The Olbers' Paradox is a famous problem in astronomy and cosmology that addresses the question of why the night sky is dark if the universe is infinite and filled with an infinite number of stars. The paradox is named after the German astronomer Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers, who discussed it in the early 19th century, although the problem was considered by earlier astronomers as well.
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Watch Russian cargo spacecraft arrive at ISS tonight
A robotic Russian Progress cargo spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at the International Space Station late tonight (Aug. 24), and you can watch the action live.
Neptune's Cloud Cover is Linked to the Solar Cycle
Whenever Neptune reaches its closest point in the sky to Earth, its portrait is taken by the Hubble Space Telescope and other ground-based observatories. Watching the planet from 1994 to 2020, astronomers have made puzzling discovery.
'Failed star' with radiation belts could be a big deal for astronomy. Here's why
A brown dwarf just 18.5 light-years from Earth has been found to host radiation belts. But why are scientists are so excited about this?
Solar Orbiter observes rapid, tiny jets on sun that may be the solar wind's power source
The Solar Orbiter has spotted tiny short-lived "picojets" for the first time. In just one minute, these tiny jets emit enough energy to power 10,000 households for a year.
Solar Orbiter discovers tiny jets that could power the solar wind
The ESA/NASA Solar Orbiter spacecraft has discovered a multitude of tiny jets of material escaping from the Sun’s outer atmosphere. Each jet lasts between 20 and 100 seconds, and expels plasma at around 100 km/s. These jets could be the long-sought-after source of the solar wind.
TESS Has Found Thousands of Possible Exoplanets. Which Ones Should JWST Study?
There are more than 5,000 confirmed exoplanets in our galaxy. That number is going to rise significantly in the next decade. The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has already cataloged more than 4,000 candidate exoplanets, and the PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars (PLATO) is scheduled to launch in 2026. We will soon have more than 10,000 worlds where life might be able to survive. It’s an amazing idea, but with so many exoplanets we don’t have the resources to search for life on all of them. So how do we prioritize our search?
ISS fires thrusters to avoid oncoming space junk
The International Space Station fired its engines for 21 seconds to move out of the way of space debris on Aug. 24, Russia's space agency Roscosmos said through state media.
What's next for India's Chandrayaan-3 mission on the moon?
India's Chandrayaan-3 mission landed near the moon's south pole on Wednesday (Aug. 23). Its expected lifetime is one lunar day, or two Earth weeks, until the sun sets on the moon.
'Star Wars: Dark Droids' writer breaks down Marvel Comics' spooky new series (exclusive)
An interview with writer Charles Soule about the new Marvel Comics miniseries event, 'Star Wars: Dark Droids.'
Live Coverage: NASA and SpaceX to launch international Crew 7 to the space station
SFN Coverage
Launch Pad Live
Our live broadcast of the Crew 7 launch starts at 10:45 p.m. EDT (0245 UTC). Watch live views of the Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon at the Kennedy Space Center in our 24-7 Launch Pad Live stream.
Mission Status Center
Who is Sabine Wren?
There's a new Mandalorian warrior in town and her name is Sabine Wren. Learn more about her role in Star Wars Rebels, the Ahsoka series, and more.
Solar Cycle May Trigger Clouds on Neptune
Nearly 30 years of observations indicate that Neptune’s clouds and brightness vary with the Sun’s activity.
Satellites reveal catastrophic year for emperor penguins amid climate crisis in Antarctica (photos)
Satellite images reveal mass destruction of emperor penguin colonies in climate change-stricken Antarctica as sea ice melts underneath the birds' feet.
Weird dark spot on Neptune may have a bright spot buddy
A puzzling bright smudge was captured clinging to this dark spot in Neptune’s atmosphere.
Sensing city night heat from space
Confirmed by the World Meteorological Organization, July 2023 was the hottest month on record, with high-impact weather continuing through August. These records are based on air temperatures, but measurements of the temperature of Earth’s surface taken from space are also essential to tracking the impact of climate change, and to being better prepared for such extremes – especially when it comes to cities where stifling urban heat islands form.
Google celebrates India's Chandrayaan-3 moon landing with adorable Doodle
Google is celebrating India's successful moon landing of the Chandrayaan-3 mission at the lunar south pole with a whimsical Google Doodle.
India's Chandrayaan-3 moon rover Pragyan rolls onto the lunar surface for 1st time
India's Pragyan rover rolled out of the nation's Chandrayaan-3 moon lander less than a day after the triumphant landing, commencing its two-week exploration mission.
Over 100 Million Years Ago, Olympus Mons Had a Massive Landslide
While the surface of Mars looks relatively unchanging now, it wasn’t always so. The tallest mountain in the Solar System is Olympus Mons, a giant shield volcano on Mars that reaches 21.9 km (13.6 miles) high, 2.5 times higher than Mount Everest here on Earth. Ancient lava flows surround the volcanic caldera, evidence of an active time.
How to watch SpaceX launch Crew-7 astronauts for NASA early on Aug. 25 with free livestream
NASA's Jasmin Moghbeli will be the second Iranian-American in space, and joins three international astronauts on the SpaceX Crew-7 mission launching from Florida on Aug. 25.
Electron rocket uses previously-flown engine for launch radar-imaging satellite
Rocket Lab launched its 40th Electron mission Wednesday, Aug. 23, after a switch to a recoverable rocket, which was fitted for the first time with a previously-flown engine. The rocket lifted off from the company’s privately-owned spaceport on the North Island of New Zealand, carrying a radar-imaging satellite, at 7:45 p.m. EDT (11:45 a.m. NZST on the 24th / 2345 UTC).
