Skywatching

Jupiter will disappear behind the moon on Oct. 6 — and if you're in the right place, you can watch it happen

By Joe Rao Published

A waning crescent moon will pass directly in front of Jupiter before dawn on Oct. 6, hiding the giant planet from view across parts of North America.

Stargazing
A ZWO Seestar S50 Pro against a brick background and green leaves.
Why I recommend the ZWO Seestar S50 Pro smart telescope for your backyard — full review

By Jamie Carter Published

With a 4K sensor, EQ mode and post-processing opportunities galore, the ZWO Seestar S50 Pro is ZWO's most capable telescope yet, but it’s also ideal for anyone who wants astrophotography without the hassle.

Skywatching Kit
A square blue image, with a little over half of Earth taking up most of the image. Earth looks like how we see the Moon when it is waxing or waning at just over a half-Moon. Because this is an ultraviolet image, Earth does not appear in its usual colours, but is light blue with a white ring. This ring is about a third of the size of the face of Earth that we see, and is quite swirly, like clouds or dye being mixed with water. The background of the image is dark blue, with some tiny white dots: these are stars. The stars are moving downwards, giving the impression that the satellite taking the footage is moving. Text at the top left says 'Smile UVI / 2026-07-24T00:00:00 UT' with the timestamp increasing from 00:00:00 to 00:59:08 throughout the GIF
Earth's hidden daytime auroras revealed from space | Space photo of the day for Oct. 2, 2026

By Daisy Dobrijevic Published

This remarkable view of Earth shows the northern lights encircling Earth.

Auroras
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Spaceflight

An Atlas V 421 rocket launched the Morelos-3 mission for Mexico’s Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes (Ministry of Communications and Transportation) on Oct. 2, 2015, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
On this day in space! Oct. 2, 2015: The United Launch Alliance launches its 100th rocket with Atlas V flight for Mexico

By Hanneke Weitering Published

On Oct. 2, 2015, the United Launch Alliance launched its 100th rocket! Here's why one company's rocket milestone mattered.

Space Exploration
The Crew-13 astronauts aboard their new home, the International Space Station, on Oct. 1, 2026.
SpaceX Crew-13 NASA launch live updates: Crew Dragon astronauts arrive aboard ISS

By Tariq Malik Last updated

SpaceX launched the Crew-13 mission on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, delivering four astronauts to the International Space Station. See our live updates.

Launches & Spacecraft
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches above the clouds frm Vandenberg Space Force Base in California to deliver dozens of satellites to orbit on Transporter-18 on Oct. 1, 2026.
SpaceX launches Google AI satellite, 129 other payloads on 2nd leg of spaceflight tripleheader (video)

By Mike Wall Last updated

SpaceX launched 130 payloads to orbit today (Oct. 1), including a prototype Google AI satellite, on the Transporter-18 rideshare mission.

Launches & Spacecraft
A Twitter exchange may have cost one prospective NASA intern a job.
On this day in space! Oct. 1, 1958: Happy Birthday, NASA! A US space agency is born to explore the final frontier

By Hanneke Weitering Published

On Oct. 1, 1958, NASA was born! The space agency officially opened for business on this day. Here's why it mattered.

Space Exploration
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches into space
Liftoff! SpaceX launches Crew-13 astronauts on fastest Dragon trip to International Space Station yet (video)

By Josh Dinner Published

SpaceX launched NASA's Crew-13 mission this morning (Oct. 1), sending four astronauts to the International Space Station for a six-month stay.

Launches & Spacecraft
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Science & Astronomy

Scientists connect cosmic fingerprints of the universe's first stars with MEGATRON simulation

By Robert Lea Published

MEGATRON is a good guy!?! Well, at least to cosmologists who are using this simulation to transform our understanding of the universe's first stars.

Galaxies
Illustration of the NGC 362D binary system a neutron star emits beams of radio waves and a young white dwarf is surrounded by residual material
Dead star orbiting a neutron star 'cosmic lighthouse' is at a rarely seen stage of its afterlife

By Robert Lea Published

Astronomers have caught a white dwarf in a rare stage of its evolution as it orbits a "cosmic lighthouse" in the form of a rapidly spinning neutron star pulsar.

Stars
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Space Photo of the Day

A square blue image, with a little over half of Earth taking up most of the image. Earth looks like how we see the Moon when it is waxing or waning at just over a half-Moon. Because this is an ultraviolet image, Earth does not appear in its usual colours, but is light blue with a white ring. This ring is about a third of the size of the face of Earth that we see, and is quite swirly, like clouds or dye being mixed with water. The background of the image is dark blue, with some tiny white dots: these are stars. The stars are moving downwards, giving the impression that the satellite taking the footage is moving. Text at the top left says 'Smile UVI / 2026-07-24T00:00:00 UT' with the timestamp increasing from 00:00:00 to 00:59:08 throughout the GIF
Earth's hidden daytime auroras revealed from space | Space photo of the day for Oct. 2, 2026

By Daisy Dobrijevic Published

This remarkable view of Earth shows the northern lights encircling Earth.

Auroras
NASA's Mars Perseverance rover acquired this image using its SHERLOC WATSON camera, located on the turret at the end of the rover's robotic arm. Perseverance acquired this image on Sept. 1, 2026 (Sol 1967, or Martian day 1,967 of the Mars 2020 mission) at the local mean solar time of 16:18:01.
Mars rover explores 'Wild West' on the Red Planet | Space photo of the day for Oct. 1, 2026

By Chelsea Gohd Published

NASA's Perseverance rover has been busy exploring Mars' "Wild West."

Mars
Venice, as seen from orbit.
Satellite spies blue lagoon around Venice canals | Space photo of the day for Sept. 30, 2026

By Chelsea Gohd Published

The bright blue lagoon waters of Venice and its iconic canals stand out in this true-color satellite image.

Earth
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Entertainment

'Magic: The Gathering' is exploring strange new worlds with the 'Star Trek' 60th anniversary crossover (interview)

By Fran Ruiz Published

The "Magic: The Gathering" and "Star Trek" crossover drops in November, and we got the lowdown from the set principal designer, Gavin Verhey.

Space Games
Star Wars: Galactic Racer is a fantastic sci-fi racing game that captures the wonderful weirdness of the galaxy far, far away

By Hayes Madsen Published

Now this is pod racing… evolved.

Space Games
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What's Up In Space Today

Search For Life

Screenshot from a video showing the amoeba Incendiamoeba cascadensis moving at 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit). When pushed to its limits in the lab, I. cascadensis can remain partially active at 150.8 degrees F (66 degrees C) and can recover from exposure to 158 degrees F (70 degrees C) for five minutes. However, 176 degrees F (80 degrees C) proved to be too much for the amoeba to come back from.
Newfound 'fire amoeba' could broaden the search for alien life to planets hotter than Earth

By Keith Cooper Published

A newfound amoeba just set a heat-tolerance record for multicellular organisms, widening the range of environments in which astrobiologists might find alien life.

Search for Life
Microbes could survive on Saturn's moon Enceladus — and scientists think we can find them

By Chelsea Gohd Published

Freezing drops of water accelerating through space could hold the truth about life beyond Earth.

Search for Life
Microscopic alien technology may be hidden in moon dust, scientists say

By Elizabeth Howell Published

Could we find alien technology embedded in moon dust?

Search for Life
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Technology

AstroForge plans to launch Autonomy-1, the first-ever fully autonomous space mission, aboard Stoke Space's Nova Pathfinder rocket in early 2027.
'Without a single command from the ground': Asteroid-mining company to launch world's 1st autonomous space mission in 2027

By Mike Wall Published

AstroForge plans to launch the first-ever totally autonomous space mission in 2027, potentially paving the way for a new era of exploration.

Technology
Our expert gave these powerful, budget-friendly binoculars five stars and now they're over $100 off

By Chris McMullen Published

Deals Looking for quality binoculars but don't want to spend a fortune? Our expert gave Nikon's M7 range our maximum rating and now the 10x42 model is the cheapest it's been in a long time.

Deals
Earthset captured through the Orion spacecraft window at 6:41 p.m. EDT, April 6, 2026, during the Artemis II crew’s flyby of the Moon. A muted blue Earth with bright white clouds sets behind the cratered lunar surface. The dark portion of Earth is experiencing nighttime. On Earth’s day side, swirling clouds are visible over the Australia and Oceania region.
The battlefield now extends all the way to the moon, U.S. military's highest-ranking officer says

By Mike Wall Published

The battlefield that the U.S. military must prepare for and excel in now extends from the seafloor all the way out to the moon, according to Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Aerospace
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