NASA

Honoring NASA’s X-59 Test Pilots on Veterans Day

NASA Blogs — 2026-11-11T14:00:00+00:00

Seasoned pilots, aerospace engineers, and U.S. military veterans, NASA’s X-59 test pilots bring decades of service, technical expertise, and flight experience to the agency’s Quesst mission. NASA X-59 pilots Jim “Clue” Less and Nils Larson served in the U.S. Air Force, while Mike Lippert served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Today, the three pilots continue […]

APOD: 2026 November 11 – NGC 4449: Small Galaxy, Big Impact

NASA — 2026-11-11T05:05:00+00:00

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 November 11 – NGC… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. NGC 4449: […]

Water Surges Into Navajo Reservoir

NASA — 2026-11-11T05:01:00+00:00

Rounds of heavy rain in the U.S. Southwest flooded rivers and rapidly raised New Mexico’s second-largest reservoir.

Microbiology, Spacesuits, and Cargo Mission Preps Keep Crew Busy

NASA Blogs — 2026-11-10T19:31:40+00:00

Microbiology and spacesuit maintenance kept the Expedition 75 crew busy aboard the International Space Station on Tuesday. The orbital residents are also preparing for upcoming cargo missions at the orbital outpost.

NASA Invites Media, Public to Join Voyager 1 One-Light Day Activities

NASA — 2026-11-10T19:22:45+00:00

Launched nearly 50 years ago in 1977, NASA’s Voyager 1 on Wednesday, Nov. 18 will have traveled one light-day from Earth, which is more than 16 billion miles (25.9 billion kilometers). Voyager 1 is the most distant human-made object, and any light from Earth would take 24 hours to reach the spacecraft. NASA will highlight […]

NASA to Welcome Expedition 74 Astronauts Home at Space Center Houston

NASA — 2026-11-10T18:06:33+00:00

NASA will welcome home the Expedition 74 crew during a public event at Space Center Houston following their return from a long-duration mission aboard the International Space Station. NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, and Chris Williams; ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot; and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud‑Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev will share mission […]

NASA Scientists Show How Gravitational Waves Can Reveal New Worlds

NASA — 2026-11-10T16:00:26+00:00

The LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) observatory, now in development, will detect gravitational waves, the tiny ripples in space-time caused by orbiting masses. Now two studies led by NASA astrophysicists show in new detail how LISA could reveal a new and unique population of exoplanets — worlds beyond our solar system — throughout our galaxy. […]

CHAPEA Crew Leaves a Mark

NASA — 2026-11-10T14:57:55+00:00

The Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) Mission 2 crew arranged photos around a boot print in the simulated Martian sand outside their habitat on Aug. 31, 2026. The crew recently exited their habitat on Saturday, Oct. 31, after 378 days of isolation in a facility at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Health […]

APOD: 2026 November 10 – Saturn Behind the Moon

NASA — 2026-11-10T05:05:00+00:00

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 November 10 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Saturn Behind the […]

Autumn Mornings Bring Valley Fog

NASA — 2026-11-10T05:00:00+00:00

Low clouds trace the branching valleys of the Appalachian Plateau and the Cumberland River, then burn off by afternoon.

Curiosity Blog, Sols 5056-5062: Charging Back Up!

NASA — 2026-11-10T01:07:45+00:00

By Remington Free, Operations Systems Engineer, NASA-JPL Earth planning date: Friday, Oct. 30, 2026 Today’s plan covered 3 sols, 5060, 5061, and 5062, as we take a few recharging sols before getting back to our normal drilling activities. As you may know if you have been following the blog closely, we are in the middle […]

Curiosity Blog, Sols 5050-5055: It’s Nazca, Our 49th Drill Hole

NASA — 2026-11-10T01:05:48+00:00

Written by Susanne P. Schwenzer, Professor of Planetary Mineralogy at The Open University, UK Earth planning date: Friday, Oct. 23, 2026 As regular readers of this blog will know, we returned to the area where we found disc shaped inclusions in the rocks, which we interpreted as potential crystals. If they are indeed crystals, and […]

Rubies on Mars?

NASA — 2026-11-09T22:27:12+00:00

Written by Roger C. Wiens, SuperCam Principal Investigator for NASA’s Perseverance rover at Purdue University Nov. 4, 2026 Exploration on Mars turns up the unexpected. Perseverance is equipped with a fantastic set of instruments for studying the rock record of this ancient planet. Both PIXL and SuperCam have great capabilities for detecting all kinds of […]

Newest Sample, Oldest Rock?

NASA — 2026-11-09T22:25:52+00:00

Written by Tasha Coelho, Mastcam-Z Student Collaborator at Arizona State University Nov. 1, 2026 Perseverance’s most recent abrasion “Pumbe” bears a striking resemblance to an earlier abrasion, “Badger Peak.” That’s no coincidence. As previously reported, that rock had a hardness too high to core. However, the team felt strongly that it was worth the effort […]

Crew Packing Dragon for Return with Experiments and a Spacesuit

NASA Blogs — 2026-11-09T19:43:40+00:00

Expedition 75 kicked off the week processing microbe samples and swapping spacesuits for return to Earth soon inside a U.S. cargo craft. The International Space Station crew members also studied breathing in microgravity and photographed Earth landmarks.

La NASA busca a la próxima generación de astronautas

NASA — 2026-11-09T19:27:20+00:00

Read this release in English here.La NASA busca a los exploradores que ayudarán a escribir el próximo capítulo de los vuelos espaciales tripulados. Ya está abierto el plazo de inscripción para la próxima promoción de astronautas de la agencia, que se incorporarán a la NASA en un momento en el que Estados Unidos regresa a […]

NASA’s Chandra Finds Source of Star’s Mysterious Outbursts

NASA — 2026-11-09T18:55:50+00:00

Using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, astronomers have discovered what is triggering repeated outbursts from a giant, unstable star. A new study, published Monday in the latest issue of The Astrophysical Journal, details the discovery of a previously hidden companion object that keeps pulling material away from the massive star every 113 days as they orbit […]

NASA Advanced Mid-Power Electric Rocket Challenge

NASA — 2026-11-09T17:42:42+00:00

Mid-power (3-7 kW) Hall effect thruster systems have been identified by government and industry stakeholders as critical capabilities for satellite, defense, and exploration missions. Given the need for this capability, NASA is launching the Advanced Mid-Power Electric Rocket (AMPERE) Challenge. The NASA AMPERE Challenge invites U.S. commercial companies to develop and demonstrate mid-power Hall effect […]

La NASA destina un millón de dólares al reto estudiantil Base Lunar

NASA — 2026-11-09T17:36:33+00:00

Read this release in English here.El domingo 8 de noviembre de 2026, la NASA anunció la convocatoria del reto estudiantil Base Lunar, dotado con un millón de dólares, durante un acto de MAX POWER celebrado en el Complejo de Visitantes del Centro Espacial Kennedy, en Florida. En el marco de una edad de oro de […]

Astronauts Across Generations Share the Stage

NASA — 2026-11-09T16:56:29+00:00

On Nov. 6, 2026, Purpose Entertainment hosted the Artemis Celebration Gala at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Merritt Island, Florida. Held on the eve of NASA’s MAX POWER event, the gala celebrated the explorers, innovators, and visionaries advancing the next era of human spaceflight. The event honored the successful completion of the agency’s […]

MAX POWER: NASA’s Inaugural Aerospace Expo Ignites America’s Future

NASA — 2026-11-09T16:07:10+00:00

Thousands gathered over several days in early November to experience MAX POWER – NASA’s first exhibition of America’s superiority in space, aeronautics, and technology on and around the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The multi-day, family-friendly event honored the nation’s 250th anniversary and served as a culmination of the agency’s Inspiration Tour. Among the […]

NASA’s ESCAPADE Completes Powered Earth Flybys, Now En Route to Mars

NASA — 2026-11-09T16:01:47+00:00

NASA’s two ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) spacecraft have each successfully completed a powered Earth flyby, using Earth’s gravity in combination with a sustained engine burn to slingshot themselves toward Mars. With these successful maneuvers complete, the twin spacecraft are on target to reach the Red Planet in September 2027. “This is […]

CHAPEA Mission 2 Crew Reflects After 378 Days on Simulated Mars

NASA — 2026-11-09T11:00:00+00:00

After 378 days without windows, the sounds of the outside world, or real-time calls with family and friends, four research volunteers stepped out of NASA’s Mars Dune Alpha habitat on Oct. 31, completing the agency’s second yearlong Mars surface simulation. Ross Elder, Ellen Ellis, James Spicer, and Matthew Montgomery entered the roughly 1,700-square-foot, 3D-printed habitat at […]

APOD: 2026 November 9 – Rigel and the Witch Head Nebula

NASA — 2026-11-09T05:05:00+00:00

APODScienceAPODAPOD: 2026 November 9 –…Today’s APODArchiveSubmissionsIndexSearchCalendarRSSEducationAboutDiscuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Rigel and the Witch Head Nebula Explanation: Does the blue nebula look like the head of a […]

Ozone Hole Reaches Its 2026 Maximum

NASA — 2026-11-09T05:00:00+00:00

The ozone hole ranked seventh largest by area in 48 years of monitoring, but it was not as deep as other large holes on record.

NASA Announces $1 Million to Students for Moon Base Challenge

NASA — 2026-11-08T15:26:38+00:00

On Sunday, NASA announced the opening of its $1 million Moon Base Student Challenge during a MAX POWER event at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. As part of a Golden Age of Science, the competition invites student teams at U.S. high schools and post-secondary schools to contribute designs for the Moon Base. “We’re […]

APOD: 2026 November 8 – Major Fireball Meteor

NASA — 2026-11-08T05:05:00+00:00

APODScienceAPODAPOD: 2026 November 8 –…Today’s APODArchiveSubmissionsIndexSearchCalendarRSSEducationAboutDiscuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Major Fireball Meteor Explanation: The sky glows with soft pinkish colors of fading twilight in this serendipitous […]

NASA Awards Moon Base Transportation, Technology, Science Projects

NASA — 2026-11-07T22:47:03+00:00

NASA announced a suite of awards and mission updates on Saturday to expand the agency’s Moon Base exploration, science, and infrastructure capabilities. The investments will advance commercial robotic deliveries, a nuclear-powered rover named PROMISE, launch and orbital transfer services, and surface infrastructure as the agency works with American industry to establish a sustained presence on […]

NASA Seeks Next Generation of Explorers to Join Astronaut Corps

NASA — 2026-11-07T18:11:57+00:00

NASA is looking for the explorers who will help write the next chapter of human spaceflight. Applications are now open for the agency’s next class of astronauts, who will join NASA as America returns to the Moon, builds the Moon Base, and lays the groundwork for the first crewed missions to Mars. The next generation […]

APOD: 2026 November 7 – De Gerlache-Kocher Massif

NASA — 2026-11-07T05:05:00+00:00

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 November 7 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. De Gerlache-Kocher Massif […]

Spacewalk Cleanup, Biomedical Science, and Maintenance Wrap Up Week

NASA Blogs — 2026-11-06T17:48:13+00:00

The seven Expedition 75 crew members cleaned up after a spacewalk, conducted biomedical assessments, and maintained orbital systems to wrap up a busy week aboard the International Space Station.

M30’s Sparkling Stars

NASA — 2026-11-06T16:23:41+00:00

This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image released Nov. 5, 2026, provides a lesson in galactic history. The sparkling collection of stars is named Messier 30 (M30) after the French astronomer, Charles Messier, who cataloged M30 and other diffuse objects that might be mistaken for comets in the early telescopes of Messier’s time. M30 lies about […]

Supercomputing Tech Demo Schedule

NASA — 2026-11-06T16:03:52+00:00

Supercomputing 2026 Join NASA in the Exhibit Hall (Booth #4038) for presentations by NASA experts. Full Tech Demo schedule below. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17 10:00 AMType-safe Templates in Fortran 2028Tom Clune10:30 AMType-safe Templates in Fortran 2028Tom Clune11:00 AM Type-safe Templates in Fortran 2028Tom Clune1:00PM Mixing and Matching and Multiple Versions, Oh My!Brad Richardson1:30 PMMixing and Matching and Multiple […]

APOD: 2026 November 6 – A Farewell to Swift

NASA — 2026-11-06T05:05:00+00:00

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 November 6 – A… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. A Farewell […]

Taking a Gander at Utah’s Goosenecks

NASA — 2026-11-06T05:01:00+00:00

The San Juan River has carved deep, improbably curvy meanders into the desert landscape.

Spacewalkers Install Final Roll-Out Solar Array

NASA Blogs — 2026-11-05T20:52:33+00:00

NASA astronaut Anil Menon and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Joshua Kutryk concluded their spacewalk outside the International Space Station at 3:35 p.m. EST.

Midwestern City Lights

NASA — 2026-11-05T15:17:19+00:00

City lights from the Midwestern United States to the East Coast sparkle across the landscape a couple of hours before sunrise on Oct. 18, 2026. Major urban areas visible in the photograph include Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan; and the New York metropolitan region. The International Space Station was orbiting 259 miles above Earth when this […]

Spacewalk Begins to Install Last Roll-Out Solar Array

NASA Blogs — 2026-11-05T13:44:35+00:00

CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Joshua Kutryk and NASA astronaut Anil Menon began a spacewalk at 8:36 a.m. EST outside the International Space Station airlock to install and deploy the eighth and final IROSA on the 3B channel of the space station, completing the power augmentation upgrades,

Hubble Learns Galactic History From Stars

NASA — 2026-11-05T12:56:21+00:00

This Hubble image features the sparkling collection of stars named Messier 30 (M30), also called NGC 7099.

Astronauts Suit Up for Final Power Upgrade Spacewalk

NASA Blogs — 2026-11-05T12:02:48+00:00

NASA is streaming live coverage as two astronauts prepare for a spacewalk outside the International Space Station. The spacewalk is scheduled to begin at approximately 8:30 a.m. EST and last about more than six and a half hours.

APOD: 2026 November 5 – Enceladus in Silhouette

NASA — 2026-11-05T05:05:00+00:00

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 November 5 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Enceladus in Silhouette […]

Cyprus: Island of Snakes, Cats, and Ophiolites

NASA — 2026-11-05T05:01:00+00:00

The third-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea exposes an ancient piece of the ocean floor and hosts a clowder of cats.

NASA Announces X-70 Experimental Aircraft to Advance Flight Research

NASA — 2026-11-05T01:43:21+00:00

On Wednesday, NASA unveiled its newest experimental aircraft, the X-70 Fractal, during the UP.Summit at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This high-performance, highly adaptable research platform is designed to accelerate the development and testing of advanced aviation technologies. The crewed X-70 features advanced, rapidly reconfigurable flight-control technology that will allow NASA to explore […]

NASA Shares Plans to Accelerate Artemis, Return to Moon

NASA — 2026-11-04T21:04:10+00:00

In an update on Oct. 23, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and other agency leaders shared the agency’s path to returning Americans to the lunar surface in 2028. Agency leadership provided updates on the previously announced acceleration plans for the Artemis program, advancing toward the agency’s Artemis III test flight in 2027 and Artemis IV Moon […]

NASA Announces Ka-Band Satellite Relay Awards for Space Communications

NASA — 2026-11-04T18:00:02+00:00

NASA selected three companies on Wednesday to perform work to develop Ka-band space relay capability concepts that are compatible with current missions in space, ensuring service continuity for existing spacecraft without requiring modifications to their onboard systems. Through this work, NASA will aim to acquire end-to-end solutions that include space, ground, launch, operations, and integration […]

NASA Navigation Experiment Shows Promise for Planetary Landings

NASA — 2026-11-04T16:52:43+00:00

NASA successfully demonstrated technology designed to help spacecraft autonomously navigate to safe landing sites on the Moon and on other planets. An Alta-X drone equipped with the agency’s Safe and Precise Landing – Integrated Capabilities Evolution (SPLICE) guidance, navigation, and control payload completed simulated lunar descent and landing maneuvers Aug. 27. The flight took place […]

NASA Space Grant Students Fuel Agency’s Inspiration Tour

NASA — 2026-11-04T16:16:41+00:00

NASA’s Inspiration Tour spread the excitement of space exploration and aeronautical innovation by connecting the public, industry, and academia with the people, technologies, and organizations that drive American leadership in space. At nearly every stop across the country, NASA Space Grant has brought students into the heart of the action. In Iowa, NASA Administrator Jared […]

Astronauts are Go for Final Power Upgrade Spacewalk

NASA Blogs — 2026-11-04T16:00:58+00:00

Mission managers have given the go for two astronauts to exit the International Space Station on Thursday and install its eighth and final roll-out solar array. The Expedition 75 crew members completed final preparations for the spacewalk and also conducted biotechnology research.

Solar Flare Alert System Helps NASA Rocket Team Decide When to Launch

NASA Blogs — 2026-11-04T15:05:17+00:00

For the first time, scientists have used NASA sounding rockets to study a solar flare in progress, thanks to a new flare alert system that told the team when to launch. Solar flares accelerate particles and release energy into the solar system, which can affect Earth and its technologies. Sounding rockets are a relatively fast, […]

NASA-Funded SSPICY Mission Experiences Communications Loss

NASA Blogs — 2026-11-03T22:18:25+00:00

A NASA-supported small satellite launched in October as a technology demonstration has lost contact with its owner and operator, Starfish Space. NASA and Starfish have concluded the spacecraft is not recoverable due to an issue preventing communications between the SmallSat and ground operators. Led by Starfish Space, NASA’s Small Spacecraft Propulsion and Inspection Capability (SSPICY) […]

Crew Keeps Up Spacewalk Preps, Research, and Cargo Operations

NASA Blogs — 2026-11-03T18:22:21+00:00

Expedition 75 is continuing preparations for the second and final spacewalk in a series of two to upgrade the International Space Station’s power generation system. The orbital residents are also conducting microgravity research and transferring cargo in and out of a U.S. cargo spacecraft.

NASA’s Eyes software: October release notes

NASA Blogs — 2026-11-02T23:43:02+00:00

On October 28, 2026, a new version of Eyes on Exoplanets was released. This release added the new Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which is expected to find thousands of new exoplanets. When accessing Eyes on Exoplanets from your mobile phone, you can use the augmented reality feature to place the spacecraft in your own […]

Week Starts with Spacewalk Preps and Life Science

NASA Blogs — 2026-11-02T19:14:48+00:00

Preparations continue for the second in the final series of spacewalks to upgrade the International Space Station’s power generation system on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Expedition 75 crew focused its research efforts on life science at the beginning of the week.

NASA’s Twin ESCAPADE Spacecraft to Slingshot Past Earth on Way to Mars

NASA Blogs — 2026-11-02T19:11:28+00:00

In a few days, NASA’s ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) will perform a maneuver that no agency spacecraft has flown before — and do it twice. Each of the two ESCAPADE spacecraft will execute a “powered” flyby of Earth, combining Earth’s gravity with an engine burn, to slingshot itself toward Mars. The […]

NASA’s Swift Observatory Re-Entered Atmosphere

NASA Blogs — 2026-11-02T17:59:53+00:00

Editor’s Note: NASA updated this article Wednesday, Nov. 4, to reflect confirmation of Swift re-entry. NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory re-entered Earth’s atmosphere Wednesday, almost 22 years after launch. At launch, Swift was a first-of-its-kind multiwavelength observatory designed to study the most powerful explosions in the cosmos using its three telescopes. The U.S. Space Force […]

Space Crops and Advanced Tech Wrap Up Week Following Spacewalk

NASA Blogs — 2026-10-30T17:50:49+00:00

Space crops research wrapped up the week following the completion of the first of two power upgrade spacewalks at the International Space Station. The Expedition 75 crew members rounded out their research schedule with virtual reality and super intelligence studies.

Spacewalkers Install Roll-Out Solar Array for Power Generation

NASA Blogs — 2026-10-29T19:17:00+00:00

NASA astronaut Anil Menon and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronNASA astronaut Anil Menon and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Joshua Kutryk concluded their spacewalk outside the International Space Station at 3:08 p.m. EDT.

NASA’s TRACERS First Results Offers Peek into Violent Magnetic Process

NASA Blogs — 2026-10-29T18:15:07+00:00

NASA’s TRACERS (Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites) mission has gathered its first clues to how space weather affects Earth’s magnetic field. In a new paper, researchers break down how these interactions work after analyzing initial observations from the first year of the mission. The two TRACERS spacecraft launched last year to explore how […]

NASA’s TSIS-2 Mission Aces Vacuum, Vibration Testing

NASA Blogs — 2026-10-29T18:01:23+00:00

The bright white lights reflect off the metallic hardware of a satellite poised for inspection. Engineers outfitted with bunny suits traverse the clean room, past machinery and room-sized test chambers. In the middle of the clean room is the spacecraft for NASA’s upcoming sunlight-measuring mission, TSIS-2 (Total and Spectral Solar Irradiance Sensor-2). This fall, the […]

NASA’s Voyager 1 Conserves Power, Resolves Brief Communications Pause

NASA Blogs — 2026-10-29T17:30:08+00:00

NASA’s Voyager team is celebrating two recent developments with the Voyager 1 spacecraft: In September, they successfully completed a months-long effort to stretch the spacecraft’s diminishing power supply. Then, on Oct. 20, an unexpected loss of communication with the spacecraft resolved itself after 48 hours, before the team sent commands to the spacecraft to troubleshoot […]

NASA Funding Helps Virginia Assess Oyster Loss From Recent Algae Bloom

NASA Blogs — 2026-10-29T12:48:46+00:00

NASA-funded researchers are helping Virginia officials assess the impacts of a harmful algal bloom on oyster farms along the Chesapeake Bay’s Eastern Shore.

Astronauts Begin Spacewalk to Install Roll-Out Solar Arrays

NASA Blogs — 2026-10-29T12:02:14+00:00

NASA astronaut Anil Menon and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Joshua Kutryk began a spacewalk at 7:57 a.m. EDT outside the International Space Station airlock to install and deploy an International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Array on the 2A electrical power channel.

Astronauts Suit Up to Prepare for Power Upgrade Spacewalk

NASA Blogs — 2026-10-29T10:32:26+00:00

NASA is streaming live coverage as two astronauts prepare for a spacewalk outside the International Space Station.

NASA Celebrates a Year of Progress Since First X-59 Flight

NASA Blogs — 2026-10-28T19:24:28+00:00

One year ago, NASA’s Quesst mission made history with the first flight of the X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft. Since then, the X-59 has completed 40 additional flights, marking a year of steady progress for the program. While its first flight on Oct. 28, 2025, focused on low, slow flights to conduct systems checks, the X-59 has since reached a maximum altitude of more than 56,000 feet and speeds up to Mach 1.53. The X-59 has spent […]

Astronauts Are Go For Thursday’s Power Upgrade Spacewalk

NASA Blogs — 2026-10-28T16:30:27+00:00

Mission managers have given the go for Thursday’s spacewalk to install a new roll-out solar array on the International Space Station’s port-side truss structure.

NASA’s Lucy Reaches Trojan Asteroid Region 5 Years After Launch

NASA Blogs — 2026-10-28T14:11:21+00:00

Having traveled more than 2.2 billion miles since it launched on Oct. 16, 2021, NASA’s Lucy is the first spacecraft to enter a region of primitive solar-system bodies known as the Jupiter Trojan asteroids.

Adventures in Wildfire Smoke Stratospheric Ballooning

NASA Blogs — 2026-10-27T20:38:25+00:00

The student ballooning team at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities went to work tracking the plume of a pyrocumulonimbus cloud.

Spacewalk Preps, Robotics Jobs, and Science Duties Fill Tuesday Schedule

NASA Blogs — 2026-10-27T19:14:28+00:00

Spacewalking tools and a pair of robotics jobs topped Tuesday’s schedule aboard the International Space Station. The Expedition 75 crew members also kept up their scientific duties configuring botany research hardware and setting up advanced Earth observation gear.

NASA’s UVEX Space Telescope Successfully Passes Key Milestone

NASA Blogs — 2026-10-27T17:59:30+00:00

Agency officials have confirmed NASA’s UVEX space telescope after completing a technical and programmatic review known as Key Decision Point C.

Sunshade for NASA’s NEO Surveyor Mission Ready for Its Day in Sun

NASA Blogs — 2026-10-26T18:12:24+00:00

Development of NASA’s Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor mission continues as the spacecraft’s largest component gets closer to how it will look when it launches. Recently, teams completed work on integrating solar arrays onto the spacecraft’s sunshade, a structure primarily designed to block the Sun’s glare. The sunshade will keep the infrared space telescope cool as […]

Week Begins with Robotics Prep for Spacewalk and Advanced Research

NASA Blogs — 2026-10-26T15:48:51+00:00

Expedition 75 began the week gearing up for a spacewalk to upgrade the International Space Station’s power generation system. Research into bioprinted blood vessels and relaxation techniques, as well cargo operations rounded out Monday’s schedule.

NASA’s Swift Mission Ends Ahead of Re-Entry

NASA Blogs — 2026-10-23T21:58:32+00:00

NASA’s Swift has concluded operations, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and a treasure trove of science observations.

NASA Shares Artemis Acceleration Plans for Moon Missions

NASA Blogs — 2026-10-23T20:15:28+00:00

In an update Friday, Oct. 23, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and other agency leaders provided the agency’s path forward to returning Americans to the lunar surface in 2028. The briefing included details about NASA’s Artemis III mission that will send four astronauts to low Earth orbit next year to test critical systems needed for future […]

NASA’s Dragonfly Completes First Simulated Flight

NASA Blogs — 2026-10-23T18:44:14+00:00

Separated from its protective backshell, NASA’s Dragonfly rotorcraft autonomously speeds over the sand dunes of Titan. It scans the terrain below, searching for a safe place to land. When Dragonfly discovers a safe site, it turns, descends, and lands at the selected location, touching down for the first time on the surface of Saturn’s largest […]

Advanced Research, Spacewalk Preps End Week as NASA Announces Artemis Status

NASA Blogs — 2026-10-23T16:11:23+00:00

The Expedition 75 crew worked on a 3D bioprinter and a levitation furnace at the end of the week to advance health and high-temperature physics. Two astronauts are also preparing for a spacewalk at the International Space Station as NASA announces the status of upcoming Moon missions.

NASA’s Mike Lippert Takes Controls of X-59 for First Time

NASA Blogs — 2026-10-22T20:48:56+00:00

Editor’s note: This story was edited on Oct. 26, 2026, to correct the number of years Mike Lippert has been flying. NASA test pilot Mike Lippert put months of simulator training and ground preparation into practice, completing his first flight in the agency’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft. Lippert took off Oct. 21 from NASA’s […]

NASA’s Roman Space Telescope Enters Final Commissioning Phase

NASA Blogs — 2026-10-22T19:43:51+00:00

NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope mission has now entered the science commissioning phase, having successfully completed a comprehensive checkout and refinement of the observatory and primary instrument performance. “We’ve established that the observatory is fully functional,” said Julie McEnery, Roman’s senior project scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “The telescope […]

Busy Station Day with Bioprinting, Spacesuit Check, Robotics, and Photography

NASA Blogs — 2026-10-22T17:37:14+00:00

The Expedition 75 crew had a busy day on Thursday bioprinting blood vessels and trying on a spacesuit aboard the International Space Station. The orbital residents also trained to use a pair of robotic arms and set up Earth photography sessions to round out the day in low Earth orbit.

Pedal to the Metal: NASA’s Psyche Heads Toward Asteroid Belt

NASA Blogs — 2026-10-22T16:16:58+00:00

With a successful Mars gravity assist in its rearview mirror, NASA’s Psyche spacecraft has fired up its thrusters and is accelerating to the metal-rich asteroid of the same name. During the first leg of its journey, following an October 2023 launch, the mission used its electric propulsion system intermittently to maneuver to the right place […]

Spacesuits, Lunar Agriculture, and Breathing Research Top Wednesday’s Schedule

NASA Blogs — 2026-10-21T16:22:01+00:00

Spacesuit checks topped Wednesday’s task list aboard the International Space Station as two astronauts prepare for a spacewalk next week. The Expedition 75 crew members also kept up advanced microgravity research exploring space agriculture and the respiratory system midweek.

The Milky Way over Manhattan

APOD — 2026-10-15T11:00:00+00:00

The city lights outshine the stars in the City That Never Sleeps

NASA’s SpaceX CRS-35 Launch Jellyfish

Image of the Day — 2026-10-14T15:19:00+00:00

The exhaust plumes of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company’s Dragon spacecraft are seen illuminated by sunlight against the predawn sky during the launch of NASA’s SpaceX CRS-35 mission, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, as seen from Cocoa Beach, Florida. The light makes the plumes look like a jellyfish in the sky.

Sh2-188: The Shrimp Nebula

APOD — 2026-09-29T11:00:00+00:00

What causes the swirl in the Shrimp Nebula? Its high speed is likely

History of the Scale of the Universe Debate

NASA Science — 2026-09-28T13:02:52+00:00

The post History of the Scale of the Universe Debate appeared first on NASA Science .

Cosmic Latte: The Average Color of the Universe

APOD — 2026-09-28T11:00:00+00:00

What color is the universe? More precisely, if the entire sky were smeared out, what color would the final mix be? This whimsical question came up when trying to determine what stars are commonplace in nearby galaxies

Harlow Shapley Project

NASA Science — 2026-09-28T10:25:22+00:00

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AI/ML STIG Lecture Series, 28 Sept 2026

NASA Science — 2026-09-28T10:13:06+00:00

Hands-On Session II: Agentic Coding and Research Tools. Speaker: Serat Saad, The Ohio State University The post AI/ML STIG Lecture Series, 28 Sept 2026 appeared first on NASA Science .

IR STIG PRIMA Seminar, 28 Sept 2026

NASA Science — 2026-09-28T10:12:55+00:00

Time Domain in the Thermal Infrared: NEOWISE, NEO Surveyor, and the Hunt for Hazardous Asteroids. Speaker: Joseph Masiero (California Institute of Technology / IPAC) Exploring the Synergies Between PRIMA and JWST: A Study of PAHs Across Cosmic Time. Speaker. Leonor Arriscado (Centro de Astrobiología / Spanish National Research Council - National Institute of Aerospace Technology) The post IR STIG PRIMA Seminar, 28 Sept 2026 appeared first on NASA Science .

Galaxies SIG Seminar, 6 Oct 2026

NASA Science — 2026-09-28T10:12:39+00:00

A Galaxy Doesn’t Forget: Why You Should Trust Your Resolved SFHs from Photometric Observations. Speaker: Charlotte Olsen (CUNY City Tech) The post Galaxies SIG Seminar, 6 Oct 2026 appeared first on NASA Science .

TDAMM SIG Seminar, 22 October 2026

NASA Science — 2026-09-28T10:11:50+00:00

The UltraViolet EXplorer (UVEX). Speakers: Dan Weisz (UCB) and Suvi Gezari (UMD) The post TDAMM SIG Seminar, 22 October 2026 appeared first on NASA Science .

Astronomy’s Great Remembrance

NASA Science — 2026-09-28T10:06:15+00:00

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PhysPAG Community Meeting, 28 Sept 2026

NASA Science — 2026-09-28T09:59:20+00:00

Join us for a PhysPAG Town Hall to discuss the results of the Ad ASTRA workshop. 12:00pm ET / 9:00am PT The post PhysPAG Community Meeting, 28 Sept 2026 appeared first on NASA Science .

Astronomy Picture of the Day in the Classroom

NASA Science — 2026-09-28T02:58:46+00:00

Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) is being used as an educational resource in classrooms from elementary school to graduate school. Below, some teachers share how they have used APOD in their classrooms. If you have found APOD useful in your classroom and would to share your wisdom, please email us.Since nobody is raising their hand, I’ll […] The post Astronomy Picture of the Day in the Classroom appeared first on NASA Science .

100th Anniversary of the Shapley – Curtis Great Debate

NASA Science — 2026-09-28T02:48:42+00:00

1920: Scale of the Universe Debate History & brief summaries: About the 1920 Greate Debate | Wikipedia | This Month in Astronomical History | Astronomy’s Great RemembranceVirginia Trimble: History of the Scale of the Universe DebateDeborah Shapley (Granddaughter): Harlow Shapley: Discovering Our Place in the Galaxy | harlowshapley.comSarah & Robert Curtis (Great-great Granddaughter & Great-Grandson): The Family Legacy of Heber Doust Curtis2020: Life in the Universe Debate Jill Tarter […] The pos

RJN’s More Digits of Irrational Numbers Page

NASA Science — 2026-09-28T02:37:04+00:00

All digits accessible here were computed by Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell on a VMS Alpha. They are not copyrighted and we do not think it is legally justifiable to copyright such a basic thing as the digits of a commonly used irrational number. To the best of our knowledge, these are the most digits […] The post RJN’s More Digits of Irrational Numbers Page appeared first on NASA Science .

Astronomy Picture of the Day’s Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

NASA Science — 2026-09-28T02:33:12+00:00

Q1: What does APOD stand for? A1: APOD stands for the Astronomy Picture of the Day. We abbreviate this as APOD instead of ApotD because APOD sounds better (spoken: AYE-pod). Q2: How can I easily see yesterday’s APOD? A2: Click the < less than sign < at the left of today’s APOD link line (near the bottom of […] The post Astronomy Picture of the Day’s Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) appeared first on NASA Science .

Glossary of Commonly Used Terms and Abbreviations in the 100th Anniversary Debate

NASA Science — 2026-09-28T02:25:59+00:00

biosignature: A biological marker of life. For example, DNA. Drake Equation: A simple equation used to estimate the abundance of intelligent and communicative life in our galaxyexoplanet: A planet orbiting a distant star.HabEx: Habitable Exoplanet Imaging MissionIR: InfraredJWST: James Webb Space TelescopeKepler: Kepler space telescopeLUVOIR: Large UltraViolet Optical Infrared SurveyorOptical: Visible light that humans can see.SETI: Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligencetechnosignature: A tech

Introduction to the 100th Anniversary Debate

NASA Science — 2026-09-28T02:21:25+00:00

This “Life in the Universe” debate in 2020 has a quite different format than the commemorated “Scale of the Universe” debate in 1920. Here, instead of just two debaters, several noted scientists are giving their “best guess” as to how ET life will first be discovered. One reason for this is because there are several […] The post Introduction to the 100th Anniversary Debate appeared first on NASA Science .

Jessie Christiansen

NASA Science — 2026-09-28T02:17:38+00:00

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Charles Cockell

NASA Science — 2026-09-28T02:12:05+00:00

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Br. Guy Consolmagno SJ

NASA Science — 2026-09-28T02:08:13+00:00

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Andromeda before Photoshop

APOD — 2026-09-27T11:00:00+00:00

What does the Andromeda galaxy really look like? The featured image shows how our Milky Way Galaxy's closest major galactic neighbor really appears in a long exposure through Earth's busy skies and with a digital camera that introduces normal imperfections

ELISA MABL

NASA Science — 2026-09-27T00:16:00+00:00

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AVATAR-Org1

NASA Science — 2026-09-27T00:13:06+00:00

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MVP-Plant-02

NASA Science — 2026-09-27T00:10:38+00:00

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KMT-2023-BLG-1118L

NASA Science — 2026-09-26T16:26:25+00:00

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TOI-426

NASA Science — 2026-09-26T16:25:39+00:00

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KMT-2023-BLG-1810L

NASA Science — 2026-09-26T16:25:22+00:00

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KMT-2023-BLG-0084L

NASA Science — 2026-09-26T16:25:22+00:00

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Mirrored Meteor and Milky Way

APOD — 2026-09-26T11:00:00+00:00

On August 15, this perseid meteor streaked through night skies over the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos at La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain

Circling the Black Hole at the Photon Sphere

NASA Science — 2026-09-25T22:08:54+00:00

You currently sit at the black hole’s photon sphere, where light can travel endlessly in a circle due to the star’s great gravitational pull. The apparent position of the photon sphere is always easy to spot – it is the apparent dividing line between black hole and sky. As you circle the black hole the […] The post Circling the Black Hole at the Photon Sphere appeared first on NASA Science .

Approaching the Photon Sphere

NASA Science — 2026-09-25T22:04:05+00:00

As before, from this orientation, the black hole’s enormous gravity bends light to make two discernible images of the constellation Orion. You now descend to the photon sphere. A photon sphere is a location where gravity is so strong that light can travel in circles. Photons orbit the black hole at the distance of the […] The post Approaching the Photon Sphere appeared first on NASA Science .

Looking Up at the Photon Sphere

NASA Science — 2026-09-25T21:57:42+00:00

The first frame is dark as you peer into the black hole itself. You begin to look up and stars come back into view. Now the stars are more blue than ever before as starlight that has fallen into the black hole to reach you has become more energetic. You may notice many dim stars […] The post Looking Up at the Photon Sphere appeared first on NASA Science .

Circling the Black Hole

NASA Science — 2026-09-25T21:53:34+00:00

The first frame shows a background sky highly distorted by the black hole in the center. The gravity of the black hole is so great that it actually deflects the background starlight. Large light bending effects cause the background sky to appear to move in unusual ways as you circle the black hole. Light paths […] The post Circling the Black Hole appeared first on NASA Science .

Two More NASA Balloons Remain for Fall Campaign

NASA Science — 2026-09-25T21:48:56+00:00

NASA’s Balloon Program is past the halfway point for the fall campaign in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Four missions have successfully launched from the launch site, with two more lined up in the coming weeks. Hurricane Polo is affecting the upper-level winds near the launch site and the team is evaluating launch opportunities for the […] The post Two More NASA Balloons Remain for Fall Campaign appeared first on NASA Science .

Approaching the Black Hole

NASA Science — 2026-09-25T21:46:24+00:00

The first frame depicts the observer in empty space looking toward the constellation Orion. The three stars in Orion’s belt are visible to the right of the center of the screen. Sirius can be seen as the brightest star in the sky below and to left of Orion’s belt, and Betelgeuse is the reddish star […] The post Approaching the Black Hole appeared first on NASA Science .

The Nature of the Universe Great Debate in 1998: Program

NASA Science — 2026-09-25T20:14:38+00:00

The Nature of the Universe Debate:Cosmology Solved? Peebles – Turner Baird AuditoriumThe Smithsonian InstitutionNational Museum of Natural History 1998 October 4; Debate Program 1 – 4:30 pm Sponsors: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural HistoryNational Science FoundationNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationMichigan Technological UniversityUniversities Space Research Association Program Organizers: Robert Nemiroff, Jerry Bonnell, Sandra Barnes, Wellesley Pereira,Gabriela […] The post Th

The Nature of the Universe Great Debate in 1998

NASA Science — 2026-09-25T19:56:52+00:00

Debate Proceedings Six published papers from the 1998 debate appeared in the 1999 March issue of the Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. The proceedings include an opening commemoration of David N. Schramm by the moderator, two introductory talks, papers based on the talks given at the 1998 debate, and a closing by […] The post The Nature of the Universe Great Debate in 1998 appeared first on NASA Science .

Edwin Powell Hubble, Biographical Memoirs

NASA Science — 2026-09-25T19:47:11+00:00

EDWIN POWELL HUBBLE November 20, 1889-September 28, 1953 from an article by N.U. Mayallin BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS NAS 41 Courtesy NASA SpaceLink Edwin Hubble, by his inspired use of the largest telescope of his time, the 100 inch reflector on the Mount Wilson Observatory, revolutionized our knowledge of the size, structure, and properties of the universe. […] The post Edwin Powell Hubble, Biographical Memoirs appeared first on NASA Science .

Edwin Hubble 1889-1953

NASA Science — 2026-09-25T19:32:13+00:00

THE JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA JOURNAL DE LA SOCIÉTÉ ROYALE D ASTRONOMIE DU CANADA Vol. 83, No.6 December 1989 Whole No. 621 EDWIN HUBBLE 1889-1953 By Allan Sandage The Observatories of the Carnegie Institution, Pasadena, California, U.S.A. (Received September 22, 1989) Hubble’s role. This year marks the centennial of the birth […] The post Edwin Hubble 1889-1953 appeared first on NASA Science .

THE LARGE RADIAL VELOCITY OF NGC 7619

NASA Science — 2026-09-25T19:27:03+00:00

From the Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesVolume 15 : March 15, 1929 : Number 3 THE LARGE RADIAL VELOCITY OF NGC 7619 By Milton L. Humason Mount Wilson Observatory, Carnegie Institution of WashingtonCommunicated January 17, 1929Centered around the region at R. A. 23[h] 16[m], Dec. +7deg. 50′ (1920) is a cluster of small […] The post THE LARGE RADIAL VELOCITY OF NGC 7619 appeared first on NASA Science .

The Scale of the Universe – Great Debate in 1996

NASA Science — 2026-09-25T16:01:31+00:00

The Scale of the Universe – Great Debate in 1996 Debate Proceedings Six published papers from the 1996 debate which appeared in the 1996 December Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Included are the two introductory talks, an opening by the organizers, and a closing by the moderator. The Scale of the Universe […] The post The Scale of the Universe – Great Debate in 1996 appeared first on NASA Science .

The Scale of the Universe Great Debate in 1996: Program

NASA Science — 2026-09-25T15:59:16+00:00

Tammann – van den Bergth Baird AuditoriumThe Smithsonian InstitutionNational Museum of Natural History 21 April 1996 Debate Program: 1 – 4:30 pm; Reception: 4:30 – 5:30 pm Sponsors:The Smithsonian Institution Laboratory for Astrophysics,National Air and Space Museum;NASA Compton Gamma Ray ObservatoryScience Support Center;George Mason University Center for Earth Observingand Space Research;Universities Space Research Association;University of […] The post The Scale of the Universe Great Debate i

Hubble Spots Chaotic Secret in Galaxy

Image of the Day — 2026-09-25T15:54:00+00:00

Though the spiral galaxy in this ESA/Hubble Picture of the Month seems serene, it hides a chaotic secret.

FLAG SAG Meeting, 2 Oct 2026

NASA Science — 2026-09-25T15:50:56+00:00

FLAG SAG Meeting to Discuss the Draft FLAG SAG Report. 12:00pm - 1:00pm ET The post FLAG SAG Meeting, 2 Oct 2026 appeared first on NASA Science .

‘Diamond Jubilee’ Short Bibliography

NASA Science — 2026-09-25T15:36:54+00:00

‘Diamond Jubilee’ Short Bibliography This is a extremely short, very subjective list of papers on gamma-ray bursts, including just one work by each debate program participant. This list may help a casual reader become more acquainted with the activity and past views of these participants.A much more complete list of GRB literature was compiled by […] The post ‘Diamond Jubilee’ Short Bibliography appeared first on NASA Science .

Diamond Jubilee Debate Glossary

NASA Science — 2026-09-25T15:20:21+00:00

Glossary BATSE: Acronym for Burst and Transient Source Experiment on board the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory. The BATSE experiment consists of 8 detectors operating together as an all sky monitor. It has accumulated more GRB data that all previous GRB experiments combined. Interpretation of this data, available starting in 1992, has fueled several different schools of […] The post Diamond Jubilee Debate Glossary appeared first on NASA Science .

Globular Cluster Omega Centauri

APOD — 2026-09-25T11:00:00+00:00

Globular star cluster Omega Centauri packs about 10 million stars much older than the Sun into a volume some 150 light-years in diameter

The Ghosts of Five Supernovas

APOD — 2026-09-24T11:00:00+00:00

The ghosts of five supernovas haunt this extraordinary image

A New Lunar Crater: McGetchin

APOD — 2026-09-23T11:00:00+00:00

A once-in-a-lifetime crater has appeared on the Moon! A comet or asteroid roughly the size of a humpback whale (approximately 10-20 meters, 30-60 feet) crashed into the Moon sometime between April and May of 2024

Chance Triple Alignment: Plane, Space Station, Sun

APOD — 2026-09-22T11:00:00+00:00

This shot captured an unexpected silhouette

Cocoon Nebula Wide Field

APOD — 2026-09-21T11:00:00+00:00

When does a nebula look like a comet? In this crowded starfield covering over two degrees within the high-flying constellation of the Swan (Cygnus), the eye is drawn to the Cocoon Nebula

Analemma over the Callanish Stones

APOD — 2026-09-20T11:00:00+00:00

If you went outside at the same time every day and took a picture that included the Sun, how would the Sun's position change? A visual answer to that question is an analemma, a composite image taken from the same spot at the same time over the course of a year

A Zodiacal Night

APOD — 2026-09-19T11:00:00+00:00

Also known as the false dawn, a luminous band of zodiacal light is captured in this dark night skyscape

Messier 33: The Triangulum Galaxy

APOD — 2026-09-18T11:00:00+00:00

The small, northern constellation Triangulum harbors this magnificent face-on spiral galaxy, Messier 33

A Treasure Chest in the Carina Nebula

APOD — 2026-09-17T11:00:00+00:00

This treasure chest is full of stars

Webb's View of M64

APOD — 2026-09-16T11:00:00+00:00

Sometimes where Hubble finds darkness, Webb sees light

A Daytime Eclipse: Moon Occults Venus

APOD — 2026-09-15T11:00:00+00:00

There was something behind the clouds

Where Your Elements Came From

APOD — 2026-09-14T11:00:00+00:00

The hydrogen in your body and present in every molecule of water came from the Big Bang

Apollo 11: Catching Some Sun

APOD — 2026-09-12T11:00:00+00:00

Bright sunlight glints as long dark shadows mark this image of the surface of the Moon

M83: The Southern Pinwheel

APOD — 2026-09-11T11:00:00+00:00

Beautiful and bright spiral galaxy M83 lies some twelve million light-years away, near the southeastern tip of the very long constellation Hydra

LDN 1295: The Giraffe Nebula

APOD — 2026-09-10T11:00:00+00:00

What does this image look like to you? Many see a giraffe facing right, with neck stretched high and long legs mid-stride (but some may see a squirrel instead)

Superbubble in the Large Magellanic Cloud

Image of the Day — 2026-09-08T16:49:00+00:00

N44 is a complex nebula filled with glowing hydrogen gas, dark lanes of dust, massive stars, and many populations of stars of different ages. One of its most distinctive features, however, is the dark, starry gap called a “superbubble,” visible in this Hubble Space Telescope image in the upper central region.

Hubble: Decagon Around Saturn's South Pole

APOD — 2026-09-08T11:00:00+00:00

Why are Saturn’s poles geometric? Saturn’s North Pole has been known to be surrounded by a hexagonal (6 sides) cloud since discovery in 1987 in data taken by NASA’s Voyager spacecrafts, which quickly flew past the ringed world in the early 1980s

The Pelican Nebula in Gas, Dust, and Stars

APOD — 2026-09-07T11:00:00+00:00

The Pelican Nebula is slowly being transformed

Pluto in Enhanced Color

APOD — 2026-09-06T11:00:00+00:00

Pluto is more colorful than we can see

Chasing the Moon's Shadow

APOD — 2026-09-05T11:00:00+00:00

Chasing the shadow of a New Moon, NASA’s WB-57F high altitude research aircraft took to the skies off the coast of Iceland on August 12 to observe a total solar eclipse

Nā ʻUhane Māhoe Huki Pū i ke Ola

APOD — 2026-09-04T11:00:00+00:00

Nā ʻUhane Māhoe Huki Pū i ke Ola, is the Hawaiian name given to this image of a pair of spiral galaxies locked in a mutual gravitational embrace

The Eclipse and the Stork

APOD — 2026-09-03T11:00:00+00:00

How do animals react to a total solar eclipse? The featured image shows a stork roosting on her nest in Poland at a partial phase of the recent total solar eclipse

August Lunar Eclipse Rises Over Louisiana

Image of the Day — 2026-09-02T15:39:00+00:00

A lunar eclipse is visible over southern Louisiana. The lunar eclipse was visible throughout much of North and South America and part of Europe and Africa between Aug. 27-28. The Full Moon slipped through Earth’s shadow on Aug. 27, continuing into Aug. 28 for some parts of the world, resulting in the lunar eclipse. At maximum eclipse, the Moon takes on a dramatic dark, ruddy or coppery tint along the covered edge. New Orleans is home to NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility, where stages for NASA’s

Solar Eclipses and Culture

APOD — 2026-09-02T11:00:00+00:00

Pretend you have never heard of a solar eclipse

Artemis III RS-25 Engine Processing: #3 Lift

Image of the Day — 2026-09-01T17:32:00+00:00

Technicians prepare to transfer the #2 RS-25 SLS (Space Launch System) rocket engine (front) to the work stand with the #3 engine (back) for integration with the Artemis III core stage rocket on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During Artemis III, the four RS‑25 engines will launch the Orion spacecraft and its crew of four into low Earth orbit, generating more than two million pounds of thrust at liftoff.

A Plane Lunar Eclipse

APOD — 2026-09-01T11:00:00+00:00

Did you need to be on the right side of this airplane to see this eclipse? No

M74: A Grand Design Spiral

APOD — 2026-08-30T11:00:00+00:00

If not the most grand, then this spiral galaxy is at least one of the most photogenic

Eclipse Pair

APOD — 2026-08-29T11:00:00+00:00

Eclipses tend to come in pairs

The Sky Turns Above Paranal

APOD — 2026-08-28T11:00:00+00:00

At the latitude of ESO's Paranal Observatory in Chile, about 25 degrees south, Earth's rotation moves the planet's surface eastward at over 1,500 kilometers per hour

Colorful Aurora over Icelandic Waterfall

APOD — 2026-08-27T11:00:00+00:00

What a sight to behold, when a night sky became filled with colors that appeared to rain over the Skógafoss waterfall in Iceland

JWST Images The Lion's Head Nebula

APOD — 2026-08-26T11:00:00+00:00

Are we looking at the future of our Sun? The James Webb Space Telescope captured today’s composite image of the Lion’s Head Nebula (NGC 2392) with its NIRCam and MIRI instruments

Earth's Shadow Visualized with Lunar Eclipses

APOD — 2026-08-25T11:00:00+00:00

What’s creating this giant hole in space? This is not a black hole — it’s a shadow

Comet 220P in Outburst

APOD — 2026-08-24T11:00:00+00:00

Comet 220P is unexpectedly bright

Cassini Approaches Saturn

APOD — 2026-08-23T11:00:00+00:00

What would it look like to approach the grand planet Saturn? One doesn't have to just imagine -- the Cassini spacecraft did just this in 2004, recording thousands of images along the way, and hundreds of thousands more since entering orbit

Mostly Perseids

APOD — 2026-08-22T11:00:00+00:00

Recorded the night of August 12-13, images from four dedicated meteor-monitoring cameras at an astronomical observatory in Czechia were aligned and combined to create this all-night, all-sky view

The Elephant's Trunk in Cepheus

APOD — 2026-08-20T11:00:00+00:00

Like an illustration in a galactic Just So Story, the Elephant's Trunk Nebula winds through the emission region and young star cluster complex IC 1396, in the high and far off constellation of Cepheus

Perseids from Perseus

APOD — 2026-08-18T11:00:00+00:00

This was a good year for the Perseids meteor shower

A Golden Corona Eclipse

APOD — 2026-08-17T11:00:00+00:00

This total solar eclipse appeared not only poetically beautiful but scientifically interesting

NASA Astronaut Jessica Meir Uses VR Goggles

Image of the Day — 2026-08-10T15:50:00+00:00

NASA astronaut and Expedition 75 commander Jessica Meir wears a set of virtual reality goggles, also called the Nevada Screening Vision System, for a test that measures visual function using a series of vision screening apps testing visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and more.

Artemis III Orion Crew and Service Modules Joined

Image of the Day — 2026-08-05T17:31:00+00:00

Engineers connect the Orion crew and service modules for the Artemis III mission inside the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Starburst Galaxy Centaurus A

Image of the Day — 2026-07-30T14:24:00+00:00

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) reveals the nearby galaxy Centaurus A, exposing the dusty structures and hidden activity that shape this unusual system.

Train Ride to NASA Kennedy for Artemis III Booster Segments

Image of the Day — 2026-06-10T16:06:00+00:00

A train transports eight booster motor segments for the SLS (Space Launch System rocket) that will power NASA’s Artemis III mission from Northrop Grumman’s Railyard Shipping Facility in Corinne, Utah, June 2, to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Artemis III Crew Announced

Image of the Day — 2026-06-09T19:39:00+00:00

NASA announced the Artemis III crew on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. NASA astronaut Andre Douglas, mission specialist; ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Luca Parmitano, pilot; NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik, commander; and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, mission specialist, will demonstrate the Orion spacecraft's rendezvous and docking capabilities with test versions from one, or both, American commercial human landing systems in development by Blue Origin and SpaceX.

Supersonic!

Image of the Day — 2026-06-08T15:42:00+00:00

NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft completed its first supersonic flight Friday, June 5, 2026, marking the first time the aircraft exceeded the speed of sound in support of NASA’s Quesst mission. The milestone represents a major step in flight testing as the aircraft expands into the supersonic portion of its flight envelope.

First Steps: America’s Grueling Second Spacewalk

Image of the Day — 2026-06-05T15:48:00+00:00

A year after America’s first spacewalk, Gemini IX-A Eugene Cernan stepped outside his spacecraft for an ambitious extravehicular activity scheduled for 167 minutes. The challenges he faced led NASA to reevaluate plans, equipment, and training for future spacewalks.

Colorful, Chaotic Jupiter

Image of the Day — 2026-06-04T15:58:00+00:00

During its 61st close flyby of Jupiter on May 12, 2024, NASA's Juno spacecraft captured this color-enhanced view of the giant planet's northern hemisphere.

Journey to the Center of the Virgo Cluster

Image of the Day — 2026-06-03T15:51:00+00:00

This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image features the spiral galaxy Messier 88 (M88).

Look Up!

Image of the Day — 2026-06-02T16:09:00+00:00

Astronauts Sophie Adenot of ESA (European Space Agency) and Jack Hathaway of NASA, both Expedition 74 flight engineers, look out a window in the cupola.

Pretty in Pink

Image of the Day — 2026-06-01T14:46:00+00:00

This image of Westerlund 2 features Chandra X-ray Observatory data (pink) and James Webb infrared data (red, orange, green, cyan, and blue).

Hubble Spies Faint Irregular Galaxy

Image of the Day — 2026-05-29T16:16:00+00:00

This NASA Hubble Space Telescope image captures the faint glow of the dwarf irregular galaxy ESO 490-017.

Going Low and Slow in Testing

Image of the Day — 2026-05-28T16:02:00+00:00

NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft flies above NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, during testing focused on lower-speed and altitude flight conditions in support of NASA’s Quesst mission. NASA continues to include two-flight days in its envelope expansion as teams work to better understand how the aircraft responds throughout its operating range.

Students Build Moon Robots for NASA’s 2026 Lunabotics Challenge

Image of the Day — 2026-05-27T15:46:00+00:00

Katherine Rauscher, of Michigan Technological University, prepares her team’s prototype lunar robot for its turn during the finals for NASA’s 2026 Lunabotics Challenge competition on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, inside the Astronauts Memorial Foundation’s Center for Space Education at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. Forty-seven teams from around the U.S. designed and built remote-controlled robots capable of traversing challenging lunar terrain while constructing regolith-based be

Chennai City Lights

Image of the Day — 2026-05-26T14:50:00+00:00

Chennai, on India's southern coast along the Bay of Bengal and with a metropolitan population of about 8.7 million, shines with white LED streetlights in this photograph taken at approximately 9:13 p.m. local time on May 2, 2026, from the International Space Station.

Webb Studies Star Clusters

Image of the Day — 2026-05-22T18:26:00+00:00

This near-infrared image shows a section of one of the spiral arms of Messier 51 (M51).

Hubble Sights Galaxy in Transition

Image of the Day — 2026-05-21T17:38:00+00:00

This NASA Hubble Space Telescope images reveals the lenticular galaxy, NGC 1266. This enigmatic post-starburst galaxy has a bright center and a face that hints at spiral structure, yet it holds no discernable spiral arms.

Psyche Spacecraft Completes Mars Flyby

Image of the Day — 2026-05-21T17:38:00+00:00

NASA’s Psyche spacecraft completed its close approach of Mars on May 15, capturing images as it came within 2,864 miles (4,609 kilometers) of the planet’s surface. This is an enhanced-color view of the large double-ring crater Huygens and the surrounding heavily cratered southern highlands.

Moon-Venus Conjunction

Image of the Day — 2026-05-19T17:08:00+00:00

The Moon and Venus, center, are seen in conjunction above the Washington Monument, Monday, May 18, 2026, as viewed from the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters Building in Washington.

Beacon of Light

Image of the Day — 2026-05-18T15:32:00+00:00

This latest Picture of the Month from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope features Messier 77 (M77), a barred spiral galaxy famous and appreciated among astronomers for its combination of relative proximity and spectacular features to study. It is located 45 million light-years away in the constellation Cetus (The Whale).

Curiosity Shakes Loose a Pesky Rock

Image of the Day — 2026-05-15T15:05:00+00:00

NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover used its Mast Camera, or Mastcam, to capture this view of a rock nicknamed “Atacama” on May 6, 2026, the 4,877th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. The rock had gotten stuck to the drill on the end of Curiosity’s robotic arm on April 25.

Fresh Food Delivery for Space Station

Image of the Day — 2026-05-14T14:56:00+00:00

You're allowed to play with your food when you're on the International Space Station! To celebrate a delivery of fresh food, NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway (bottom left), Jessica Meir (middle left), and Chris Williams (bottom right), and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot (top right) pose for a group photo.

Rise Goes to Washington

Image of the Day — 2026-05-13T19:20:00+00:00

“Rise,” the Artemis II zero gravity indicator, is seen sitting on the dais as the Artemis II astronauts speak with congressional staff, Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Washington.

Perseverance Stuns in New Selfie

Image of the Day — 2026-05-12T17:23:00+00:00

NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover recently took a self-portrait against a sweeping backdrop of ancient Martian terrain at a location the science team calls “Lac de Charmes.”

NASA Astronaut Jessica Meir

Image of the Day — 2026-05-11T14:01:00+00:00

NASA astronaut Jessica Meir poses with an Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) spacesuit during an official portrait session at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Glowing Views from the Space Station

Image of the Day — 2026-05-08T15:23:00+00:00

This celestial image captured from a window on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked to the International Space Station highlights the Milky Way rising above Earth's atmospheric glow.

A Light in the Dark

Image of the Day — 2026-05-07T15:31:00+00:00

A sliver of the edge of Earth is brightly illuminated against the vast darkness of space.

Unlocking the Mystery of X-ray Dots

Image of the Day — 2026-05-06T15:09:00+00:00

A newly discovered object may be a key to unlocking the true nature of a mysterious class of sources that astronomers have found in the early universe in recent years.

Building on America’s 65-Year Legacy of Human Spaceflight

Image of the Day — 2026-05-05T16:06:00+00:00

America’s first human spaceflight begins as the Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) space vehicle, with astronaut Alan B. Shepard Jr. aboard, launches from Cape Canaveral, Florida on May 5, 1961.

Hubble Spots a Starry Spiral

Image of the Day — 2026-05-04T15:18:00+00:00

This NASA Hubble Space Telescope image features the glittering spiral galaxy NGC 3137, located 53 million light-years away in the constellation Antlia (the Air Pump).

NASA Artemis II Crew Rings Nasdaq Closing Bell

Image of the Day — 2026-05-01T16:10:00+00:00

Nasdaq Chair and Chief Executive Officer Adena T. Friedman, left, and NASA’s Artemis II crew ring the closing bell of the Nasdaq market session, Thursday, April 30, 2026.

Artemis III Rocket Core Stage Moves to NASA Kennedy

Image of the Day — 2026-04-30T17:53:00+00:00

NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) core stage for the Artemis III mission moves into the Vehicle Assembly Building at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.

A Gently Glowing Galaxy

Image of the Day — 2026-04-29T16:43:00+00:00

The barred spiral galaxy IC 486 glows with a soft, ethereal light in this NASA Hubble Space Telescope image.

Science in Space

Image of the Day — 2026-04-28T14:48:00+00:00

Expedition 74 flight engineers Chris Williams of NASA and Sophie Adenot of the European Space Agency work together in the Kibo laboratory module’s Life Science Glovebox.

NASA's X-59 Gets Freedom 250 Logo

Image of the Day — 2026-04-27T19:36:00+00:00

The X-59’s tail and jet engine feature a new marking — a Freedom 250 logo celebrating the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026.