Japan prepares to launch sample return mission to Phobos
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is preparing to launch its groundbreaking MMX mission to Phobos. The spacecraft will lift off on an H3 rocket from Tanegashima Space Center.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2026
News from the universe, short and clear.
The latest astronomy news from NASA, ESA, ESO, Webb, the Turkish Space Agency and the Turkish press, summarised by AI and ranked by importance.
25 sources · Updated 12:23 · How it works
Today in brief · Sunday, October 18, 2026
While a new study in Science Advances examines the effects of long-term microgravity on the human genome, a global NASA mission is launched to map the early universe. Meanwhile, the FAST telescope discovered a candidate for an isolated dark galaxy, and astronomers revealed unexpected properties of 151 white dwarfs 65 light-years away. Additionally, as scientists emphasize the need for a lander mission to Mercury, skywatchers prepare for the Orionid meteor shower peaking on October 21-22.
Compiled by AI from the most important stories. The week in space →
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From Türkiye
Rare Atmospheric Properties Explored in White Dwarfs 65 Light-Years Away
Astronomers from the University of Warwick examined 151 white dwarfs situated approximately 65 light-years from Earth. Detailed spectral analyses reveal unexpected optical and atmospheric properties in these stellar remnants.
NASA Astronaut Deniz Burnham Prepares for Next Year's Space Mission
NASA astronaut Deniz Burnham is undergoing rigorous safety qualifications ahead of her upcoming spaceflight next year. The Adana-born astronaut shared details about her operational training for the mission.
James Webb Space Telescope Detects Mysterious Repeat Signal from Empty Space
The James Webb Space Telescope has detected an unexpected signal twice, 88 days apart, emanating from a patch of space previously thought to be empty. Scientists are evaluating four possible origins.
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'Let's all choose to make tomorrow better', Artemis II astronauts honored with Stephen Hawking Medal at Starmus
The Artemis II crew has been awarded the prestigious Stephen Hawking Medal at the Starmus Festival. The astronauts join an elite roster of honorees recognized for excellence in science communication.
Rare Atmospheric Properties Explored in White Dwarfs 65 Light-Years Away
Astronomers from the University of Warwick examined 151 white dwarfs situated approximately 65 light-years from Earth. Detailed spectral analyses reveal unexpected optical and atmospheric properties in these stellar remnants.
On this day in space! Oct. 17, 2016: Private Antares rocket returns to flight after catastrophic launch explosion
On October 17, 2016, the Antares rocket successfully returned to flight two years after a catastrophic pad explosion, restoring a critical commercial cargo lifeline to the International Space Station.
This Week In Space podcast: Episode 232 — The Lunar Dump
In Episode 232 of the This Week In Space podcast, hosts analyzed the recent large data dump from the Artemis II mission. Expert contributors discussed preparation milestones and technical details of the lunar flight.
6 scientifically accurate star projectors to turn any room into a home planetarium
Offering far more than mood lighting, six scientifically accurate star projectors enable realistic skywatching at home. These devices serve as educational tools for aspiring astronomers of all ages.
Oct. 17, 1956: Birth of Mae Jemison
Born on October 17, 1956, Mae Jemison showed an early passion for science that led her to Stanford University and ultimately into space exploration history as a pioneering astronaut.
'Lanterns' shocking finale left us with a lot of unanswered questions for a potential season 2
In the dramatic finale of Lanterns, John Stewart goes rogue in Sector 2814 and embraces fear, leaving major unanswered questions for a potential second season.
The Orionid meteor shower peaks next week! Here's what to expect
The highly anticipated Orionid meteor shower is set to reach its peak activity overnight on October 21-22. Stargazers can look forward to a spectacular celestial display of shooting stars lighting up the autumn night sky.
The Sky Today on Saturday, October 17: Watch Wild Ducks
Located in the constellation Scutum, the Wild Duck Cluster (M11) remains prominent in the evening sky for several hours after sunset. This young cluster offers amateur and professional astronomers an exceptional observing target.
Enigmatic Mercury Will Remain A Puzzle Until Someone Sends A Lander
Despite the upcoming BepiColombo mission to Mercury, scientists emphasize that a lander is essential to fully comprehend the innermost planet. Without direct surface measurements, the complex evolution of Mercury remains incomplete.
Astronomer leads global team on NASA mission to create unprecedented view of the early universe
An astronomer from the University of Missouri is leading 130 researchers across 62 institutions, including NASA, Caltech, Princeton, and Harvard. The ambitious mission aims to capture an unprecedented view of the early universe.
New 3D model reveals how shadows reshape chemistry in stellar nurseries
An international team led by the University of Duisburg-Essen has developed a high-resolution 3D model demonstrating how uneven stellar nurseries cast shadows that alter local chemistry and impact infrared signals detected by Webb.
'It really does change you': SpaceX Crew-12 commander wishes we could all see our fragile Earth from space
The astronauts of SpaceX's Crew-12 mission highlighted the profound impact of viewing Earth from orbit, describing it as a fragile haven of life in a vast void. They expressed a wish that everyone could experience this perspective.
NASA Names Stephen Cash Marshall Space Flight Center Director
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has named Stephen Cash as director of the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. A veteran engineer, Cash returns to lead the institution where he began his career more than forty years ago.
When not to watch a meteor shower — why I'm not staying up for the Orionids
The Orionid meteor shower reaches its annual peak next week, though a bright moon will wash out many faint trails. Observers are advised to carefully time their sessions to catch the best viewing window.
In the Search for Exoplanets, Some Failures Are A Success
Astronomers utilized decades of archival data and radial velocity measurements to search for exoplanets around 70 Oph AB. Ruling out Jupiter-mass worlds leaves the door open for Earth-sized planets.
Chile’s Light-Pollution Standard Takes Full Effect
Chile, home to some of the world's premier astronomical observatories, has brought its light-pollution regulations into full effect, protecting night skies from Atacama to Tierra del Fuego.
How to see the Orionid meteor shower 2026 peak this week — and when to look
One of the year's notable sky events, the Orionid meteor shower, peaks around October 21. Experts have highlighted the best times and optimal viewing directions to spot meteors streaking across the night sky.
Scientists find 'gemstones' in atmosphere of bizarre, scorching-hot 'marshmallow' exoplanet
Using the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have detected gemstone-like features in the atmosphere of a blisteringly hot, marshmallow-density exoplanet, shedding new light on planetary structures.
SpaceX thrusters just made a Tesla Roadster 'fly' (and Elon Musk's car is still out there in space)
Tesla has showcased its new Roadster in a spectacular stunt using SpaceX thrusters to make the vehicle fly, combining space propulsion technology with cutting-edge automotive engineering.
Crew Unpacks Dragon and Begins Activating New Science Experiments
With five spacecraft now docked at the ISS following Dragon's arrival, the Expedition 75 crew has begun unloading cargo and activating new science payloads.
'Dark Matter's' Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly talk S2's marital disintegration and the humility of hanging on wires (interview)
Dark Matter actors Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly discussed the emotional unraveling of their characters and the physical challenges of wire work in season two.
Artemis II Heat Shield After Splashdown
Following the splashdown of NASA's Artemis II mission, the Orion heat shield underwent extensive analysis. Underwater inspections and evaluations confirmed the thermal protection system successfully guarded crew and spacecraft.
Astronomers Get a Better Look at a Rare White Dwarf–Brown Dwarf Pair
Astronomers have obtained a closer look at J0404+1112, a rare white dwarf and brown dwarf binary. The system allows researchers to investigate a substellar atmosphere exposed to extreme radiation.
A Point-Spread Function for the Extreme Ultraviolet High-Resolution Imager on Board Solar Orbiter
Researchers have quantified diffusion and scattering within Solar Orbiter's Extreme Ultraviolet High-Resolution Imager, improving the precision and clarity of solar observations.
The Flavor of Neutrinos Could Determine How a Large Star Dies
A new study reveals that neutrino flavors could play a decisive role in the fate of massive stars, dictating whether they erupt into a supernova or collapse directly into a black hole.
'Mission: 60s' event promises passport back to the Space Age
Aiming to revive the excitement of the 1960s space race, the "Mission: 60s" event has been announced, inviting participants to step back into the era of early rocket flights.
Why can you see the moon during the day? This week is the perfect time to find out
Observers do not need to wait until nightfall to see our natural satellite. This week offers an ideal opportunity to view the moon in broad daylight.
A Radio Phoenix Beyond the Zone of Avoidance
Astronomers have solved the mystery behind the musical treble clef-shaped radio formation located beyond the Milky Way's Zone of Avoidance. New research confirms that this peculiar cosmic structure is a rare radio phoenix.
7 best places to see the northern lights, according to an aurora chaser
An experienced aurora chaser has shared seven prime Arctic destinations for observing the northern lights, offering essential insights for travelers planning an unforgettable adventure under the polar skies.
Beyond pointing your phone at the night sky, this is how to use stargazing apps effectively
While stargazing mobile apps make astronomy accessible, many users barely scratch the surface. Here is how to maximize these digital sky tools with effective viewing techniques and advanced features.
I Am Artemis: Allison Mjoen
Allison Mjoen, operations manager for NASA's Exploration Ground Systems Program, oversees SLS rocket infrastructure. Her work shapes the critical ground operations designed to return humans to the Moon.
A Distant Supercluster of Galaxies Points To Self-Interacting Dark Matter
The immense mass of the distant El Gordo supercluster challenges cosmological growth models. Researchers suggest this rapid formation could stem from a two-state self-interacting dark matter mechanism.
Supermassive black hole blasts out a neon 'treble clef' | Space photo of the day for Oct. 16, 2026
A peculiar cosmic feature resembling a glowing neon treble clef has been revealed as an energetic radio structure powered by a distant supermassive black hole.
'We are getting a lot of pressure from the administrator himself': How NASA is racing to obey Trump's 'Super Intelligence' order
Internal records show NASA is racing to rebrand artificial intelligence as 'super intelligence' following executive orders. The rapid shift directed by top officials is fueling widespread employee concerns.
2026 Full Moon calendar: When to see the Full Moon and phases
The Full Moon occurs when Earth aligns precisely between the Sun and Moon, fully illuminating the lunar face. The 2026 lunar calendar highlights key viewing opportunities.
Shredded star reveals a massive black hole wandering far from its galaxy's center
Astronomers have detected a massive black hole tearing apart a star more than 1,000 parsecs from its galaxy's center. The tidal disruption event, TDE 2023mfm, was tracked across multiple observatories.
NASA’s Hubble Spies Spiral’s Edge
The Hubble Space Telescope has captured a striking edge-on view of the intermediate spiral galaxy NGC 1827, located approximately 37 million light-years away in the constellation Columba.
Rocket Lab pushes 1st launch of next-gen Neutron rocket to 2027
Rocket Lab has postponed the maiden flight of its next-generation, partially reusable Neutron launch vehicle to 2027 following a manufacturing complication.
It's time to reassess the size of our solar system, scientists say
Two leading space scientists argue that the edge of the solar system needs to be redefined by factoring in the gravitational influence of the Milky Way and dark matter.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, October 16 – 25
October skies bring an impressive visual display as the Moon visits the Teapot asterism at night, while Mars, Jupiter, and Regulus stage a dawn rendezvous.
The Sky Today on Friday, October 16: Tethys and its shadow transit
Saturn's icy moon Tethys transits across the gas giant's disk alongside its shadow, providing observers with the month's best-timed planetary transit opportunity.
The Sky This Week from October 16 to 23: The Orionid meteor shower peaks
Mid-October brings notable sky events headlined by the peak of the Orionid meteor shower. As the Moon reaches its apogee, astronomers track viewing conditions across the globe.
Isaias Dims the Gulf Coast
High-definition satellite images captured by NASA track power outages caused by Hurricane Isaias along the Florida coast, illustrating the exact pace of electrical grid recovery.
Scientists Detect Rare Type of Wood Alcohol in Space
An international research team participating in the ALMA COMPASS Large program has detected a rare form of methanol in deep space for the first time, advancing interstellar chemistry.
NASA to Help Unlock Mysteries of Mars’ Moons in Upcoming Mission
Playing a key role in JAXA's MMX mission, NASA aims to bring samples from Mars' enigmatic moons back to Earth. Scientists hope to finally uncover the true origin of Phobos and Deimos.
A Cloud Forms Spontaneously Over a Mountain on Mars — Here’s Why
Astronomers have detected a peculiar cloud over a Martian mountain that forms without needing solid seed particles. This marks the very first direct observation of the theoretical process.
NASA Satellites Observe Historic 2026 El Niño
NASA's Earth-observing satellites are closely monitoring the emergence of a historic El Niño pattern in the Pacific. Space assets are tracking the unprecedented oceanic warming.
Power Up: Roll Out Solar Arrays Boost Space Station Power Supply
The International Space Station is boosting its power infrastructure using next-generation roll-out solar arrays. This upgrade supports critical life support systems and deep space research.
Host Stars Shape Their Planetary Systems Into Two Families
New research links a host star's mass directly to the architecture of its planetary system. This stellar influence organizes planetary systems into two distinct families.
NASA to Conduct Low-Altitude Flights Over Texas Farmland
Under the FarmFlux mission, a NASA A200 aircraft will conduct low-altitude flights over Texas farmland to measure gaseous and particulate agricultural emissions entering the atmosphere.
Chandra breaks down 'Treble Clef's' galaxy cluster collision
Astronomers utilized NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory to determine the physical causes behind the 'Treble Clef' radio wave structure. The study unveils the dynamics of massive colliding galaxy clusters.
Inferring Globular Cluster Initial Mass Function from Stellar Streams
Combining cold dark matter simulations with observations of stellar streams and globular clusters, researchers inferred a declining power-law initial mass function for globular clusters.
Orionid, Taurid Meteors Haunt October Skies
Autumn meteor season has arrived as the Orionid and Taurid meteor showers reach their peaks in late October, offering observers a prominent celestial display.
SPHEREx Just Took the Fingerprints of Failed Stars Across Our Cosmic Neighborhood
Astronomers at Caltech and NASA JPL are utilizing SPHEREx data to decode the atmospheric mysteries of brown dwarfs. The study reveals critical gaps in current stellar and planetary evolution models.
Oct. 15, 1997: Cassini-Huygens launches
Launched on October 15, 1997 atop a Titan IVB rocket, the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft embarked on a monumental voyage to Saturn. The mission stands as one of the most transformative achievements in planetary exploration.
NASA Astronaut Deniz Burnham Prepares for Next Year's Space Mission
NASA astronaut Deniz Burnham is undergoing rigorous safety qualifications ahead of her upcoming spaceflight next year. The Adana-born astronaut shared details about her operational training for the mission.
CERN and Mistral join forces to accelerate AI for science
CERN and European AI developer Mistral have signed a strategic partnership to build foundation models for scientific discovery. The collaboration brings together extreme-scale physics data and advanced AI technology.
The Sky Today on Thursday, October 15: Double crater Messier
Stargazers are treated to a captivating celestial display as the waxing crescent Moon highlights the distinctive Messier double crater, accompanied by Io occulting Callisto.
James Webb Space Telescope Detects Mysterious Repeat Signal from Empty Space
The James Webb Space Telescope has detected an unexpected signal twice, 88 days apart, emanating from a patch of space previously thought to be empty. Scientists are evaluating four possible origins.
Green, pink and purple: Astronomers reveal the surprising true colors of white dwarf stars
University of Warwick astronomers have shown that white dwarf stars can glow in a range of colors, including the first star ever found that would appear green to the human eye.
The Perseverance Rover Reaches Another Milestone
NASA's Perseverance Rover has reached another milestone. It now holds the record for the longest distance travelled on another world, meaning Mars and Earth's Moon. It's all thanks the ingenuity behind AutoNav, it's hazard-detection driving system. It's a win for science, as more distance travelled…
Astronomers Observe The Limb Darkening Effect On Nearby Stars
The edge of the Sun appears darker than its central region. This effect is known as limb darkening and tells us about the solar atmosphere. This same limb darkening effect has now been observed on several nearby stars and could help us improve our understanding of stellar atmospheres.
Electromagnetic Flares from Compact-Object Mergers in Active Galactic Nucleus Disks: Signatures and Predictions
Emission arising from the merger of stellar-mass black holes in an active galactic nucleus disk should be identifiable through monitoring of order 1,000 active galactic nuclei of sufficient luminosity for a year.
Catching the Culprit Behind Globular Clusters’ Disappearing Binaries
Globular clusters have far fewer binary stars than the solar neighborhood. New research identifies black hole burning as the culprit.
Astronomers Uncover More Intriguing Detail in an Ancient Supernova Remnant
When a supernova exploded in 1181, Chinese and Japanese sky-watchers recorded it. They couldn't have known what the object was, and why it appeared for six months then disappeared. But in our modern times, we know it was a supernova, and we've even, most likely, found its remnant. New observations…
Rise Early on October 22nd for the Orionid Meteor Shower
The Orionid meteor shower, originating from Halley's Comet, reaches its peak on the morning of October 22nd. With the Moon moving out of the way, stargazers will have a great view.
Chandrasekhar Placed A Limit On White Dwarfs, But A New Study Finds This Limit Is Not Absolute
A new study reveals that the Chandrasekhar limit setting the upper mass bound for white dwarfs is not absolute. Highly magnetized white dwarfs might overcome this threshold.
Curiosity Greets a Spectacular Dawn Sky on Mars
NASA's Curiosity rover shared a captivating panorama of a Martian sunrise from the slopes of Mount Sharp. Without white-balance adjustments, the image shows what a viewer would actually see.
Studying beautiful flavour transitions
The CMS and LHCb collaborations at CERN presented new findings on the transformation of a beauty quark into a strange quark and a muon pair, rigorously testing the Standard Model.
New evidence points to two feeding black holes just 175 parsecs apart lurking in the early universe
Astronomers have discovered two actively feeding supermassive black holes separated by only 175 parsecs in a galaxy observed when the universe was roughly 2 billion years old.
Oct. 14, 1947: Flying faster than sound
On October 14, 1947, Captain Chuck Yeager piloted the Bell X-1 aircraft to 1,127 km/h, breaking the sound barrier and paving the way for future space travel.
Continuous Improvement gains momentum at CERN
Launched in January by the Continuous Improvement Team, CERN's CERNidée portal allows staff to share process enhancement ideas. Averaging over one submission per working day in early 2026, it is streamlining operations.
Astronomical nanosatellite VERTECS completes initial operations and begins scientific observations
The VERTECS astronomical nanosatellite, built by a Japanese university consortium, has concluded in-orbit testing. Meeting all performance standards, it has begun routine scientific observations.
A Trip to Mars Could Break Your Heart - Literally
A new study in PLoS One by Medical College of Wisconsin researchers examines how weightlessness and deep space radiation pose lasting cardiovascular risks for future Mars-bound astronauts.
The public consultation for the Future Circular Collider (FCC) project generates extensive dialogue with the local communities
The public consultation process for CERN's Future Circular Collider (FCC) project has concluded in France and Switzerland. The four-month initiative fostered extensive dialogue with local communities.
Exhibition | Imagining the future of physics
CERN invites researchers and the general public to explore the future of particle physics through a new exhibition. The event highlights major research infrastructures and fundamental questions about the Universe.
Computer Security: 2FA to the TechNet
CERN has fully implemented two-factor authentication (2FA) across its key remote access gateways. The integration of eduVPN completes the protection of CERN's IT services and campus network.
CERN Service Desk: Let’s improve the quality of our calls together
Since its creation, the Service Desk team has aimed to make everyday life easier for the CERN community by providing them with clear, efficient and high-quality support, whether over the phone, through tickets or during visits to the CERN Community Support Centre (CCSC). To better meet the needs of…
New Data from the Juno Spacecraft Reveals that Jupiter's Has a Rippling, Wavy Magnetodisk
Using observations from NASA's Juno spacecraft, an international team led by Shandong University shows that Jupiter's magnetodisk is a rippling structure that rotates with the planet, contrary to what scientists previously thought.
Hypernovae May Be All Hype, No Nova
Astrophysicists think that hypernovae are the most powerful stellar explosions in the Universe. They're the most explosive type of core-collapse supernova. But the evidence for them is not voluminous, and new research pokes holes in it, pointing out that hypernovae may not actually exist.
Organization Release: NSF Kitt Peak National Observatory Welcomes Local Community to Tohono O’odham Nation Open Night
More than 90 NSF NOIRLab volunteers welcomed visitors from the Tohono O’odham Nation to NSF Kitt Peak National Observatory to enjoy an evening of cultural performances and educational activities.
A Red Dwarf is Taking its Time Eating a Brown Dwarf
Astronomers detected an unusual triangular light curve about 300 light years away. They were searching for Black Widow Binaries, where a dense neutron star eats its companion. But they found something different: an M dwarf slowly eating its binary companion brown dwarf.
The Properties of Globular Clusters and Elqui Associated with the Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy
After identifying a new globular cluster, HSC 61, belonging to the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy, researchers have mapped the stellar stream, determined its metallicity, and analyzed the Sagittarius merger event.
ESA's Hera Mission Targets Binary Asteroid Pair in November
In just one more month, the European Space Agency’s Hera mission will make history. Moving at 12 kilometers per second versus Earth, the mission is about to rendezvous with the binary Dimorphos-Didymos asteroid pair. NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission slammed into Dimorphos in…
Structure in the unstructured: New phenomenon discovered in the solar wind
Turbulence is ubiquitous and occurs every day, such as when milk is stirred into coffee or in the stormy motions of the ocean and the atmosphere. Media in space and astrophysical systems can also develop turbulence, but the physics is different because the medium is in an ionized state (known as…
NASA Initiative to Study the Moon's Environment
NASA announced three new scientific payloads that will head to the Moon to better understand lunar hazards and resources.
Webb spots possible early-universe supernova just days after it happened
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has detected a possible supernova in the early universe just days after the star exploded. Called AT 2026abck, the transient lies in a star-forming galaxy at a redshift of 5.017 and was found without the help of gravitational lensing. JWST observations suggest…
Planetary systems reveal two distinct families tied to their host stars
Analyzing a sample of 300 of the best-characterized planetary systems among the more than 1,000 known in the Milky Way, an international research team led by the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) has discovered that the multiplanet systems identified so far belong to two distinct…
NASA JPL Testing Readies Voyager Technologies Lander for Moon Mission
Shaken, spun, baked, and blasted, the Griffin-1 spacecraft was put through weeks of tests to show it can survive the conditions of launch through lunar landing.
Tiny Gold Nanogaps Could Crack the Chirality Puzzle
Looking for biosignatures across the solar system requires looking for asymmetry. Amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, are famously either “left-handed” (L) or “right-handed” (D). We know abiotic processes (i.e. those that create amino acids but don’t involve life) create a 50/50 mixture…
NASA's SpaceX CRS-35 mission to launch health research
NASA experiments focused on human and plant health and drug-resistant organisms will travel to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX's 35th Commercial Resupply Services mission for the agency from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, advancing research that benefits life on Earth…
Mars moon lander set to launch on 19 October
The Martian Moons eXploration ( MMX ) mission is set to launch into space on a H3 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center at 04:41 JST on 20 October 2026 (20:41 BST / 21:41 CEST on 19 October 2026). MMX will be the first mission to collect a sample from Mars’s moon Phobos and bring it back to…
Vera Rubin Observatory spots the largest ultra-fast spinning asteroid yet
The speed of an asteroid's spin can tell astronomers a surprising amount about what it is made of. However, existing approaches to measuring spin based on telescope observations can often produce misleading estimates.
The CERN Pension Fund launches MyPension, its new online portal
The CERN Pension Fund is pleased to announce the upcoming launch of MyPension, its new online portal. Designed to simplify your administrative procedures and improve your experience, MyPension will provide easy access to your pension information and allow you to interact with the Pension Fund more…
Registration of bank details
Registration of bank details Written by: FAP Department — In line with developments to the international ISO 20022 standard, which is applied by Swiss banks in electronic payment transactions, the FAP department advises all remunerated members of the personnel to kindly check the accuracy of their…
LS3 Safety Spotlight: coordinating activities at CERN: monitoring activities – a key step
As mentioned in our previous articles, CERN has put in place a structure to manage and oversee concurrent activities during Long Shutdown 3 (LS3). One of the key measures is the monitoring of activities on the ground. Why monitor? In addition to being a regulatory requirement, monitoring makes it…
Primordial helium further confirms our understanding of the Big Bang
In the early moments of the big bang, two elements were forged: hydrogen and helium. Technically, the tiniest traces of light elements such as lithium were produced as well, but nothing of consequence. The early universe was about three parts hydrogen to one part helium. All the heavier elements…
NASA’s Perseverance Sets Off-World Record for Total Distance Driven
The six-wheeled geologist has in less than six years surpassed a mark set by the agency’s Opportunity rover, which explored the Red Planet for nearly 15 years.
Hubble Spots a Suspected Second-Generation Planet
Diligent sleuthing by astronomers has broken open a cold case in the data archive of NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. In a study published Monday in Nature Astronomy, researchers report uncovering a surprising chemical clue that indicates the white dwarf star HS 0209+0832 may host a second-generation…
Alternative gravity theory offers possible explanation for dark energy changing over time
For many years, the simplest view of dark energy has been that it remains unchanged. Throughout cosmic history, the mysterious ingredient believed to drive the universe's accelerated expansion is thought to have behaved in the same way at every epoch. However, an increasing number of observations…
Physics Nobel highlights Antarctica's role in exploring the cosmos
When Belgian American particle physicist Francis Halzen was awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in physics "for decisive contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and the discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin," it was a reminder that for more than a century, scientists have…
The Sun Has a New Life Expectancy, and It’s a Billion Times Shorter
New simulations suggest that the planets' orbits will destabilize well before the Sun expands into its red giant phase.
The Invisible Architecture Between the Stars
Astrobites reports on why interstellar magnetic fields can appear ordered or tangled, depending on which gas clouds you measure and how.
Gelato: A Mission Concept for Comet Surface Sample Return
Mallory J. Kinczyk et al 2026 Planet. Sci. J. 7 182 The Gelato mission would collect a sample from the surface of the comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, gathering material that, unlike coma materials collected in previous missions, is relatively unprocessed.
ALMA catches a dying star mid-transformation, with a ring from its last outburst
Astronomers have used radio observations from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to catch a dying star in the middle of a dramatic transformation, and the data show a ring that records its final outburst. The new research was posted to the arXiv preprint server on Sept. 18. The…
IAC 2026 Completed with Record Attendance in Antalya: The Future of Space Meets in Turkey
“Dünyanın Daha Fazla Uzaya İhtiyacı Var” temasıyla düzenlenen kongre; uzay ajanslarını, bilim insanlarını, mühendisleri, astronotları, teknoloji şirketle
Antalya Declaration for Peace in Space: Joint Call from 21 Countries
5–9 Ekim 2026 tarihlerinde Antalya’da düzenlenen 77. Uluslararası Uzay Kongresi (IAC 2026), bilimsel ve teknolojik gelişmelerin yanı sıra uzayın geleceğine ilişkin uluslar
Hubble caught it. Smiling galaxy
NASA, Hubble uzay teleskobunun yakaladığı ilginç bir kareyi paylaştı. Kameraya gülümseyen bir galaksi kümesi... ABD Havacılık ve Uzay Ajansı'nın (NASA) Hubble uzay teleskobu, evrenin gizemlerini gözlemlemeyi sürdürüyor. NASA 1990 yılından bu yana yörüngede çalışan Hubbe'ın kaydettiği çarpıcı bir…
Webb Telescope finds source of farthest radio burst
James Webb Uzay Teleskobu, 2024 yılında MeerKAT dizisi tarafından tespit edilen ve şimdiye kadar gözlemlenen en uzak hız...
Minister Kacır: IAC 2026 has become the largest and most magnificent international space congress to date
Bakan Kacır, 77. Uluslararası Uzay Kongresi'nin (IAC 2026) kapanış etkinliğini Aspendos Antik Tiyatrosu'nda gerçekleştirdiklerini belirterek, kongrenin bugüne kadarki en büyük ve en görkemli uluslararası uzay kongresi olduğunu söyledi.
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 detect ripples in space-time called gravitational waves.
Discovery marks the first detection of variable water clouds outside of the solar system
A Jupiter-sized world just 7.5 light-years away is cloudy, chemically complex and, it turns out, more like home than anyone expected. Using the James Webb Space Telescope, Brittany Miles, assistant astronomer at the University of Arizona's Steward Observatory, led a team that spent 11 hours staring…
A Pulsar in a Rare Triple System
Researchers have discovered a millisecond pulsar with two stellar companions — one of only a handful of these rapidly spinning stellar remnants known to be in a triple system.
Testing Warm Dark Matter with Kinematics of the Smallest Galaxies
The kinematics of small Milky Way satellites should differ depending on whether dark matter is warm or cold; current data constrain the mass of warm dark matter particles to >5.8 keV at 95% confidence.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, October 9 – 18
Take advantage of these moonless evenings! Make friends with some far Cassiopeia clusters in the high-arching Milky Way. Soon the Moon will return.
Turkey's third space traveler Erdem: I believe there will be very rapid progress
Türkiye'nin üçüncü uzay yolcusu Gökhan Erdem, Türkiye Uzay Programı kapsamında son yıllarda önemli adımlar atıldığını belirterek insanlı uzay misyonlarıyla kazanılan deneyimin yanı sıra Somali'de inşası devam eden uzay üssü ve Ankara'daki uzay teknokenti gibi yatırımların ülkenin uzay hedeflerini…
Sky in October 2026
Ekim 2026’da Gökyüzü Köşe Gökbilim riza.aycelebi Cu, 10/09/2026 - 11:18 Konu Gökbilim Ayın Gök Olayları Mehmet Yüksek Makale Görseli /sites/default/files/styles/bp-770px-custom_user_desktop_1x/public/ekim-2026-gokyuzu.jpg?itok=XzzTWSqC serebryannikov/iStockphoto.com Bu ay gezegenler de farklı…
Meet the Star Cluster That Defies Conventions
The stellar gathering known as Garro 04 belongs to a growing number of enigmatic groupings that combine traits of young open clusters ancient globulars.
International Space Congress opens its doors to the public on its last day
Uzay alanında kritik başlıkların ele alındığı ve dünya çapında alanın profesyonellerini bir araya getiren 77. Uluslararası Uzay Kongresi (IAC 2026), son gününde halka kapılarını açtı.
Minister Kacır invites to Space Congress in Antalya: Anyone interested in space is welcome
Sanayi ve Teknoloji Bakanı Mehmet Fatih Kacır, uzay ve teknolojiye ilgi duyan herkesi Antalya'da düzenlenen 77. Uluslararası Uzay Kongresi'nin (IAC 2026) Halk Günü'ne davet etti.
Science Release: Webb measures distance to farthest fast radio burst, suggesting origin
First discovered in 2007, fast radio bursts are enigmatic, millisecond-long flashes of radio emission from the distant Universe. Their origin remains uncertain, particularly since most are seen once and never again. Astronomers using the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope have pinpointed the…
Fast Radio Burst Shatters Distance Record
Astronomers have found a distant fast radio burst whose signal has traversed much of the universe before arriving at Earth.
NASA’s SPHEREx Telescope Sees Menagerie of Brown Dwarfs
The dimly glowing balls of gas formed like stars but in other ways resemble giant planets.
EP250827b/SN 2025wkm: An X-Ray Flash-Supernova Powered by a Central Engine and Circumstellar Interaction
Gokul P. Srinivasaragavan et al 2026 ApJL 1006 L36 Through modeling, researchers determined that a recently discovered supernova accompanied by an X-ray flash likely gave rise to a long-lived magnetar that may be surrounded by an accretion disk.
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 particles within the switchback, Solar Orbiter has traced its origin back to the Sun’s surface and revealed more about…
METU's Lunar Vehicle Cheri to be launched in 2030
Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi'nin (ODTÜ) Ay yüzeyinde yürüyecek mikro keşif aracı CHERI'nin 2030'da fırlatılması planlanıyor.
For the first time in the history of the Space Congress, a special area for young people was established
Antalya'da devam eden 77'nci Uluslararası Uzay Kongresi'nde gençler için açılan "Future Space" alanında, genç girişimciler uluslararası uzay sektörünün temsilcileriyle bir araya geldi. Alanda ayrıca TEKNOFEST şampiyonlarının projeleri de sergileniyor.
Astronauts meet students in Antalya
77. Uluslararası Uzay Kongresi için Antalya'ya gelen astronotlar, Aksu Uçak Bakım Teknolojisi Mesleki ve Teknik Anadolu Lisesi öğrencileriyle bir araya geldi.
Tilting WASP-12b Doesn’t Solve the Mystery of Its Inspiral
The hot Jupiter WASP-12b is on a collision course with its host star, and it's heading that way faster than expected. New research examines a possible explanation for the planet's speedy inspiraling.
Nasa shares preliminary findings of Artemis II mission
77. Uluslararası Uzay Kongresi'nde, ABD Havacılık ve Uzay Ajansı (NASA) tarafından Artemis II misyonuyla Ay bilimine dair elde edilen ön bulgular yayımlandı.
Star Formation at the Periphery of a Molecular Superbubble: The Case of G12.79+0.43
The molecular cloud complex G12.79+0.43 contains 82 young stellar object candidates; while this complex is spatially associated with a larger superbubble, it’s not yet clear if there is a causal association.
Mars’s oddest cloud may be even odder than we thought
Scientists using the European Space Agency's Mars Express , in combination with a state-of-the-art meteorological model of the Red Planet, have found that there may be some very exotic physics behind Mars’s most curious cloud.
Neutrino Hunter Francis Halzen Wins Nobel Prize in Physics
Particle physicist earned the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics for his contributions to neutrino astronomy.
Turkish Space Agency signs two agreements at IAC 2026
Türkiye Uzay Ajansı (TUA) 77. Uluslararası Uzay Kongresi'nde (IAC 2026) Türk Devletleri Teşkilatı (TDT) üyesi ülkelerin uzay ajansları ve Birleşik Krallık Uzay Ajansı (UKSA) ile iki anlaşma imzaladı.
NASA’s SunRISE Mission Targets No Earlier Than Mid-2027 Launch
Six satellites, each the size of a toaster oven, will operate as a single giant radio dish to study the Sun.
Can We Distinguish the Source Region Location of Filament/Prominence Eruptions from the Sun-as-a-Star Hα Spectrum?
Eruptions taking place in different locations on the Sun (e.g., on the solar limb versus on the disk) appear to have different spectral characteristics, paving a way for source regions of stellar flares to be studied.
Featured Image: Echoes of Giant Pulses
A new catalog of giant pulses from the Crab Nebula pulsar reveals a feature predicted to exist but not seen until now.
Photo Release: Gemini North Reveals Pearl-Like Knots in the Remnant of a Supernova Witnessed in the Year 1181
The Gemini North telescope located on Maunakea in Hawai‘i has revealed the most detailed view yet of Pa 30, the likely remnant of the historic supernova seen in the year 1181. The new observations reveal that its famous “firework” filaments are not smooth streaks, but chains of tiny knots.
NASA’s Curiosity Rover Catches Stunning Martian Dawn
Sunlight illuminates wind-carved cliffs in a dramatic new image.
Webb captures commotion from nebula’s stellar jets
Image: Webb captures commotion from nebula’s stellar jets
77th International Space Congress opens to the public on 9 October
Türkiye'nin ev sahipliğinde Antalya’da gerçekleştirilen 77. Uluslararası Uzay Kongresi (IAC 2026)', 9 Ekim Cuma günü 'Halk Günü' paneline e ev sahipliği yapmaya hazırlanıyor.
Rare 11-year event: Jupiter suddenly swallowed by Moon
Ay, 6 Ekim’de Jüpiter’in önünden geçerek gezegeni yaklaşık 1 saat boyunca tamamen gözden sakladı. Türkiye’den gündüz saa...
HÜRSAT to take office in 2027
TUSAŞ Genel Müdürü Mehmet Demiroğlu, HÜRSAT-1 uydusunun gelecek yılın ortalarında, HÜRSAT-2'nin de ROKETSAN'ın ŞİMŞEK-1 roketiyle 2028-2029 bandında fırlatılmasının planlandığını açıkladı.
Space, technology and the future of the next generation will be addressed at IAC 2026
Teknoloji, uzay ve yeni neslin geleceği 77. Uluslararası Uzay Kongresi'nde (IAC 2026) ele alınacak.
TUSAŞ and ROKETSAN sign for HÜRSAT
TUSAŞ ve ROKETSAN, HÜRSAT-2 proje sözleşmesini 77. Uluslararası Uzay Kongresi (IAC) kapsamında Antalya'da imzaladı.
Predictions of Transiting Exoplanet Confirmations from Rubin LSST Surveys
The upcoming Wide Fast Deep and Deep Drilling Field surveys have limited potential to confirm exoplanets, with just a handful of hot planets around M-dwarf stars likely to be confirmed in the Deep Drilling Field.
SPHEREx: The Niftiest Space Telescope You May Not Have Heard Of
Astrobites reports on NASA’s SPHEREx mission, which is collecting an infrared spectrum for every point in the sky — potentially revolutionizing our understanding of cosmic inflation, galaxy formation, and interstellar ices.
Science Release: Suspected second-generation planet solves Hubble cold case
For more than a quarter century, unidentified chemical signatures from a white dwarf star have laid dormant in the archive of the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, until diligent sleuthing by a young astronomer revealed something extraordinary: high amounts of the element niobium, and other unusual…
Turkey could help build our lunar base, Nasa says
NASA Başkan Yardımcısı Matt Anderson, "Uzay, Türkiye için ulusal bir öncelik ve Artemis Anlaşmaları'nın imzalanmasıyla açıkça görülüyor ki Cumhurbaşkanı Recep Tayyip Erdoğan'ın liderliğinde Türkiye için bir ulusal öncelik haline gelmiştir. Dolayısıyla bu ortaklığı dört gözle bekliyoruz ve buradan…
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