Skywatching

Aurora forecast for Dec. 15: Northern lights confined to high latitudes tonight

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 meteor is pictured shooting diagonally through a starry night sky.

Watch the Geminid meteor shower peak tonight from the comfort of home with this free livestream

By Anthony Wood published

The Geminid meteor shower occurs as Earth passes through the debris from asteroid (3200) Phaethon

Meteors & Meteor Showers
Meteors are pictured swarming through a starry sky above a grassy plain.

Geminid meteor shower peaks tonight — here’s what to expect from one of the best shooting star shows of the year

By Anthony Wood published

Up to 150 shooting stars may brighten the night sky each hour during the Dec. 13 peak.

Meteors & Meteor Showers
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Spaceflight

Imagery from the Starfish Space/Impulse Space Remora mission, during which one Mira spacecraft approached within a mere 4,100 feet (1,250 meters) of another.

Surprise! 2 private spacecraft rendezvous in orbit on newly revealed 'Remora' mission

By Mike Wall published

Two commercial spacecraft pulled off a surprise rendezvous in Earth orbit recently, showcasing skills that could pave the way for satellite servicing missions down the road.

Satellites
Graphic illustration with 'space calendar' in large blue neon letters and 2025 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 2025: Rocket launches, skywatching events, missions & more!

By Space.com last updated

Reference Keep up with all the rocket launches, astronomical events and mission milestones for 2025 with our space calendar.

Reference
a white and black rocket lifts off into the darkness of night, its bright orange-tinted plume lighting up its launch pad.

SpaceX launches Starlink satellites into orbit on 100th Falcon 9 flight from Florida in 2025 (video)

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 29 Starlink satellites lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025.

Launches & Spacecraft
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launches the first 27 of Amazon's Project Kuiper internet satellites to orbit on April 28, 2025.

Watch Atlas V rocket launch 27 of Amazon's internet satellites to orbit early Dec. 16

By Mike Wall published

Liftoff is scheduled for 3:28 a.m. ET on Tuesday (Dec. 16).

Launches & Spacecraft
A poster for the documentary "Fiddler on the Moon" where an astronaut wearing a full suit looks at the camera and two candles are reflected in their face shield.

'Fiddler on the Moon' documentary explores how Judaism might adapt as humanity reaches out into space

By Josh Dinner published

'No matter what your traditions are, someone is going to break them.'

Space Exploration
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Science & Astronomy

Long exposure of Andromeda Galaxy

On this day in space! Dec. 15, 1612: Andromeda Galaxy spotted by telescope for the 1st time

By Hanneke Weitering, Elizabeth Howell last updated

On Dec. 15, 1612, the Andromeda galaxy was seen through a telescope for the first time by a German astronomer named Simon Marius.

Astronomy
Asteroid belt

Asteroid belt — What it is, where it is and how it formed

By Nola Taylor Tillman last updated

Reference Most asteroids orbit between Mars and Jupiter in the main asteroid belt. But some space rocks stray out of the main belt and threaten Earth.

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Space Photo of the Day

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Entertainment

'Doctor Who' spin-offs ranked: From K-9 and Daleks! to 'Class', 'The Sarah Jane Adventures' and 'Torchwood'

By Richard Edwards published

As 'The War Between the Land and the Sea' rages on, we look back at the previous TV shows to explode out of the Whoniverse.

Space Movies & Shows
This Week In Space podcast: Episode 189 — Privatizing Orbit

This Week In Space podcast: Episode 189 — Privatizing Orbit

By Space.com Staff published

On Episode 189 of This Week In Space, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik talk with their favorite Newspace Buccaneer, Jeffrey Manber.

Space Movies & Shows
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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

A SpaceX rocket lifts off in the background behind the sign for Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

US Space Force to get 'next level' tech to combat drones near Cape Canaveral launch sites

By Brett Tingley published

The U.S. Space Force is boosting its ability to deter and defeat drones and other uncrewed aerial systems near Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and the Eastern Range.

Aerospace
An experiment using different colored bacteria with the camera focused on a metal box containing the bacteria

How color-changing, bacteria-infused spacesuits could help keep future astronauts safe from space radiation

By Jessica Rendall published

Like a mood ring, clothing could let future space travelers know when they've been exposed to unsafe levels of radiation.

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
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