Compilation of Recent Astronomical and Space Exploration News

The Galaxy’s Fastest Star Could Reveal the Secrets of a Supermassive Black Hole

S301 passes close to Sagittarius A*—so close that its orbit could reveal how the black hole’s rotation warps the spacetime around it.

The Sharpest Image Ever Taken of the Sun Reveals a Hidden Phenomenon

The photograph, taken in visible light, made it possible to observe for the first time the tiny plasma vortices that had been predicted for more than a century.

Here Are the First Images of the Crater Left on the Moon by SpaceX’s Rocket

The Korea Aerospace Research Institute shared images that show the gash on the surface. It’s pretty small.

The Diamond Moon and Other Astronomical Events to See in September 2026

September is full of opportunities to expand your knowledge of the night sky. Mark your calendars.

How and When to View the Perseid Meteor Shower This Week

The Perseids will peak between August 12 and 13. Here’s what time—and where—you can get the best view, and why 2026 will be an exceptional year.

Welp, Nobody Saw SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Rocket Crash Into the Moon

Although no one captured a direct image of the impact, scientists have detected signals confirming the rocket hit the lunar surface. Orbiters could provide the first images of the crash site in the coming days.

Japan Is Launching a Probe to Collect the First-Ever Samples From a Martian Moon

The mission to Phobos, Japan’s first Mars probe launch in 28 years, may reveal new information about our closest planetary neighbor.

Astronomers Discover the Existence of a Black Hole Star

An object observed by the James Webb Space Telescope lends credence to a strange explanation for the mysterious red spots in the early universe.

Meteor Showers, Eclipses, and More Are on the August 2026 Astronomical Calendar

Here’s when some of this year’s most anticipated astronomical events will happen and the best way to observe them.

Inside the Experimental Traps Scientists Set for Ghostly Neutrinos

Observatories have been built in mines, deep under the Antarctic ice sheet, and elsewhere in an effort to detect the fleeting particles.

Scientists Create the Littlest Big Bang to Study the Universe's Origins

The discovery redefines how large atoms need to be to produce the extreme state of matter found in the early universe.