The exoplanet census continues to grow at a prodigious rate, with 6,273 confirmed planets to date and close to 20,000 candidates awaiting confirmation. What's more, the rate of discovery is accelerating, having passed 5,000 in early 2023 and 6,000 in September 2025. With such a large exoplanet census, along with improvements in instrumentation and data analysis, scientists are now focused on "exoplanet characterization" in addition to discovery. As always, the goal is to find planets that could be habitable for life as we know it (or "Earth-like").
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'It was quite a light show!' NASA astronaut spies dramatic fireball from the International Space Station (photos)
NASA astronaut Chris Williams photographed a fireball from above recently, capturing the stunning site from aboard the International Space Station.
Spaceflight is hard on the heart, yet artificial ones grow better in space than on Earth
The human heart shrivels away in space, but researchers have found that mini-hearts grown from human stem cells sprout in space significantly faster than in labs on Earth.
New this month, this Lego Star Wars Yoda bust would terrify Darth Vader and I have to have it
Lego's larger Yoda models do not have a great track record, but this Lego Star Wars Yoda bust is such astonishing spectacle I have to own it. Or several.
7 things nobody tells you about stargazing (that make a huge difference)
From chasing the Milky Way to using your eyes as nature intended, here are some often-overlooked truths that make all the difference under the night sky.
Why do some stars become 'supernova impostors'? Astronomers still don't quite know
Astronomers call this "eruptive mass loss," and it's a stellar drama we're still trying to fully grasp.
SpaceX launches South Korean Earth observation satellite, plus 44 more payloads on midnight Falcon 9 rideshare mission
A streak shot of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket during the CAS500-2 mission, which launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base on May 3, 2026. Image: SpaceX
Update May 3, 6:17 a.m. EDT (1017 UTC): SpaceX confirmed deployment of all payloads.
SpaceX sends 45 satellites to orbit in nighttime launch from California (video)
SpaceX launched 45 satellites to orbit from California early Sunday morning (May 3), including a South Korean spacecraft that was originally supposed to fly in 2022.
New for Star Wars Day, grab this Lego Star Wars model of The Mandalorian's coolest ship and get the Darksaber for free
Finally, Mando's sleek N-1 starfighter gets the Lego Star Wars UCS set it deserves and, if you're fast, you can claim a free Lego model of the fabled Darksaber.
This Week In Space podcast: Episode 208 — Lander, Lander, Who's Got a Lander
On Episode 208 of This Week In Space, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik talk with Space.com's Mike Wall about the risks and realities of the new space race to the moon.
Best sci-fi thriller movies of all time, ranked
You know it's thriller, thriller night
From new releases to classic models, feel the force this Star Wars Day with the best Lego sets from the saga
Not only is Lego launching a host of new models this Star Wars Day, there are some fantastic sets out there already. We've harnessed the power of the Dark Side to bring you the very best.
Galaxies, Artemis 2, space telescopes and stormtroopers: Here are the best photos from our staff
Photos from around the space team.
See May's full 'Flower Moon' bloom in gorgeous photos from around the world
The Flower Moon will be followed by a rare full Blue Moon on May 31.
3 planets will put on a sky show in May — when and how to see them
Venus, Jupiter and Mercury headline May's skywatching, with stunning moon pairings and a three-planet display.
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks next week: Here's what you need to know
Shooting stars and the occasional fireball may be seen whenever the constellation Aquarius is above the horizon.
Artemis 2 astronauts get the star treatment after historic moon trip
They didn't get a parade, but they're certainly being paraded on the big networks.
Drone radar could help spacecraft pinpoint where to drill for water on Mars, scientists say
Drone-mounted radar flown over glaciers on Earth show how the technology can map buried ice in detail, helping future Mars spacecraft choose exactly where to drill.
Radio Telescope Array Reveals the Masses of Hidden Young Stars
The Orion Nebula provides a master class in the study of stellar formation. Yet, many of its youngest stellar objects are still swaddled in their birth crèches, hidden by clouds of gas and dust. The Very Large Baseline Array (VLBA) radio telescopes have managed to punch through the dusty obscuring veil to study a pair of young binary systems called Brun 656 and HD 294300 born in the Nebula.
'Slither' at 20: The alien worm comedy-horror that heralded James Gunn's arrival
Few went to see the movie in theaters, but 'Slither' still proved that Gunn was a director to watch
How 'For All Mankind' evolved from 'The Right Stuff' into 'The Expanse'
A show that began life as a period piece is now unashamedly hard science fiction.
