News

Japan unveils Mars moon sample-return spacecraft ahead of Oct. 19 launch (photos)

By Mike Wall Published 21 August 26

Japan recently gave the world a look at the spacecraft of its MMX mission, which will launch on Oct. 19 to grab pieces of the Mars moon Phobos and haul them back to Earth.

SpaceX fires up Starship ahead of megarocket’s 1st orbital flight (video)

By Josh Dinner Published 21 August 26

SpaceX completed a single-engine test-firing of its next Starship spacecraft to prepare for its coming test flight, which will be the first to reach orbit.

'Dark stars' could be the seeds of supermassive black holes, scientists say

By Robert Lea Published 21 August 26

A mysterious hum of gravitational waves that fills the cosmos may be the echo of long-dead "dark stars" that served as the seeds of the first supermassive black holes.

SpaceX launches 29 Starlink satellites, lands rocket on ship at sea (video, photos)

By Mike Wall Published 21 August 26

SpaceX launched yet another Starlink mission today (Aug. 21), sending 29 more of the broadband satellites to orbit from Florida's Space Coast.

Ancient stars dazzle in a celestial chandelier | Space photo of the day for Aug. 21, 2026

By Chelsea Gohd Published 21 August 26

Stars scattered across the cosmos sparkle in the appropriately named Chandelier Cluster.

On this day in space! Aug. 21, 1914: Total solar eclipse expedition crashed by WWI

By Hanneke Weitering Published 21 August 26

On Aug. 21, 1914, a total solar eclipse temporarily darkened skies across Europe and Asia.

My favorite thing in the night sky appears on Aug. 28 — and it proves Earth is a sphere

By Jamie Carter Published 21 August 26

We'll soon get a chance to see a giant curved shadow in space move slowly across the moon during a very deep partial lunar eclipse. There are few more awesome or enlightening sights.

Partial lunar eclipse live: Latest news, viewing tips and live updates from Aug. 27-28 eclipse

By Daisy Dobrijevic Last updated 21 August 26

Follow our live coverage as we count down to the deepest partial lunar eclipse until December 2028, with the latest news, viewing tips and live updates.

Could 'dark photons' explain dark matter?

By Robert Lea Published 21 August 26

New research suggests that if dark matter is composed of "dark photons," it would not have heated the early cosmos like scientists thought.

China's Chang'e 7 moon probe will launch this weekend on the most ambitious lunar mission in history

By Leonard David Published 20 August 26

China aims to launch its Chang'e 7 moon mission on Aug. 24 to send a lander, a rover, a hopper and a wide range of science experiments to the lunar south pole.