman-crs-23-spacex-falcon-9-launch/" target="_blank">wrote in a statement</a>. "The spacecraft also will deliver a specialized UV light system to prevent the growth of microbe communities that form in water systems and supplies to produce pharmaceutical crystals that could treat cancer and other diseases."</p><p>NG-23's Cygnus XL — which Northrop Grumman named S.S. William "Willie" McCool after one of the NASA astronauts who died in the 2003 <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/19436-columbia-disaster.html">space shuttle Columbia accident</a> — is scheduled to arrive at the ISS on Wednesday (Sept. 17) at 6:35 a.m. EDT (1035 GMT). It will not dock autonomously but rather be captured and grappled by the station's Canadarm2 robotic arm.</p><p>NASA will stream this arrival action live, beginning at 5 a.m. EDT (0900 GMT) on Wednesday.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1920px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="6vcQnSjPVHh8ymjs5qMubR" name="spacex-falcon-9-cygnus-ng23-orbit" alt="a cargo vehicle separates from the upper stage of the rocket that launched it into Earth orbit" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6vcQnSjPVHh8ymjs5qMubR.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1920" height="1080" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Northrop Grumman's NG-23 Cygnus XL, the S.S. William C. "Willie" McCool, separates from he upper stage of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that launched it into low Earth orbit.  </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: NASA/SpaceX)</span></figcaption></figure><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">Related Stories:</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text">—  <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/cygnus-spacecraft.html">Facts about Cygnus, Northrop Grumman's cargo ship</a> </p><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/spacex-cygnus-cargo-spacecraft-launch-ng-21">SpaceX launches private Cygnus cargo craft to ISS (video, photos)</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"> —  <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/16748-international-space-station.html">International Space Station: Everything you need to know</a></p></div></div><p>The NG-23 Cygnus will stay attached to the orbiting lab until March 2026, when it will depart to burn up in <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/17683-earth-atmosphere.html">Earth's atmosphere</a>.</p><p>Russia's Progress freighter — one of which<strong> </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/russia-progress-93-spacecraft-arrives-international-space-station">just arrived at the ISS</a> on Saturday (Sept. 13) — is similarly disposable, but the third currently operational ISS cargo craft, SpaceX's <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/18852-spacex-dragon.html">Dragon</a> capsule, is different. Dragon makes parachute-aided ocean splashdowns, after which it is recovered, refurbished and reflown.</p> ]]></dc:content>
866.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-launch-cygnus-ng-23-cargo-mission-international-space-station</link>
867.                                                                            <description>
868.                            <![CDATA[ SpaceX launched Northrop Grumman's new "Cygnus XL" cargo ship on its debut mission to the International Space Station on Sunday (Sept. 14). ]]>
869.                                                                                                            </description>
870.                                                                                                                                <guid isPermaLink="false">kBTvZvptMHDzuJtGh2hphf</guid>
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872.                                                                        <pubDate>Sun, 14 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Launches &amp; Spacecraft]]></category>
873.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Space Exploration]]></category>
874.                                                                                                <author><![CDATA[ mwall@space.com (Mike Wall) ]]></author>                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Mike Wall ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A97ZdcYsgCXxoSxag5KKEe-1280-80.jpg">
875.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[SpaceX/NASA]]></media:credit>
876.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[a white and black rocket lifts off on a bright plume with an orange glow, set against a blue sky with wispy white clouds.]]></media:text>
877.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[a white and black rocket lifts off on a bright plume with an orange glow, set against a blue sky with wispy white clouds.]]></media:title>
878.                                                    </media:content>
879.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A97ZdcYsgCXxoSxag5KKEe-1280-80.jpg" />
880.                                                                                        </item>
881.                    <item>
882.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ LIGO Legacy: 10 incredible gravitational wave breakthroughs to celebrate observatory's landmark 2015 find ]]></title>
883.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <p>Sept. 14, 2015, was one of the most important days in science history. It marked the first-ever detection of gravitational waves, tiny ripples in space-time (the four-dimensional union of space and time), a milestone notched by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO).</p><p>Since that day, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/LIGO-Laser-Interferometer-Gravitational-Wave-Observatory.html">LIGO</a> — composed of two highly sensitive laser interferometers located in Hanford, Washington and Livingston, Louisiana — has been joined by two smaller <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/25088-gravitational-waves.html">gravitational wave</a> observatories: Virgo, which came online in Italy on Aug. 1, 2017, and the Kamioka Gravitational Wave Detector (KAGRA) located in Japan, in late 2019.</p><p>Over the course of four operating runs, separated by shutdowns to allow for improvements and upgrades, the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA instruments have become so sensitive that they can now measure distortions in space-time caused by gravitational waves that are 1/10,000 the width of a proton, or 700 <em>trillion</em> times smaller than the width of a human hair. Together, the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA collaboration has now detected over 300 gravitational wave signals, opening a completely new window to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/52-the-expanding-universe-from-the-big-bang-to-today.html">the universe</a> that allows scientists to hear some of the most extreme and violent cosmic events.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_NWcPeMun_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="NWcPeMun">            <div id="botr_NWcPeMun_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>Here, Space.com takes you through some of the most important gravitational wave breakthroughs that have occurred since 2015.</p><p>While these milestones come in no particular order, there is only one place we can start...</p><h3 class="article-body__section" id="section-1-proving-einstein-right-the-first-gravitational-wave-detection"><span>1. Proving Einstein right! The first gravitational wave detection</span></h3><p>On Sept. 14, 2015, ripples in space-time washed over <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/54-earth-history-composition-and-atmosphere.html">Earth</a> that were generated by the merger of two <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/15421-black-holes-facts-formation-discovery-sdcmp.html">black holes,</a> each with a mass of around 30 times that of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/58-the-sun-formation-facts-and-characteristics.html">the sun</a>. This signal, which would come to be known as GW150914 (GW for "gravitational wave" and the following numbers for the date of measurement), had been traveling to our planet for 1.4 billion years.</p><p>GW150914's arrival and detection confirmed a theory that was first proposed a century earlier by arguably history's most famous physicist, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/15524-albert-einstein.html">Albert Einstein</a>, in his 1915 theory of gravity, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/17661-theory-general-relativity.html">general relativity</a>.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_Ka3quol8_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="Ka3quol8">            <div id="botr_Ka3quol8_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>General relativity predicts that objects with mass cause the very fabric of space-time to warp, with gravity arising from this warp. The larger the mass of an object, the greater the warp in space-time it generates, and thus the stronger its gravitational influence.</p><p>But general relativity also suggested that, when objects accelerate, they should generate ripples in space-time — gravitational waves. These would be significant enough to measure only for objects of truly massive status, such as black holes swirling around each other in a binary system and eventually merging.</p><p>Announced to the public on Feb. 11, 2016, GW150914 represented further validation of general relativity and confirmed that <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/what-happens-when-black-holes-merge">black hole mergers</a> actually occur, creating more massive "daughter" black holes. The find also gave scientists a separate way to investigate the universe alongside "traditional" astronomy, which relies largely on the detection and study of light.</p><p>The achievement would earn <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/nobel-prize-winner-and-gravitational-wave-pioneer-rainer-weiss-dies-at-92">Rainer Weiss</a>, who passed away just last month, Kip Thorne and Barry Barish the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics.</p><h3 class="article-body__section" id="section-2-heaviest-black-hole-merger"><span>2. Heaviest black hole merger</span></h3><p>On Nov. 23, 2023, LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA (LVK) detected the gravitational wave signal GW231123, which involved a clash between black holes with masses 100 and 140 times that of the sun. This collision created a daughter black hole with a mass around 225 times that of the sun, with the missing mass converted toa gravitational wave "screech" (which you can learn more about below).</p><p>This was the most massive black hole merger detected in gravitational waves to date, with the prior record holder being 2021's  <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/black-hole-intermediate-size-ligo-gravitational-waves-discovery.html"><u>GW190521,</u></a> which was resulted in a daughter black hole with 140 solar masses.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1600px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="7zXmWqh25fGGD5SXbfbN5a" name="Untitled design - 2025-07-11T100811.111" alt="Two black holes collide and merge" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7zXmWqh25fGGD5SXbfbN5a.png" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1600" height="900" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">An illustration shows two black holes colliding and merging. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Robert Lea (created with Canva))</span></figcaption></figure><p>"This is the most massive black hole binary we've observed through gravitational waves, and it presents a real challenge to our understanding of black hole formation," LVK collaboration member and Cardiff University researcher Mark Hannam <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/black-holes/gravitational-waves-reveal-most-massive-black-hole-merger-ever-detected-one-forbidden-by-current-models">said</a> of GW231123. "Black holes this massive are forbidden through standard stellar evolution models.</p><p>"One possibility is that the two black holes in this binary formed through earlier mergers of smaller black holes."</p><h3 class="article-body__section" id="section-3-this-neutron-star-merger-was-golden"><span>3. This neutron star merger was golden!</span></h3><p>It's not all black hole mergers for LKV. The gravitational wave detectors have also "heard" ripples in space-time from clashes between <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/22180-neutron-stars.html">neutron stars</a>. These are extreme stellar remnants composed of the densest matter in the known universe that, like stellar-mass black holes, are born when massive stars go <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/6638-supernova.html">supernova</a> and die.</p><p>On Aug. 17, 2017, LIGO and Virgo detected a signal, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/40797-neutron-star-crash-gravitational-waves-black-hole.html">GW170817</a>, representing gravitational waves from a collision between neutron stars located around 130 million light-years from Earth. This was the first detection of gravitational waves from anything other than black holes.</p><p>This was an important scientific breakthrough, because it is thought that mergers between neutron stars generate the only environment that is extreme and violent enough to allow the fusion processes that can <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/electrons-dance-black-hole-neutronstar-collision">generate elements heavier than iron</a>, like gold, silver and plutonium.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1600px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="EhXSVTSQNkAoScgqAjASgG" name="Kilonova neutron star merger" alt="An illustration  shows two neutron stars colliding and merging" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EhXSVTSQNkAoScgqAjASgG.png" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1600" height="900" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Artist's illustration showing the merger of two neutron stars. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Robert Lea (created with Canva))</span></figcaption></figure><p>"It immediately appeared to us the source was likely to be neutron stars, the other coveted source we were hoping to see — and promising the world we would see," David Shoemaker, spokesperson for the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and senior research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/page/press-release-gw170817#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThis%20detection%20opens%20the%20window,achieved%20with%20electromagnetic%20astronomy%20alone.%E2%80%9D&text=Each%20electromagnetic%20observatory%20will%20be,before%20smashing%20into%20each%20other." target="_blank">said in a statement at the time</a>. "From informing detailed models of the inner workings of neutron stars and the emissions they produce to more fundamental physics such as general relativity, this event is just so rich. It is a gift that will keep on giving."<br><br>GW170817 was humanity's first step toward understanding how the gold in your jewelry box was forged. But this list isn't done with this event just yet; its importance to science goes beyond the first detection of a neutron star merger.</p><h3 class="article-body__section" id="section-4-best-of-both-worlds-multimessenger-astronomy-is-born"><span>4. Best of both worlds: Multimessenger astronomy is born!</span></h3><p>As you might imagine, when stellar remnants as extreme as neutron stars collide, there is quite a burst of energy, and not just in gravitational waves, which can be considered gravitational radiation.</p><p>Neutron star mergers are also accompanied by flashes of light that astronomers have dubbed "<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/what-are-kilonovas">kilonovas</a>." Thus, the first detection of a neutron star merger in gravitational waves offered scientists the unique opportunity to follow this up with "traditional astronomy," which utilizes different wavelengths of the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/electromagnetic-spectrum-use-in-astronomy">electromagnetic spectrum</a>.</p><p>This led to GW170817 becoming one of the most widely studied astronomical events in history, with nearly one-third of the world’s electromagnetic astronomers chasing the gravitational wave detection via traditional astronomy.</p><p>Such work paid off, with NASA's <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/41191-fermi-gamma-ray-telescope.html">Fermi Gamma-ray spacecraft</a> and Europe's <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/charged-particle-nearly-ends-gamma-ray-observatory">INTEGRAL</a> (International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory) both independently detecting a gamma-ray burst designated GRB 170817A erupting from this same merger.</p><p>This allowed astronomers to determine that the neutron star merger occurred in the galaxy NGC 4993, located about 140 million light-years away.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:500px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:106.80%;"><img id="52Da4kZRrB7bQaBW7ptKff" name="NGC_4993_and_GRB170817A_after_glow" alt="The galaxy NGC 4993 and the neutron star merger generated gamma-ray burst GRB 170817A" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/52Da4kZRrB7bQaBW7ptKff.gif" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="500" height="534" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">The galaxy NGC 4993 and the gamma-ray burst GRB 170817A, which was generated by a neutron star merger.  </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: NASA and ESA)</span></figcaption></figure><p>This was the first successful application of "<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/38482-gravitational-waves-multimessenger-astronomy-era.html">multimessenger astronomy</a>," which observes cosmic events using more than one form of messenger — in this case, gravitational waves and electromagnetic radiation. The third spoke in this wheel is messengers in the form of high-energy particles, such as <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/what-are-neutrinos">neutrinos</a> or <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/32644-cosmic-rays.html">cosmic rays </a>generated by cosmic events.</p><p>The fact that each of these "messengers" is created by a different astrophysical process means they have the potential to reveal different information about the same source. That makes multimessenger astronomy a powerful new tool in science.</p><p>To date, the event that generated GW170817 and launched GRB 170817A remains the only successful observation of an event in both gravitational waves and electromagnetic radiation.</p><p>"It is tremendously exciting to experience a rare event that transforms our understanding of the workings of the universe," France Córdova, then the director of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), which funds LIGO, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/page/press-release-gw170817#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThis%20detection%20opens%20the%20window,achieved%20with%20electromagnetic%20astronomy%20alone.%E2%80%9D&text=Each%20electromagnetic%20observatory%20will%20be,before%20smashing%20into%20each%20other." target="_blank">said in a statement</a> at the time. "This discovery realizes a long-standing goal many of us have had — that is, to simultaneously observe rare cosmic events using both traditional and gravitational-wave observatories."</p><h3 class="article-body__section" id="section-5-for-whom-the-black-hole-tolls"><span>5. For whom the black hole tolls</span></h3><p>The emission of gravitational waves from a binary black hole merger comes in three phases. As these orbiting black holes emit gravitational waves, their orbits tighten due to the loss of angular momentum from the system. This leads to the two black holes eventually colliding and merging, sending out a high-pitched gravitational wave "screech" followed by a diminishing "ringdown" of vibrations lasting for a fraction of a second.</p><p>"The [daughter] black hole is similar to a bell that rings, producing a spectrum of multiple fading tones that encode information about the bell," Collin Capano from the Albert Einstein Institute <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.mpg.de/21047683/observation-of-two-frequencies-in-ringdown-gravitational-wave-signal" target="_blank">said in a statement back in 2023</a>, after he and his colleagues revealed that they had found strong observational evidence of at least two gravitational-wave frequencies existing in a binary black hole ringdown signal.</p><p>This ringdown signal, the aforementioned GW190521, can give details of the mass and spin of a resultant daughter black hole, to great precision.</p><p>"Achieving this multimode observation – in other words, the detection of two distinct vibration frequencies of a deformed black hole – has been a welcome surprise. It was widely assumed this would not be possible before the next generation of gravitational-wave detectors," Capino said.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1600px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="FqAd8JUMD9w3xjKNEsYNSf" name="Untitled design - 2025-09-12T142246.284" alt="The three phases of a black hole merger each showing different gravitational wave emissions" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FqAd8JUMD9w3xjKNEsYNSf.png" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1600" height="900" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">The three phases of a black hole merger, each showing different gravitational wave emissions. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: B.P Abbott et al, LIGO/ Virgo)</span></figcaption></figure><p>The GW190521 ringdown was also significant because it acted as a test of the idea that black holes can be described by just three characteristics: their mass, spin and electric charge. This theory is immortalized by physicist John Wheeler's infamous phrase: "<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/no-hair-theorem-hidden-gravitational-wave-overtone.htmlhttps://www.space.com/black-holes-can-grow-hair-temporarily.html">Black holes have no hair</a>."</p><p>"GW190521 passed the test and we found no signs of any black hole physics beyond Einstein’s general theory of relativity," Capino's colleague Julian Westerweck said back in 2023. "It is quite remarkable that a theory that is over 100 years old now continues to work so well."</p><h3 class="article-body__section" id="section-6-mix-it-up-detecting-a-black-hole-neutron-star-mixed-merger"><span>6. Mix it up! Detecting a black hole-neutron star 'mixed merger'</span></h3><p>Everybody loves chocolate, and most of us can't get enough peanut butter, but it is when these two treats are mixed that they really come into their own. It turns out that <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/gravitational-waves-reveal-black-hole-neutron-star-merging">black hole and neutron star mergers</a> are the cosmic equivalent of chocolate peanut butter cups. No wonder scientists spent so long hunting for them.</p><p>On Jan. 5, 2020, LIGO/Virgo detected GW200105_162426, a signal from a neutron star with a mass 1.9 times that of the sun colliding with an 8.9-solar-mass black hole. It occurred five years after the detection of the first black hole-black hole merger, and three years after the first neutron star-neutron star merger.</p><p>This was the first evidence of a third kind of stellar remnant merger: a neutron star-black hole collision, or a "mixed merger."  With peanut butter cups, one is rarely enough, and that turns out to be true for mixed mergers, too.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1440px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:70.63%;"><img id="jWPKZP5txRXSJ5y3Rxnzx8" name="269258_web" alt="An illustration of a neutron star-black hole mixed merger" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jWPKZP5txRXSJ5y3Rxnzx8.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1440" height="1017" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">An illustration of a neutron star-black hole mixed merger. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Carl Knox, OzGrav – Swinburne University)</span></figcaption></figure><p>The second neutron star-black hole collision event was spotted in the form of the signal GW200115_042309, detected just a few days later on Jan. 15, 2020. This neutron star had an estimated mass 1.5 times that of the sun, with its companion being a 5.7-solar-mass black hole.</p><p>"With this new discovery of neutron star-black hole mergers outside our galaxy, we have found the missing type of binary," Astrid Lamberts, a scientist with the French national research agency CNRS at Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://sciencesources.eurekalert.org/news-releases/482450" target="_blank">said in 2021</a>. "We can finally begin to understand how many of these systems exist, how often they merge, and why we have not yet seen examples in <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/19915-milky-way-galaxy.html">the Milky Way</a>."</p><p>To date, the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA collaboration has detected and confirmed just two mixed mergers between a neutron star and a black hole, though there is another possible candidate that hasn't been fully vetted yet.</p><h3 class="article-body__section" id="section-7-the-lightest-black-hole-merger-is-a-mixed-mystery"><span>7. The lightest black hole merger is a mixed mystery</span></h3><p>On Aug. 14, 2019, LIGO and Virgo detected the gravitational wave signal GW190814 from a merger that occurred 790 million light-years away.</p><p>While one of the objects involved was a black hole of 22 to 24 solar masses, the identity of the second object isn't as clear-cut as in the case of the mixed mergers above. That's because its mass is right in the sweet spot between black holes and neutron stars.</p><p>With a mass 2.6 times that of the sun, the other component of this merger was either one of the lightest black holes ever seen or one of the heaviest neutron stars. As such, the fact that it was detected earlier than the two 2020 signals means that GW190814 could actually be the first recorded mixed merger.</p><p>The merger remains shrouded in mystery. Astronomers can find no electromagnetic counterpart, meaning this could be two merging black holes or a black hole that has completely devoured a neutron star. Solving this puzzle could help us better understand the cycle of life and death experienced by the most massive stars.</p><h3 class="article-body__section" id="section-8-this-one-goes-up-to-11-the-loudest-gravitational-wave-ever"><span>8. This one goes up to 11: The loudest gravitational wave ever!</span></h3><p>Proving that the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA collaboration is still at the cutting edge of gravitational wave science, this entry on our list comes from just this month!</p><p>On Sept. 10, 2025, LKV team members announced the detection of GW250114, the result of two merging black holes with masses around 32 times the mass of the sun.</p><p>What makes GW250114 remarkable is the fact that it is one of the clearest gravitational wave signals ever. So clear, in fact, that it not only further confirmed the theory of general relativity but also verified the theories of other black hole luminaries.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:913px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:99.78%;"><img id="9atZ9GUXY9HSR4tMeFCsnj" name="A new perspective on the universe" alt="Infographic showcasing data from the Hubble Space Telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope and LIGO." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9atZ9GUXY9HSR4tMeFCsnj.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="1" width="913" height="911" attribution="" endorsement="" class="expandable"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">Infographic showcasing the advancements of gravitational wave observatories — among the most precise measuring machines ever built by humankind, in observing black hole cosmic collisions, with the registered signals shown in the bottom panel. </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Dr. Derek Davis (Caltech, LIGO Laboratory).)</span></figcaption></figure><p>"GW250114 is the loudest gravitational wave event we have detected to date; it was like a whisper becoming a shout." Geraint Pratten, member of the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA collaboration and a researcher at the University of Birmingham in England, said in a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1097425" target="_blank">statement</a>. "This gave us an unprecedented opportunity to put Einstein's theories through some of the most rigorous tests possible — validating one of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/15923-stephen-hawking.html">Stephen Hawking</a>'s pioneering predictions that when black holes merge, the combined area of their event horizons can only grow, never shrink."</p><p>GW250114 gets on the list because it demonstrates just how far LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA has come over the last 10 years.</p><p><strong>Read More: </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/gravitational-wave-detector-confirms-theories-of-einstein-and-hawking-this-is-the-clearest-view-yet-of-the-nature-of-black-holes">Gravitational wave detector confirms theories of Einstein and Hawking: 'This is the clearest view yet of the nature of black holes'</a></p><h3 class="article-body__section" id="section-9-hearing-a-cosmic-symphony"><span>9. Hearing a cosmic symphony</span></h3><p>This one isn't LVK-related, but it is a gravitational wave discovery made during the last 10 years, so it still makes the list.</p><p>On June 28, 2023, it was revealed that the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/28994-gravitational-waves-search-nanograv.html">NANOGrav</a>) had detected low-frequency gravitational waves, a historic breakthrough that represents 15 years of searching. NANOGrav uses spinning neutron star <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/32661-pulsars.html">pulsars</a> as a timing array to detect the tiny fluctuations in space-time caused by gravitational waves.</p><p>The gravitational waves detected by LIGO and its collaborators represent a dramatic single "crash" of cymbals from violent events like collisions and mergers; the low-frequency gravitational wave signal NANOGrav heard is more akin to the gentle background harmony of violins.</p><div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_WSBOPN4F_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="WSBOPN4F">            <div id="botr_WSBOPN4F_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>The strength of the signal represents a gravitational wave orchestra of hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions, of supermassive black holes swirling around each other and eventually merging in the early universe.</p><p>"This finding opens up a new low-frequency window on the gravitational universe which will let us study how galaxies and their central black holes merge and grow with time," National Radio Astronomy Observatory astronomer and NANOGrav researcher Scott Ransom <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/gravitational-waves-astronomers-why-so-excited">told Space.com</a> in 2023.</p><h3 class="article-body__section" id="section-10-proving-einstein-wrong"><span>10. Proving Einstein ... wrong!?!</span></h3><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1200px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:67.08%;"><img id="mQZf4fX3CpsVDidokL94Xm" name="ligo-detectors.jpg" alt="The LIGO project operates two detector sites: one near Hanford in eastern Washington, and another near Livingston, Louisiana (shown here)." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mQZf4fX3CpsVDidokL94Xm.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1200" height="805" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="caption-text">The LIGO project operates two detector sites: one near Hanford in eastern Washington, and another near Livingston, Louisiana (shown here). </span><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: LIGO Collaboration)</span></figcaption></figure><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">Related Stories:</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text">— <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/black-holes/gravitational-waves-reveal-most-massive-black-hole-merger-ever-detected-one-forbidden-by-current-models">Gravitational waves reveal most massive black hole merger ever detected — one 'forbidden' by current models</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"> —  <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/black-holes/this-is-the-holy-grail-of-theoretical-physics-is-the-key-to-quantum-gravity-hiding-in-this-new-way-to-make-black-holes">'This is the holy grail of theoretical physics.' Is the key to quantum gravity hiding in this new way to make black holes?</a></p><p class="fancy-box__body-text"> — <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/astronomy/black-holes/tiny-primordial-black-holes-created-in-the-big-bang-may-have-rapidly-grown-to-supermassive-sizes">Tiny ‘primordial’ black holes created in the Big Bang may have rapidly grown to supermassive sizes</a></p></div></div><p>This may come as a bit of surprise, but while every gravitational wave discovery made since 2015 has verified Einstein's theory of general relativity, ironically, each has also proved the great physicist wrong, too.</p><p>That's because Einstein believed that gravitational waves are so faint and so insubstantial, in terms of the displacement of space-time they cause as they wash through the cosmos at near light-speed, that we would never be able to detect them.</p><p>Even some of the scientists who were integral to the development of LIGO and the first detection of gravitational waves weren't initially certain such a feat was possible, agreeing with Einstein.</p><p>"Rai Weiss proposed the concept of LIGO in 1972, and I thought, 'This doesn't have much chance at all of working,'" <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/28000-physicist-kip-thorne-wildest-theories.html">Kip Thorne</a>, an expert on the theory of black holes, said in a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1097214" target="_blank">statement</a> earlier this month. "We had to invent a whole new technology."</p> ]]></dc:content>
884.                                                                                                                                            <link>https://www.space.com/astronomy/ligo-legacy-10-incredible-gravitational-wave-breakthroughs-to-celebrate-observatorys-landmark-2015-find</link>
885.                                                                            <description>
886.                            <![CDATA[ The first-ever detection of gravitational waves was made 10 years ago today (Sept. 14). In celebration, Space.com takes you through the most significant gravitational wave discoveries to date. ]]>
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890.                                                                        <pubDate>Sun, 14 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Astronomy]]></category>
891.                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Robert Lea ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/png" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/G8KfUGafivu7oevFzjWj4R-1280-80.png">
892.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[LIGO/T. Pyle]]></media:credit>
893.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[An illustration of binary black holes ringing spacetime with gravitational waves]]></media:text>
894.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[An illustration of binary black holes ringing spacetime with gravitational waves]]></media:title>
895.                                                    </media:content>
896.                                                    <media:thumbnail url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/G8KfUGafivu7oevFzjWj4R-1280-80.png" />
897.                                                                                        </item>
898.                    <item>
899.                                                            <title><![CDATA[ SpaceX launches 300th Starlink satellite-internet mission (video) ]]></title>
900.                                                                                                <dc:content><![CDATA[ <div class="jwplayer__widthsetter">    <div class="jwplayer__wrapper">        <div id="futr_botr_LFOTJpji_bQHItauA_div"            class="future__jwplayer"            data-player-id="bQHItauA"            data-playlist-id="LFOTJpji">            <div id="botr_LFOTJpji_bQHItauA_div"></div>        </div>    </div></div><p>SpaceX just lofted yet another batch of its Starlink broadband satellites to orbit.</p><p>A <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/18962-spacex-falcon-9.html">Falcon 9</a> rocket carrying 24 Starlink craft lifted off from foggy <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/34147-vandenberg-air-force-base.html">Vandenberg Space Force Base</a> in California today (Sept. 13) at 1:55 p.m. EDT (1755 GMT; 10:55 a.m. local California time).</p><p>It was the 300th Starlink mission that <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/18853-spacex.html">SpaceX</a> has launched to date, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1966950501729054921" target="_blank">according to the company</a>.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1970px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.24%;"><img id="cQ9BiNKPUcK7GehD9sTTq7" name="1757788829.jpg" alt="A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carries 24 of the company's Starlink internet satellites to orbit from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base on Sept. 13, 2025." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cQ9BiNKPUcK7GehD9sTTq7.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1970" height="1108" attribution="" endorsement="" class=""></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: SpaceX)</span></figcaption></figure><p>About 8.5 minutes after liftoff, the Falcon 9's first stage touched down in the Pacific Ocean on the SpaceX drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You." It was the 28th launch and landing for this particular booster, which is designated B1071.</p><p>That's two away from the reuse record, which a different Falcon 9 booster <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-falcon-9-rocket-launches-starlink-satellites-on-record-breaking-30th-flight">set late last month</a>.</p><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">Previous Booster 1071 missions</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text"><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/spacex-launches-nrol-87-spy-satellite-lands-rocket"><strong>NROL-87</strong></a><strong> | </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/spacex-spy-satellite-nrol-85-launch-rocket-landing"><strong>NROL-85</strong></a><strong> | </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/spacex-launch-german-military-satellite-sarah1"><strong>SARah-1</strong></a><strong> | </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/spacex-launches-nasa-swot-water-monitoring-satellite"><strong>SWOT</strong></a><strong> | </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/spacex-transporter-8-launch-72-satellites"><strong>Transporter-8</strong></a><strong> | </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/spacex-transporter-9-rideshare-mission-launch"><strong>Transporter-9</strong></a><strong> | </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-74-satellites-transporter-13-rideshare-launch"><strong>Transporter-13</strong></a><strong> | </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/spacex-nro-spy-satellites-nrol-146-launch"><strong>NROL-146</strong></a><strong> | </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-launching-30-satellites-on-bandwagon-2-rideshare-mission-early-dec-21"><strong>Bandwagon-2</strong></a><strong> | </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-to-launch-7th-batch-of-next-gen-spy-satellites-for-us-government-tonight"><strong>NROL-153</strong></a><strong> | </strong><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-launches-9th-batch-of-proliferated-architecture-spy-satellites-for-us-government"><strong>NROL-192 </strong></a><strong>| 16 Starlink missions</strong></p></div></div><p>The Falcon 9's upper stage continued hauling the 24 Starlink satellites to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.space.com/low-earth-orbit">low Earth orbit</a>, where they were deployed 62.5 minutes after liftoff, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1966939749710807287" target="_blank">according to SpaceX</a>.</p><p>The new arrivals are joining <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://planet4589.org/space/con/star/stats.html" target="_blank">more than 8,300</a> other active spacecraft in the Starlink network, by far the largest satellite constellation ever assembled.</p><p>Today's launch was the 115th Falcon 9 liftoff of the year. More than 70% of these missions have been Starlink flights.</p><p><em><strong>Editor's note:</strong></em><em> This story was updated at 5 p.m. ET on Sept. 13 with news of successful satellite deployment.</em></p> ]]></dc:content>
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902.                                                                            <description>
903.                            <![CDATA[ SpaceX launched 24 Starlink internet satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California today (Sept. 13). It was the 300th Starlink mission to date, according to the company. ]]>
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907.                                                                        <pubDate>Sat, 13 Sep 2025 18:44:09 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                        <category><![CDATA[Launches &amp; Spacecraft]]></category>
908.                                                    <category><![CDATA[Space Exploration]]></category>
909.                                                                                                <author><![CDATA[ mwall@space.com (Mike Wall) ]]></author>                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Mike Wall ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                    <media:content type="image/jpeg" url="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cQ9BiNKPUcK7GehD9sTTq7-1280-80.jpg">
910.                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[SpaceX]]></media:credit>
911.                                                                                                                    <media:text><![CDATA[A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carries 24 of the company&#039;s Starlink internet satellites to orbit from California&#039;s Vandenberg Space Force Base on Sept. 13, 2025.]]></media:text>
912.                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carries 24 of the company&#039;s Starlink internet satellites to orbit from California&#039;s Vandenberg Space Force Base on Sept. 13, 2025.]]></media:title>
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