SUNSET: 
Blue Ghost Lunar Lander Heads to the Moon
The first two lunar missions of 2025 — Firefly's Blue Ghost and iSpace's second Hakuto R mission — are now headed to the Moon.
Galaxy-mapping Gaia Satellite Ends Science Operations
After more than a decade in space, the European Gaia spacecraft will end its observations this week. Astronomers are still busy preparing final data blasts.
Space Missions to Watch in 2025
Space-weather sentinels, commercial lunar missions, and lots of planetary flybys are on tap this year.
Parker Solar Probe Swings By Sun in Closest Approach Yet
A Christmas Eve pass will take the Parker Solar Probe closer to the Sun than ever before.
No Magma Ocean For Io, Jupiter’s Volcano-Covered Moon
Io, the innermost of Jupiter’s four largest Galilean moons, is covered with hundreds of volcanoes, some shooting lava fountains dozens of miles high. But what kind of interior could drive this magma fury? After NASA’s Juno orbiter made two close flyovers of Io, planetary scientists now think they know. Ever…
Perseverance Reaches Rim of Jezero Crater
It’s been a long upward climb for NASA’s premier rover. But the commanding view — and the geology — were worth it.
See NASA's Lucy Mission Fly Past Earth Tonight
NASA’s Lucy mission makes another visit to Earth Thursday night, en route to explore the Trojan asteroids.
Don't Let the Bright Moon Ruin Your Geminids
Strategies for making the most of this week's Moon-soaked Geminid meteor shower.
Proba 3 Mission Launches to See the Solar Corona
The pioneering observatory will use two spacecraft to create artificial solar eclipses from Earth orbit in order to study the solar corona.
NASA Announces Potential Sites for Artemis 3 Mission to the Moon
NASA has chosen nine potential landing sites near the Moon’s south pole for Artemis 3’s crewed lunar landing.
New Coronagraph Is Observing the Sun
A new coronagraph mission is now orbiting Earth on a mission to provide direct observations of the Sun for space-weather forecasts.
Europa Clipper Successfully Launches on Multi-Year Mission to Jupiter’s Icy Moon
After reaching Jupiter in 2030, the spacecraft will study Europa to help assess whether it has the conditions necessary to sustain life.
Hera Mission Launches to Witness Asteroid-Crash Aftermath
The European Agency’s Hera mission has launched, following up on the destructive impact of NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test on the asteroid Didymos.
NASA Powers Down Experiment on Voyager 2
NASA engineers have shut down one of Voyager 2’s science instruments to save power and to preserve the spacecraft's next decade of operations.
Europa Clipper Readies for Launch to Jupiter's Icy — and Maybe Habitable — Moon
NASA's spacecraft to Jupiter's icy moon Europa will explore the little world's potential habitability.
BepiColombo Mission Returns to Mercury for Best Flyby Views Yet
The BepiColombo mission has completed its fourth and closest pass yet of Mercury, giving us brand-new views of the planet's south pole region.
Flight into Darkness — Observe the International Space Station in Earth's Shadow
Did you know you can see the International Space Station even when it's in Earth's shadow? We explore possible reasons why.
See Amazing Images from First-Ever Earth-Moon Flyby
The European mission to Jupiter's icy moons provided us with some amazing views closer to home, of Earth and the Moon.
Reading the Tea Leaves: The Future of the Hubble and Chandra Space Telescopes
Future funding for NASA's remaining Great Observatories — Chandra X-ray Observatory and Hubble Space Telescope — is still up in the air.
Star-Mapping Mission Gaia Impacted by Micrometeoroid, Solar Storm
Having survived two recent threats — high-velocity space dust and enhanced solar activity — Gaia is now returning better data than ever.
