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Ingenuity sits on a slightly inclined surface with about 6-degree tilt at the center of the frame, just north of the southern ridge of “Séíitah” geologic unit. The Perseverance rover’s Mastcam-Z instrument took this image on Dec. 1, 2021, when the rotorcraft was about 970 feet (295 meters) away.

Mars helicopter Ingenuity marks 40 flights and is still going strong

Mars helicopter Ingenuity marks 40 flights and is still going strong

The Mars helicopter Ingenuity has made its third flight of the year, which also marks its 40th flight since it landed in the Jezero crater.
Astronomers have released a gargantuan survey of the galactic plane of the Milky Way. The new dataset contains a staggering 3.32 billion celestial objects — arguably the largest such catalog so far. The data for this unprecedented survey were taken with the US Department of Energy-fabricated Dark Energy Camera at the NSF’s Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile, a Program of NOIRLab.

Browse through 3B celestial objects in Milky Way survey

Browse through 3B celestial objects in Milky Way survey

A new survey of the Milky Way has been released containing more than 3 billion objects, making it one of the largest astronomical catalogs ever produced.
Spacewalkers (from left) Koichi Wakata and Nicole Mann are pictured installing hardware on the space station preparing the orbiting lab for its next roll-out solar array.

First spacewalk of the year sees astronauts dealing with a sticky foothold

First spacewalk of the year sees astronauts dealing with a sticky foothold

Two astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS) yesterday performed the first spacewalk of the year, working to upgrade the ISS power system.
A startling analysis from Globe at Night — a citizen science program run by NSF’s NOIRLab — concludes that stars are disappearing from human sight at an astonishing rate. The study finds that, to human eyes, artificial lighting has dulled the night sky more rapidly than indicated by satellite measurements. The study showcases the unique contributions that citizen scientists can make in essential fields of research. This graphic illustrates how the greater the amount of light pollution, and therefore skyglow, the fewer the stars that are visible. The numeric scale is similar to the one used by Globe at Night participants. 

Light pollution is cutting off views of the night sky for many

Light pollution is cutting off views of the night sky for many

The problem of light pollution could be even worse than we thought, as what is visible to the human eye is even less than satellite measurements indicate.
see lucy spacecraft slingshot past earth fly by

Still no joy for Lucy’s stuck solar array, NASA is giving up for now

Still no joy for Lucy’s stuck solar array, NASA is giving up for now

NASA will not be making any further attempts to fix the solar array of its Lucy spacecraft, at least for now - but the mission should still work as planned.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching from Florida.

This must be the most beautiful image ever of a rocket launch

This must be the most beautiful image ever of a rocket launch

SpaceX photos of its latest launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday are something really rather special.
SpaceX's Falcon Heavy heading to space.

Watch SpaceX footage of Falcon Heavy from launch to landing

Watch SpaceX footage of Falcon Heavy from launch to landing

SpaceX has shared a cool video of its recent Falcon Heavy mission, tracking it with a single camera and compressing its flight into just 120 seconds.
Don Pettit aboard the space station.

Enjoy these amazing space images by NASA’s oldest active astronaut

Enjoy these amazing space images by NASA’s oldest active astronaut

NASA astronaut Don Pettit hasn't been to space for a decade, but he continues to share some of the amazing images that he captured during his missions.
SpaceX's Falcon Heavy heading to space.

Watch key moments of SpaceX triple-booster Falcon Heavy launch

Watch key moments of SpaceX triple-booster Falcon Heavy launch

Watch the highlights of SpaceX's launch of its triple-booster Falcon Heavy rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday evening.
A photo of Expedition 68 Flight Engineer and NASA spacewalker Josh Cassada on Dec. 22, 2022, preparing a roll-out solar array for its deployment on the International Space Station's Port-4 truss segment as the orbiting lab flew 264 miles above the Indian Ocean off the coast of South Africa.

How to watch two astronauts perform their first spacewalk on Friday

How to watch two astronauts perform their first spacewalk on Friday

This Friday two astronauts from the International Space Station will perform a spacewalk to install new hardware to the station's exterior. Here's how to watch.
This image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope features the galaxy LEDA 48062 in the constellation Perseus. LEDA 48062 is the faint, sparse, amorphous galaxy on the right side of the image, and it is accompanied by a more sharply defined neighbor on the left – the large, disk-like lenticular galaxy UGC 8603. A smattering of more distant galaxies litter the background while a handful of foreground stars shine brightly throughout the image.

Hubble snaps an image of a galaxy in our cosmic backyard

Hubble snaps an image of a galaxy in our cosmic backyard

An image from Hubble shows one of our galactic neighbors, collected as part of a project called Every Known Nearby Galaxy.
Image showing the disruption of astronomical observations caused by a previous Starlink launch

SpaceX reaches agreement with astronomers to limit Starlink interference

SpaceX reaches agreement with astronomers to limit Starlink interference

This week, National Science Foundation announced it had reached an agreement with SpaceX to limit the effects of its Starlink satellites on astronomy.
Members of the public can help astronomers observe and study the night sky through NASA’s Universe of Learning Exoplanet Watch program.

NASA is asking for your help to study exoplanets

NASA is asking for your help to study exoplanets

NASA is asking for the public's help in learning more about exoplanets in a citizen science program called Exoplanet Watch.
Illustration of a planet on a black background. The planet is large and rocky. Roughly two-thirds of the planet is lit, while the rest is in shadow.

How James Webb peers into the atmospheres of far-off exoplanets

How James Webb peers into the atmospheres of far-off exoplanets

The James Webb Space Telescope recently detected its first exoplanet, but its real promise is in studying exoplanet atmospheres.
The Falcon Heavy is seen at Launch Complex 39A in Florida.

How to watch the classified SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch tomorrow

How to watch the classified SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch tomorrow

Tomorrow will see the fifth launch of SpaceX's heavy-lift vehicle, the Falcon Heavy, performing a classified launch for the US military.
Scientists using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to look deep into the heart of the pair of merging galaxies known as UGC 4211 discovered two black holes growing side by side, just 750 light-years apart. This artist’s conception shows the late-stage galaxy merger and its two central black holes. The binary black holes are the closest together ever observed in multiple wavelengths.

These supermassive black holes are cozying up close together

These supermassive black holes are cozying up close together

Two supermassive black holes have been spotted nestled close together in the heart of merging galaxy UGC4211.
This illustration shows NASA’s Lunar Flashlight carrying out a trajectory correction maneuver with the Moon and Earth in the background. Powered by the small satellite’s four thrusters, the maneuver is needed to reach lunar orbit.

NASA’s Lunar Flashlight mission hindered by thruster issue

NASA’s Lunar Flashlight mission hindered by thruster issue

NASA's Lunar Flashlight spacecraft, a briefcase-sized satellite on its way to the moon, is experiencing difficulties with its thrusters.
NGC 346, shown here in this image from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), is a dynamic star cluster that lies within a nebula 200,000 light years away. Webb reveals the presence of many more building blocks than previously expected, not only for stars, but also planets, in the form of clouds packed with dust and hydrogen. 

James Webb captures stunning image of star formation in nearby galaxy

James Webb captures stunning image of star formation in nearby galaxy

A stunning new image from James Webb is also leading astronomers to rethink their theories about how stars and planets could have formed in the early universe.
NASA's Ingenuity helicopter.

Mars helicopter keeps on flying as it approaches second anniversary

Mars helicopter keeps on flying as it approaches second anniversary

NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter has been on Mars for almost two years and the high-tech contraption is still in good enough shape to get airborne.
SpaceX's Super Heavy and Starship.

SpaceX making final preparations for first flight of brand new rocket

SpaceX making final preparations for first flight of brand new rocket

It’s been a long time coming, but the first orbital test of SpaceX’s mighty Super Heavy rocket and Starship spacecraft looks to be just weeks away.
Russia's Soyuz spacecraft leaking coolant at the space station.

Russia reveals plan to rescue three space station crewmates

Russia reveals plan to rescue three space station crewmates

Russian space agency Roscosmos has unveiled a plan for bringing home three crewmembers after their Soyuz capsule suffered damage at the space station.
The Polaris Dawn crew.

SpaceX preps Polaris Dawn mission featuring first commercial spacewalk

SpaceX preps Polaris Dawn mission featuring first commercial spacewalk

SpaceX is making final preparations for its all-civilian Polaris Dawn mission, which is expected to involve the first spacewalk by non-professional astronauts.
NASA's ERBS satellite.

Large NASA satellite falls back to Earth after decades in orbit

Large NASA satellite falls back to Earth after decades in orbit

After 38 years orbiting Earth, a large NASA satellite has fallen safely back to Earth, with most of if believed to have burned up during its descent.
SpaceX's Starship spacecraft being placed atop the Super Heavy rocket.

SpaceX stacks mighty Super Heavy rocket as it eyes February test launch

SpaceX stacks mighty Super Heavy rocket as it eyes February test launch

SpaceX has shared a video showing its next-generation spaceflight vehicle being stacked on the launchpad ahead of its first test flight.
Virgin Orbit rocket

Virgin Orbit’s first U.K. rocket flight ends in failure

Virgin Orbit’s first U.K. rocket flight ends in failure

Virgin Orbit’s attempt to become the first spaceflight company to launch an orbital rocket from Western Europe has ended in failure.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching from Cape Canaveral in Florida.

Watch a SpaceX rocket hurtle to orbit and back in 90 seconds

Watch a SpaceX rocket hurtle to orbit and back in 90 seconds

SpaceX has released a video featuring a rocket’s-eye view of a recent orbital mission, all the way from launch to landing.
(Nov. 27, 2022) --- The SpaceX Dragon cargo craft, loaded with over 7,700 pounds of science, supplies, and cargo, approaches the International Space Station while orbiting 259 miles above the African continent.

How to watch a SpaceX Dragon depart the ISS on Monday

How to watch a SpaceX Dragon depart the ISS on Monday

This week will see a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft depart from the International Space Station (ISS) and head back to Earth. Here's how to watch.
mars 2020 perseverance rover

Perseverance rover celebrates its first Martian birthday

Perseverance rover celebrates its first Martian birthday

The Perseverance rover recently celebrated a milestone: its first Martian year since landing, which marks the end of its primary mission.
The scattered stars of the globular cluster NGC 6355 are strewn across this image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. NGC 6355 is a galactic globular cluster that resides in our Milky Way galaxy's inner regions. It is less than 50,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Ophiuchus.

Hubble snaps a cluster in our galaxy bursting with stars

Hubble snaps a cluster in our galaxy bursting with stars

The Hubble Space Telescope has captured a grand image of thousands of densely packed stars in a globular cluster within the Milky Way.
unprocessed image from the WISPR instrument on board NASA’s Parker Solar Probe shows comet NEOWISE

Earth to be visited by once-in-50,000-year comet

Earth to be visited by once-in-50,000-year comet

Skywatchers will soon be in for a special treat, as a comet which passes our planet just once every 50,000 years should be visible in the skies this month.
This image of the spectacular Sh2-54 nebula was taken in infrared light using ESO’s VISTA telescope at Paranal Observatory in Chile. The clouds of dust and gas that are normally obvious in visible light are less evident here, and in this light we can see the light of the stars behind the nebulae now piercing through.

Peering into clouds of dust to understand star formation

Peering into clouds of dust to understand star formation

A new image from the European Southern Observatory shows a stunning starscape around the nebula Sh2-54.
These are Hubble Space Telescope images of two massive clusters of galaxies named MOO J1014+0038 (left panel) and SPT-CL J2106-5844 (right panel). The artificially added blue color is translated from Hubble data that captured a phenomenon called intracluster light. This extremely faint glow traces a smooth distribution of light from wandering stars scattered across the cluster. Billions of years ago the stars were shed from their parent galaxies and now drift through intergalactic space.

Hubble sees the ghostly light of lost, wandering stars

Hubble sees the ghostly light of lost, wandering stars

Hubble has investigated wandering stars that aren't tied to any particular galaxy and found that they are giving off a ghostly haze of light.
Photo taken on December 24 at 344 km above the moon

South Korean lunar orbiter takes gorgeous images of Earth

South Korean lunar orbiter takes gorgeous images of Earth

A South Korean spacecraft arrived in lunar orbit in December 2022, and it recently sent back a couple of stunning images of Earth as seen from the moon.
NASA’s retired Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS) is expected to reenter Earth’s atmosphere in early January.

Old NASA satellite predicted to reenter the atmosphere tomorrow

Old NASA satellite predicted to reenter the atmosphere tomorrow

Most of a NASA satellite reentering the atmosphere tomorrow is expected to burn up and pose minimal risk, but some debris could reach the surface.