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December moon phases 2022 illustrated with a series of images showing the moon progressing from fully illuminated to partially illuminated then not illuminated and then partially illuminated again.

What is the moon phase today? Lunar phases 2022

By Tariq Malik last updated

Reference See the phase of the moon tonight and the rest of the moon phases for 2022, and when you can see them.

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NASA's Perseverance Mars rover watches a rocket carrying some of its collected samples launch from the Red Planet's surface in this still from a NASA/ESA animation.

Here's how NASA and Europe will bring Mars samples back to Earth (video)

By Andrew Jones published

A new video shows how a team of NASA and European Space Agency spacecraft plan to relay Martian rock samples to Earth.

The canyon-like hole, visible as a dark gulf running vertically down the sun's center.

Solar storm from 'canyon-like' hole in the sun could hit Earth as soon as Thursday (Dec. 1)

By Ben Turner published

The hole could beam solar material outwards at speeds up to 1.8 million mph (2.9 million kph)

Artist's illustration shows a gray and cratered Mercury in the foreground and a bright glowing yellow sun in the background to the right.

Mercury: Facts about the closest planet to the sun

By Charles Q. Choi, Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference Planet Mercury is the sun's nearest planetary neighbor. It has short years, long days, huge surface temperature fluctuations and really weird sunsets.

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The European Space Agency's Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite on Nov. 28, 2022, captured a view of the Mauna Loa eruption that uses infrared data to emphasize the lava.

Satellites track glowing lava from Hawaii's Mauna Loa eruption (photos)

By Meghan Bartels published

Satellites are watching closely as the world's largest volcano erupts for the first time in decades.

A chunk of black and gray meteoric rock which contains the two brand-new minerals

2 minerals never seen before on Earth found inside 17-ton meteorite

By Ben Turner published

The minerals were found inside a slice of the El Ali meteorite, which was discovered in Somalia in 2020.

A 3D representation of a wormhole

Breakthrough wormhole simulation may unite quantum physics and general relativity

By Robert Lea published

A quantum experiment has been used to model the dynamics of a wormhole, which could be the key to uniting quantum physics and Einstein's general relativity.

The BlueWalker 3 satellite streaks above Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona.

Astronomers denounce super-bright new BlueWalker 3 satellite

By Briley Lewis published

Astronomers are increasingly concerned about the future of the night sky as new images show shocking trails left by a massive communications satellite against otherwise clear, dark patches of sky.

Glowing "rivers" of orange lava creep across the landscape in this satellite image view.

Pictures from space! Our image of the day

By Space.com Staff last updated

This view of Mauna Loa by a Maxar Technologies satellite on Nov. 28, 2022, shows the dramatic scenes unfolding during Mauna Loa's eruption.

An artist's depiction of a supermassive black hole blasting out a jet of "leftovers" as it devours a star.

Super-distant black hole is eating half a sun a year and blasting its leftovers at Earth

By Robert Lea published

Astronomers have made the most distant observation of a black hole ripping apart a star and feasting upon it, thanks to a jet of stellar "leftovers" blasted directly toward Earth.

An illustration of a black hole

Lab-grown black hole may prove Stephen Hawking's most challenging theory right

By Ben Turner published

By using a chain of atoms to simulate a black hole's event horizon, researchers have shown that Hawking radiation may exist just as the late physicist described.

In this aerial view, flood water surround a building after Hurricane Nicole came ashore on November10, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Nicole came ashore as a Category 1 hurricane before hitting Florida's east coast.

Rising sea levels could swamp the US coastline by 2050, NASA predicts

By Joe Phelan published

Sea levels are expected to rise around the contiguous U.S. faster than previously thought, a new NASA study finds.

pale blue bright light against starry background

The hunt is on in neighboring galaxy for 2nd closest monster black hole to Earth

By Robert Lea published

Astronomers may finally have a way to hunt for a monstrous supermassive black hole they suspect lurks in the dwarf galaxy next door.

The day side of Venus covered in clouds as seen by Akatsuki

Search for possible sign of life in Venus' clouds comes up empty

By Andrew Jones published

The aircraft-borne SOFIA telescope could not find signs of a compound possibly linked to biological activity during observations of Venus' atmosphere.

Artist's illustration of planet Saturn partially illuminated by the sun with one of its many moons casting a shadow on the impressive ring system.

Saturn: Everything you need to know about the ringed marvel

By Charles Q. Choi last updated

Reference Saturn is the sixth planet from the sun and the second-largest planet in the solar system. We explore this gas giant in more detail here.

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The construction site of the Solar Radio Telescope is seen on November 12, 2022 in Daocheng County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province of China.

China completes world's largest solar telescope array with a whopping 313 dishes

By Andrew Jones published

China has completed the construction of the Daocheng Solar Radio Telescope (DSRT), the world's largest array of telescopes dedicated to studying the sun and how its behavior affects Earth.

The Andromeda galaxy, which may have been growing by cannibalizing smaller galaxies.

Galactic cannibal Andromeda feasts on smaller galaxies, cosmic leftovers reveal

By Robert Lea published

Andromeda, the Milky Way's neighboring spiral galaxy, may be a cosmic cannibal that has been growing by chowing down on smaller galaxies.

The lava-filled Moku'āweoweo caldera as captured by the USGC webcam.

Dozens of earthquakes swarm Hawaii as the world's largest volcano erupts

By Ben Turner published

The eruption is so far not threatening downhill communities or affecting flights

Composite image of the center of the Perseus galaxy cluster. Red is the radio emission received by LOFAR. Blue is X-rays by the Chandra telescope. White is hydrogen from the H-alpha map of the WIYN telescope. And the background is the night sky in optical light from the Hubble telescope.

Breathtaking image of galaxy cluster made by merging X-ray and radio data

By Elizabeth Rayne published

A structure in the heart of the Perseus galaxy cluster can now be seen as an otherworldly display of reds and blues thanks to a new technique that involves merging X-ray and radio data.

Graphic illustration showing the layers of Mars against the backdrop of space.

Mars: Everything you need to know about the Red Planet

By Charles Q. Choi last updated

Reference Mars, the fourth planet from the sun is famed for its rusty red appearance. Here we explore the Red Planet in more detail and see why scientists find it so intriguing.

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