The space of night is infinite,
The blackness and emptiness
Crossed only by thin bright fences
Of logic

— Kenneth Rexroth
"Theory of Numbers"

Astronomy

Couples who meet online may have lower relationship satisfaction

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 08/13/2025 - 9:04am
Meeting online may be the norm in today's dating scene, but connecting offline initially may lead to better relationship outcomes
Categories: Astronomy

New lunar surface simulator in Colorado puts moon machinery to the test

Space.com - Wed, 08/13/2025 - 9:00am
A large simulated moonscape built by the Colorado School of Mines is open for business, allowing researchers and companies to test their ideas for lunar rovers, landing pads, mining gear and more.
Categories: Astronomy

China's moon lander passes key test | Space photo of the day for Aug. 13, 2025

Space.com - Wed, 08/13/2025 - 8:00am
The Chinese lunar lander Lanyue recently passed a test in a simulated moon-like environment.
Categories: Astronomy

Vape mouthpieces could be swarming with fungi that harm airways

New Scientist Space - Cosmology - Wed, 08/13/2025 - 7:00am
Fungal species, one of which caused chronic bronchitis in mice, were collected from the mouthpieces of e-cigarettes used by daily vapers
Categories: Astronomy

Vape mouthpieces could be swarming with fungi that harm airways

New Scientist Space - Space Headlines - Wed, 08/13/2025 - 7:00am
Fungal species, one of which caused chronic bronchitis in mice, were collected from the mouthpieces of e-cigarettes used by daily vapers
Categories: Astronomy

Perseid meteor shower 2025 outshines moon to put on a spectacular show (photos)

Space.com - Wed, 08/13/2025 - 6:50am
The Perseid meteor shower 2025 peaked Aug. 12-13, delighting skywatchers worldwide.
Categories: Astronomy

MetOp-SG-A1 and Sentinel-5 launch highlights

ESO Top News - Wed, 08/13/2025 - 6:00am
Video: 00:01:36

Europe’s first MetOp Second Generation, MetOp-SG-A1, weather satellite – which hosts the Copernicus Sentinel-5 mission –  has launched aboard an Ariane 6 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. The rocket lifted off on 13 August at 02:37 CEST (12 August 21:37 Kourou time).

MetOp-SG-A1 is the first in a series of three successive pairs of satellites. The mission as a whole not only ensures the continued delivery of global observations from polar orbit for weather forecasting and climate analysis for more than 20 years, but also offers enhanced accuracy and resolution compared to the original MetOp mission – along with new measurement capabilities to expand its scientific reach.

This new weather satellite also carries the Copernicus Sentinel-5 mission to deliver daily global data on air pollutants and atmospheric trace gases as well as aerosols and ultraviolet radiation.

Categories: Astronomy

This real 'Eye of Sauron' spits out ghost particles in space. Here's what it looks like

Space.com - Wed, 08/13/2025 - 6:00am
"We have never seen anything quite like it."
Categories: Astronomy

The Lego Technic Mars Rover Perseverance is now one of its lowest-ever prices on Amazon, with almost 20% off

Space.com - Wed, 08/13/2025 - 5:38am
The 1132-piece buildable replica with moving parts is 18% off as Lego's Technic Mars Rover Perseverance set is one of its lowest prices on Amazon.
Categories: Astronomy

MetOp-SG-A1 and Sentinel-5 launch on Ariane 6

ESO Top News - Wed, 08/13/2025 - 2:00am
Video: 00:01:20

Europe’s first MetOp Second Generation, MetOp-SG-A1, weather satellite – which hosts the Copernicus Sentinel-5 mission –  has launched aboard an Ariane 6 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. The rocket lifted off on 13 August at 02:37 CEST (12 August 21:37 Kourou time).

MetOp-SG-A1 is the first in a series of three successive pairs of satellites. The mission as a whole not only ensures the continued delivery of global observations from polar orbit for weather forecasting and climate analysis for more than 20 years, but also offers enhanced accuracy and resolution compared to the original MetOp mission – along with new measurement capabilities to expand its scientific reach. 

This new weather satellite also carries the Copernicus Sentinel-5 mission to deliver daily global data on air pollutants and atmospheric trace gases as well as aerosols and ultraviolet radiation.

Categories: Astronomy

First MetOp-SG and Sentinel-5 launched

ESO Top News - Tue, 08/12/2025 - 10:50pm

Ushering in a new era of weather and climate monitoring from polar orbit, the first in a new series of satellites, MetOp Second Generation, has been lofted into orbit aboard an Ariane 6 rocket from the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. As part of this new satellite’s sophisticated instrument package is the new Copernicus Sentinel-5 instrument, which is designed to deliver critical data on air pollutants, ozone and climate-related gases.

Categories: Astronomy

New Research Explores Venus’ Violent Past

Universe Today - Tue, 08/12/2025 - 9:24pm

Venus, often called Earth's twin, remains one of the most mysterious planets in our Solar System. While it's similar in size to Earth, Venus spins incredibly slowly and backwards compared to other planets. It also lacks a moon, unlike Earth and Mars. Now, new research explores whether a massive asteroid impact in Venus's early history could explain these puzzling characteristics.

Categories: Astronomy

Mixing Regolith With Polymer Saves Mass For 3D Printing

Universe Today - Tue, 08/12/2025 - 9:24pm

3D printing is going to be a critical technology in space exploration, both for its ability to create almost any object, but also because it can utilize in-situ resources, at least in part. However, the more of those space resources are used in a print, the more the mechanical properties change from that on Earth, leading to problems with tensile or compressive strength. But a new paper from researchers at Concordia University hit a new milestone of how much lunar regolith can be used in a mixed feedstock for additive manufacturing, making it possible to use even more locally sourced material, and saving more launch cost, than ever before.

Categories: Astronomy

Hubble Captures Stunning View of Third Interstellar Visitor

Universe Today - Tue, 08/12/2025 - 9:24pm

A mysterious visitor from another star system is putting on a spectacular show as it streaks through our Solar System, shedding tons of ancient dust and revealing secrets from the depths of interstellar space. Using the Hubble Space Telescope, a team of astronomers have captured unprecedented details of 3I/ATLAS—only the third confirmed object from beyond our Solar System as it awakens under our Sun's warmth, offering a rare glimpse into alien worlds billions of kilometres away.

Categories: Astronomy

A 36 Billion Solar Mass Black Hole Detected Thanks To Gravitational Lensing

Universe Today - Tue, 08/12/2025 - 9:24pm

Astronomers from Brazil and the UK have detected what could be the most massive black hole ever found. It's about 36 billion solar masses, which is a stunning 10,000 times more massive than Sagittarius A*, the monstrous supermassive black hole at the heart of the Milky Way. This behemoth is about 5 billion light-years away.

Categories: Astronomy

This White Dwarf Merged With Another Star To Form An Ultra-Massive White Dwarf

Universe Today - Tue, 08/12/2025 - 9:24pm

White dwarfs are the stellar remnants left behind by stars after they run out of hydrogen and cease fusion. Only a small number of them are "high-mass white dwarfs" more massive than the Sun. New research indicates that these massive white dwarfs are the result of mergers.

Categories: Astronomy

See the August Perseids Battle the Waning Moon

Universe Today - Tue, 08/12/2025 - 9:24pm

It’s that time of year once again. August sees warm nights, with late summer campers out awaiting that ‘Old Faithful’ of annual meteor showers: the August Perseids. While 2025 also sees the shower peaking right around Full Moon, don’t despair; with a little bit of planning and patience, you can still catch this shower at its best.

Categories: Astronomy