NASA Advances LISA Mission Contributions With New Test Telescope
NASA has taken the next step in the process of developing a new all-glass telescope for the LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) mission, a space observatory designed to dete…
On this day in space! Oct. 8, 1992: NASA's Pioneer Venus probe burns up in Venusian atmosphere after 14 years orbiting the planet
On Oct. 8, 1992, NASA's Pioneer 12 spacecraft burned up in the atmosphere of Venus. Here's why it mattered.
Dawn breaks on Mars | Space photo of the day for Oct. 8, 2026
NASA's Curiosity rover recently captured a stunning panorama of a Martian mountain range bathed in golden early-morning light.
Largest 2D map of the universe helps scientists discover new gravitational lenses
Using data from the DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys, with help from artificial intelligence, an international team of scientists has discovered 70 new gravitational lenses—rare cosmic…
Relive Starship's 1st-ever orbital flight with these epic SpaceX videos
Newly released footage shows Starship's upper stage separating from its booster and deploying Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit.
Why October is one of the best months of the year for stargazing in North America
Clearer skies, comfortable temperatures, and a mix of summer and winter constellations make October a particularly rewarding month for stargazers across North America.
Mission success: Australian cancer research returns from space
Human stem cells from Adelaide University's Center for Cancer Biology have successfully traveled to the edge of space and back as part of a landmark mission for Australian cancer …
Astronomers watch 'vampire' star feeding on the stellar equivalent of 5 trillion quarter-pounder burgers every second
Astronomers have observed a stellar vampire feeding on a 'failed star' brown dwarf companion for the first time, and this will be a slow and gruesome death.
Northern lights possible across the US tonight and over the weekend as 4 CMEs head for Earth
Multiple CMEs could give the northern lights a boost across the northern US from Oct. 9, with further geomagnetic activity possible into the weekend.
Solar Orbiter tracks origin of mysterious magnetic switchbacks
The European Space Agency–led Solar Orbiter spacecraft has flown through an S-shaped kink known as a "switchback" in the solar wind's magnetic field. By fingerprinting the elusive…
Margaret Hamilton, scientist who worked on NASA's Apollo program, dead at 90
American scientist Margaret Hamilton, who led development of the computer system used by NASA's Apollo lunar program, has died at 90, her former employer said Wednesday.
APOD: 2026 October 8 – The Saturn System Smörgåsbord
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 8 – The… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the c…
Fighting Drought in Texas Cotton Country
Drought and an ailing aquifer were major topics of conversation when NASA scientists visited with farmers in the Texas High Plains.
Artemis II crew moon photo annotations
A visualization of a dark moon eclipsing the sun is marked with handwritten notes in this April 6, 2026, screenshot from an Artemis II crew member's tablet.
'Things are going super well at 39A': SpaceX gearing up to launch Starship from Florida for 1st time
SpaceX is working hard to get historic Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center ready for launches of the company's Starship megarocket. The first such liftoff may be just a few mon…
Undergraduate student may have solved puzzle regarding isolated galaxies that have stopped producing stars
An undergraduate astrophysics student at UC Berkeley has found three unusual galaxies—cataloged as Shapiro Dwarf Galaxies I, II and III. Each galaxy is far from other galaxies and…
NASA Sets Coverage for SpaceX 35th Station Resupply Launch, Arrival
NASA and SpaceX are targeting 6:33 a.m. EDT, Tuesday, Oct. 13, for the next launch to deliver science investigations, supplies, and equipment, including the final set of Internati…
NASA’s SpaceX 35th Commercial Resupply Mission Overview
NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than Tuesday, Oct. 13 to launch scientific investigations, supplies, and equipment to the International Space Station.
NASA’s PRIMA Spacecraft (Artist’s Concept)
Description This artist’s concept depicts the proposed design for NASA’s PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics (PRIMA), which was selected by the agency in September 2026. T…
The Draconid meteor shower peaks tonight before bedtime. Here's how to see it
The Draconid meteor shower reaches peak activity on the evening of Oct. 8 in the beautifully dark skies ahead of the October new moon.
Radio galaxy from 12.5 billion years ago may be most powerful ever found
Astronomers have confirmed a powerful radio galaxy from nearly 12.5 billion years ago. The source, TXS 2354+015, was originally identified as a high-redshift candidate from its ch…
On this day in space! Oct. 7, 2002: NASA launches space shuttle Atlantis to deliver backbone of the ISS on STS-112 mission
On Oct. 7, 2002, the space shuttle Atlantis launched from Kennedy Space Center on mission STS-112 to build up the backbone of the International Space Station. Here's why it matter…
NASA’s Curiosity Looks Back After Reaching Elevation Milestone
Description NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover captured this view looking back at the floor of Gale Crater, with the crater’s rim visible in the distance, on Sept. 5, 2026, the 5,006th M…
The moon hides Jupiter in spectacular photographs of October's lunar occultation
See the best photos of the Oct. 6 lunar occultation of Jupiter.