Space
Mars Rover Detects Electric Sparks In Dust Devils
April 9, 2026, 10:25 pm EDT
NASA’s Perseverance rover has detected electrical sparks in dust devils on the planet Mars. The crackles, which the rover recorded in 2024, are created by friction generated when Martian dust interacts on the red planet. This discovery will help scientists understand more about the Martian atmosphere. Listen to the recording here.
Astronomy Photographers Of The Year Capture Details Of Space
April 8, 2026, 2:23 pm EDT
The winners of the annual ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year Award have been announced. The Royal Observatory Greenwich in England holds the competition every year and exhibits their work.
Blazing Meteor Shakes Skies And Sparks Awe In Japan
April 8, 2026, 12:00 pm EDT
A massive fireball streaked across the skies of western Japan, glowing in brilliant shades of green and blue and startling residents who thought night had briefly turned to day. Experts say the dazzling meteor, so bright it rivaled the moon, likely plunged into the Pacific Ocean after sending shockwaves through the air that people on the ground could actually feel.
Interstellar Comet Breaks Speed Record
April 8, 2026, 12:00 pm EDT
Researchers were staggered this week when the Hubble Space Telescope captured the image of an unexpected comet traveling at 130,000 miles per hour. The interstellar visitor may have been traveling through the Milky Way for billions of years.
NASA Chief Wants Nuclear Reactor On Moon By 2030
April 8, 2026, 12:00 pm EDT
The acting administrator of NASA, Sean Duffy, wants a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030. His directive says the first country to have a reactor could “declare a keep-out zone which would significantly inhibit the United States.” The reactor will need to generate at least 100 kilowatts of electrical power — about enough for 80 U.S. households. China and Russia have plans for a nuclear reactor at a proposed joint base near the moon’s south pole.
Lost In Space? NASA Loses Contact With Mars Orbiter MAVEN
April 8, 2026, 9:24 am EDT
NASA scientists are working to regain contact with a spacecraft that has orbited Mars for more than a decade. The space agency lost contact with the MAVEN in early December. The orbiter not only explores the upper atmosphere of the red planet, but it’s also a communications relay for the two NASA rovers on Mars. Most recently, it captured an image of the comet 3I/ATLAS. Watch this video to learn more.
Northern Lights Spectacle: Earth's Magnetic Dance Seen from Space
April 4, 2026, 12:29 pm EDT
Even if you don’t fully understand the science, the beauty is captivating. NASA’s Johnson Space Center shared dazzling video of auroras rippling across Earth’s magnetic field. The unique view is from the International Space Station and is just a peek into the space weather happening far beyond what our eyes can see.
SpaceX Launches Crew-11 To The International Space Station
April 4, 2026, 12:00 pm EDT
Four astronauts and cosmonauts are headed to the International Space Station after a launch from Cape Canaveral late Friday morning. Their launch aboard the Falcon 9 rocket was delayed by a day due to weather conditions.
School Project Turns Into Epic Space Journey For Lego Man
April 4, 2026, 12:00 pm EDT
A weather and science experiment by some elementary school children turned into an epic space adventure for a Lego action figure, and a huge lesson about perseverance and hope. The experiment was two years in the making and when they finally launched Dan the Lego man into the sky on a weather balloon, the kids believed he’d return that same day. Watch this video to see the spectacular journey that followed.
Huge Martian Meteorite Found In Africa Headed To Auction
April 4, 2026, 12:00 pm EDT
A massive chunk of Mars that crashed in the Sahara Desert is hitting the auction block in New York this week, with bid expected to reach up to $4 million. Believed to have been blasted off the red planet by a colossal asteroid impact, this rare 33-pound meteorite is the largest Martian rock ever found on Earth and makes up nearly 7% of all known Martian material across the globe.
