Athena, Next U.S. Commercial Moon Lander, Is Set for Spectacular Lunar Science
In partnership with NASA, the Intuitive Machines lander Athena will send a water-seeking drill, a pogo-sticking crater probe and other novel technologies to the moon
How Can We Know If an Asteroid Will Hit Earth?
“Keep your eye on the ball” is a motto for many athletes—and for astronomers trying to find Earth-threatening space rocks
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To Find Life on Mars, Make Microbes Wiggle
Could tiny swimming microbes help us unlock the mysteries of extraterrestrial life?
Newfound Asteroid May Hit Earth in 2032, Scientists Say
The possibility of the asteroid 2024 YR4 impacting our planet might not be ruled out until 2028, raising the prospect we’ll need to prepare for the worst
How Many Planets Are in the Solar System?
The number of planets that orbit the sun depends on what you mean by “planet,” and that’s not so easy to define
Asteroid Bennu Is Packed with Life’s Building Blocks, New Studies Confirm
Material retrieved from the asteroid Bennu by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft shows that all the basic building blocks of life were astonishingly widespread in the early solar system
Saturn’s Rings Are Disappearing—But They’ll Be Back
This year, from Earth’s perspective, Saturn’s rings will appear nearly edge on, making them almost invisible
Earth Sings with Mysterious Chorus Waves—And Deep Space Does, Too
Peculiar bursts of energy called chorus waves have been detected in deep space far from our planet, suggesting they could pose problems for long-distance space travel
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope Was Never Meant to Look at the Sun. Astronomers Tried It Anyway
A little-known chapter of the Hubble Space Telescope’s history is a reminder of the risks of looking at the sun
Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Finally Takes Flight
The heavy-lift New Glenn rocket soared to success, reaching orbit on its highly anticipated inaugural flight but failing to land its booster on an ocean barge
Blue Ghost, a Private U.S. Lunar Lander, Launches to the Moon
A Texas-built lander named Blue Ghost marks another test of NASA’s new lunar delivery initiative
Here’s What to Watch in 2025’s Skies
The heavens will provide a bounty of viewing treasures in the coming year