Moonlight

Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson

Moonlight: Europe Plans Constellation of Lunar Satellites

The European Space Agency’s Moonlight initiative gets the go ahead for the development of a future GPS system around the Moon.

Zhurong lander

Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson

China's Zhurong Rover Lands on Mars (Update: New Images)

The Zhurong rover has successfully landed on the Red Planet in an ambitious first for China's space agency.

two planets on opposite corners on a black background

Cosmic Relief with David Grinspoon

The Cosmic Conjunction

When the world’s got you down, look up and tune into orbital time.

osiris-rex departs

Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson

NASA's OSIRIS-REX Leaves Asteroid Bennu, Heads for Home

NASA’s asteroid explorer has begun its long journey home with precious cargo onboard: samples of the asteroid Bennu.

V1405 Cas scene

Explore the Night with Bob King

Nova in Cassiopeia Brightens Suddenly

A star in the constellation Cassiopeia that flared into view during mid-March has erupted to naked-eye visibility. Catch it while you can!

Long March-5B core

Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson

Tianhe Booster to Reenter This Weekend

One of the largest spacecraft to plunge from orbit in recent decades is likely coming down on May 8th.

HD 122563 closeup

Explore the Night with Bob King

In Search of Ancient Suns

We track down and admire five of the most ancient stars in the universe.

Ingenuity

Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson

NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Enters New Phase of Flight

After a successful first month of flights, Ingenuity will continue to fly through Martian skies on an extended mission designed to test operations.

Tianhe launch

Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson

China Launches First Section of Its New Space Station

China has launched the first section of its modular space station Tiangong 3, which will take shape over the coming year.

Hubble photo of M3

Explore the Night with Bob King

Hunting Barnard's Variable in the Globular Cluster M3

We beat a path through a forest of stars to find the first variable star ever discovered in a globular star cluster.

Top of the World

Imaging Foundations with Richard Wright

Astrophotography On The Go: When Failure Is Not An Option

Anytime you travel beyond your own backyard to do astrophotography, the whole endeavor can be lost because of one missing link in the chain. Here's what to remember.

Ingenuity

Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson

Ingenuity Mars Helicopter: First Flight on Mars

NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter has made its brief hop into the history books of interplanetary aviation.

Three novae

Explore the Night with Bob King

A Bouquet of Novae Brightens April Nights

With the recent discovery of Nova Scorpii 2021 earlier this week, three bright stellar explosions are now visible in small telescopes from dusk till dawn.

Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson

What's in the New NASA Budget Proposal

The latest NASA budget proposal would invest in science in a big way, including a large increase in funding for space exploration.

Explore the Night with Bob King

Make the Most of Comet ATLAS

Bright comets will be scarce this year, but you can see one of the better ones this month as it races from Aquila to Canes Venatici. In other news, a new, bright nova has flared in Sagittarius.

Europa eclipses then occults Io

Explore the Night with Bob King

Mutual Event Season Heats Up at Jupiter

Jupiter is usually the one occulting and eclipsing the Galilean moons, but this observing season the moons also eclipse and occult one another.

polarized emission around black hole

The Black Hole Files with Camille Carlisle

Astronomers Detect Strong Magnetic Fields Around M87’s Black Hole

Event Horizon Telescope data support the idea that magnetic fields control how black holes feed and grow.

Ingenuity

Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson

Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Set for Historic Flight

NASA is getting ready to deploy Ingenuity, the first helicopter mission to take to alien skies.

Deep image of V1405 Cas nova

Explore the Night with Bob King

Bright Nova Erupts in Cassiopeia

A new nova in Cassiopeia, discovered on March 18th, is bright enough to see in a small telescope.

NGC 3190 group / Hickson 44

Explore the Night with Bob King

Exploring Bright Galaxy Groups in Leo

Leo, the Lion, stands high in the southern sky during the early spring. We visit some of the constellation's brighter galaxy clumps then go asteroid hunting.