On this day in space! Sept. 8, 2004: NASA's Genesis spacecraft crashed in the Utah desert, shattering its samples of solar wind particles from the sun
On Sept. 8, 2004, NASA's Genesis spacecraft crash-landed in Utah after its parachutes failed to deploy. Here's why it mattered.
An unmissable $450 off, we rank this vintage-style Nikon as the best camera under $2000, but it is going fast
Our expert thinks this Nikon Zf camera is a stylish, powerful performer at full price, offering great low-light performance to boot. Now, thanks to this Amazon deal, it's the chea…
Superbubble in the Large Magellanic Cloud
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope captures a photogenic nebula, N44, in the Large Magellanic Cloud in this Sept. 3, 2026, image. N44 is dominated by two features: a vast central void …
Quiet black holes with a stellar companion raise questions about how they form
Active black holes are easy to detect. Their superheated accretion disks emit bright X-rays, and the jets streaming from their poles are easily seen at visible and radio wavelengt…
Hubble and Webb find that far-out solar system objects 'remember' the past
For the first time, scientists used the combined power of NASA's Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes to study some of the most far-flung bodies in our solar system, trans-Neptu…
2 satellites just burned up in Earth's atmosphere — and scientists were watching from a private jet. Here's why
A team of researchers just chased a pair of reentering satellites in a private jet to learn about the pollution caused by space debris burning up in Earth's atmosphere.
Interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS carries clues from the frozen outskirts of another star system
UK astronomers have uncovered new clues about the origin of 3I/ATLAS—only the third known object from beyond the solar system ever spotted. In a new paper published in Monthly Not…
Do black holes grow along with the universe? A new study says yes
We know the universe is constantly expanding. We also know that gravitationally bound objects, such as solar systems and black holes, seem to be immune to that expansion. But a ne…
ALMA watches a massive binary assemble in real time
Using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), astronomers have captured one of the most detailed three-dimensional views yet of a massive binary star system while…
NASA Technique for Manipulating Satellite Photos Now Reveals Ancient Images
Algorithm NASA first applied to satellite imagery is now used to peer into antiquity
Eggshells-inspired aluminum material offers significant protection from space debris
There are nearly 1 million pieces of debris larger than 1 centimeter (0.4 inch) in near-Earth orbit. As we continue launching spacecraft and telescopes to explore the universe, th…
As 'Star Trek' turns 60, we take the iconic sci-fi franchise to sickbay for a full health report
As Gene Roddenberry's baby enters its seventh decade, we give 'Trek' a 60th birthday health check.
How studying astronauts could help tackle aging on Earth
Astronauts who undergo long-duration spaceflight aboard the International Space Station often return with health problems that resemble some age-related conditions in people on Ea…
1,000 Museum Visitors Dive Into NASA Sea Level Science on World Ocean Day
More than 1,000 visitors explored NASA sea level science firsthand during World Ocean Day at the University of Georgia Aquarium on Skidaway Island on June 6, 2026.
NASA’s Hubble, Webb Find Far-out Solar System Objects ‘Remember’ Past
For the first time, scientists used the joint power of NASA’s Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes to study some of the most far-flung bodies in our solar system, Trans-Neptunia…
SpaceX rocket taxi returns after Roman Telescope launch | Space photo of the day for Sept. 8, 2026
The Roman Space Telescope launched beyond Earth on Aug. 30. And one of the most amazing parts of the liftoff was the Falcon Heavy rocket's boosters returning back to our planet, s…
Big supernova dataset challenges dark energy theory
The most comprehensive catalog of exploding white dwarf stars ever assembled has revealed new clues about dark energy, the mysterious force driving the universe's accelerating exp…
The rise of 'quantum gravity?' Einstein's theory seen in the quantum realm for 1st time
Scientists have spotted the first hints that Einstein's formulation of gravity operates in the quantum realm.
JWST finds extreme star-forming galaxies masquerading as faint quasars
A new study finds that two early-universe objects thought to be faint quasars are actually extraordinarily luminous galaxies powered by bursts of star formation. James Webb Space …
The Vela Incident: Did an American satellite detect a secret nuclear test in 1979?
Was an usual flash detected off the coast of South Africa by an American satellite caused by a secretive atmospheric nuclear test?
APOD: 2026 September 8 – Hubble: Decagon Around Saturn’s South Pole
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 September 8 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cos…
The Otherworldly Geology of Vasquez Rocks
Layers of sedimentary rock that jut from the Soledad Basin at surprising angles have long enthralled television and film producers, including the team behind Star Trek.
Early Earth's auroral belts may have formed a natural ion-beam reactor for prebiotic chemistry
We usually think of auroras as beautiful lights in the night sky. I see them as visible traces of a connection between the sun, Earth's magnetic field and the atmosphere. This led…
'The Last Starship' is 2026's most slept-on space game — you need to check out this 'FTL'-like shipbuilding strategy gem
Dive into this diverting sandbox adventure from Introversion before another microsecond lapses.