For as long as humans have watched the night sky, we have wondered about the moon, pondering everything from its alien appearance to its influence over phenomena on Earth such as ocean tides, climate stability, and even the natural rhythms of many organisms. Among the many questions we have about Earth’s lone natural satellite, one remains preeminent: what are the moon’s origins, and how long has it orbited Earth? Today, the leading theory among astronomers is that deep in our planet’s past — perhaps within roughly the first 100 million…
Read MoreJapan launching bold sample-return mission to Mars moon Phobos today: Watch it live
Launch live streaming of Martian Moons eXploration (MMX)/H3 Launch Vehicle flight No.10(English) – YouTube Watch On Japan will launch an epic mission to Mars today (Oct. 19), and you can watch the action live. The Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission is scheduled to lift off atop an H3 rocket from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center today at 3:41 p.m. EDT (1941 GMT; 4:41 a.m. on Oct. 20 local Japan time). You can watch it live via the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Coverage will begin at 2:45 p.m. EDT (1845 GMT).…
Read MoreAPOD: 2026 October 19 – Treble Clef: Unusual X-ray Hot Radio Source
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 19 –… 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. Treble Clef: Unusual X-ray Hot Radio Source Explanation: Explanation : What is Treble Clef? This unusual radio structure extends over 2 million light-years and resembles a common musical symbol — but has its visible light hidden by our…
Read MoreAutumn Paints Poland’s Bieszczady Mountains
Earth Observatory Science Earth Observatory Autumn Paints Poland’s… Earth Earth Observatory Image of the Day EO Explorer Topics All Topics Atmosphere Land Heat & Radiation Life on Earth Human Dimensions Natural Events Oceans Remote Sensing Technology Snow & Ice Water More Content Collections Global Maps World of Change Articles Earth Matters Blog Blue Marble: Next Generation EO Kids Mission: Biomes About About Us Subscribe 🛜 RSS Contact Us Search As the air grows cooler and days shorter, brown bears prowl the Carpathian Mountains of southern Poland with the goal…
Read MoreAstronomers want your help finding ‘missing’ black holes in the Milky Way
Astronomers estimate that our home galaxy, the Milky Way, has churned out more than 10 million black holes over its 13-billion-year history. Yet so far, they have found only 70. Now, a group of astronomers in the U.K. is trying to close that vast gap by enlisting the public. Their project, called Black Hole Hunters, is looking for volunteers with a computer and a few spare minutes to sift through troves of data gathered by a NASA space telescope. By flagging recognizable patterns that could point to a “missing” black…
Read More10 best places to see the 2027 total solar eclipse in Spain
Spain is one of the easiest places in the world to experience the total solar eclipse on Aug. 2, 2027. The so-called “eclipse of the century” first makes landfall in Andalucía, where totality will last up to 4 minutes and 40 seconds during mid-morning, with the sun comfortably high at around 38-42 degrees above the horizon in the eastern sky. Excellent roads, plentiful accommodation and Málaga’s international airport make this an obvious alternative to North Africa and the Middle East. However, choosing where to watch requires some thought. Southern Spain’s…
Read MoreAPOD: 2026 October 18 – Sonified: Eagle Nebula Pillars
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 18 –… 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. Sonified: Eagle Nebula Pillars Explanation: Yes, but have you ever experienced the Eagle Nebula with your ears? The famous nebula M16 is best known for the feast it gives your eyes, highlighting bright young stars forming deep inside…
Read More‘Lanterns’ shocking finale left us with a lot of unanswered questions for a potential season 2
HBO and HBO Max’s “Lanterns” served up its big cliffhanger finale on Oct. 4, 2026, and we’ve been slowly digesting thoughts on what the creative direction and ultimate legacy of this debut season were. While by no means a perfect experiment in trying to shake up the aging superhero genre, there are enough worthy elements to consider this sci-fi mystery show an evolutionary step towards the next generation of comic-based storytelling. After the emerald-tinted dust has settled, there are many lingering questions about where this acclaimed series from creators Chris…
Read MoreThe Orionid meteor shower peaks next week! Here’s what to expect
The Orionid meteor shower peaks overnight on Oct. 21-22, triggering a spectacular display of shooting stars as Earth plunges through the densest part of the debris trail shed by Halley’s Comet. Here’s what you need to know. When is the best time to see Orionid shooting stars? Orionid meteors are best spotted between the hours of midnight and dawn on Oct. 22, when 10-20 shooting stars may be seen brightening the night sky each hour under ideal dark-sky. The glare cast by the 74%-lit waxing gibbous moon will hide fainter…
Read MoreAPOD: 2026 October 17 – 3D 67P
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 17… 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. 3D 67P Explanation: Put on your red/blue glasses and float next to the jagged and double-lobed nucleus of Churyumov-Gerasimenko, also known as Comet 67P . The stereo anaglyph was created by combining two images from the Rosetta spacecraft’s narrow…
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