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this week in space episode 47 title card with book Critical Mass by author daniel suarez

This Week In Space podcast: Episode 47 —Sci-fi author Daniel Suarez talks 'Critical Mass' and asteroid mining

By Space.com Staff last updated

On this episode of This Week in Space, Rod and Tariq take a trip to the asteroid Ryugu to delve into the new book "Critical Mass" by New York Times bestselling author Daniel Suarez.

A photo of comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) taken by Chris Schur in Payson, Arizona.

Watch the green comet pass the bright star Capella on Sunday (Feb. 5)

By Robert Lea published

It's a meeting of the GOATs this weekend when superstar green comet C/2022 E3 meets up with Capella, the Goat Star. Capella should help skywatchers spot C/2022 E3 as it races away from Earth.

The U.S. Postal Service will receive the Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award from Space Foundation for its decades of space-themed postage stamps.

Space Foundation to award US Postal Service for 75 years of space stamps

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The Space Foundation is recognizing the United States Postal Service (USPS) and its 75 years of space-themed postage with the Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award.

Four side by side images of various moon phase along with their dates, the full moon is on Feb. 5, the third quarter on Feb. 15, the new moon on Feb. 20 and the first quarter on Feb. 27.

What is the moon phase today? Lunar phases 2023

By Tariq Malik last updated

Reference See the phase of the moon tonight and the rest of the moon phases for 2023, and when you can see them.

An Orbital Debris Calibration Sphere, or ODERACS, is deployed from the space shuttle Discovery during the STS-63 shuttle mission in February 1995.

On This Day In Space: Feb. 4, 1995: STS-63 launches 'Orbital Debris Calibration Sphere'

By Hanneke Weitering last updated

On Feb. 4, 1995, astronauts aboard the space shuttle Discovery launched an itty bitty satellite called an Orbital Debris Calibration Sphere.

The globular cluster NGC 6355, located in the inner Milky Way, is densely packed with tens of thousands to millions of stars.

Hubble Space Telescope captures chaotic globular cluster near Milky Way's core

By Robert Lea published

A Hubble Space Telescope image shows the scattered and chaotic population of stars in a globular cluster located 31,000 light-years from Earth.

Tech

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Artist's illustration of Astrobotic's Peregrine lander on the surface of the moon.

Private Peregrine moon lander will now touch down near 'geologic enigma'

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA has redirected the private Peregrine moon lander to a new touchdown site to increase science returns ahead of crewed Artemis missions.

A still frame of a video reportedly showing a Chinese surveillance balloon over Montana.

Chinese surveillance balloon in US airspace causes international stir

By Brett Tingley published

China's foreign ministry confirmed that a high-altitude spy balloon seen flying over the northern United States this week was a Chinese airship, claiming that the vehicle is a weather balloon.

Spaceflight

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An Orbital Debris Calibration Sphere, or ODERACS, is deployed from the space shuttle Discovery during the STS-63 shuttle mission in February 1995.

On This Day In Space: Feb. 4, 1995: STS-63 launches 'Orbital Debris Calibration Sphere'

By Hanneke Weitering last updated

On Feb. 4, 1995, astronauts aboard the space shuttle Discovery launched an itty bitty satellite called an Orbital Debris Calibration Sphere.

A long-exposure photo of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching 53 Starlink satellites from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Feb. 2, 2023.

SpaceX's 200th Falcon 9 rocket launch looks absolutely gorgeous in these photos

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket notched its 200th successful orbital mission on Thursday (Feb. 2), and the company marked the milestone by sharing some stunning photos of the spaceflight action.

Science & Astronomy

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Four side by side images of various moon phase along with their dates, the full moon is on Feb. 5, the third quarter on Feb. 15, the new moon on Feb. 20 and the first quarter on Feb. 27.

What is the moon phase today? Lunar phases 2023

By Tariq Malik last updated

Reference See the phase of the moon tonight and the rest of the moon phases for 2023, and when you can see them.

Reference
Artist's illustration of Astrobotic's Peregrine lander on the surface of the moon.

Private Peregrine moon lander will now touch down near 'geologic enigma'

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA has redirected the private Peregrine moon lander to a new touchdown site to increase science returns ahead of crewed Artemis missions.

Meet The Team

Search For Life

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An artist's depiction of Wolf 1069 b.

Astronomers discover potential habitable exoplanet only 31 light-years from Earth

By Laurence Tognetti published

Wolf 1069 b offers a unique opportunity to study a potentially habitable and tidally locked exoplanet.

An artist's depiction of the Green Bank Telescope hooked up to a machine learning system.

Machine learning spots 8 potential technosignatures

By Robert Lea published

Humans have five new leads in the search to find life beyond our solar system.

An illustration of a flying saucer above a country road.

Unidentified aerial annoyance: Full disclosure or dubious UFO nonsense?

By Leonard David published

The coming year will surely see a persistence of debate, discussion and disbelief regarding unidentified anomalous phenomena.

Skywatching

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Bright moon aligns with Gemini's Twins

The bright moon meets up with the Gemini twins tonight (Feb. 3)

By Robert Lea published

The moon has a date with the bright stellar twins of Gemini, Castor, and Pollux, on Friday night.

Best telescopes on white background

Best telescopes 2023: The best models for stargazing galaxies, nebulas and more

By Gemma Lavender last updated

Buying Guide The best telescopes for seeing stars, galaxies, nebula, planets and more, from the best beginner models to advanced scopes for experienced stargazers.

Buying Guide
Jason Parnell-Brookes using one of the best binoculars at the top of a green grassy hill

Best binoculars 2023: Top picks for stargazing, wildlife and more

By Gemma Lavender last updated

Buying Guide We've rounded up the best binoculars on the market for skywatching, wildlife, sports and more and compiled this in-depth guide so you can pick the right pair.

Buying Guide

Entertainment

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The U.S. Postal Service will receive the Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award from Space Foundation for its decades of space-themed postage stamps.

Space Foundation to award US Postal Service for 75 years of space stamps

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The Space Foundation is recognizing the United States Postal Service (USPS) and its 75 years of space-themed postage with the Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award.

Closeup of part of Gabriele Dell'Otto's variant cover for "Alien #1," which is coming in April 2023.

Xenomorphs hatch from the deep freeze in Marvel’s new 'Alien' comic series

By Jeff Spry published

Marvel Comics has released a first fearful look at a new "Alien" comic coming this spring.

Promotional art for "The Ark."

'The Ark' premiere sets up a sci-fi survival saga in outer space

By Jeff Spry published

SyFy's new space survival series "The Ark" launches tonight with a spaceship disaster waking passengers from cryogenic hibernation.

References

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Four side by side images of various moon phase along with their dates, the full moon is on Feb. 5, the third quarter on Feb. 15, the new moon on Feb. 20 and the first quarter on Feb. 27.

What is the moon phase today? Lunar phases 2023

By Tariq Malik last updated

Reference See the phase of the moon tonight and the rest of the moon phases for 2023, and when you can see them.

Reference
one of the hangars at spaceport Cornwall with large "spaceport Cornwall" letters across the front of the building above the entrance.

Spaceport Cornwall: The ultimate guide to the UK's first spaceport

By Ed Browne published

Reference Spaceport Cornwall is the UK's first licensed spaceport. Here we explore the air-launch hub in more detail.

Reference
Cosmic Girl plane flying high above the ground below and releasing the LauncherOne rocket seen just below the aircraft.

Virgin Orbit: Facts about the novel air-launch provider

By Ed Browne last updated

Reference We take a look at the small satellite launch provider Virgin Orbit, exploring the company's history, how it works, and the tech it uses.

Reference