APOD: 2026 September 3 – The Eclipse and the Stork
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Peatland Fires Darken Skies in Indonesia
With Indonesia gripped by drought, fires are smoldering on the surface and underground.
Astronomers discover mysterious 10-sided cloud structure at Saturn's south pole
A mysterious giant 10-sided pattern of clouds has recently formed around Saturn's south pole, a new study finds.
Hubble tracks new decagon encircling Saturn's south pole
Recent observations with NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have revealed a giant, evolving, 10-sided atmospheric wave encircling Saturn's south pole. This discovery marks the first ti…
Cluster's final reentry strengthens data for safer, more sustainable satellite design
The Cluster mission danced its final dance as Tango reentered the atmosphere Sept. 1 at 11:30:31 p.m. CEST. The end of the Cluster mission in 2024 marked the start of the reentry …
China's private, reusable Pallas-1 rocket aces debut launch (video)
Galactic Energy's new Pallas-1 rocket aced its debut launch on Monday (Aug. 31), successfully reaching orbit. The vehicle's first stage did not attempt a landing, however.
NASA Revamps Challenge Linking Community College Studies to Aerospace Careers
Community college students across the U.S. now have another opportunity to discover how their education can lead to fulfilling roles at the forefront of aerospace, science, engine…
This was always the way: 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' is finally on Disney+
This 'Star Wars' spin-off movie disappointed at the box office, but it could find renewed life as a streaming smash hit.
NASA rocket takes first multi-point look inside radio-disrupting clouds
High above Earth, thin veils of metallic haze drift through the edge of space. Known as sporadic E layers, these high-altitude "clouds" form from the vaporized dust of burned-up m…
NASA’s Hubble Tracks New Decagon Encircling Saturn’s South Pole
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope observes a giant, evolving, 10-sided atmospheric wave encircling Saturn’s south pole.
2 spacecraft headed to Mercury are about to begin their long-awaited arrival for Europe and Japan — watch it live on Sept. 3
The European-Japanese BepiColombo mission will begin its drawn-out Mercury arrival phase on Sept. 3, and you can watch the action live.
Blue Origin wins $700 million contract to build NASA's next Mars orbiter
NASA has picked Blue Origin to build its next Mars telecommunications orbiter, awarding a $700 million contract to Jeff Bezos' spaceflight company.
Young sunlike system reveals comets may carry water toward forming planets
Astronomers at Lund University in Sweden have found evidence of exocomets—comets in other solar systems—orbiting a young star similar to our sun. The observations point to a possi…
'You’re going to feel exposed, vulnerable, and very isolated' — 'Alien Isolation 2' creative director talks upping the scare factor for the sequel (interview)
After a decade of waiting, Creative Director Al Hope says Alien Isolation 2 "feels like coming home".
Rising Over Louisiana
On Aug. 28, 2026 (the evening of Aug. 27 in some time zones), the Moon passed into Earth’s shadow, creating a deep partial lunar eclipse. At the moment of greatest eclipse, 12:13 …
Supermassive black holes 'too big' for the early universe may not be so massive after all
Over massive supermassive black holes too big for early galaxies and detected by the James Webb Space Telescope may not be quite so massive after all.
NASA Rocket Takes First Multi-Point Look Inside Radio-Disrupting Clouds
High above Earth, thin veils of metallic haze drift through the edge of space. Known as sporadic E layers, these high-altitude “clouds” form from the vaporized dust of burnt-up me…
Hawai'i high school students name image of glittering galaxy pair
Nā ʻUhane Māhoe Huki Pū i ke Ola is the Hawaiian name given to NGC 7253—a pair of spiral galaxies caught in each other's gravity. Captured by the Gemini North telescope on Maunake…
Falcon Heavy brings the heat | Space photo of the day for Sept. 2, 2026
An incredible launch photo captures fire spewing from a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket during the launch of NASA's Roman Space Telescope on Aug. 30, 2026.
On this day in space! Sept. 2, 2016: Rosetta spacecraft finds long-lost Philae lander on Comet 67P after 2-year search
On Sept. 2, 2016, the European Space Agency finally located Philae, its long-lost comet lander on the surface of the Comet 67P. Here's why it mattered.
A 13-meter rocket hit the Moon: Tasmanian researchers helped track it there
A 13-meter (43-foot) Falcon 9 rocket stage struck the moon last month, leaving a crater about 20 meters (66 feet) wide. In the days before impact, University of Tasmania researche…
Scientists may have detected the 1st direct evidence of dark matter
Using the LUX-ZEPLIN experiment, scientists may have detected the first direct evidence of dark matter, in the form of a rare interaction between a WIMP particle and ordinary matt…
More than 120 molecular species found in giant cloud near Milky Way's center
Astronomers have discovered a second interstellar cloud near the center of the Milky Way that is extraordinarily rich in complex molecules, including several molecules associated …
A bright space station will soar over the US this week — and it's not the ISS. Here's how to see it
What's that bright light in the sky? Here's how to see China's Tiangong space station with the naked eye this week.