Skywatching

two people stand smiling at the camera against the background of the milky way stretching into the sky and a distinct red glow behind them, a diffuse glow filling the sky.

Photographer captures rare aurora over Brazil during intense geomagnetic storm (photo)

By Daisy Dobrijevic published

On Jan. 19, a powerful geomagnetic storm pushed auroral activity far beyond its usual range, allowing this exceptional sighting over Brazil.

Auroras
Man uses one of the best telescopes and binoculars to look at the night sky as the sun sets and telescopes are on tripods around him

Best telescopes 2026: View planets, stars and galaxies

By Gemma Lavender last updated

Buying Guide These are the best telescopes for stargazing, with top models from Celestron, Unistellar and ZWO. One of these will get you a close-up view of the Blood Moon during the total lunar eclipse on March 3.

Buying Guide

Aurora forecast Feb. 4 - Northern lights could be quiet tonight but a glancing CME could stir geomagnetic activity

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
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Spaceflight

The Orbital Debris Calibration Sphere is deployed from space shuttle Discovery by the STS-63 crew on Feb. 4, 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 into orbit around the Earth.

Launches & Spacecraft
a triple-core rocket blasts off under a sunny, partly cloudy blue sky. smoke expands below next to an obscured launch tower, near a long white hanger with SPACEX written on the side. To the left, a bird flies away.

Rocket launch today: Is there a rocket launch and what time?

By Josh Dinner, Tariq Malik last updated

Follow Space.com's rocket launch blog for the latest on when the next rocket launch will be and how to follow it live.

Launches & Spacecraft
Perseverance in action

NASA's Perseverance Mars rover completes its 1st drive planned by AI

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

"The fundamental elements of generative AI are showing a lot of promise in streamlining the pillars of autonomous navigation for off-planet driving."

Mars Rovers
View from the upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket during a launch of 25 Starlink satellites on Feb. 2, 2026. The upper stage failed to deorbit as planned on that mission, after successfully deploying the satellites.

SpaceX grounds its Falcon 9 rocket after a problem with its upper stage. Will the Crew-12 astronaut mission be affected?

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX has temporarily grounded its Falcon 9 rocket after an upper stage failed to deorbit as planned during a Feb. 2 launch. Will the issue affect the company's Crew-12 astronaut mission?

Launches & Spacecraft
An orange rocket with a white top stands against a dynamic sky. A danger sign stands on the left.

Artemis 2 SLS wet dress rehearsal latest news: NASA plans a round 2 for Artemis rocket fueling test

By Josh Dinner last updated

Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026: Follow NASA's last major test of SLS before the launch of Artemis 2 and a crew of astronauts around the moon.

Artemis
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Science & Astronomy

A glowing strip of the Milky Way galaxy is seen in a dark blue night sky with a silhouetted mound with two buildings on top underneath.

Astronomers relieved as industrial plant threatening Earth's darkest sky gets cancelled

By Tereza Pultarova published

A light-polluting green hydrogen plant project that would seriously affect one of the world's most important astronomical observatories has been scrapped by the company behind it.

Astronomy
A heat map of the Earth's northern hemisphere, with a dark blue shape over the US showing a severe winter storm

NASA satellite watches January's polar vortex | Space photo of the day for Feb. 4, 2026

By Kenna Hughes-Castleberry published

A late January 2026 winter storm left more than snow and ice in its wake.

Earth
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Space Photo of the Day

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Entertainment

Star Trek needs to go back to 20+ episode seasons — and there's never been a better time

By Matthew Razak published

It is time for Star Trek to boldly go where no streaming series has gone before: back to the 20+ episode seasons of old!

Space Movies & Shows

With the Mandalorian and Grogu movie arriving in our galaxy soon, start building the excitement with this fantastic Lego set

By Rich Owen published

Deals This 1048-piece Grogu and Hover Pram Star Wars Lego set is fun for builders of all ages, and right now, it's reduced in price, too.

Deals
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What's Up In Space Today

Search For Life

The Goldilocks zone, or habitable zone, is the sweet spot around a star where we might find planets like our own.

Goodbye Goldilocks: Scientists may have to look beyond habitable zones to find alien life

By Victoria Corless published

Scientists may need to broaden their horizons in their search for alien life.

Search for Life
A peptide chain forms on an icy grain of dust between stars

Proteins before planets: How space ice may have created the 1st building blocks of life

By Victoria Corless published

"We used to think that only very simple molecules could be created in these clouds. But we have shown that this is clearly not the case."

Search for Life
Two black and yellow bees sit opposite each other on a purple flower with tall stringy petals with a green background behind them.

Can we use bees as a model of intelligent alien life to develop interstellar communication?

By Andrew Greentree, Adrian Dyer, Scarlett Howard published

We frequently question whether we are alone in the universe.

Search for Life
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Technology

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

The best drone deals 2026: Fly high with fantastic savings

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

Unlock a brand-new world of British sci-fi with a VPN

By Chris McMullen published

Sick of missing out on the best of British sci-fi, just because you're in the US? With a VPN, you can beat geo-blocking and catch shows like 'The War Between The Land And The Sea' without limits.

Technology
a white jet on a tarmac

NASA research jet makes fiery 'wheels-up landing' after experiencing mechanical issue (video)

By Brett Tingley published

One of NASA's high-altitude WB-57 research jet made a fiery wheels-up landing on Tuesday (Jan. 27) after a mechanical issue prevented it from lowering its landing gear.

Aerospace
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