Even most rocket scientists would rather avoid hard math when they don’t have to do it. So when it comes to figuring out orbits in complex three-body systems, like those in Cis-lunar space, which is between the Earth and the Moon, they’d rather someone else do the work for them. Luckily, some scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory seems to have a masochistic streak - or enough of an altruistic one that it overwhelmed the unpleasantness of doing the hard math - to come up with an open-source dataset and software package that maps out 1,000,000 cis-lunar orbits.
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See the moon shine with Saturn in the southern sky after sunset Dec. 26
Don't miss the moon cozy up to Saturn on Dec. 26.
Top Astronomical Events to Watch For in 2026
The coming year offers eclipses, occultations and much more.
The most exciting exoplanet discoveries of 2025
New discoveries and fresh looks at familiar worlds show how far exoplanet science has come — and how much remains unknown.
What should I look at with my new telescope?
From the moon and Jupiter to famous nebulae and galaxies, here’s your beginner-friendly guide to what to point your brand-new telescope at.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, December 26 – January 4
Jupiter nears opposition. The waxing Moon pairs with Saturn, then guides the way to the fine telescopic double star Gamma Arietis, and later passes the Pleiades.
From record warming to rusting rivers, 2025 Arctic Report Card shows a region transforming faster than expected
Overall, the Arctic is warming more than twice as fast as the Earth as a whole.
Ancient eyes on the skies: Early astronomers quiz
Long before modern telescopes, early astronomers mapped the heavens with math, myth, and sheer curiosity. This crossword quiz celebrates the minds who first charted the cosmos.
Fly through Webb’s cosmic vistas
Video: 00:43:26
On the launch anniversary of the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, ESA presents a unique compilation of zooms into stunning cosmic views.
Google's proposed data center in orbit will face issues with space debris in an already crowded orbit
As a space scientist, I predict that the company will soon have to reckon with a growing problem: space debris.
Roman around the Christmas tree | Space photo of the day for Dec. 25, 2025
All the NASA engineers and scientists need is a star on top of the telescope in the cleanroom.
Astronauts beam home Christmas wishes from International Space Station: 'I think we may be orbiting a little higher than Santa' (video)
They won't be home for Christmas, but astronauts in space are finding their own way to make the season bright.
Christmas 2025 skywatching guide: What you can see in the night sky on Dec. 25
The night sky is the Christmas gift that just keeps giving.
How To Start with Your New Telescope
How to start sky exploring with that new telescope. How to set it up right, other key things to know -- and great cosmic immensities to start finding tonight.
What old, dying stars teach us about axions as a candidate for dark matter
The axion could be a contender to explain the mystery of dark matter.
UCS Millennium Falcon versus UCS Death Star: Which is the best Lego Star Wars set?
The two largest and most expensive Lego Star Wars sets available go head-to-head: The UCS Millennium Falcon and the UCS Death Star. But which is best?
60,000 feet above Earth, NASA is hunting for the minerals that power phones, EVs and clean energy
The microwave-sized sensor detects 'spectral fingerprints' of important minerals.
Record launches, reusable rockets and a rescue: China made big strides in space in 2025
China overcomes human spaceflight emergency and makes leaps with lunar hardware tests
'Dracula's Chivito' looks stunning in this tasty Christmas photo from the Hubble Telescope
Using the Hubble space telescope, astronomers have imaged "'Dracula’s Chivito" the largest site of planetary birth ever seen.
NASA's Apollo 8 moonshot saved 1968. Could Artemis 2 do the same in 2026?
On Christmas Eve 1968, the Earth received a message from astronauts on a mission like no other - the first around the moon. NASA will return in 2026.
Remember the time Predator faced off against Santa's reindeer – and lost?
The reindeer ain't got time to bleed.
