With tomorrow’s launch of the Artemis II mission to the moon, NASA’s focus on our natural satellite is again gaining traction. To that end, two recent papers in the journals Earth and Space Science* and Icarus* point out how ordinary fiber optic technology could be deployed on the lunar surface to detect our ancient neighbor’s seismic activity.
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Orbits of the Planets
Introduction to Planetary Orbits
The paths that planets take as they revolve around the Sun are known as orbits. In our solar system, all eight planets—Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—follow distinct, elliptical (oval-shaped) paths around the Sun. This motion is governed primarily by the law of universal gravitation, as famously described by Sir Isaac Newton, and the geometrical laws of planetary motion formulated by Johannes Kepler.
This star-forming galaxy is blowing out powerful winds topping 2 million mph
NASA's XRISM X-ray spacecraft has clocked 2 million mph winds ripping out of a distant galaxy bursting with star formation.
Yes, NASA's launching Artemis 2 astronauts to the moon on April Fools' Day. It's not a joke.
NASA is hoping for a historic moon launch, not a punchline on April 1.
Comet MAPS faces a make-or-break moment as it dives toward the sun on April 4 — could it shine in the daytime sky?
Comet MAPS is about to face its ultimate test as it sweeps just 101,000 miles above the sun's surface.
A New Theory Connects Early Cosmic Inflation and Quantum Gravity
Modern cosmology is built upon three theoretical pillars: special relativity, Newtonian gravity, and quantum mechanics. Each is supported by a wealth of experimental evidence, but each describes the physical world in a way that contradicts the other two.
What will happen if Artemis 2 astronauts get hit by a solar storm during NASA's ambitious moon mission?
"If an event is particularly bad, there are some places in the capsule, such as storage bays and down by the toilet, that the crew can go to."
How to use your Unistellar smart telescope to track the Artemis 2 rocket light curve in the name of science
Unistellar co-founder tells Space.com about how citizen scientists are using smart telescopes to engage in planetary defense.
Tales of Two Comets: A1 MAPS and R3 Pan-STARRS Both Make a Showing in April
Early April could be an exciting time for sky watchers, as two comets take center stage: R3 Pan-STARRS and sungrazer A1 MAPS.
'Forbidden Planet' at 70: Why the original sci-fi blockbuster is still out of this world
The movie that took Shakespeare to the stars, and wrote the blueprint for movie space opera.
Here's what the Artemis 2 astronauts will be doing on each day of NASA's historic moon mission
The crew's 10-day mission will be filled with science, spacecraft tests, medical checks, survival training and more.
'It didn't feel like a sci-fi movie': Esai Morales on bringing an Army Ranger to life in Netflix's sci-fi hit 'War Machine' (interview)
"Playing military characters is always interesting for me. They're all homages to a family member."
Artemis 2 astronauts reveal adorable zero-g indicator 'Rise' | Space photo of the day for March 31, 2026
The four astronaut's of NASA's Artemis 2 mission arrived in style at Kennedy Space Center ahead of their historic moon mission.
New Astro Images: Saturn, the Crab Nebula, and a Newborn Planet
Striking images from Hubble, Webb, and the Very Large Telescope dive into Saturn's atmosphere, capture the Crab Nebula's expansion, and reveal a newborn planet.
April's full moon decides the date of Easter — here's how it works
The first full moon of spring, known as the Paschal Moon, sets the date for Easter each year.
April Podcast: Spotlight on Gemini
This month’s episode showcases the stars and planets visible on April evenings. We’ll explore full-Moon quirks; spot Venus and Jupiter after sunset; learn about Gemini, the celestial twins; and hunt for meteors toward month’s end. So grab your curiosity, and come along on this month’s Sky Tour.
NASA's Artemis 2 pilot Victor Glover listens to 'Whitey on the Moon' every Monday. This is why.
"It ain't about racism. It's about the human condition."
Are We About to Permanently Scar the Night Sky With One Million AI Satellite and 50,000 Space Mirrors?
If you thought the current crop of satellite megaconstellations was bad, you’re going to be horribly disappointed by new proposals from both SpaceX and a company called Reflect Orbital. Their combined plans would fundamentally alter the night sky as we know it, and the global astronomical community is sounding the alarm - most notably letters from the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS), the European Southern Observatory (ESO), and the International Astronomical Union (IAU) strongly opposing the plan, which currently sits with America’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for approval.
Why won't NASA's Artemis 2 astronauts land on the moon when they get there?
Artemis 2 will launch four astronauts around the moon no sooner than April 1. Why won't this quartet land on the lunar surface?
Northern lights could be visible in 16 states tonight March 31 as a speedy CME barrels toward Earth
Auroras may be visible from Alaska to Wyoming tonight as Earth braces for impact from a speedy coronal mass ejection.
Seven missions launched to test optimised data transfer from space
Eight CubeSats and one payload supported by the European Space Agency (ESA) reached orbit, where they will demonstrate various applications aimed at improving how data is sent around and processed. Thanks to these demonstrations, practical and – sometimes – even life-saving data enabled from space will move more efficiently and reach the right actors on time in the future.
