Passing the Bull
Comet Wirtanen will sweep across the constellation Taurus in December. At its brightest, around mid-month, it could be bright enough…
Headed for the Moon
Apollo 8 heads for the Moon on December 21, 1968, carrying astronauts Frank Borman, William Anders, and James Lovell (inset,…
Looking for Life
This artist’s concept depicts Kepler-22b, a rocky planet that lies within the habitable zone of its parent star, which is…
Staying Safe
This artist’s concept shows a possible design for a future Mars habitat, created on the Martian surface with 3D printing.…
Complicated Bubble
Multiple bubbles of gas encircle a dying star, forming the Saturn Nebula. An inner bubble is expanding faster than an…
Ready for Launch
Scientists and technicians are preparing to launch three research balloons from Antarctica over the next few weeks. Climate conditions over…
Getting Close
Just days after InSight successfully landed on Mars, another solar system mission is nearing its destination as well. OSIRIS-REx is…
Golden Anniversary
Stars trail behind the dome of the Harlan J. Smith Telescope at McDonald Observatory. The dome and its 107-inch telescope…
Ready for Touchdown
InSight, the latest Mars lander, fires its braking engines as it descends toward the planet’s surface in this artist’s concept.…
Target Zone
An image snapped from Mars orbit shows the landing site of InSight, a mission scheduled for touchdown on November 26.…