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NASA astronauts Doug Hurley (foreground) and Bob Behnken brief mission controllers about their experience aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft, on June 1, 2020, shortly after arriving at the International Space Station aboard the private vehicle on SpaceX's Demo-2 test flight.

Watch 2 pioneering former astronauts get Congressional Space Medal of Honor on Tuesday

By Mike Wall published

Two trailblazing former NASA astronauts will receive the Congressional Space Medal of Honor on Tuesday (Jan. 31), and you can watch the ceremony live.

NASA astronauts Scott Kelly (right) and Kjell Lindgren (center) with Kimiya Yui of JAXA snack on freshly harvested space-grown red romaine lettuce as part of the Veggie experiment.

Space diet rich in veggies and fish could boost astronaut heath

By Charles Q. Choi published

An enhanced in-space diet augmented with fruits, vegetables and fish could help boost astronaut health and performance, a new study finds.

The moon phases of January 2023 with dates.

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.

lego rendition of vulcan centaur rocket

Lego fan renders Vulcan Centaur ahead of ULA rocket's debut flight

By Elizabeth Howell published

A Lego fan rendered ULA's Vulcan Centaur rocket in brick form to celebrate its expected debut launch in the first quarter of 2023.

An illustration of the night sky on Feb. 1 showing comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) at perigee.

Watch a green comet make its first Earth approach in 50,000 years with this free webcast

By Brett Tingley published

Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is making its closest approach to Earth, and you can watch it pass by without even stepping outside, thanks to a free livestream.

A galaxy with a large reservoir of dark matter (purple overlay) in its center.

The universe is slightly hotter than it should be. 'Dark photons' could be to blame.

By Paul Sutter published

Intergalactic gas clouds are slightly hotter than they should be, new research claims, and theoretical particles called 'dark photons' could explain it.

Tech

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Artist's illustration of Sony's Star Sphere-1 satellite in orbit.

Cubesat that launched on SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will test water-based propulsion

By Andrew Jones published

A Japanese propulsion company developing water-based thrusters is set to test its system on a Sony nanosatellite launched earlier in January.

artist's impression of rover on the moon's surface with rocks in behind

UAE lunar rover will test 1st artificial intelligence on the moon with Canada

By Elizabeth Howell published

Canadian company Mission Control Space Services has an interplanetary test forthcoming: Proving its artificial intelligence on a moon rover mission.

Spaceflight

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NASA astronauts Doug Hurley (foreground) and Bob Behnken brief mission controllers about their experience aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft, on June 1, 2020, shortly after arriving at the International Space Station aboard the private vehicle on SpaceX's Demo-2 test flight.

Watch 2 pioneering former astronauts get Congressional Space Medal of Honor on Tuesday

By Mike Wall published

Two trailblazing former NASA astronauts will receive the Congressional Space Medal of Honor on Tuesday (Jan. 31), and you can watch the ceremony live.

NASA astronauts Scott Kelly (right) and Kjell Lindgren (center) with Kimiya Yui of JAXA snack on freshly harvested space-grown red romaine lettuce as part of the Veggie experiment.

Space diet rich in veggies and fish could boost astronaut heath

By Charles Q. Choi published

An enhanced in-space diet augmented with fruits, vegetables and fish could help boost astronaut health and performance, a new study finds.

Science & Astronomy

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The moon phases of January 2023 with dates.

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
A galaxy with a large reservoir of dark matter (purple overlay) in its center.

The universe is slightly hotter than it should be. 'Dark photons' could be to blame.

By Paul Sutter published

Intergalactic gas clouds are slightly hotter than they should be, new research claims, and theoretical particles called 'dark photons' could explain it.

Meet The Team

Search For Life

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Researcher Queenie Chan holds a sample of the Winchcombe meteorite.

Meteorite that crashed onto UK driveway contains the building blocks of life

By Elizabeth Rayne published

Amino acids, the building blocks of life, have been found in the nearly pristine Winchcombe meteorite.

An artist's illustration of two alien planets around a red sun.

Why hasn't E.T. phoned Earth? Maybe aliens are waiting for the exact right moment.

By Stephanie Pappas published

A new search for alien signals focuses on planetary transits, when exoplanets pass right in front of their suns.

Tissint, a Martian meteorite that landed in Morocco 11 years ago.

Mars meteorite with organic molecules holds clues to chances of ancient life

By Robert Lea published

Scientists have discovered a wealth of organic compounds within a Martian meteorite, which could help researchers discover if Mars could have hosted life.

Skywatching

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An illustration of the night sky on Feb. 1 showing comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) at perigee.

Watch a green comet make its first Earth approach in 50,000 years with this free webcast

By Brett Tingley published

Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is making its closest approach to Earth, and you can watch it pass by without even stepping outside, thanks to a free livestream.

Bushnell H20 10x42 Binoculars

We've spotted 50% off the Bushnell H20 10x42 binoculars

By Alexander Cox published

deal Save $65 on the Bushnell H20 10x42 binoculars: an excellent pair of binoculars from a top manufacturer are now half price.

deal
Graphic illustration with "space calendar" in large blue neon letters and 2023 below it in smaller white letters. Below the title are four neon images depicting a meteor or comet, a telescope, a rocket launch and an astronaut's helmet. There is a starry background to the entire image.

Space calendar 2023: Rocket launches, skywatching events, missions & more!

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference Keep up with all the rocket launches, astronomical events and mission milestones for 2023 with our space calendar.

Reference

Entertainment

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lego rendition of vulcan centaur rocket

Lego fan renders Vulcan Centaur ahead of ULA rocket's debut flight

By Elizabeth Howell published

A Lego fan rendered ULA's Vulcan Centaur rocket in brick form to celebrate its expected debut launch in the first quarter of 2023.

Image for 'Star Trek: Picard' Season 3 trailer offers an emotional farewell to 'The Next Generation'

'Star Trek: Picard' Season 3 trailer offers an emotional farewell to 'The Next Generation'

By Scott Snowden published

'Star Trek: Picard' full trailer offers an exciting glimpse into the third and final season of the nostalgia-filled series that brings back the cast of 'Star Trek: The Next Generation.'

This Week In Space Episode 46 title card with many books

This Week In Space podcast: Episode 46 —The best space books ever!

By Space.com Staff last updated

On this episode of This Week in Space, Rod and Tariq hit the books! TWiT's own Jason Snell of SixColors.co helps us tackle the best space non-fiction and fiction books.

References

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The moon phases of January 2023 with dates.

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
polaris dawn crew members in black jumpsuits pose in front of spacex starship hardware

Polaris Dawn: The trailblazing commercial mission of the Polaris Program

By Elizabeth Howell published

Reference Polaris Dawn is the first of three missions of the Polaris Program. The mission will fly on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and be commanded by Jared Isaacman.

Reference
The SOFIA telescope in the sky.

SOFIA: NASA's prematurely canceled airborne telescope that left a gap behind

By Tereza Pultarova last updated

Reference SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy, was a telescope mounted on a Boeing 747 SP aircraft that studied infrared light, essentially heat, emitted by objects in the universe.

Reference