Skywatching

60 years ago the Leonid meteor shower produced 144,000 meteors per hour. Could it happen again?

By Joe Rao Published

60 years ago, the Leonid meteor shower unleashed one of the most spectacular meteor storms in recorded history. As the 2026 peak approaches, here's what skywatchers can expect.

Meteors & Meteor Showers
Think you have good eyesight? Try counting the stars in the Pleiades tonight

By Jamie Carter Published

Every November, I give myself a completely unscientific eyesight test using one of my favorite sights in the night sky — the Pleiades. How many stars can you see?

Stargazing
A Celestron StarSense Explorer 150mm Tabletop Dobsonian on a table
I saw Saturn’s rings in seconds with the Celestron StarSense Explorer 150mm Tabletop Dobsonian telescope — full review

By Jamie Carter Published

Celestron’s StarSense Explorer tech makes this 150mm Dobsonian so easy to operate — but its tabletop design makes me wonder whether beginners should go bigger.

Skywatching Kit
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Spaceflight

a rocket firing its engines approaches its launch tower to be caught mid-air for reuse
SpaceX Starship Flight 15 live updates: Starship lands from orbit for 1st time

By Tariq Malik, Josh Dinner, Mike Wall last updated

Follow live updates as SpaceX attempts its Starship Flight 15 test flight with first double landings.

Launches & Spacecraft
A close look at 33 Starship Flight 15 Super Heavy engines firing at launch
Why did Starship Flight 15 booster abort 'chopsticks' landing catch? SpaceX still investigating (video)

By Tariq Malik Published

SpaceX is looking into why its latest Starship megarocket test flight missed the first of two planned landings on Friday (Nov. 13) during the Starship Flight 15 test.

Launches & Spacecraft
The three Apollo 12 astronauts in their spacesuits with their lander
On this day in space! Nov. 14, 1969: NASA's Apollo 12 astronauts launch to the moon on a 'pinpoint landing' lunar mission

By Hanneke Weitering, Elizabeth Howell Published

On Nov. 14, 1969, the Apollo 12 astronauts launched to the moon. Here's why it mattered.

Space Exploration
The Mariner 9 spacecraft.
On this day in space! Nov. 13, 1971: NASA's Mariner 9 becomes 1st spacecraft to orbit Mars, revealing close looks at the Martian surface

By Hanneke Weitering, Elizabeth Howell Published

On Nov. 13, 1971, Mariner 9 became the first spacecraft to orbit Mars. Here's why it mattered.

Space Exploration
The space shuttle Endeavour.
California's brand-new Air & Space Center, home of the space shuttle Endeavour, opens today

By Chelsea Gohd Published

The California Science Center's brand-new Samuel Oschin Air & Space Center — the home of NASA's space shuttle Endeavour — officially opened to the public today (Nov. 13).

Space Exploration
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Science & Astronomy

Astronomers trace mystery radio signals back to cosmic odd couple of white dwarf and sun-like star

By Robert Lea Published

"It’s amazing that by using radio wavelengths, we can detect the storms on a star over 5,000 light-years away."

Stars
A composite optical and X-ray image of NGC 4559. The purple dots are X-ray sources; AT 2016blu is highlighted in the square box
This supernova impostor baffled astronomers for 15 years — until they found a hidden black hole feeding on an unstable star

By Keith Cooper Published

A hidden black hole or neutron star companion to an unstable massive star is causing the system to erupt in light that mimics a supernova explosion.

Black Holes
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Space Photo of the Day

A star cluster seen up close, filling the view with thousands of stars. They are clearly divided between blue ones, which are scattered around the outskirts of the image but more towards the centre and are the majority in the bright core of the cluster, and yellow stars, which are present in the core but make up most of the cluster outside of that. A few orange stars are closer to us and appear noticeably larger.
Hubble Space Telescope reveals glittering stars with mysterious origins | Space photo of the day for Nov. 11, 2026

By Daisy Dobrijevic Published

This dazzling collection of ancient stars could hold clues to the Milky Way's past.

Hubble Space Telescope
a small flying craft upper left and a large yellow cylinder on the right
Futuristic aircraft takes flight at NASA | Space photo of the day for Nov. 9, 2026

By Daisy Dobrijevic Published

The future of flight meets space exploration as a futuristic electric aircraft hovers beside Blue Origin's massive New Glenn rocket stage.

Aerospace
Students stargazing.
Students gather to explore Hawaii's glorious night sky | Space photo of the day for Nov. 4, 2026

By Chelsea Gohd Published

Over 1,400 students gathered in Hawaii recently to learn about astronomy as part of the annual Journey Through the Universe program.

Stargazing
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Entertainment

This Week In Space podcast: Episode 236 — Alienspotting
This Week In Space podcast: Episode 236 — Alienspotting

By Space.com Staff Published

On Episode 236 of This Week In Space, Tariq Malik and Rod Pyle are joined by Mikhail Tikhonov to talk about how life can take more unusual forms, ones we might not even recognize.

Space Movies & Shows
'Alien: Fireteam Elite 2' is a good old-fashioned bug hunt, ironically plagued by bugs

By Fran Ruiz Published

We're scared of the Xenomorphs again, but Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 knows old-fashioned bug hunts shouldn't be a thing of the past.

Space Games
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What's Up In Space Today

Search For Life

An illustration of what Earth could loook like without life. Considering this could help hunt life among the stars
Scientists simulate an Earth without life to help hunt for aliens and inhabited worlds

By Keith Cooper Published

By modeling how a planet without life develops its atmosphere, astronomers hope to be able to better distinguish rocky planets without life from those that are inhabited.

Search for Life
A rich chemical diversity has been discovered in planet-forming disks around young stars.
Scientists discover 'chemical starter kit' for life in planetary birthplaces

By Keith Cooper Published

The discovery of surprising molecules of methanol and associated maser activity has expanded the inventory of the chemical starter kit that builds planets in young star systems.

Search for Life
a man in a suit and a NASA pin speaks on stage
NASA chief Jared Isaacman wants to stay 'open-minded' about UFOs: 'If it's aliens, I think NASA should have a seat at the table'

By Leonard David Published

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman suggested sightings of unidentified anomalous phenomena might signal another 'Sputnik Moment' looming on the horizon for the United States.

Search for Life
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Technology

The Caltech-run, DARPA-funded ASTRA project just built a structure autonomously in orbit — a spaceflight first.
A robot just built a structure autonomously in space for the 1st time ever

By Elizabeth Howell Published

A robot built part of an antenna in orbit recently, showcasing skills that could potentially allow the assembly of space telescopes and other large structures off Earth.

Technology
a small flying craft upper left and a large yellow cylinder on the right
Futuristic aircraft takes flight at NASA | Space photo of the day for Nov. 9, 2026

By Daisy Dobrijevic Published

The future of flight meets space exploration as a futuristic electric aircraft hovers beside Blue Origin's massive New Glenn rocket stage.

Aerospace
a shadowy silhouette of a fighter jet obscured by smoke
NASA announces experimental X-70 Fractal aircraft: A 'new beginning for aeronautics'

By Brett Tingley Published

NASA has announced its next X-plane, known as the X-70 Fractal, designed to test advanced maneuverability and which will feature a rapidly reconfigurable design.

Aerospace
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