News

Will the moon ruin the Eta Aquarid meteor shower this week? Here's what to know

By Joe Rao published 4 May 26

A bright waning gibbous moon may wash out this week's Eta Aquarid meteor shower peak — but early risers could still catch a few shooting stars.

Our Milky Way's 'Zone of Avoidance' holds a galaxy supercluster with 30,000 trillion times the sun's mass

By Keith Cooper published 4 May 26

The Vela Supercluster, in our Milky Way's Zone of Avoidance, is competing gravitationally with other superclusters for the attention of local galaxies.

Lasers take aim at a galaxy far, far away | Space photo of the day for May 4, 2026

By Brett Tingley published 4 May 26

Looking like a scene out of "Star Wars," this image shows the ESO's Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) beaming four separate lasers into the sky towards the Tarantula Nebula.

What's the best time to see Eta Aquarid meteors in 2026?

By Anthony Wood published 4 May 26

The Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks this week, but will you be able to see it?

A YouTuber just recreated the original Star Wars with cardboard, and it's awesome (video)

By Jeff Spry published 4 May 26

Star Wars superfan and YouTube sensation Zach King recreates the seminal 1977 sci-fi film using cardboard.

13 International 'Star Wars' Posters You've Likely Never Seen

By Jeff Spry published 4 May 26

From Japan to Turkey, celebrate Star Wars Day with this global collection of original trilogy posters.

On this day in space! May 4, 2011: 1st official Star Wars Day celebration

By Hanneke Weitering last updated 4 May 26

On May 4, 2011, the first organized Star Wars Day celebration happened in Toronto.

Why were galaxies so active in the early universe? We may be getting close to the answer

By Paul Sutter published 4 May 26

Early galaxies were star-forming machines, gobbling up gas and spitting out stars with a furious intensity. A new model helps explain why things were so different back then.

'It was quite a light show!' NASA astronaut spies dramatic fireball from the International Space Station (photos)

By Mike Wall published 3 May 26

NASA astronaut Chris Williams photographed a fireball from above recently, capturing the stunning site from aboard the International Space Station.

SpaceX sends 45 satellites to orbit in nighttime launch from California (video)

By Mike Wall last updated 3 May 26

SpaceX launched 45 satellites to orbit from California early Sunday morning (May 3), including a South Korean spacecraft that was originally supposed to fly in 2022.