On Monday, June 3, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured an intense solar flare in stunning detail. The M-class flare produced a massive plasma plume that ultimately failed to escape the sun’s gravitational pull, creating a “failed eruption.” Solar astrophysicist Ryan French described the event on social media, highlighting how the plasma fell back along the magnetic field lines, exemplifying “physics in action.” The flare, classified … Continue reading Sun unleashes giant plasma plume and reels it back in apparent ‘failed eruption’

China’s Chang’e-6 probe is returning to Earth with the first samples collected from the far side of the moon, marking a significant milestone for Beijing’s space program. The probe landed in the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin on Sunday, gathered rock and soil samples over two days, and then unfurled a Chinese flag on the lunar surface. The probe’s ascender module has now lifted off from … Continue reading China’s lunar probe on way back to Earth from far side of the moon

The Hubble Space Telescope is experiencing issues with one of its three remaining gyroscopes, crucial for its targeting capabilities. To address this, mission managers have switched to a backup control mode, which will limit some observations but keep the telescope operational into the 2030s. Patrick Crouse, the Hubble project manager, expressed confidence in Hubble’s continued success through the 2020s and into the 2030s. Meanwhile, NASA … Continue reading Hubble Space Telescope faces setback, but should keep working for years, NASA says

Japan’s Venus spacecraft Akatsuki, dedicated to studying the planet’s climate, has lost contact with Earth. Launched in 2010, it initially failed to enter Venus’ orbit but succeeded in 2015 after adjustments. Conducting scientific research since then, it made unexpected discoveries. However, contact was lost in late April due to stability control issues, Space.com has reported. Efforts are underway to reestablish communication, crucial for the spacecraft … Continue reading Japan loses contact with Akatsuki, humanity’s only active Venus probe

On Saturday morning, the International Space Station received a delivery of fresh supplies from a robotic Russian cargo craft just in time for the upcoming launch of a Boeing Starliner spacecraft carrying two astronauts. The Roscosmos Progress 88 freighter successfully docked with the station’s Poisk module at 7:43 a.m. EDT after launching from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan two days earlier. The smooth automated docking, overseen … Continue reading Russian Progress 88 cargo ship docks at ISS carrying tons of fresh supplies

China’s Chang’e 6 mission, launched in May, is poised to make history by landing on the far side of the Moon, a challenging and unexplored territory. The mission aims to gather precious rocks and soil from this region, potentially uncovering some of the Moon’s oldest rocks from a vast crater on its South Pole. However, this endeavor is not without risks, as communication with spacecraft … Continue reading China spacecraft to try to land on Moon’s far side

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has discovered the earliest and most distant galaxy known to humanity, shedding light on the cosmic dawn just after the Big Bang. This discovery offers invaluable insights into the formation and evolution of gas, stars, and black holes in the universe’s infancy. Named JADES-GS-z14-0, the galaxy was observed a mere 290 million years after the Big Bang, making it a … Continue reading Earliest and most distant known galaxy spotted by James Webb telescope