Skywatching

Aurora forecast for Dec. 12-14: Active conditions possible so keep your eyes on the skies

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

The latest aurora forecast for tonight help you make sure you're in the right place at the right time to see the northern lights.

Auroras
sun setting above Stonehenge - a large circular stone monument

The summer solstice: What is it and when does it occur?

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference The summer solstice marks the start of astronomical summer and the longest day of the year. Here we explore when the summer solstice occurs and why.

Reference
Winter Solstice sunset shows a pink sky behind a lighthouse.

When is the winter solstice and what happens?

By Robert Lea last updated

Reference Winter Solstice has long marked a time of rebirth, behind it are fascinating astronomical events.

Reference
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Spaceflight

a white rocket lifts off from a desert launch site into the dawn sky

Blue Origin targeting Dec. 18 for historic 1st spaceflight of wheelchair user

By Mike Wall published

Blue Origin is targeting Dec. 18 for its NS-37 suborbital launch, which will fly a wheelchair user to space for the first time ever.

Private Spaceflight
a white and black rocket lifts off into the dusk sky adding the warm glow surrounding it ocean-side launch pad

SpaceX launches Starlink satellites from Florida on worldwide 300th orbital flight of 2025 (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 29 Starlink satellites launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Dec. 11, 2025. It was the 300th worldwide orbital launch attempt of 2025.

Launches & Spacecraft
A white robotic set up with a blue screen is focused on with a blurry green background behind it

AI helps pilot free-flying robot around the International Space Station for 1st time ever

By John Loeffler published

"This is the first time AI has been used to help control a robot on the ISS."

International Space Station
An astronaut in a white spacesuit stands next to a large gray boulder on the Moon with a small rover in front

On this day in space! Dec. 11, 1972: Apollo 17 astronauts land on the moon

By Hanneke Weitering, Elizabeth Howell last updated

On Dec. 11, 1972, Apollo 17 became the last mission to launch humans on the moon.

Human Spaceflight
test

Rocket Lab scrubs launch of Korean disaster-monitoring satellite due to sensor issue

By Mike Wall published

Rocket Lab will launch a Korean disaster-monitoring satellite today (Dec. 10), and you can watch the action live.

Launches & Spacecraft
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Science & Astronomy

What is the moon phase today? Lunar phases 2025

By Tariq Malik, Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference See what moon phase it is tonight and find out when you can see the rest of the moon phases for 2025.

Reference
Swirls of blue, yellow and purple lights show the shape of a galaxy cluster in space

NASA's Chandra telescope uses 'X-arithmetic' to reveal how black holes shape galaxy clusters (images)

By Samantha Mathewson published

A novel "X-arithmetic" technique reveals how black holes shape the universe's largest structures.

Astronomy
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Space Photo of the Day

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Entertainment

a half-human, half-cyborg image

Human evolution hits a crossroad in daring new sci-fi novel, 'Existence Equation', and we have an exclusive excerpt for you

By Jeff Spry published

Mind transfers, nanotech, and robotic innovations take center stage in this visionary 2026 book.

Space Books

ARC Raiders is an oddly comforting reminder that Earth will get along just fine without us after the AI apocalypse

By Fran Ruiz published

Embark Studios' extraction shooter takes cues from sci-fi classics to establish a dark future, but its cautionary tale is more believable than most.

Space Games
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What's Up In Space Today

Search For Life

A silhouette of a planet is in front of a giant sun with a small planet to the right of the image

Which exoplanet in the TRAPPIST-1 system could be habitable? Scientists are modeling the star to find out

By Samantha Mathewson published

Frequent flares from the nearby star TRAPPIST-1 could offer new clues in the search for habitable planets beyond Earth.

Search for Life
A reddish dusty surface is seen with an orange sun in the background

Beyond the habitable zone: Exoplanet atmospheres are the next clue to finding life on planets orbiting distant stars

By Morgan Underwood published

But being in this sweet spot doesn't automatically mean a planet is hospitable to life.

Search for Life
"Wow!" signal printout. The comment on the side inspired the event's name.

SETI's 'Noah’s Ark' – a space historian explores how the advent of radio astronomy led to the USSR’s search for extraterrestrial life

By Gabriela Radulescu published

An expert dives into the history of radio astronomy and the search for life beyond our Earth.

Search for Life
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Technology

California-based company Aetherflux wants to make space-based solar power a reality.

Startup announces 'Galactic Brain' project to put AI data centers in orbit

By Josh Dinner published

Aetherflux has focused its efforts on space-based solar power, with the goal of "building an American power grid in space."

Technology
A large white antenna dish points to the left of the screen with the sun in the blue sky behind it

NASA spacecraft were vulnerable to hacking for 3 years and nobody knew. AI found and fixed the flaw in 4 days

By Tereza Pultarova published

An AI start-up has found a vulnerability in security software protecting NASA's ground control communications with satellites in space.

Technology
A white space shuttle launches off a pad with large clouds of smoke underneath it

AI is making spacecraft propulsion more efficient – and could even lead to nuclear-powered rockets

By Sai Susmitha Guddanti, Preeti Nair, Marcos Fernandez Tous, Sreejith Vidhyadharan Nair published

From bicycles to rockets, learning through experience – whether human or machine – is shaping the future of space exploration.

Technology
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