5 horror franchises that went to space... and one that absolutely should have but didn't
In space, no one can hear you scream, a bit like the empty theater screens that some horror franchise's final installments limp. But there are still some real gems among the space…
The rocket scientist who summoned demons: The true horror story of Jack Parsons
Rocketry pioneer Jack Parsons engaged in an elaborate series of occult ceremonies intended to summon an otherworldly feminine goddess into physical existence.
A gamma-ray powerhouse's smoking gun? Gas trail points to microquasar jets
In 2016, a binary star system emitting unusually strong gamma rays was discovered in our galactic neighborhood. Now, astronomers have found the smoking gun, or rather, a smoking t…
The Taurid meteor shower isn't much to look at. That's why I love it
The Taurids produce only a handful of meteors an hour. That sounds disappointing, but I've learned that expecting almost nothing can make this one of the most enjoyable meteor sho…
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope Captures Eerie Cat’s Head
Intricate structures within the Cat’s Head Nebula are illuminated in this mid-infrared view from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope released on Oct. 29, 2026. The distinctive “cat’…
'Star Trek's' William Shatner and George Takei honor the death of Walter Koenig
'Rest well, my dear friend. Keep navigating a steady course.'
NASA Explores Potential Commercial Servicing for Hubble Telescope
NASA issued a Request for Information Oct. 29 to learn more about industry capabilities for in-space servicing to support the agency’s Hubble Space Telescope.
On this day in space! Oct. 30, 1964: NASA's weird Lunar Landing Research Vehicle takes 1st test flight to help Apollo astronauts land on the moon
On October 30, 1964, NASA's Lunar Landing Research Vehicle, or LLRV, took to the skies for the first time. Here's why it mattered.
NASA's Voyager 1 conserves power, resolves brief communications pause
NASA's Voyager team is celebrating two recent developments with the Voyager 1 spacecraft: In September, they successfully completed a months-long effort to stretch the spacecraft'…
Ghostly Cat's Head Nebula haunts the cosmos | Space photo of the day for Oct. 30, 2026
Just in time for Halloween, we have new, ghostly views of the Cat's Eye Nebula haunting the outer reaches of the cosmos.
JWST reveals a distant galaxy that may let most of its ionizing radiation escape
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have found evidence that a distant, exceptionally blue galaxy may allow most of its ionizing radiation to escape into space…
NASA's TRACERS first results offer peek into violent magnetic process
NASA's TRACERS (Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites) mission has gathered its first clues to how space weather affects Earth's magnetic field. I…
Extraterrestrial detection inspired by firefly communications could distinguish alien signals from pulsars
When we think of extraterrestrial intelligence that might be out there among the stars, we tend to think of creatures not too unlike us, though maybe with gray skin, probably bald…
Watch Virgin Galactic's new 'Delta-class' space plane take to the skies for the 1st time (video)
Virgin Galactic's first "Delta-class" space plane, the newly named Apeiron, lifted off for the first time on Thursday (Oct. 29) —beneath the wings of its carrier aircraft.
China's secretive space plane is flying over the US this week — here's how to see it for yourself
Early risers across the U.S. could catch a glimpse of China's mysterious Shenlong spacecraft with the naked eye.
November’s Night Sky Notes: Light-Day Away
Twin Travelers In 1977, NASA launched twin spacecraft Voyager 1 and 2, taking advantage of a once-every-175-year planetary alignment of the four largest planets in our solar syste…
Think Halloween is scary? This scorched alien world is a real-life cosmic horror story
Earth would be terrifying if we celebrated Halloween every 11 hours, a possibility on a super-Earth investigated by the JWST, if it wasn't so hellishly hot that no life could surv…
APOD: 2026 October 30 – Haunting the Cepheus Flare
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 30 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosm…
Vega Island Frozen in Fright
The sight of an icy skull-like visage on the Antarctic island could make one’s blood run cold.
Space station experiment to probe plant disease risks for future moon and Mars missions
As NASA and its partners prepare for longer human missions beyond Earth, University of Florida researchers are investigating a challenge that could affect astronauts' ability to g…
NASA's new UV space telescope will launch in 2031
Most of us could spend our entire lives looking at the night sky and see very few changes. The moon becomes more or less illuminated, the planets drift placidly through the sky, s…
Map Showing Potential Origins of Martian Meteorite Teghaza 001
Description This global map of Mars shows 13 locations that match the mineralogy and chemistry of Teghaza 001, one of the most ancient Martian meteorites ever found on Earth. Whil…
Patrick Stewart, renowned actor and ‘Star Trek’s’ Captain Picard, dies at 86
Patrick Stewart, the distinguished British actor of stage and screen, passed away Wednesday (Oct. 28) in Los Angeles at the age of 86.
Slice of Martian Meteorite Teghaza 001
Description This slice of Teghaza 001, one of the most ancient Martian meteorites ever found on Earth, was used to determine the age of the rock. Reflected light images like these…