Skywatching

Aurora forecast for Dec. 8: Northern lights could surge tonight as two solar storms approach Earth

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
A near-full moon shines to the right of an image of the black night sky, while a small point of light representing Jupiter can be seen to the left of the image.

Don't miss Jupiter shining close to the waning gibbous moon on Dec. 7

By Anthony Wood published

The waning moon shines close to the king of the planets on Dec. 7.

Stargazing
The Geminid meteor shower can produce over one hundred meteors per hour. In this photograph, the Geminid meteor shower is seen above the Kubuqi Desert of Inner Mongolia, China on Dec. 13, 2020.

Geminid meteor shower 2025: When, where and how to see one of the best meteor showers of the year

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference The Geminid meteor shower peaks the night of Dec. 13-14. Our guide tells you where and how to see them.

Reference
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Spaceflight

a white rocket with a black interstage lifts off from its oceanside launch pad into a clear blue sky

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches Starlink satellites from Vandenberg in California (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 29 Starlink satellites lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025.

Launches & Spacecraft
a large white rocket with black stripes lights up the horizon as it lifts off its launch pad at night

On this day in space! Dec. 7, 1972: NASA launches Apollo 17, last crewed moon mission

By Hanneke Weitering, Elizabeth Howell last updated

On Dec. 7, 1972, NASA launched the last crew to land on the moon with the Apollo 17 mission.

Launches & Spacecraft
An image of a rocket going off the launch pad

Watch Rocket Lab launch Japanese technology-demonstrating satellite to orbit on Dec. 8

By Mike Wall published

Rocket Lab will launch a Japanese technology-demonstrating satellite on Monday night (Dec. 8), and you can watch the action live.

Launches & Spacecraft
a lights from cities along the coast of a peninsula are seen at night from space

3 astronauts settle into their new life in orbit | On the International Space Station this week Dec. 1-5, 2025

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Newly arrived and soon-to-depart members of Expedition 73 prepared for what is to come next during this, their final week all together aboard the International Space Station.

International Space Station
Three large solar panels hang in the back of a cleanroom warehouse room where two workers dressed in white suits stand in the foreground

NASA's next-gen Roman Space Telescope is fully built. Could it launch earlier than expected?

By Samantha Mathewson published

NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is now fully assembled and ready to begin launch preparations this summer.

Space Exploration
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Science & Astronomy

A black and white crossword puzzle sits underneath a blue and white coffee cup with the Space.com black and white logo in the bottom left corner.

Space.com headlines crossword quiz for week of Dec. 1, 2025: What is the name of December's supermoon?

By Kenna Hughes-Castleberry published

Test your space smarts with our weekly crossword challenge, crafted from Space.com's biggest headlines.

Astronomy
A streak of white light is seen amidst a starry golden deep space image

NASA spacecraft tracks comet SWAN in incredible 40-day timelapse — and even glimpses interstellar invader 3I/ATLAS (video)

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

NASA imaged Comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN) every four minutes for nearly 40 days, marking the longest any comet has been tracked with such frequency.

Comets
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Space Photo of the Day

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Entertainment

How to Watch 'Apollo 1: Destination Moon', the Channel 4 documentary revisiting the tragic accident during the race to the moon

By Elizabeth Howell published

'Apollo 1: Destination Moon' follows a real-life astronaut mission that ended tragically — and the lessons learned for future Apollo missions.

Space Movies & Shows
This Week In Space podcast: Episode 188 — A New NASA Leader Rises?

This Week In Space podcast: Episode 188 — A New NASA Leader Rises?

By Space.com Staff published

On Episode 188 of This Week In Space, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik discuss Jared Isaacman, the billionaire entrepreneur and private astronaut, who took had his second confirmation as NASA's next leader.

Space Movies & Shows
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What's Up In Space Today

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
A bright dot of a star in the darkness of space with stars all around.

Scientists want to search for life in this double star system devoid of giant exoplanets. Here's why

By Kiona N. Smith published

The giants might've been kicked out, left to live a rogue lifestyle.

Search for Life
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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
A JetBlue aircraft in the air

Struck by a cosmic ray: Galactic particles may have forced a passenger jet to make an emergency landing

By Tereza Pultarova published

A cosmic ray from a faraway supernova explosion may have sent a packed passenger jet into free fall in late October, forcing an emergency landing.

Aerospace
Autel EVO Lite+_Drone in flight (16 by 9)

The best Drone deals 2025: The best deals for all budgets

By Alexander Cox last updated

We've rounded up the best drone deals from a range of reputable retailers as top names are currently discounted.

Drones
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