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<![CDATA[ Latest from Space.com ]]>
https://www.space.com
- Mon, 22 Dec 2025 19:00:00 +0000
+ Tue, 23 Dec 2025 22:00:00 +0000en
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+ <![CDATA[ Russia patents space station designed to generate artificial gravity ]]>
+ Russian state-owned Energia rocket company has secured a patent for a novel spacecraft architecture designed to generate artificial gravity, a capability which could provide a huge boost for long-duration crewed missions.
A report from Russian state media outlet TASS, which obtained the patent, states that the rotating system is designed to generate a gravitational force of 0.5g, or 50% of Earth’s gravity. The patent documentation includes illustrations of a notional space station structure with a central axial module with both static and rotating components, with modules and habitats connected by a hermetically sealed, flexible junction.
The radially attached habitable modules would be rotated around this axis to simulate gravity for the crew by producing an outward-pushing centrifugal force. These would need to rotate about five revolutions per minute, and have a radius of 131 feet (40 meters) in order to produce 0.5g. A space station of that size would require multiple launches with each module that would then be assembled in orbit.
The documentation notes the disadvantage of the need for spinning and coordinating the rotation of transport ships to dock with the station, which it notes reduces the safety of using such a station.
Generating artificial gravity could have profound impacts for crews on long-duration space missions, whether in low Earth orbit on interplanetary voyages into deep space. Exposure to microgravity has numerous impacts on astronauts, including muscle atrophy and bone density loss.
Illustrations accompanying a patent for an artificial gravity space station submitted by Russian state-owned Energia rocket company. (Image credit: RSC Energia)
NASA has produced concepts such as the rotating wheel space station concept Nautilus-X, while, more recently, commercial firm Vast has said it will pursue artificial gravity stations.
Russia did not indicate timelines for such a project nor resources to back its development. The patent does however indicate interest in the concept of artificial gravity at a time when the end of the International Space Station (ISS) is approaching and new national and commercial station plans are moving forward.
Currently, NASA and Roscosmos plan to deorbit the ISS in 2030, using a modified SpaceX Dragon capsule to push the station down into a fiery death over the Pacific Ocean. Russia has committed to stay aboard the ISS until 2028.
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+ https://www.space.com/technology/russia-patents-space-station-designed-to-generate-artificial-gravity
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+ Tue, 23 Dec 2025 22:00:00 +0000Mon, 22 Dec 2025 22:24:32 +0000
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+ <![CDATA[ 10 most expensive Lego Star Wars sets available right now ]]>
+ Lego Star Wars sets have been around for more than 25 years, and in that time, we've seen some seriously impressive sets. The best Lego Star Wars sets typically carry a very expensive price tag, however, and so if you're a serious collector, you're going to have to spend some serious credits. Here, we've rounded up the most expensive Lego Star Wars sets currently available, with price tags stretching all the way up to an eye-watering $1000. Phew.
Almost every set in this list is an Ultimate Collector's Series set, meaning it's one designed with adults in mind, created to be displayed rather than be played with. You can play with these sets, if you want, but we wouldn't recommend letting your five-year-old get heavy-handed with your UCS Millennium Falcon. It'll all just end in tears when you're left picking up 7,500 loose pieces off the floor — don't say we didn't warn you.
Read on to find the 10 most expensive Lego Star Wars sets. We've omitted any sets that have since retired: these are just the sets still available to buy today, and we're basing prices on the MSRP as set by The Lego Store.
10. The Dark Falcon
The Dark Falcon is the only playset to make it onto our list of the most expensive Lego Star Wars sets currently available. (Image credit: Lego)
Set specifications
Price: $179.99 / £159.99
Set number: 75389
Number of pieces: 1579 pieces
Age rating: 10+
Release date: August 2024
Part of an alternative universe Star Wars range, released alongside the launch of Disney Plus series Rebuild the Galaxy, The Dark Falcon is the only set on this list aimed at kids. It's not surprising, really: the most expensive Lego sets are generally reserved for adults. And at $179.99, this one's tipping the scales a bit. But for fans looking for something a little different, it's a great choice. And let's face it: it's a lot cheaper than the other Millennium Falcon on this list.
The Dark Falcon reimagines what might have been if the iconic Millennium Falcon was instead commandeered by the dark side. It recolors the ship black, making it unique from other Lego models of the Millennium Falcon, and it comes with six minifigures. Amusingly, some of the minifigures also resemble characters that have also swapped to the dark side: there's Darth Jar Jar, Bounty Hunter C-3PO, Darth Dev and Darth Rey. Darth Vader has switched parties, too, and here, he's Jedi Vader. Luke, for some reason, is kitted out for the beach as Beach Luke. Clearly, he just doesn't want to be battling in this universe.
Being aimed at children, the Dark Falcon is designed to be a playset. You'll find lift-up panels to grant access to the interior, where there are clearly designated zones: a throne for Darth Jar Jar, a command center, a jail cell and an entertainment area.
9. AT-ST Walker
We've had lots of Lego AT-ST Walkers before, but none are as detailed as this UCS version. (Image credit: Lego)
Set specifications
Price: $199.99 / £179.99
Set number: 75417
Number of pieces: 1513 pieces
Age rating: 18+
Release date: August 2025
There have been several Lego AT-STs over the years, but this is the first time we've had an Ultimate Collector's Series model — one specifically designed for adults, and designed for display rather than play. That doesn't mean you can't play with it if you want to: it has a rotating head, viewports that can be opened and closed and adjustable laser cannons.
But what makes a UCS set distinctive from a playset is the additional detail. Made up of 1,513 pieces, this AT-ST Walker is not only larger than most but looks more realistic than ever. Its distinctive legs are carefully designed to balance the weight of the set, so it can be proudly displayed. You can even open the top hatch to reveal a two-person cockpit inside.
Sadly, it doesn't come with two minifigures: there's only one here – a price to pay for the fact that this is a lower-priced Ultimate Collector's Series set. The minifigure included is designed to stand on the informational plaque that also comes with the set, which is wonderfully detailed, with the Imperial crest printed on its arms.
8. TIE Interceptor
This is the biggest Lego Star Wars TIE Interceptor released so far. (Image credit: Lego)
Set specifications
Price: $229.99 / £199.99
Set number: 75382
Number of pieces: 1931 pieces
Age rating: 18+
Release date: May 2024
Like many of the sets on our list of the most expensive Lego Star Wars sets currently available, the TIE Interceptor is another Ultimate Collector's Series set. It's one of many TIE Interceptors that have been released over the years, though thanks to its UCS status, it's bigger and more detailed than most.
Released as part of Lego Star Wars' 25th anniversary last year, it comes with a 25th Anniversary brick along with one minifigure (a new design TIE Pilot). Like all UCS sets, it also comes with a display plaque, providing details about the TIE Interceptor, and giving a place to display the minifigure and anniversary brick.
The Lego TIE Interceptor is 16 inches long and, given the ship's iconic shape, it comes with a brick-built display stand to enable you to display it effectively. You'll find neat details here, such as a rear engine, laser cannons and a viewable cockpit interior. Along with the pilot minifigure, there's also a mouse droid figure.
7. X-Wing Starfighter
The Lego Star Wars X-Wing Starfighter is close to retiring, so grab it while you still can. (Image credit: Future)
Set specifications
Price: $239.99 / £209.99
Set number: 75355
Number of pieces: 1953 pieces
Age rating: 18+
Release date: May 2023
Having been around since 2023, there's a good chance the Lego Star Wars X-Wing Starfighter will be retiring very soon. If you fancy picking up this UCS set, we'd recommend you do it fairly quickly — it's worth adding to your collection too. In our X-Wing Starfighter review, we said it’s "a great model that will always look excellent on a shelf". What more could you want from a Lego set for adults?
Made up of just shy of 2,000 pieces, the X-Wing Starfighter needs a good amount of space to display, as it measures over 21.5 inches in length. You'll find a buildable display stand here to proudly show it off, and the informational plaque provides a good place to display the included Luke Skywalker minifigure and the R2-D2 droid. Notably, there's space in the ship for both of them if you'd rather display the set with them inside.
As you'd expect from a ship this size, the X-Wing Starfighter packs in a lot of realistic detail. There's an opening cockpit (that Skywalker can fit inside), space behind for R2-D2 to sit, and adjustable wings that can move from flight mode to attack mode with one switch.
The iconic colors of Jango Fett make this starship unique from what came before it. (Image credit: Lego)
Set specifications
Price: $299.99 / £259.99
Set number: 75409
Number of pieces: 2970 pieces
Age rating: 18+
Release date: May 2025
If you've been buying Lego Star Wars sets for a while, you'll undoubtedly find Jango Fett's Firespray-Class Starship to be very familiar indeed. It's identical in shape to Boba Fett's Starship, and it has been previously released under the Slave I moniker. The green and blue hues of Jango Fett's Starship do at least set it apart somewhat, and the size of this one might make it a tempting prospect for adult fans of Lego who like a big model.
You'll get two minifigures with this UCS set: Jango Fett with printed arms, along with a young Boba Fett. Both can be situated inside the opening cockpit, or they can be displayed on the included informational plaque stand. At 18 inches in length and 16 inches wide, the Firespray-Class Starship packs in a lot of detail. Along with the cockpit, there's an openable main entrance, a compartment for the seismic charge and blaster cannons that can be adjusted.
What's particularly cool is that Jango Fett's Firespray-Class Starship can be displayed in two ways: it can be displayed flat, in 'landing mode', or stood upright, using a buildable stand. As an added realistic detail, the rotating wings will always remain horizontal even when the vehicle is tilted.
5. Jabba's Sail Barge
The minifigure selection in Lego Star Wars Jabba's Sail Barge is very strong. (Image credit: Lego)
Set specifications
Price: $499.99 / £429.99
Set number: 75397
Number of pieces: 3943 pieces
Age rating: 18+
Release date: October 2024
We are truly in expensive set territory now — from here on out, these are the most expensive Lego Star Wars sets that only serious fans and collectors are likely to buy. Costing $499.99, Jabba's Sail Barge is a considerable investment: not only do you get a substantial model of the barge, but you also get a strong collection of unique minifigures, too.
Along with a huge model of Jabba the Hutt, there are ten other beautifully-detailed minifigures included here: Princess Leia, Bib Fortuna, C-3PO, Max Rebo, Kithaba, Wooof, Vizam, Salacious Crumb, R2-D2 and a Gamorrean Guard. It's quite a treat to have so many included with a UCS set, but that's a small part of what pushes the price up so high.
Of course, the 3,943-piece model of Jabba's Sail Barge packs in a lot of exquisite detail, too. It's an impressive 30.5 inches in length, with textile sails that can be adjusted, and the top deck and walls can be moved to allow full access to the interior. You'll want to see inside, too, thanks to the detailed rooms: there's a cockpit, prison cell, armory and an entertainment room, complete with Jabba's seedy bed. The minifigures can all be placed inside the ship, or you can display them on an included plinth.
4. The Razor Crest
The Lego Star Wars UCS Razor Crest is a must-have for any Mandalorian fan. (Image credit: Lego)
Set specifications
Price: $599.99 / £519.99
Set number: 75331
Number of pieces: 6187 pieces
Age rating: 18+
Release date: October 2022
Having been around for three years, The Lego Star Wars UCS Razor Crest is close to retirement — so if you want this one in your collection, you've only got a few more weeks to pick it up. Lego will stop stocking this in 2026, which means its price will likely go up on the reseller market. Great news if you own one, but not so great if you're yet to pick it up.
And if you're a Mandalorian fan, you absolutely should want to have this huge ship in your collection. The Razor Crest is one of the more unique ships in the Star Wars galaxy, and this particular model comes with minifigures of The Mandalorian, Grogu (and his Hover Pram), The Mythrol and Kuiil. There's also a buildable Blurrg, which can hold a minifigure on its back and be stowed away in the Razor Crest's cargo compartment.
As you'd expect from a ship of this size and stature, The Razor Crest has plenty of interactive features. Its engines can be removed, as can the cockpit. Two side hatches open, and the cargo compartment can be accessed, too. Inside, you'll find a weapons cabinet and a carbon-freezing chamber with room for a minifigure. There's also a detachable escape pod, again with room for a minifigure to sit inside.
3. Venator-Class Republic Attack Cruiser
You'll need a lot of space to effectively display the Lego Star Wars Venator-Class Republic Attack Cruiser. (Image credit: Future/Ian Stokes)
Set specifications
Price: $649.99 / £559.99
Set number: 75367
Number of pieces: 5374 pieces
Age rating: 18+
Release date: October 2023
In our review of the Lego Star Wars Venator-Class Republic Attack Cruiser, we said that "it's huge, looks fantastic, and is packed with details". You'd expect nothing less from a Lego set costing $649.99, of course, but the Venator absolutely looks the part and is one of our favorite UCS sets to date.
This is one of the most eye-catching Star Wars ships, largely in part to the red detailing that provides a stunning contrast to the sea of grey bricks we typically see on Star Wars ships. There's a huge amount of detail here, too, including a command bridge, turbolaser turrets and a hangar, where you'll find a scale model of a Republic Gunship (spoiler: it's tiny). It also comes with a display stand, so you can proudly show this set off.
There are a couple of downsides here, however. The Venator-Class Republic Attack Cruiser only comes with two minifigures, which is a little disappointing given its price point. You'll get Captain Rex and Admiral Yularen, which can be displayed on the included informational plaque. Second is the size: at 43 inches in length (1.09 meters), you'll need a significant amount of space to adequately display this huge set. If you're living in a small apartment, you might need to rethink purchasing this one.
Until very recently, the Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon held the record for the most expensive Lego Star Wars set. (Image credit: Future)
Set specifications
Price: $849.99 / £734.99
Set number: 75192
Number of pieces: 7541 pieces
Age rating: 16+
Release date: October 2017
Until very recently, the UCS Millennium Falcon was the biggest Lego Star Wars set available, but it's since been knocked off the number-one spot by the brand new Death Star. It's still a very impressive set, though, and the fact that it's been around for eight years tells you everything you need to know about the popularity of this set. Typically, a Lego Star Wars set will stay on shelves for a maximum of two years, so it's had an impressive run with no sign of ending yet.
There are seven minifigures included here: four from the original trilogy, and four from the modern trilogy. There's Han Solo, Chewbacca, Princess Leia and C-3PO, then also Older Han Solo, Rey and Finn. Along with some interchangeable details for the ship, such as sensor dishes, it's up to you what era you want your Millennium Falcon to come from.
Made up of more than 7,500 pieces, there's a huge amount of detail on the Millennium Falcon itself, and as we said in our UCS Millennium Falcon review, it's a delight to build, even despite its size. The exterior features upper and lower quad laser cannons, landing legs and a boarding ramp that can raise and lower. There's also a cockpit with a detachable canopy, with enough room for four minifigures to sit inside. You can take the hull plates off the ship to take a look inside, too: there's a detailed main hold, gunnery station and rear compartment
Released in October 2025, the Lego Death Star is the first Lego set to cost $1000. (Image credit: Lego)
Set specifications
Price: $999.99 / £899.99
Set number: 75419
Number of pieces: 9023 pieces
Age rating: 18+
Release date: October 2025
Last but certainly not least comes the brand new UCS Death Star, costing an eye-watering $999.99. It's the first Lego set in history to cost a thousand dollars, and we don't think it'll be the last. This is a seriously impressive set, packing in a lot of detail, but unlike previous models of the Death Star, it's not a complete, spherical model. Instead, it's a cutaway, focusing more on the interior detail. It's a strange choice for an Ultimate Collector's Series set, looking more like a very expensive playset than a display piece.
At 9,023 pieces, it's one of the biggest Lego sets of all time, and those bricks go towards building a 32-inch wide cutaway of the famous Death Star. Inside, it's split up into different rooms, many of which you'll instantly recognise. You'll find Princess Leia's holding cell, the trash compactor, the hangar control room, Emperor Palpatine's throne room, and a whole lot more.
There are 38 minifigures included here, all of which can be placed inside the Death Star to bring each room to life as a small diorama. There's a good selection of minifigures, including Luke Skywalker (both as a Jedi and a Stormtrooper), two versions of Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, Darth Vader, two droids and a wealth of Stormtroopers.
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+ https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-toys-lego/10-most-expensive-lego-star-wars-sets-available-right-now
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+ G6m6MpKdfxjP3Dzr6EnjE
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+ Tue, 23 Dec 2025 21:05:00 +0000Fri, 19 Dec 2025 13:35:40 +0000
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+ <![CDATA[ Before trips to Mars, we need better protection from cosmic rays ]]>
+ This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Space.com's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.
The first step on the moon was one of humanity's most exciting accomplishments. Now scientists are planning return trips – and dreaming of Mars beyond.
Next year, Nasa's Artemis II mission will send four astronauts to fly around the moon to test the spacecraft before future landings. The following year, two astronauts are expected to explore the surface of the moon for a week as part of Nasa's Artemis III mission.
And finally, the trip to Mars is planned for the 2030s. But there's an invisible threat standing in the way: cosmic rays.
When we look at the night sky, we see stars and nearby planets. If we're lucky enough to live somewhere without light pollution, we might catch meteors sliding across the sky. But cosmic rays – consisting of protons, helium nuclei, heavy ions and electrons – remain hidden. They stream in from exploding stars (galactic cosmic rays) and our very own sun (solar particle events).
They don't discriminate. These particles carry so much energy and move so fast that they can knock electrons off atoms and disrupt molecular structures of any material. That way, they can damage everything in their path, machines and humans alike.
The Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere shield us from most of this danger. But outside Earth's protection, space travellers will be routinely exposed. In deep space, cosmic rays can break DNA strands, disrupt proteins and damage other cellular components, increasing the risk of serious diseases such as cancer.
The research challenge is straightforward: measure how cosmic rays affect living organisms, then design strategies to reduce their damage.
Ideally, scientists would study these effects by sending tissues, organoids (artificially made organ-like structures) or lab animals (such as mice) directly into space. That does happen, but it's expensive and difficult. A more practical approach is to simulate cosmic radiation on Earth using particle accelerators.
Cosmic ray simulators in the US and Germany expose tissues, plants and animals to different components of cosmic rays in sequence. A new international accelerator facility being built in Germany will reach even higher energies, matching levels found in space that have never been tested on living organisms.
But these simulations aren't fully realistic. Many experiments deliver the entire mission dose in a single treatment. This is like using a tsunami to study the effects of rain.
In real space, cosmic rays arrive as a mixture of high-energy particles hitting simultaneously, not one type at a time. My colleagues and I have suggested building a multi-branch accelerator that could fire several tuneable particle beams at once, recreating the mixed radiation of deep space under controlled laboratory conditions. For now, though, this kind of facility exists only as a proposal.
Beyond better testing, we need better protection. Physical shields seem like the obvious first defense. Hydrogen-rich materials such as polyethylene and water-absorbing hydrogels can slow charged particles. Although they are used, or planned to be used, as spacecraft materials, their benefits are limited.
Particularly galactic cosmic rays, the ones that arrive from far exploding stars, are so energetic that they can penetrate through physical shielding. They can even generate secondary radiation that increases exposure. So, effective protection by using solely physical shields remains a major challenge.
Cosmic rays may stand in humanity's way to Mars (Image credit: NASA)
Nature's armor
That's why scientists are exploring biological strategies. One approach is to use antioxidants. These molecules can protect DNA from harmful chemicals that are produced when cosmic rays hit living cells.
Supplementing with CDDO-EA, a synthetic antioxidant, reduces cognitive damage caused by simulated cosmic radiation in female mice. In the study, mice exposed to simulated cosmic radiation learned a simple task more slowly compared to unexposed mice. However, mice that received the synthetic antioxidant performed normally despite being exposed to simulated cosmic radiation.
Another approach involves learning from organisms with extraordinary abilities. Hibernating organisms become more resistant to radiation during hibernation. The mechanisms on how hibernation protects from radiation are not fully understood yet. Still, inducing hibernation-like conditions in non-hibernating animals is possible and can make them more radioresistant.
Tardigrades – microscopic creatures also known as water bears – are also extremely radioresistant, especially when dehydrated. Although we can't hibernate or dehydrate astronauts, the strategies these organisms use to protect cellular components might help us preserve other organisms during long space journeys.
Microbes, seeds, simple food sources and even animals that could later become our companions might be kept in a protected state for a while. Under calmer conditions, they could then be brought back to full activity. Therefore, understanding and harnessing these protective mechanisms could prove crucial for future space journeys.
A third strategy focuses on supporting organisms' own stress responses. Stressors on Earth, such as starvation or heat, have driven organisms to evolve cellular defenses that protect DNA and other cellular components. In a recent preprint (a paper that is yet to be peer reviewed), my colleague and I suggest that activating these mechanisms through specific diets or drugs may offer additional protection in space.
Physical shields alone won't be enough. But with biological strategies, more experiments in space and on Earth, and the construction of new dedicated accelerator complexes, humanity is getting closer to making routine space travel a reality. With current speed, we are probably decades away from fully solving cosmic-ray protection. Greater investment in space radiation research could shorten that timeline.
The ultimate goal is to journey beyond Earth's protective bubble without the constant threat of invisible, high-energy particles damaging our bodies and our spacecraft.
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+ https://www.space.com/astronomy/mars/before-trips-to-mars-we-need-better-protection-from-cosmic-rays
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+ Tue, 23 Dec 2025 21:00:00 +0000Mon, 22 Dec 2025 22:24:16 +0000
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+ <![CDATA[ Santa's sleigh or the International Space Station? How to spot a bright Christmas flyby Dec. 24 and 25 ]]>
+ Early risers across North America and Europe may notice something unusual in the skies this Christmas, a bright, silent light, gliding smoothly overhead in the hours before sunrise on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25.
It won't blink like an airplane and it won't leave a trail behind. Instead, it will appear suddenly, move steadily across the sky and fade away just minutes later. To young, eager eyes already awake and brimming with excitement, it might look like something (or someone) making a quiet journey through the dawn sky.
The timing matches a well-known object passing overhead.
This Christmas, the International Space Station is also perfectly placed to reflect sunlight down to Earth during early-morning passes, making it one of the brightest objects in the sky.
Whether you choose to see it as a seasonal mystery or a space-age marvel, the sight may be brief, but it is beautiful and easy to spot with the naked eye — so long as you are in the right place at the right time.
In the table below, we have listed some of the best times to look up over major cities, weather permitting — information gathered from AstroViewer.net.
When to look for the Christmas sky surprise
City
Date
Local time
Duration
Max altitude
New York
Dec. 24
6:43–6:48 a.m. EST
~5 min
19°
New York
Dec. 25
5:56–5:59 a.m. EST
~3 min
16°
Chicago
Dec. 24
5:42–5:45 a.m. CST
~3 min
16°
Chicago
Dec. 25
6:29–6:35 a.m. CST
~6 min
26°
Toronto
Dec. 24
6:42–6:47 a.m. EST
~5 min
25°
Toronto
Dec. 25
7:30–7:35 a.m. EST
~5 min
56°
London
Dec. 24
7:04–7:10 a.m. GMT
~6 min
55°
London
Dec. 25
6:17–6:22 a.m. GMT
~5 min
70°
Rome
Dec. 25
7:19–7:22 a.m. CET
~3 min
35°
To see the flyby, head outside with a clear view of the sky. You don't need binoculars or a telescope to spot it, just your eyes and a little patience.
The bright light comes from the International Space Station. It shines when sunlight reflects off the large structure while it orbits Earth every 90 minutes.
For those who want to check future sightings, or quietly confirm what they've seen, NASA's Spot the Station service shows when the space station will pass overhead from any location.
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+ https://www.space.com/stargazing/santas-sleigh-or-the-international-space-station-how-to-spot-a-bright-christmas-flyby-dec-24-and-25
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+ Tue, 23 Dec 2025 19:00:00 +0000Tue, 23 Dec 2025 19:20:58 +0000
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+ <![CDATA[ Northern lights may delight this Christmas — here's what you need to know ]]>
+ Stargazers may get an extra gift this Christmas, as the northern lights could put on a subtle show thanks to ongoing unsettled space weather activity from the sun.
While this isn't likely to be a major aurora event, conditions are more unsettled than background levels, raising the odds for festive auroras, especially at high latitudes.
Earth is currently being buffeted by fast solar wind spewing from a large coronal hole on the sun. These high-speed winds have already triggered minor (G1) geomagnetic storm conditions Dec. 22 through Dec. 23, with solar wind speeds climbing to around 500 miles (800 kilometers) per second — roughly twice as fast as typical background solar wind levels, according to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center.
These enhanced solar wind conditions are forecast to persist through Dec. 23-25, keeping geomagnetic activity elevated through Christmas Eve into Christmas Day. While storm levels may ease off slightly, there is a possibility of periods of active geomagnetic conditions according to space weather forecasters at NOAA and the U.K. Met Office.
There is also a possible wildcard at play.
According to NOAA, a coronal mass ejection (CME) that left the sun on Dec. 20 could pass close to Earth on Dec. 24, potentially striking our planet with a glancing blow. While no clearly Earth-directed CME has been observed, even a near-miss could briefly enhance aurora activity by disrupting the already disturbed solar wind environment around Earth.
Any aurora enhancement is likely to be limited to high latitudes; for the U.S., this means northern states such as Alaska, Washington, North Dakota and Minnesota. Elsewhere, elevated geomagnetic conditions could see auroras dance for skywatchers in northern Canada, Greenland and parts of Scandinavia.
Aurora forecast tonight courtesy of NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center. (Image credit: Map: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, graphic created in Canva Pro by Daisy Dobrijevic.)
To keep informed about when and if you can expect to catch a glimpse of the northern lights from where you live, we recommend downloading a space weather app that provides aurora forecasts based on your location. One option I use is "My Aurora Forecast & Alerts," available for both iOS and Android. However, any similar app should work well.
I also use the "Space Weather Live" app, which is available on iOS and Android, to get a deeper understanding of whether the current space weather conditions are favorable for aurora sightings. Want to capture the perfect photo? Our how to photograph auroras guide can help.
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+ https://www.space.com/stargazing/auroras/northern-lights-may-delight-this-christmas-heres-what-you-need-to-know
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+ Tue, 23 Dec 2025 18:00:00 +0000Tue, 23 Dec 2025 14:42:35 +0000
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+ <![CDATA[ Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS reveals weird wobbling jets in rare sun-facing tail ]]>
+ It may be on its way away from Earth and heading out of the solar system, but interstellar invader comet 3I/ATLAS still has some surprises for researchers.
New research reveals that jet structures in the sun-facing "anti-tail" of this comet, estimated in some observations to stretch up to 620,000 miles (1 million kilometers), were wobbling every 7 hours and 45 minutes as 3I/ATLAS approached the sun. Of course, comets are famous for their tails and haloes, comprised of gas and dust that is blown from their nucleus as radiation from the sun heats them. However, these tails generally face away from the sun and the influx of solar radiation. A rare anti-tail is a cometary tail that points toward the sun, rather than away from it.
3I/ATLAS is only the third object known to have entered our solar system from around another star. The first was the cigar-shaped space-rock 'Oumuamua, discovered passing through the solar system in Oct. 2017, and the second was the first interstellar comet 2I/Borisov, spotted in our solar system in August 2019. Though rare, scientists have seen comets originating in the solar system display a sun-facing anti-tail before, and wobbling jets have been observed in these anti-tails. However, this is the first time that such an "outgassing" has been observed from an interstellar comet.
"Characterizing jets in 3I thus represents a rare opportunity to investigate the physical behavior of a pristine body formed in another planetary system," the researchers behind this discovery wrote in a paper published on the paper repository site arXiv.
The team discovered the wobbling jets in the coma of 3I/ATLAS after observing the comet across 37 nights between July 2 and Sept. 5, 2025, with the Two-meter Twin Telescope (TTT), a robotic facility located at the Teide Observatory in Tenerife, Canary Islands.
These observations allowed the researchers to track how the comet's coma evolved from a sun-facing fan of dust before August, to a pronounced antisolar tail. They attribute this transformation to the increasing influence of solar radiation on dust with the coma as 3I/ATLAS headed toward a close approach to the sun on Oct. 30, 2025, when it came to within around 130 million miles (210 million km) of our star.
The jet structure appeared within the anti-tail of 3I/ATLAS on 7 nights between Aug. 3 and Aug. 29, and its wobble or precessional motion implied to the team that the icy heart of this interstellar invader is rotating around once every 15 hours and 30 minutes. This is a shorter rotational period for 3I/ATLAS than has previously been estimated.
3I/ATLAS made its closest approach to Earth on Dec.19, coming to within around 168 million miles (270 million kilometers). Since then, the interstellar interloper has been making its way to the outer solar system. Like 'Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov before it, the comet is expected to eventually leave the solar system for good.However, as this research demonstrates, 3I/ATLAS may soon be gone, but thanks to its impact on science, it is unlikely to be forgotten.
An Indian rocket is scheduled to launch the record-breaking BlueBird 6 smartphone satellite tonight (Dec. 23), and you can watch the action live.
BlueBird 6, built by Texas company AST SpaceMobile, will lift off atop an LVM3 rocket from India's Satish Dhawan Space Centre tonight at 10:24 p.m. EST (0334 GMT and 8:54 a.m. India Standard Time on Dec. 24), if all goes according to plan.
You can watch it live here at Space.com courtesy of AST SpaceMobile or directly via the company. Coverage will begin about 30 minutes before launch.
An Indian LVM3 rocket on the pad ahead of the planned Dec. 23, 2025 launch of the BlueBird 6 satellite for AST SpaceMobile. (Image credit: ISRO)
AST SpaceMobile is building a constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) that beam broadband service directly to standard smartphones on the ground.
The company has launched five operational satellites to date, all of them aboard a single SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in September 2024. Those spacecraft, BlueBirds 1 through 5, feature 693-square-foot (64.4 square meters) communication arrays — the largest ever unfurled in LEO.
BlueBird 6 will break that record, and by a healthy margin. It's the first of AST SpaceMobile's next-generation BlueBirds, whose arrays cover nearly 2,400 square feet (223 square meters) apiece.
Tonight's liftoff will be the ninth overall for the three-stage, 143-foot-tall (43.5 m) LVM3, which is India's most powerful rocket. It debuted in December 2014 and has a 100% success rate to date.
BlueBird 6, which tips the scales at about 13,450 pounds (6,100 kilograms), will be the heaviest payload that the LVM3 has ever hauled to LEO, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation.
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+ https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/indian-rocket-launch-bluebird-6-satellite-ast-spacemobile
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+ Tue, 23 Dec 2025 16:00:00 +0000Tue, 23 Dec 2025 10:12:14 +0000
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+ <![CDATA[ We didn't find answers in 2025, but UFO researchers say the search continues ]]>
+ After years of making headlines, air vehicles of nameless origin, unknown intent, and seemingly odd capabilities are still being reported within America's national airspace, allegedly flying over sensitive facilities and interfering with commercial air traffic.
All of this aerial weirdness involves unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAP for short. Whatever they are, UAP continue to be seen, reported and even documented through various sensor technologies. However, despite years of whistleblowers testifying before Congress, there seems to have been a bottleneck in getting to the bottom of the UAP issue in 2025. Why so?
Key specialists appraising the issue UAP have yet to untangle the mystery, but do appear to agree on what needs to be done now to further resolve what UAP are and from where they might originate.
Plurality of minds
The UAP phenomenon benefits from having a plurality of minds engaged in disciplined debate, suggests Michael Cifone, founding executive director and President of the Society for UAP Studies, based in Los Angeles, California.
Today, there's a division emerging between classical Unidentified Flying Object (UFO), aka "flying saucer," incidents and studying UAP from the point of view of observational and experimental science. But engaging scientific methods and instruments turns out to be neither trivial nor cheap, Cifone said.
"Perhaps the holdup is reluctance to dump time, energy and money into what looks to some like a wild goose chase," said Cifone.
Cold cases
"Like any other scientific venture, both funding and institutional support is required," Cifone said. "Given the historical stigma associated with the topic that has been hard to achieve. But now with the emphasis no longer on chasing forensic cold cases, and relying on reports of UAP, serious scientists and student researchers are getting involved."
The upshot is to deploy scientific methodology to establish the observational framework with the proper instrumentation, Cifone added, "in order to generate the data on UAP from which more secure conclusions can be derived."
Cifone said that progress, like in any other science or research area, will be slow but hopefully steady, albeit incremental.
"What will likely happen is that there will be downstream benefits that aren't foreseeable exactly now. Maybe new sciences will break away. So it will be a win for the growth of knowledge and for science in particular," Cifone senses.
For Cifone, his view is to keep the eye on the ball and work out the observational framework design and required instruments and observational modalities before we can have the reliable datasets we need. "But science doesn't always go as planned. In any case, there's a lot of work to be done."
Cifone points to an increasing number of institutions that are studying UAPs. Indeed, work underway on UAP has blossomed into a world-wide field of research, he said.
A still from a video reportedly showing a "transmedium" UAP that appears to travel between air and water and split in half. During testimony on Nov. 19, 2024 the head of the Pentagon's UFO office AARO said it actually shows an infrared camera's inability to tell two objects' temperature apart from the ocean behind them. (Image credit: AARO/DOD)
All sky, all the time
To Cifone's point, there's the University of Würzburg in northern Bavaria, one of the oldest universities in Germany. An Interdisciplinary Research Center for Extraterrestrial Studies (IFEX) has been established.
One effort the university is developing is an "AllSkyCAM" able to capture UAP. An automated reporting system is currently under construction with the university cooperating with the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt, the national civil aviation authority of Germany, to research unusual phenomena in the country's airspace.
Then there's the Galileo Project led by astrophysicist Avi Loeb of Harvard University. They have designed and built an array of sensors to scan the sky for aerial phenomena and assess atmospheric anomalies that may not be of terrestrial origin.
This type of research can produce data on UAP, Cifone said, "then we need to experiment with the data and produce theories, or what you call explanations, and perhaps even understanding! We're only at the observational framework design and testing phase. Then we need to let the systems run, probably for many years."
Test a hypothesis
There's need to be able to scientifically test a hypothesis that some UAP are potentially extraterrestrial craft, said Robert Powell, executive board member of the Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies (SCU).
"I consider extreme acceleration to be the best characteristic that has the potential to eliminate a terrestrial explanation for a UAP," said Powell. But measurement of high accelerations of UAP, he said, requires high-precision scientific gear and data.
"The cost of putting out a network of calibrated and characterized equipment, maintaining it, obtaining placement rights on land, and analyzing the data will cost tens to hundreds of millions of dollars," said Powell.
Military systems
One estimate by an engineer in SCU forecasts that given 300 "actual" UAP sightings per year — and assuming random distribution of sightings — that with 930 automated camera systems distributed across the U.S., one would have a 95% chance of detecting a UAP of 50 foot or larger size within a year.
"To date, the financial resources to achieve this are not available," said Powell. "The military has the capability with radar, satellite, and optical systems, but the scientific community does not have access to these systems." He thinks the work ahead could be done now via military systems, but only if there were no national security concerns.
"I think it will take many years to do it through privately-financed civilian systems but that doesn't mean we shouldn't continue working at it," Powell concluded.
"Highly credible people and professional observers are seeing objects that appear to exhibit capabilities beyond the state of the art," Graves told Space.com. "In the data received, there seems to be this core anomalous aspect that we can't just ignore or rationalize away."
Graves speaks with UAP eye-witness authority as a former Lt. U.S. Navy and F/A-18F pilot. He was the first active-duty pilot to publicly point to his own encounters and spotlights his military colleagues regarding their UAP sightings.
In July 2023, Graves testified about UAPs before the House Oversight Committee's National Security Subcommittee in Congress, a hearing centered on UAP and the implications for national security, public safety, and how best to attain government transparency on the issue.
Ryan Graves, the chair of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. (Image credit: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/Getty Images)
Pay attention
"We need to pay attention to this and recognize the national security implications," Graves said. Objects are operating in sovereign air space, he said, potentially collecting intelligence and trying to break into or set the stage to counter our defenses and set the country up for strategic surprise.
In blunt talk, Graves said UAP are engaged in actions "that would be recognized as acts of war or at the minimum preparation for an attack."
For its part, the AIAA UAP Integration & Outreach Committee is a strictly agnostic, science-first committee inside the AIAA.
"Our remit is to bring aerospace rigor to an area with real safety-of-flight implications," Graves said. The committee has been convening experts across AIAA's technical committees, publishing peer-reviewed and conference papers, and producing policy guidance that standardizes how aviation professionals document and share safety-relevant observations, Graves added.
Retention of data
While AIAA provides technical expertise rather than lobbying, Graves said the work on UAP has helped clarify best-practice reporting standards as well as set standards for retention of data on what's being reported.
One early payoff is that AIAA's UAP effort parallels what Congress has been considering in the standalone bill "Safe Airspace for Americans Act," introduced in January 2024 and reintroduced in September of this year. "Our focus remains the same," said Graves, "and that is credible data, clear procedures, and aviation safety."
That bipartisan Act is championed by U.S. representatives Robert Garcia of California and Glenn Grothman of Wisconsin, legislation crafted to support civilian UAP reporting.
"Transparency surrounding UAP is crucial for national security, public safety, and making sure people trust that our government is taking these reports seriously," Congressman Garcia said in a statement. "This bill creates a clear, protected pathway for pilots and other aviation professionals to report UAP incidents without having to fear stigma or worry about retaliation. This is a vital step forward to make sure our skies are safe and our government is responsive."
Closure on the topic?
Graves also points to the current leadership of the Department of Defense All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, or AARO. It too is established to minimize technical and intelligence surprise by "synchronizing identification, attribution, and mitigation of UAP in the vicinity of national security areas," the AARO states.
"I'm optimistic. There is significant organizational change across the government that I think will bare fruit. There process is maturing to the point where they can start delivering on their expectations," said Graves.
Overall, Graves is heartened by current UAP interest and on-going activities.
"I don't know if there's been a better time to hope for closure on this topic. I don't think we've ever been in quite the situation we're in today," Graves said.
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+ https://www.space.com/space-exploration/search-for-life/we-didnt-find-answers-in-2025-but-ufo-researchers-say-the-search-continues
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+ Tue, 23 Dec 2025 15:00:00 +0000Mon, 22 Dec 2025 22:23:27 +0000
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+ <![CDATA[ How 2025 became the year of comet: The rise of interstellar 3I/ATLAS, an icy Lemmon and a cosmic SWAN ]]>
+ 2025 has seen stargazers look on in awe as a trio of magnificent comets barreled headlong into the inner solar system to survive a close brush with the sun, only to emerge to race back out into the blackness of space, never to be seen again.
Of these comets — the interstellar invader 3I/ATLAS, C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) and C/2025 R2 (SWAN) — not all survived their trial by solar radiation intact, while others drew the attention of a global audience thanks in part to their scientific significance and in some cases, the disinformation that swirled around them.
Join us as we look back at six of the most memorable cometary highlights of 2025, featuring stunning astrophotography, the unexpected advance of an interstellar invader and the dramatic demise of an icy visitor from the Oort Cloud.
5 incredible moments that made 2025 the year of the comet
1. Enter interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS
Comet 3I/ATLAS was discovered on July 1, 2025, by the NASA-funded ATLAS telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile and was quickly confirmed to be just the third interstellar visitor to our solar system, after 1I'Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov.
Hubble Space Telescope captured interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS in November. (Image credit: NASA, ESA, STScI, D. Jewitt (UCLA). Image Processing: J. DePasquale (STScI))
Its exotic nature quickly seized the interest of the scientific community and the imagination of the public while simultaneously sending the conspiracy-peddling community into a frenzy, some of whom claimed that 3I/ATLAS was an alien spacecraft that had voyaged to the heliosphere for reasons unknown.
Follow-up observations confirmed 3I/ATLAS to be the brightest and potentially the largest interstellar object discovered to date, measuring up to 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) in diameter, based on observations from the Hubble Space Telescope, according to NASA.
2. When the cosmos gives you Lemmon, make astrophotography
If 3I/ATLAS was the most scientifically riveting of the cometary trio, C/2026 A6 (Lemmon) was arguably the most dynamic and photogenic. Comet Lemmon was discovered on Jan. 3 earlier this year and swiftly became a popular target among the astrophotography community, as it brightened from +21.5 to naked eye visibility around its close approach to the sun —known as perihelion — on Nov. 8.
A view of Comet Lemmon on September 20th (Image credit: Dan Bartlett)
Astrophotographers kept C/2026 A6 (Lemmon) firmly locked in their field of view throughout its journey, capturing each stage of its dramatic evolution. As it approached the sun, the increase in heat radiation caused icy matter in the comet's central nucleus to sublimate into gas, dragging dust particles with it.
A glowing meteor trail appears to wrap around the tail of Comet Lemmon as seen by astronomer Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project on Oct. 24. (Image credit: Gianluca Masi, Virtual Telescope Project)
The resulting cloud of cometary debris was then snatched up by the charged particles pouring out from the sun — called the solar wind — giving rise to a spectacular tail.
Astronomer Gianluca Masi captured a rare shot of the cosmic wanderer, when a glowing meteor tail in Earth's upper atmosphere appeared to wrap itself around Comet Lemmon's distant tail as it passed through the constellation Serpens on Oct. 24, creating a "a pure perspective miracle".
3. Comet SWAN dives through the Eagle Nebula
While Comet Lemmon's complex tail snagged the attention of astrophotographers worldwide, others took aim at the solar system wanderer C/2025 R2 (SWAN), which put on a magnificent show on Oct. 17, as it passed in front of the Eagle Nebula in the constellation Serpens.
Daniele Gasparri captured a striking view of C/2025 R2 (SWAN)'s vivid green coma as it hung in the pristine skies above the Atacama Desert in Chile, with the vast emission nebula serving as a jaw-dropping backdrop for the cometary body.
The pillars of creation, vast columns of interstellar dust and gas shaped by the radiation of nearby stars and made famous by the Hubble Space Telescope, can be seen nestled in the glowing heart of the vast nebula, to the left of the comet's glowing central nucleus.
4. Comet 3I/ATLAS reaches perihelion
Oct. 30 marked the climax of interstellar traveller 3I/ATLAS's headlong charge into the inner solar system, as it made its closest approach to the sun, passing 125 million miles (202 million km) from our parent star at the point of perihelion.
Celestron NexStar 8SE
(Image credit: Amazon)
We reckon the Celestron NexStar 8SE is the best motorized telescope out there as it's great for astrophotography, deep-space observing and it offers stunning detailed imagery. It is a little pricey but for what you get, it's good value. For a more detailed look, you can check out our Celestron NexStar 8SE review.
The event occurred just as 3I/ATLAS flew behind the sun from the perspective of Earth, robbing some of humanity's most powerful observatories of the chance to analyze the comet's chemical composition as it reached a peak of activity. Thankfully, perihelion was observed from elsewhere in the solar system by a flotilla of spacecraft orbiting Mars and travelling through interplanetary space.
3I/ATLAS finally emerged intact from behind the glare of the sun to become visible to Earthbound astronomers and skywatchers in early November, though it remained too dim to spot with the naked eye.
NASA subsequently held a press conference on Nov. 19 following the re-opening of the federal government, where it revealed several new images of the interstellar invader that documented its glowing central nucleus, sun-facing jet and growing tail. Conspiracy theorists were left somewhat broken-hearted by NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya, who noted, "It looks and behaves like a comet, and all evidence points to it being a comet", as opposed to the technologically advanced spaceship suggested by others.
5. K1 ATLAS breakup
One of the most dramatic cometary moments of 2025 occurred on the night of Nov. 11, when astronomers tracked the solar system comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) as its central nucleus broke into three massive pieces, following its close pass of the sun on Oct. 8.
Comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) caught fragmenting by the 1.82 m Copernicus telescope at the Asiago Observatory in Italy (Image credit: F. Ferrigno/INAF/Univ. Parthenope)
The comet may have crumbled during its first visit to the inner solar system from the shell of icy material which surrounds its outer edge, known as the Oort Cloud.
The increase in heat radiation experienced during perihelion may have created a violent and sudden outflow of material from the nucleus, which could have undermined its structure, leading to the fracturing seen on Nov. 11, according to Elena Mazzotta Epifani of the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics.
Editor's Note: If you would like to share your astrophotography with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.
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+ https://www.space.com/astronomy/comets/how-2025-became-the-year-of-comet-the-rise-of-interstellar-3i-atlas-an-icy-lemmon-and-a-cosmic-swan
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+ Tue, 23 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000Mon, 22 Dec 2025 22:22:19 +0000
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+ <![CDATA[ Artemis 2 moon rocket gets 'America 250' paint job | Space photo of the day for Dec. 23, 2025 ]]>
+ NASA's Artemis program represents the most ambitious human spaceflight effort since Apollo, aiming not only to return astronauts to the moon but also to establish a long-term presence that will pave the way for crewed Mars exploration.
The hardware that will fly the astronauts moonward includes two 177-foot-tall (54 meters) twin boosters that are the backbone of the giant Space Launch System (SLS) rocket's launch power. Recently, the two boosters that will fly on the Artemis 2 mission had an "America 250" emblem painted on their sides, in honor of the upcoming. 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
What is it?
Artemis 2, scheduled to launch in early 2026, will be the first crewed mission of the program. Over a 10-day journey, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, will travel around the moon and return to Earth. Their mission will test Artemis systems, procedures and spacecraft in preparation for future lunar landings.
Artemis 2 relies on two key vehicles: SLS, which is NASA's most powerful rocket to date, and the Orion spacecraft, designed to carry astronauts safely beyond low Earth orbit. Inside NASA's iconic Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida, these elements come together through a massive, carefully choreographed preparation effort.
Where is it?
The image was taken from inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at KSC.
The twin Artemis 2 boosters are on either side of NASA's powerful rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS). (Image credit: NASA/Frank Michaux)
Why is it amazing?
For Artemis 2, the "America 250" represents NASA's celebration of the anniversary under the theme "Spirit of Innovation." Just as the U.S. was founded on bold ideas and transformative thinking, Artemis 2 embodies a new era of exploration that looks outward, to the moon, Mars and beyond.
Seeing the emblem on the boosters connects technological progress with national heritage, according to NASA. It serves as a reminder that spaceflight, for all its complexity, is also a cultural project, one that captures imagination, inspires generations and reflects shared aspirations.
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+ https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/artemis-2-moon-rocket-gets-america-250-paint-job-space-photo-of-the-day-for-dec-23-2025
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+ Tue, 23 Dec 2025 13:00:00 +0000Mon, 22 Dec 2025 22:21:26 +0000
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+ <![CDATA[ Doomed SpaceX Starlink satellite photographed from orbit ]]>
+ We just got a great up-close look at a SpaceX Starlink satellite in orbit, thanks to Vantor's WorldView-3 spacecraft.
On Wednesday (Dec. 17), this particular Starlink suffered an anomaly that caused a loss of communication with the ground and an unscheduled venting of its propulsion tank. The satellite is now tumbling and headed down toward Earth’s atmosphere, where it will be incinerated in a matter of weeks, according to SpaceX.
SpaceX asked Vantor (previously known as Maxar Intelligence) to image the stricken satellite, to get a better understanding of its condition. And Vantor delivered.
The company used its WorldView-3 Earth-observing satellite to image the Starlink spacecraft on Thursday (Dec. 18) from a distance of 150 miles (241 kilometers).
The photo, taken while the duo were flying over Alaska, features a resolution of 4.7 inches (12 centimeters), providing SpaceX with key information about the satellite.
"Our team took advantage of the advanced capabilities of our non-Earth imaging technology and recently expanded collection capacity to move quickly and provide SpaceX with confirmation that their satellite was mostly intact," Todd Surdey, Vantor’s executive vice president and general manager of enterprise and emerging products, said in a statement on Saturday (Dec. 20). "This rapid intelligence delivery enabled them to quickly assess possible damage to the spacecraft."
Imagery collected by Vantor’s WorldView-3 satellite about 1 day after the anomaly shows that @starlink Satellite 35956 is largely intact. The 12-cm resolution image was collected over Alaska from 241 km away. We appreciate the rapid response by @vantortech to provide this… https://t.co/8OcTZsk5Gx pic.twitter.com/1PafjFwuRPDecember 20, 2025
There is apparently some damage: Data suggests that the satellite released a small number of debris objects as a result of the anomaly. But those pieces, and the satellite itself, shouldn't a present a problem to other spacecraft in low Earth orbit (LEO), according to SpaceX.
"We appreciate the rapid response by @vantortech to provide this imagery. Additional data suggest that there is a small number of trackable debris objects from the event, and we expect the satellite and debris to reenter and fully demise within weeks," Michael Nicolls, vice president of Starlink engineering at SpaceX, said in an X post on Saturday.
Starlink is by far the largest satellite constellation ever assembled. It currently consists of about 9,300 active spacecraft — about 65% of all the operational satellites in Earth orbit.
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+ https://www.space.com/space-exploration/satellites/doomed-spacex-starlink-satellite-photographed-from-orbit
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+ Tue, 23 Dec 2025 11:00:00 +0000Mon, 22 Dec 2025 22:19:34 +0000
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+ <![CDATA[ Best targets to observe between Christmas and New Year 2025 ]]>
+ There are few better ways to spend the long winter nights than under a crisp, clear December sky — and between Christmas and New Year’s Eve 2025, the Northern Hemisphere night sky will be at its very best. A waxing moon will glide past Saturn, the Pleiades and Jupiter — now shining brightly in the east, right on cue, as a “Christmas Star — while deep-sky wonders like the Rosette Nebula rise high around midnight. Whether you’re trying out one of the best beginner telescopes gifted to you, you’re trying out stargazing with binoculars or you’re using only your eyes, here’s what to see in the night sky this holiday season.
If you want better views of the night sky, we have expert-led guides to the best telescopes, binoculars and cameras to view and image the heavens.
Wednesday, Dec. 24: A crescent moon
A 20%-illuminated waxing crescent moon will shine with Fomalhaut and Saturn on Christmas Eve. (Image credit: Starry Night)
If you’re looking for the quiet wonder of Christmas Eve, turn your gaze to the southwest sky as it gets dark. There, nicely illuminated, though not yet bright, will be a waxing crescent moon. A fifth of what you’ll see will be its day-side; the other four-fifths — its night-side — will be gently lit by sunlight reflected from our planet — Earthshine. If you have binoculars or a small telescope, point them at the terminator, that line between day and night, to see long shadows and craters in relief. Naked eye observers should look to the left of the moon for Fomalhaut (below) and Saturn (above).
Thursday, Dec. 25: Jupiter as the ‘Star of Bethlehem’
Jupiter is now just two weeks from its annual opposition, so it is as bright as it ever gets. (Image credit: Starry Night)
Christmas Day needs a “Christmas Star,” and what better candidate than Jupiter, which tonight shines at magnitude -2.5 in the constellation Gemini. Look to the east anytime after dark, and you’ll see the giant planet close to “the twins” of Gemini — the stars Castor and Pollux — as it shines brighter than anything else in the night sky, save for the moon. Now is the ideal time to observe Jupiter, which reaches its annual opposition — when Earth is between it and the sun — on Jan. 10, 2026. Typically, an outer planet is at its best for a couple of weeks either side of its opposition; any small telescope should allow a glimpse of its cloud bands, with a 6-inch telescope able to see its Great Red Spot (when it’s facing Earth).
Friday, Dec. 26: Saturn and the moon in conjunction
Boxing Day sees the moon meet Saturn in a close conjunction. (Image credit: Starry Night)
Get out of the house as soon as it gets dark on Boxing Day for one of the most beautiful sights of the week, a crescent moon and the planet Saturn. Now a 41%-illuminated waxing crescent, the moon will appear to curl around the sixth planet, and the two will be separated by a mere four degrees. That’s a bit less than the width of your three middle fingers held at arm’s length against the sky. Saturn will appear as a steady, golden point of light, though you’ll need a small telescope to glimpse its ring pattern.
Saturday, Dec. 27: Lava plains on the first quarter moon
A first-quarter moon will rise on Dec. 27, 2025. (Image credit: Getty Images)
It’s half-day, half-night on the moon tonight as it reaches its first quarter phase in the southern sky. For amateur astronomers, it’s a bittersweet moment — the next week will see the moon grow in brightness as it waxes towards full, making faint star clusters, galaxies and nebulae harder to see. However, a “half-moon” is one of the best times to explore the lunar surface if you have a pair of binoculars. The line between light and dark — the terminator — cuts right down the middle tonight, causing long shadows to stretch across the lunar plains, making every bump and ridge stand out like a black-and-white relief map. The dark regions you see on the right-hand side of the moon are called maria, Latin for seas, but these are no oceans. These are vast plains of lava that solidified billions of years ago in the aftermath of asteroids slamming into the young moon.
A small telescope will allow you to view the Rosette Nebula at its best on Dec. 28, 2025. (Image credit: Getty Images)
If you have a small telescope, find the ruddy star Betelgeuse in Orion and range left to the quiet constellation Monoceros, the Unicorn, home to an open cluster of stars about 5,000 light-years from the solar system. The Rosette Nebula (also called NGC 2244 and Caldwell 49) is an emission nebula — a cloud of gas that emits its own light because it's being energized by radiation from nearby stars — and a star-forming region. A flower-like shape, it’s visible through a pair of 10x50 or 15x70 binoculars in very dark skies, or easily in a small telescope. According to In-The-Sky.org, the Rosette Nebula is now well placed, reaching its highest in the sky around midnight local time. If you have trouble finding it, draw an imaginary line from Betelgeuse in Orion toward Procyon in Canis Minor. About one-third of the way along that line, just south of it, is the region of the Rosette Nebula. It’s about three times the diameter of the full moon.
Trace an ’S’ shape of stars in Orion’s Belt on Dec. 29, 2025. (Image credit: Starry Night)
Orion’s Belt — the famous trio of stars in Orion, sometimes nicknamed the “Belt of Orion” or the “Three Kings” — is an icon of the late-December night sky. Look east tonight for Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka, strung out in a neat row, rising into the eastern sky as soon as it gets dark. Put a pair of binoculars on them, and you’ll discover great riches. Just to the right is, of course, the Great Nebula in Orion (also called M42). Lesser known is a delicate chain of faint stars curving across the field of view in a subtle “S” shape, running from just above Mintaka to just below Alnilam. It’s very clear through binoculars.
See Jupiter’s moons on Dec. 30, 2025. (Image credit: Getty Images)
Jupiter getting close to its opposition means more than it merely becoming brighter. Since it’s closest to Earth (about four Earth-sun distances), its disk is bigger in the sky, and it’s visible all night. Jupiter’s opposition is also the best time to see its largest four moons — Io, Callisto, Ganymede and Europa. These moons, called Galilean moons because they were first spotted by Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei in 1610, can be seen in any small telescope as pinpricks of light, but also in binoculars.
Wednesday, Dec. 31: Pleiades and the moon in conjunction
See the Pleiades and the moon close together on Dec. 31, 2025. (Image credit: Starry Night)
As your final stargazing act of the year, step outside as it gets dark and find Orion’s Belt, that iconic trio of bright stars, rising from the eastern horizon like an arrow. Trace Orion’s Belt upward, and high above it, you’ll find the moon, now 92% illuminated. Just above the moon will be the Pleiades — also known as the Seven Sisters and M45 — one of the closest open clusters of stars to the solar system. The bright moonlight may make it hard to see the Pleiades with the naked eye, but any pair of binoculars should bring them into view.
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+ https://www.space.com/stargazing/skywatching-kit/best-targets-to-observe-between-christmas-and-new-year-2025
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+ Tue, 23 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +0000Tue, 16 Dec 2025 11:17:15 +0000
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+ <![CDATA[ South Korean startup Innospace fails on its 1st orbital launch attempt ]]>
+ South Korean startup Innospace failed in its bid to make history on Monday night (Dec. 22).
The company launched its Hanbit-Nano rocket from the Alcantara Space Center in Brazil on Monday at 8:13 p.m. EST (10:13 p.m. local time in Brazil; 0113 GMT on Dec. 23).
It was the first-ever orbital launch attempt by a South Korean company. And, as often happens on debut liftoffs, something went wrong: The 57-foot-tall (17.3 meters) rocket came crashing back to Earth about a minute after liftoff, according to Space Orbit, which was following the launch.
O HANBIT-NANO EXPLODIU!O foguete da empresa coreana teve uma ascensão normal, porém, apresentou uma anomalia em torno dos 50 segundos de voo e acabou explodindo, caindo de volta ao solo. pic.twitter.com/58MnY5AOU9December 23, 2025
It's unclear at this early stage what caused the failure. Innospace did not immediately provide an update on X, and the company cut off its webcast in the wake of the incident, shortly after announcing that an anomaly had occurred.
Hanbit-Nano is a two-stage rocket whose first stage burns liquid oxygen (LOX) and paraffin. The upper stage comes in two configurations; one burns LOX and paraffin while the other employs LOX and liquid methane.
The rocket is designed to deliver up to 198 pounds (90 kilograms) of payload into a sun-synchronous orbit from Brazil. On the debut launch, the Hanbit-Nano was carrying five small satellites for customers from Brazil and India, as well as three additional technology-demonstrating payloads.
Innospace team members together with officials from the Brazilian Air Force and the Brazilian Space Agency pose with the company’s first commercial launch vehicle Hanbit-Nano at the Alcântara Space Center in Brazil. (Image credit: Innospace)
Innospace was founded in 2017. The company, which currently employs about 260 people, has developed all of its launch technology in-house, company CEO Kim Soo-jong told Space.com in October at the International Astronautical Congress in Sydney.
Innospace's vision doesn't end with getting Hanbit-Nano online. The company is also developing larger, more powerful rockets called Hanbit-Micro and Hanbit-Mini.
Monday's launch was originally scheduled for Wednesday (Dec. 17), but Innospace pushed it back several times, due to a technical issue and bad weather forecasts.
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+ https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/south-korean-startup-innospace-fails-on-its-1st-orbital-launch-attempt
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+ Tue, 23 Dec 2025 03:09:32 +0000Tue, 23 Dec 2025 03:09:33 +0000
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+ <![CDATA[ Nebula knowledge: Do you know these stunning space structures? ]]>
+ Nebulae are some of the most breathtaking sights in the universe — vast clouds of gas and dust where stars are born, or where they meet their spectacular ends. From the delicate wisps of the Veil Nebula to the fiery glow of the Orion Nebula, each one tells a story written across light‑years.
Astronomers study nebulae not just for their beauty, but for the secrets they hold about stellar evolution and the chemical makeup of galaxies. For the rest of us, they're a reminder that the cosmos is both mysterious and magnificent, with colors and shapes that look more like art than science.
But how well do you really know your nebulae?Matching names to these celestial wonders is trickier than it sounds.
Whether you're a seasoned stargazer or just curious about the night sky, this is your chance to prove you’re ready for a cosmic pop quiz.
See how well you score below!
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+ https://www.space.com/astronomy/nebula-knowledge-do-you-know-these-stunning-space-structures
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+ Mon, 22 Dec 2025 22:31:31 +0000Mon, 22 Dec 2025 22:31:32 +0000
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+ <![CDATA[ The best sci-fi TV shows of 2025, ranked ]]>
+ As we barrel towards the new year, it's a time for reflection. A time to look back on the best sci-fi TV shows of 2025 and say "blimey, that was pretty damn good".
The top sci-fi TV shows of 2025 are a mix of big franchises, returning hits, and exciting new additions. The voyages of the starship Enterprise continued in "Strange New Worlds", the Fifteenth Doctor had his second and final spin in the TARDIS, and "Andor"'s phenomenal second outing pushed the boundaries of what a "Star Wars" show could be. Even those famously antisocial Xenomorphs came to Earth for the very first "Alien" TV show.
Elsewhere, the last year has seen the continuation of several prestige TV hits, including "Foundation", "Silo", and "Black Mirror". Our small screen playlist also found room for some mould-breaking originals, most notably "Murderbot" and "Pluribus" — not to mention a memorable BBC documentary about the post-Apollo years of the space race. So, let's start the countdown on Space's 12 favorite shows of 2025, starting with…
12. Invasion: season 3
Cast: Golshifteh Farahani, Shioli Kutsuna, Shamier Anderson, India Brown |Watch on:Apple TV
Thought the titular alien invasion was done and dusted in season 2? The needs of ongoing drama mean that life — and hostile ETs — tend to find a way, and two years after the fall of their mothership, it turned out that planet Earth's foes never really went away.
While many of the characters returned from previous years — at least one of whom was presumed dead — this season was, in some ways, a soft reboot for a show that seemed to wrap up several key plotlines last time out. The storytelling remained ambitious and the effects impressive, notably the introduction of the translucent, squid-like apex aliens. Nonetheless, "Invasion" had the feel of a 2000s/2010s network TV show given an epic budget, particularly in comparison to the brilliant sci-fi shows elsewhere on the Apple TV menu screen.
Although she was sidelined in the second half of the season, Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) started out as a memorable companion, gradually warming to her Gallifreyan tour guide while yearning for home. Cartoon villain Mr Ring-a-Ding was a visual effects tour de force, "The Well" gave a brilliant David Tennant-era monster an unexpected comeback, and penultimate episode "Wish World" landed in a truly chilling alternative universe. But with just eight episodes to play with, the arc plot overpowered everything else in the season, with its big reveal (about returning Time Lord villains the Rani and Omega) not quite worth the wait.
Has any TV show ever revelled in its prequel status quite as much as "Strange New Worlds"? The third leg of the show's (now-confirmed) five-year mission continued to go big on references to the original series, with familiar characters showing up on the Enterprise (Roger Korby, Trelane) and plenty more moments that boldly went where "Star Trek" had gone before.
As in season 2, a weakness for gimmicky episodes (including a holodeck outing) got in the way of the Starfleet-standard of seeking out new life and new civilisations. Even so, the Vezda instantly established themselves among the franchise's scariest villains, while Lt Ortegas (Melissa Navia) shared a brilliant two-hander with a crashed Gorn. The show also never forgot that its trump card remains its crew, one of the most watchable in "Star Trek" history.
Cast: Jared Harris, Lou Llobell, Lee Pace, Pilou Asbæk | Watch on:Apple TV
"Foundation" could only have existed in the streaming age. After all, no old-school broadcaster would have had the patience — or the budget — to persist with two opening seasons that went all-in on exposition. Indeed, the show went so deep with its ambitious, centuries-spanning story that it seemed like ages before the interstellar skirmishes kicked off in earnest.
Season 3 still indulged the show's hard sci-fi leanings, of course — the mathematical models, the spectacular spaceships, the idealistic construct of the Foundation — but it also remembered the best blockbuster space operas have a bit of "Star Wars" in their DNA, too. Telepathic villain the Mule (Pilou Asbæk) would probably have felt right at home in the Mos Eisley Cantina, and he brought some much-needed chaos to a series that hasn't always excelled at having fun.
In 2009, "Doctor Who" spin-off "Torchwood" reinvented itself for its third season. "Children of Earth" ditched the show's previous monster-of-the-week structure in favor of a single, hard-hitting story told over five episodes. The result was a sci-fi masterpiece.
Sixteen years later, showrunner Russell T Davies resurrected the format for "Who"-adjacent drama "The War Between the Land and the Sea", and while it couldn't quite live up to its aforementioned predecessor, it was definitely cut from the same cloth.
Classic "Who" monsters the Sea Devils were the ideal antagonists, waking from a lengthy deep-sea slumber to punish humanity for its mistreatment of the oceans. But despite the global scale — and unforgettable images of cities being buried under mountains of trash reclaimed from the seas — the series never lost focus on the touching (and pivotal) relationship between unlikely human ambassador Barclay (Russell Tovey) and his aquatic counterpart Salt (Gugu Mbatha-Raw).
Travelling abroad? Use NordVPN to access iPlayer anywhere in the world.
7. Murderbot
Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Noma Dumezweni, David Dastmalchian, Tamara Podemski | Watch on:Apple TV
You only have to look at the sheer volume of Apple TV shows on this list to see that the streamer's had a hell of a 2025 — in fact, it's become the go-to destination for discerning sci-fi fans. Perhaps the oddest of its entries here, however, is this adaptation of Martha Wells' "The Murderbot Diaries" book series.
Although the title suggests otherwise, "Murderbot" was not some tired rehash of "The Terminator". The eponymous security droid protagonist (played by Alexander Skarsgård) actually chose its own name and, thanks to some off-the-books hacking, developed free will. It also had plenty of disdain — expressed via sardonic voiceover — for the humans it was programmed to protect.
Extremely violent and very, very funny, this show was as unconventional as its surprisingly relatable lead — like Murderbot, we've all had days when going to work feels much less worthwhile than sitting back and watching your favorite TV show.
Cast: Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Robbins, Steve Zahn, Harriet Walter |Watch on:Apple TV
Apple TV went even deeper underground with the second instalment of its big-budget adaptation of Hugh Howey's "Silo" novels. If season 2 couldn't quite live up to the compelling first outing, that's mainly because protagonist Juliette Nichols (Rebecca Ferguson) spent most of this year trapped in the (mostly) deserted Silo 17. Meanwhile, the real drama and intrigue was taking place back home in Silo 18.
Minor flaws aside, this was slow-build storytelling of the highest order, drip-feeding answers to its many mysteries as the bunker residents realized the so-called "Pact" might not be as benign as they'd been led to believe. Duplicitous mayor Bernard Holland (an excellent Tim Robbins) continued to be a thorn in everybody's sides, while the unstable Solo (Steve Zahn) gradually revealed himself as tragic collateral damage in Silo 17's sad fate.
Cast: Paul Giamatti, Cristin Milioti, Peter Capaldi, Rashida Jones |Watch on:Netflix
Charlie Brooker's techno "Twilight Zone" arguably went off the boil during its last two seasons, but the long-running anthology series was back on form this year. "Black Mirror"'s latest six-episode run even indulged fans with a couple of sequels, courtesy of "Plaything" (a follow-up to the choose-your-own-adventure "Bandersnatch") and "Into Infinity", a return to the pitch-perfect "Star Trek" pastiche of "USS Callister".
Whenever this show is at its best, it runs the gamut from comedy to tragedy to raw emotional power, sometimes in the space of a single episode. Season 7 was no exception. While anthology shows are notoriously punishing on creatives, there was little sign that Brooker and co are running out of ideas. And even when a premise was slightly derivative (the tech that allows Paul Giamatti to enter old photographs in "Eulogy" has echoes of classic "Red Dwarf" episode "Timeslides", for example), the writers managed to lift the stories to the next level.
Cast: Sydney Chandler, Timothy Olyphant, Samuel Blenkin, Alex Lawther |Watch on:Hulu (US)/Disney+ (rest of the world)
How do you make the Xenomorph scary again? "Fargo" creator Noah Hawley's ingenious solution to a decades-old conundrum was to make the double-jawed beastie a supporting player in its own TV show. He instead shifted the focus to bickering multinationals, a bunch of kids running around in state-of-the-art synthetic bodies, and — best of all — a whole new menagerie of icky extra-terrestrial fauna.
Visually and sonically, the first-ever "Alien" TV show was lovingly faithful to Ridley Scott's original movie, yet also had the handy knack of knowing which bits of franchise lore it could discard. And, in the long-established tradition of Weyland-Yutani and their competitors, the human characters turned out to be much more dangerous than their extra-terrestrial guests — at least you didn't see them selling each other out for a goddamn percentage.
Cast: Anna Fisher, Carl S McNair, Aleksandr Lazutkin, Sergei Viktorovich Zalyotin |Watch on:BBC iPlayer (UK)
The stories of the "The Right Stuff" pioneers of the Mercury program and the Apollo astronauts that followed have been told many times, but the experiences of later spacefarers are less well known. This excellent four-part BBC documentary rectified the shortfall by telling the story of the Space Shuttle, Mir, the ISS, and the rise of commercial spaceflight, with compelling (and often entertaining) contributions from the astronauts, cosmonauts, and ground-based participants who experienced it first-hand.
"Once Upon a Time in Space" was, of course, a celebration of the men and women who made it all happen, but also a peek behind the curtain (both iron and metaphorical) of NASA and its Soviet/Russian counterparts. This was a story of bravery, ingenuity, and, inevitably, tragedy (the Challenger and Columbia disasters were both discussed at length), told against a backdrop of rapid political and economic transformation.
Vince Gilligan's place in TV history is assured, as the brains behind both "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul". He also has impeccable sci-fi credentials, having written numerous episodes of "The X-Files" and co-created the short-lived spin-off "The Lone Gunmen". "Pluribus" is the result of that stellar resumé colliding with a big Apple TV budget, and it's proved to be every bit as spectacular as we could have hoped. It's also, according to Apple TV, the platform's most-watched series ever.
This is a highly unconventional alien invasion drama, in which an extra-terrestrial broadcast unleashes a novel virus that… well, makes everybody kind and considerate. "Better Call Saul" star Rhea Seehorn is a revelation as a cynical romantasy author who, unaffected by the infection, became a lone rebel against a billions-strong collective of people who just want to be her friend.
"Pluribus" is slow-burning, beautifully written, and utterly unique — the breakout sci-fi show of 2025.
"Andor" creator Tony Gilroy never made any secret of where his show was going to end. It didn't matter, however, that we knew the fates of many of the characters, or that existing canon had set many key moments in stone. Few TV shows have ever been as tense or edge-of-the-seat gripping as the second season of this "Rogue One" prequel — "Andor" season 2 was up there with the best "Star Wars" there's ever been.
This was a political thriller in sci-fi clothing, a powerful examination of a corrupt, totalitarian regime that felt timely and relevant despite being set in a galaxy far, far away. But for all the Empire's dastardly deeds, there was still room for hope, as Cassian Andor, Mon Mothma, Luthen Rael, and the other proto-Rebels — the ensemble cast is uniformly brilliant — fought the power against the most impossible odds.
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+ https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-movies-shows/the-best-sci-fi-tv-shows-of-2025
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+ Mon, 22 Dec 2025 22:00:00 +0000Mon, 22 Dec 2025 13:03:13 +0000
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+ <![CDATA[ 12 days of space and sci-fi books: Check out these festive holiday titles for your gift list or yourself! ]]>
+ As the classic crooner Andy Williams once sang, "It's the most wonderful time of the year," and that means snowmen, reindeer, sleigh bells, mistletoe, and Good 'Ol St. Nick.
But it also means checking off your holiday gift list with sparkling literary treats for all your geeky friends and loved ones whose tastes include superheroes, galactic adventure, roaring rockets, starry skies, human spaceflight, queries from the cosmos, and excursions to the magical galaxy far, far away. Of course, if you're looking for last-minute gifts, you should check out our guides to the best Fallout gifts, best space stocking stuffers and 10 best gifts under $100 for kids.
The authors of many of these 12 books, which are all perfectly appropriate for the season of giving, have been interviewed by us to deliver an added touch of insight into their creative process. So come on, fill the glass and send 'round the song as we present a dozen delightful choices for the most discriminating of yuletide revelers!
Gemini: Stepping Stone to the Moon, the Untold Story
If it weren't for the Gemini Program that taught NASA astronauts how to walk in space and maneuver spacecraft for docking procedures, America would never have made it to the Moon.
Told in his butter-smooth style and punctuated with expertly detailed accounts of the historic mid-'60s missions, New York Times bestselling author Jeffrey Kluger ("Apollo 13") brings back all the guts and glory of those heady days when the final frontier was still an unexplored environment fraught with innumerable perils.
Here's the engaging sequel to last year's Merlin's Tour of the Universe from celebrity astrophysicist and New York Times bestselling author Neil deGrasse Tyson, which contains 200 more space science questions and answers compiled from readers that first appeared in a column in The McDonald Observatory's StarDate Magazine.
This newly updated 350-page hardback has been fully refreshed since it was first published in 1998, and collects a constellation of fun responses to queries about planets, stars, comets, black holes, moons, gravity, galaxies, space travel, and more, all told through the wise and wonderful Merlin, a timeless cosmic traveler from Planet Omniscia.
From one of the most seasoned astronauts who ever left Earth, Chris Hadfield spins an involving yarn centering around NASA flight controller Kaz Zemeckis and China's clandestine role during the space race in the third installment of his The Apollo Murders series.
The plot unfolds in 1975 when a fresh Apollo mission blasts off to rendezvous with a Russian Soyuz spacecraft for a new era in Soviet-American friendship, when a shocking orbital accident alters the course of this cooperation. Complicating the matter is the launch of China’s first astronaut, Fang Kuo-chun, whose own flight steers him on a perilous path intersecting with the Apollo crew.
Imaging expert and NASA historian Andy Saunders (Apollo Remastered) follows up his ambitious photographic account of our Apollo Program with this deluxe 320-page edition chronicling the Gemini and Mercury flights with hundreds of restored images curated from the archives of our storied space administration.
His newest masterwork was years in the making and delivers an insider's peek into these vital missions that provided the foundation for the success of our later trips to the moon. Project Mercury and Project Gemini revealed key questions regarding space travel, the human condition, and the limits of their fragile spacecraft in the most hostile of environments. Saunders' restoration process blesses us with never-before-seen photos that fully expose the mission dangers and awe-inspiring vantage points in astonishing clarity and color.
Veteran Star Wars author Adam Christopher spins a harrowing yarn from the events following Revenge of the Sith as a raw and vengeful Darth Vader yearns for the arcane mysteries of life and death while being scrutinized by Emperor Palpatine.
Consumed by the addictive elements of the Dark Side, Vader must make a pilgrimage to the scorching planet of Mustafar, where he endeavors to perform a necessary ritual by bleeding a kyber crystal to create his personal lightsaber. The energies unleashed in this unholy ceremony allow for a frightful glimpse into the horrors of the Force. Joined by the Emperor's scarlet-clad Royal Guard and its leader Colonel Halland Goth, the. Sith Lord will travel to the fringes of the galaxy where a strange shaman dwells.
If you're lucky enough to score this two-volume, 800-page behemoth showcasing the work of Lucasfilm's visionary artist and designer Doug Chiang this Christmas, please drop me an email and let me know how I can join your family!
Chiang's Oscar-winning conceptual work is a revelation and this deluxe set not only reveals his creative work on Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, but also Attack of the Clones, The Force Awakens, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, The Last Jedi, Solo: A Star Wars Story, The Rise of Skywalker, and The Mandalorian.
Volume 1, The Cinematic Legacy, presents Chiang's work prior to joining forces with Lucasfilm and includes designs for Back To The Future Part III, Alien 3, T2: Judgment Day, The Mask, Jumanji, and many more.
Marvel's First Family came wonderfully alive in full retro-futuristic style this past summer as directed by Matt Shakman and produced by Marvel Studios.
The smash movie can be fully re-experienced in this 288-page deluxe slipcase edition, delivering a bounty of imaginative concept art designs, sketches, character profiles, superhero vehicles, costumes, environments, and behind-the-scenes peeks into the movie-making process. Also included is a companion volume breaking down Reed Richards' scientific gadgets, trinkets, toys, and inventions that make up his superpowered team.
This inspiring title follows Rocket Lab's remarkable journey from tiny VC start-up to a global juggernaut in direct competition with Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin.
It contains a wealth of behind-the-scenes photos and original interviews with founder Sir Peter Beck, his expert team, loyal investors, and industry experts that provide a colorful look at one of the major contenders in the current space race as they continue to grow as a force to be reckoned with.
Rocket Lab is currently the fastest company to launch 50 rockets into space, with a market cap of $13.63 billion, a planned mission to the Red Planet, and even aspirations to launch a mission to Venus someday.
Dune: The Graphic Novel: The Complete 3-Book Boxed Set
Just in time for some sweet sci-fi gift-giving, here's the complete 3-book Dune graphic novel adaptation of legendary author Frank Herbert for the 60th anniversary of the book's original publication in 1965.
This premium box set, written by Frank's son, Brian Herbert, with collaborator Kevin J. Anderson, contains vivid illustrations by Raul Allen and Patricia Martin that perfectly capture the galactic turmoil and mysticism that's enthralled readers for decades as one of the greatest interstellar sagas ever conceived.
The sublime beauty and mystery of the microscopic world are presented here by author, artist, and film historian Michael Benson. Now, in this six-pound, 320-page coffee-table book, Benson takes us all on a mindblowing trip into the realm of extreme magnification using the might of scanning electron microscope (SEM) technologies.
It's an ideal gift for space and science lovers as it offers a shocking glimpse of these tiny worlds that surround us daily. The images were captured from SEM scans Benson took over the course of six years at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Quebec, including radiolarians, dinoflagellates, and diatoms, as well as multiple types of insects, microscopic flowers, and even lunar samples obtained from Apollo 16.
It's up, up and away with this beautiful concept art book from director James Gunn's Superman, which landed in theaters this past summer and raked in a comfortable $585 million.
Now, acolytes of the Man of Steel can witness how this superhero spectacle was created by a small army of Hollywood technicians and artists in this 176-page edition that whisks readers behind the scenes for DC Studios' blockbuster.
Writer James Field (The Art of The Batman) records every stage of the movie's production, beginning with Gunn and DC Studios co-chairman Peter Safran's initial brainstorming chats to casting, costumes, set design, and post-production VFX. It includes an intro from writer/director James Gunn and a David Corenswet foreword.
The wonders of the cosmos come alive in a bold new edition of the classic collection of constellation maps from famed Dutch-German mathematician and cosmographer Andreas Cellarius (c. 1596 ? 1665) that unveils these celestial atlas masterworks in unprecedented detail.
Initially published in 1660 in Harmonia Macrocosmica, this revised volume in a larger prestige format contains the complete 29 double-folio maps. These striking plates showcase sublime adorned skies, decorative borders and breathtaking constellations in this astonishing seven-pound reprint measuring 11.42 x 1.57 x 18.9 inches that restores academia's most stunning depictions of the heavens.
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+ https://www.space.com/entertainment/12-days-of-space-and-sci-fi-books-check-out-these-festive-holiday-titles-for-your-gift-list-or-yourself
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+ Mon, 22 Dec 2025 21:05:00 +0000Fri, 19 Dec 2025 13:44:18 +0000
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+ <![CDATA[ How to track Santa Claus this Christmas Eve with NORAD's 2025 tracker ]]>
+ It started on Christmas Eve in 1955, when an eager child picked up the phone to call Santa Claus and instead accidentally called a U.S. military air defense facility.
That facility is operated by Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD), the precursor to today's North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), and should have only been reachable by a select few high-ranking officers and the President of the United States. But on Christmas Eve 1955, confused airmen usually tasked with tracking aircraft from foreign airspace ended up impersonating Santa Claus thanks to that child who dialed a wrong number. The accident quickly became a tradition and, like many other traditions, its originstorybegan to grow ever more elaborate over the years, sometimes involving a misprinted phone number in an advertisement.
But whatever the truth of that first fateful phone call, by 1960, NORAD was posting public updates on Santa's position each Christmas, and 2025 is no different. "This Christmas season marks seven decades of the North American Aerospace Defense Command tracking Santa Claus on radar as he flies his reindeer-powered sleigh around the globe," the U.S. Department of Defense wrote in a statement. "Each year on Dec. 24, Santa Claus and his reindeer launch from the North Pole very early in the morning for their famous trip around the world. The minute they launch, NORAD starts to track him."
But even though NORAD tracks Santa's flight around the world on Christmas Eve, that doesn't mean the air defense command knows Kris Kringle's route ahead of time.
"NORAD tracks Santa, but only Santa knows his route, which means we cannot predict where and when he will arrive at your house," a senior NORAD official said in the statement.
The U.S. military's statement notes that fighter pilots have intercepted Santa Claus' sleigh many times over the years as he enters NORAD's airspace. A previous DOD statement that is no longer available online (an archived version is available here) states NORAD is able to track Santa using infrared sensors on satellites that are designed to detect the heat from rocket or missile launches.
"As Santa flies through the skies, satellites track his position by detecting Rudolph's nose, which gives off an infrared signature similar to that of a missile," the statement reads.
In addition, the U.S. Space Force is currently launching satellites to build out a new infrared early-warning constellation known as SBIRS-GEO (Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous Earth Orbit) to boost the U.S. military's ability to detect and track launches. These satellites feature sensors that continuously scan the entire Earth, providing 24/7 missile warning capability. The sensors aboard SBIRS satellites are more also sensitive than those on DSP spacecraft, which will eventually be phased out as the SBIRS constellation is completed.
Volunteers from the ROTC detachment at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs help set up the North American Aerospace Defense Command's Santa Operations Center at Peterson Space Force Base on Dec. 18, 2024. (Image credit: U.S. Dept. of Defense/Joshua Armstrong)
Over 1,000 volunteers including both civilians and uniformed military personnel give their time each Christmas at NORAD's headquarters at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The volunteers answer hundreds of thousands of phone calls each year, the DOD's statement says.
NORAD's Santa Tracker goes online at 6 a.m. ET (1100 GMT) on Dec. 24. Children of all ages eager to know where St. Nick is can call (+1) 877-HI-NORAD (877-446-6723) or visit NORADSanta.org.
NORAD's Santa Tracker also has apps available for Android and iOS.
]]>
+ https://www.space.com/entertainment/how-to-track-santa-claus-this-christmas-eve-with-norads-2025-tracker
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+ 4uBojvSrJHA8gxCpouJsjD
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+ Mon, 22 Dec 2025 21:00:00 +0000Mon, 22 Dec 2025 19:11:33 +0000
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+ <![CDATA[ Rocket Lab launches final mission of 2025, sends Japanese Earth-observing satellite to orbit (video) ]]>
+
Rocket Lab launched its 21st and final mission of the year over the weekend, sending a private Japanese Earth-observing satellite to orbit.
An Electron rocket carrying the QPS-SAR-15 satellite, nicknamed Sukunami-I, lifted off from Rocket Lab's New Zealand site on Sunday (Dec. 21) at 1:36 a.m. EST (0636 GMT; 7:36 p.m. local time in New Zealand).
The launch, which the company called "The Wisdom God Guides," went well: Electron's "kick stage" deployed Sukunami-I into a circular orbit 357 miles (575 kilometers) above Earth as planned.
A Rocket Lab Electron rocket launches "The Wisdom God Guides" mission for the Japanese company iQPS from New Zealand on Dec. 21, 2025. (Image credit: Rocket Lab)
Once it's up and running, the satellite will join the Earth-observing constellation operated by Japanese company iQPS. Its spacecraft view our planet using synthetic aperture radar, meaning they can peer through clouds and get good looks at night as well as during the day.
"The Wisdom God Guides" was Rocket Lab's sixth launch in 2025 for iQPS and its seventh for the company overall. And the Japanese company has booked an additional five Electron launches in 2026, according to Rocket Lab.
Sunday's flight was the last of the year for Rocket Lab. It has now launched 21 missions in 2025, adding to the company's single-year record. The previous high, set last year, was 16.
All of this year's launches were successful. Eighteen were orbital launches with the 59-foot-tall (18-meter-tall) Electron. The other three involved HASTE, a modified, suborbital version of Electron designed to let customers test hypersonic technologies in the final frontier.
"Our new record of annual launches and the breadth of upcoming missions go to show how much of a global impact Electron continues to have on the space industry, and we're looking forward to another year of continued execution in 2026," Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck said in an emailed statement on Sunday.
"In 2026, we're expanding Electron’s global reach with more multi-launch constellation deployments, dedicated missions for domestic civil space and international space agencies in Japan and Europe, and both suborbital and orbital launches with defense applications for hypersonic technology and national security," he added.
]]>
+ https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/rocket-lab-launches-final-mission-of-2025-sends-japanese-earth-observing-satellite-to-orbit-video
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+ yAcBetRYRL9XmGcgoG7dVo
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+ Mon, 22 Dec 2025 20:00:00 +0000Mon, 22 Dec 2025 17:49:47 +0000
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+ <![CDATA[ Meet Qingzhou, China's next-gen cargo craft for its Tiangong space station (video) ]]>China is working toward the first launch of a next-generation, low-cost cargo spacecraft option for its Tiangong space station.
Qingzhou, meaning "Light Ship," is being developed by the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IAMCAS) as a smaller, lighter and potentially lower-cost complement to China’s existing Tianzhou cargo spacecraft.
China completed its Tiangong space station in 2022 and aims to keep it permanently occupied with crew for at least a decade. With plans to expand the orbital outpost beyond its current three-module, T-shaped configuration, China also wants new, agile solutions to keep Tiangong supplied.
The Qingzhou spacecraft passed a design review in June and entered the initial manufacturing phase, according to a recent China Central Television (CCTV) report.
The prototype measures roughly 10.8 feet (3.3 meters) in diameter, has a launch mass of about 11,000 pounds (5,000 kilograms), and is capable of carrying up to 4,000 pounds (1,800 kg) of cargo to orbit. Its hybrid structure combines a pressurized module for crew supplies and sensitive instruments with an unpressurized aft section capable of carrying external payloads and space-exposure experiments.
"We have now conducted large-scale experiments and are currently loading and verifying the status of the remaining individual machines, as well as conducting final testing. The overall test results are quite good," Wu Huiying, deputy chief designer of the Qingzhou cargo spacecraft, told CCTV.
Full engineering model production is scheduled to begin in early 2026, with construction expected to be completed by the end of that year. Its debut flight will follow based on the operational needs of the Tiangong station, according to Wu.
The first prototype was initially stated to fly on the debut launch of commercial rocket startup CAS Space’s Kinetica-2. That plan now appears to have been altered, with CAS Space reported to be preparing for that very launch from Jiuquan spaceport in the Gobi Desert in the near future.
Qingzhou is one of a pair of new spacecraft commissioned by China’s human spaceflight agency as the country looks to upgrade its space transportation capabilities. The other, named Haolong, is a reusable shuttle concept being developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute under the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China.
]]>
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<![CDATA[ Northern lights may be visible in 10 states tonight ]]>
- The northern lights may put on another show across the U.S. tonight as speedy solar wind from an Earth-facing coronal hole is forecast to spark minor (G1) geomagnetic storm conditions, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center.
Geomagnetic activity is expected to reach minor (G1) storm levels overnight, which could be good news for aurora chasers as it raises the chance of seeing the northern lights in mid-latitudes.
Space weather forecasters say Earth will remain under the influence of the fast solar windthrough Dec. 24, potentially offering aurora chasers several opportunities to catch the display over the festive season.
Where can I see the northern lights tonight?
Aurora forecast for tonight courtesy of NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center. (Image credit: Map: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, background image: Daisy Dobrijevic. Graphic created in Canva Pro.)
States that could see auroras tonight
Based on the latest NOAA aurora forecast map, the following 10 U.S. states appear fully or partially above the aurora view line:
Alaska
Washington
North Dakota
Minnesota
Montana
Maine
Michigan
Wisconsin
South Dakota
Idaho
Remember, auroras can be fickle creatures. The list is based on current forecast data, but if conditions strengthen and skies are clear, auroras could reach much farther south than expected.
Then again, if conditions don't align, we might end up with a "nothing burger" and no auroras at all.
Northern Hemisphere aurora forecast courtesy of the U.K. Met Office
What time should I look for the northern lights tonight?
The northern lights could be visible across 10 U.S. states tonight (Dec. 22-23) as soon as it gets dark, so it's worth keeping an eye on the sky throughout the evening, especially in areas with clear, dark skies.
According to NOAA's 3-day forecast, geomagnetic storm activity is expected to be best at the following times:
4 p.m. - 10 p.m. EST (2100-0300 GMT): Minor G1 level storming possible
How can I see the northern lights from where I live?
If you live in one of the 10 U.S. states forecasted to catch a glimpse of the northern lights tonight, there are a few things you can do to give yourself the best chance of seeing them.
Find a north-facing vantage point with a clear view of the northern horizon, as far from light pollution as possible.
Use your phone camera to scan the sky, as a phone camera is great at picking up faint auroras before your eyes spot them. This will give you a good idea of which direction to focus your attention.
Try and let your eyes adapt to the dark for at least 30 minutes; this will help your night vision develop.
Wear warm clothing! Part of the fun of aurora hunting is the chase. Be prepared to sit or stand for hours if conditions are looking promising, as you won't want to miss the show when it starts!
We recommend downloading a space weather app that provides aurora forecasts based on your location. One option I use is "My Aurora Forecast & Alerts," available for both iOS and Android. However, any similar app should work well.
I also use the "Space Weather Live" app, which is available on iOS and Android, to get a deeper understanding of whether the current space weather conditions are favorable for aurora sightings. Want to capture the perfect photo? Our how to photograph auroras guide can help.
]]>
+ The northern lights may put on another show across the U.S. tonight as speedy solar wind from an Earth-facing coronal hole is forecast to spark minor (G1) geomagnetic storm conditions, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center.
Geomagnetic activity is expected to reach minor (G1) storm levels overnight, which could be good news for aurora chasers as it raises the chance of seeing the northern lights in mid-latitudes.
Space weather forecasters say Earth will remain under the influence of the fast solar windthrough Dec. 25, potentially offering aurora chasers several opportunities to catch the display over the festive season.
Where can I see the northern lights tonight?
Aurora forecast for tonight (Dec. 23) courtesy of NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center. (Image credit: Map: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, graphic created in Canva Pro by Daisy Dobrijevic.)
States that could see auroras tonight
Based on the latest NOAA aurora forecast map, the following 10 U.S. states appear fully or partially above the aurora view line:
Alaska
Washington
North Dakota
Minnesota
Montana
Maine
Michigan
Wisconsin
South Dakota
Idaho
Remember, auroras can be fickle creatures. The list is based on current forecast data, but if conditions strengthen and skies are clear, auroras could reach much farther south than expected.
Then again, if conditions don't align, we might end up with a "nothing burger" and no auroras at all.
Northern Hemisphere aurora forecast courtesy of the U.K. Met Office
What time should I look for the northern lights tonight?
The northern lights could be visible across 10 U.S. states tonight (Dec. 23-24) as soon as it gets dark, so it's worth keeping an eye on the sky throughout the evening, especially in areas with clear, dark skies.
According to NOAA's 3-day forecast, geomagnetic storm activity is expected to be best at the following times:
4 p.m. - 7 p.m. EST (2100-0000 GMT): Minor G1 level storming possible
How can I see the northern lights from where I live?
If you live in one of the 10 U.S. states forecasted to catch a glimpse of the northern lights tonight, there are a few things you can do to give yourself the best chance of seeing them.
Find a north-facing vantage point with a clear view of the northern horizon, as far from light pollution as possible.
Use your phone camera to scan the sky, as a phone camera is great at picking up faint auroras before your eyes spot them. This will give you a good idea of which direction to focus your attention.
Try and let your eyes adapt to the dark for at least 30 minutes; this will help your night vision develop.
Wear warm clothing! Part of the fun of aurora hunting is the chase. Be prepared to sit or stand for hours if conditions are looking promising, as you won't want to miss the show when it starts!
We recommend downloading a space weather app that provides aurora forecasts based on your location. One option I use is "My Aurora Forecast & Alerts," available for both iOS and Android. However, any similar app should work well.
I also use the "Space Weather Live" app, which is available on iOS and Android, to get a deeper understanding of whether the current space weather conditions are favorable for aurora sightings. Want to capture the perfect photo? Our how to photograph auroras guide can help.
]]>
https://www.space.com/stargazing/auroras/northern-lights-may-be-visible-in-10-states-dec-22-23
hqXjJJx8Df2XUsyifm24sB
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- Mon, 22 Dec 2025 17:03:30 +0000Mon, 22 Dec 2025 17:03:31 +0000
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+ Mon, 22 Dec 2025 17:03:30 +0000Tue, 23 Dec 2025 08:05:07 +0000
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+ <![CDATA[ 10 space zombie movies, books, and games to prepare you for the night of the intergalactic dead ]]>
@@ -89,7 +430,7 @@
<![CDATA[ NASA launches science balloon in Antarctica | Space photo of the day for Dec. 22, 2025 ]]>
- Before a space telescope ever reaches orbit, and long after satellites are up there, NASA has another way to do frontier science: high-altitude scientific balloons. These balloons can loft instruments to roughly 120,000 feet (about 36.6 kilometers) — high in the stratosphere, above most of Earth's atmosphere—at a fraction of the cost and complexity of a space mission, while still enabling serious astrophysics, heliophysics,Earth science, and technology testing.
In the austral summer, near-constant sunlight and stable polar wind patterns can support extended-duration flights, allowing payloads to gather data for days to weeks as they circle the continent.
What is it?
NASA's first scientific balloon flight of the 2025 Antarctica Balloon Campaign lifted off from the agency's Antarctic facility at 5:30 a.m. NZST Tuesday, Dec. 16 (11:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 15 U.S. Eastern Time) and reached float altitude carrying an experiment called GAPS — the General AntiParticle Spectrometer.
Once airborne, NASA reported the balloon was floating at about 120,000 feet (36 kilometers) above Earth's surface.
Where is it?
This image was taken near Antarctica Rubilotta where the balloon launched.
A massive payload (the GAPS instrument gondola) is suspended from a crane in the foreground while the balloon is set up in the background. (Image credit: NASA/Andy Hamilton)
Why is it amazing?
GAPS' goal is to look for rare particles from space called antimatter nuclei, specifically antideuterons, antiprotons, and antihelium. Scientists have never clearly seen antideuterons or antihelium in cosmic rays before. If GAPS detects even a single antideuteron, it could give us important clues about the mysterious substance known as dark matter, which makes up most of the universe but is invisible to us. GAPS uses a time-of-flight system to measure how fast the particles are moving and a tracker system to record the interaction.
Now that the balloon has been launched, the GAPS project is underway, hopefully revealing more about the universe around us in due course.
]]>
+ Before a space telescope ever reaches orbit, and long after satellites are up there, NASA has another way to do frontier science: high-altitude scientific balloons. These balloons can loft instruments to roughly 120,000 feet (about 36.6 kilometers) — high in the stratosphere, above most of Earth's atmosphere—at a fraction of the cost and complexity of a space mission, while still enabling serious astrophysics, heliophysics,Earth science, and technology testing.
In the austral summer, near-constant sunlight and stable polar wind patterns can support extended-duration flights, allowing payloads to gather data for days to weeks as they circle the continent.
What is it?
NASA's first scientific balloon flight of the 2025 Antarctica Balloon Campaign lifted off from the agency's Antarctic facility at 5:30 a.m. NZST Tuesday, Dec. 16 (11:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 15 U.S. Eastern Time) and reached float altitude carrying an experiment called GAPS — the General AntiParticle Spectrometer.
Once airborne, NASA reported the balloon was floating at about 120,000 feet (36 kilometers) above Earth's surface.
Where is it?
This image was taken near Antarctica Rubilotta where the balloon launched.
A massive payload (the GAPS instrument gondola) is suspended from a crane in the foreground while the balloon is set up in the background. (Image credit: NASA/Andy Hamilton)
Why is it amazing?
GAPS' goal is to look for rare particles from space called antimatter nuclei, specifically antideuterons, antiprotons, and antihelium. Scientists have never clearly seen antideuterons or antihelium in cosmic rays before. If GAPS detects even a single antideuteron, it could give us important clues about the mysterious substance known as dark matter, which makes up most of the universe but is invisible to us. GAPS uses a time-of-flight system to measure how fast the particles are moving and a tracker system to record the interaction.
Now that the balloon has been launched, the GAPS project is underway, hopefully revealing more about the universe around us in due course.
]]>
https://www.space.com/astronomy/earth/nasa-launches-science-balloon-in-antarctica-space-photo-of-the-day-for-dec-22-2025
@@ -389,24 +730,6 @@
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- <![CDATA[ The best last-minute holiday gifts for any die hard space superfan ]]>
- The holiday season is upon us. So, whether you've had your eye on something for a while or you're busy shopping the sale to come up with ideas, it's the perfect time to grab a deal, especially if there's a diehard space fan in your life that you need a gift for.
From tabletop telescopes to actual pieces of the moon, we've searched across the web for the best gifts at the best prices so you don't have to. And we're not talking about your average cosmic gifts from space-themed socks to star maps, although they're still great picks. No, these are for the space fans who are madly obsessed with the universe.
So, with the holidays finally upon us, here's what you should be shopping for if you're on your own intergalactic journey to find something extra special for a space lover this holiday season. Or, if you're incredibly organized, bag a deal now and save it for their birthday.
Best holiday gifts for diehard space fans we recommend
This is one of the best tabletop telescopes money can buy, and it just got a little more affordable. The ZWO Seestar S30 is a compact smart telescope with 30mm aperture, a 2MP sensor, and it's ultra-portable for astrophotography, weighing just 3.6lb.
It's our favorite pick for imaging on a budget with 150mm focal length and a 2.9 x 1.6-degree field of view, ideal for capturing images of large deep-sky objects. It's packed with futuristic features, too, from auto-tracking, image stacking and Wi-Fi control. View Deal
Own a replica of the rocket that literally took Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to space with this Estes Blue Origin New Shepard 1/66th scale model. Named after Alan Shepard, who once walked on the moon, it's a legacy piece with a rich history and a far-reaching goal to make space exploration accessible to everyone.
While an actual trip on the rocket is incredibly expensive, owning a small replica that you can launch up to 400ft before deploying its own capsule with a parachute is a pretty cool consolation prize. Plus, it's one of the best model rocket sets on the market. Though it's worth noting that the engines and launchpad are sold separately.View Deal
Lego is excellent at making replica model crafting not only a fun experience, but something amazing to look at when it's all done, perfect for home decor. And you'll be kept very busy constructing over 2,000 pieces to create this detailed Lego replica model of the Boeing 747 carrier aircraft and NASA Space Shuttle Enterprise.
This collectible building set is part of the Lego Icons series, a perfect gift for adult fans of model aircraft, science and space exploration. A truly iconic piece to display an era that played an integral part in human space travel.View Deal
The Celestron NexStar 6SE is a fuss-free telescope that'll give you some of the best views of the solar system you'll ever experience.
It's got flawless optical coating for clear views, no color fringing or coma, Vixen dovetail for flexible mount changes, an excellent tracking system and all wrapped up in a high-quality build. If you've got a budding astronomer in your life, this telescope grants them the opportunity to explore space like never before.View Deal
The Lego NASA Mars Rover Perseverance set features over 1,100 pieces and is a fantastic buildable replica of the vehicle that has roamed the Red Planet's surafce. This is one of the best Lego space sets on the market right now.
One of the most impressive parts about it? It actually comes equipped with full steering and suspension, as well as working wheels. View Deal
A must-have piece of kit for rocketeers, the Eetes Super Orbital Transport is an upgraded version of the company's OG model. It's like the original, only bigger and better. What you get is a rocket that needs some serious skills to build, as well as some basic tools.
And once you've built it, you can launch it up to 800 feet into the air, though you'll need to spend a little extra on the launching kit parts. Once launched, a dual recovery system is deployed with a parachute and glider, meaning you can launch it again and again.View Deal
The best viral star projector on the market, which surprised us with how good it is, the Orzorz Galaxy Projector gives the premium models on the market a run for their money, for a fraction of the cost.
In our review, we were thrilled with the bright and vivid imagery, the premium feel of the model and the realistic imagery, along with the features, like a sleep timer and 180-degree rotation available.View Deal
]]>
- https://www.space.com/technology/the-best-last-minute-holiday-gifts-for-any-die-hard-space-superfan
-
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- WQGLPxuZENbrKLHgyJnG4N
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- Sat, 20 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +0000Tue, 16 Dec 2025 11:28:29 +0000
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- <![CDATA[ Looking for a skywatching Christmas gift? We have hunted down the best last-minute deals on telescopes, binoculars and more ]]>Are you looking to make the most of your money this Christmas? Are you shopping for a gift for a stargazer, or maybe looking to upgrade to one of the best telescopes or best binoculars? Then you can relax, because we have got you covered with our guide to the best last-minute deals on optical gear.
Yes, you've left it a little late, but that's no cause for panic. Why? Because Amazon, Walmart and some other retailers offer expedited shipping. That means you can, in theory, order something as late as December 23 and get it in time for Christmas!
However, you shouldn't leave your shopping until Christmas Eve. Firstly, express shipping may cost you more and it's not available on every item. Secondly, deliveries can get delayed unexpectedly.
So read on for our last-minute optical deals and, when something's caught your eye, order sooner rather than later.
Telescope deals
Christmas is a great time to pick up a telescope. The nights are long, there are plenty of night sky sights and on the day itself, December 25, you can test out your new scope by training it on Sirius, the brightest star in the sky.
Our experts have rounded up the best last minute deals on telescopes, from super portable scopes to motorized telescopes that are a boon for any beginner. So read on to save on stargazing and nature watching, but don't leave your shopping too late!
Save $40on a telescope from one of the most trusted brands in optical equipment. We think it's the best budget telescope you can buy, and it's got everything you need to start stargazing. View Deal
We rank the NexStar 4SE as the best telescope for beginners, and it's $100 off right now. It's quick and easy to set up, and its computerized mount means you can find planets, galaxies and more with the push of a button. View Deal
Save $120 on our pick for the best portable telescope, a compact but powerful scope. Despite its motorized mount, it's light enough to carry to less light-polluted areas. View Deal
Smart telescope deals
The best smart telescopes are fantastic if you want to take the work out of stargazing. They are indeed a little pricier than 'regular' telescopes, but with a smart scope, there's no need to spend minutes or even hours sweeping the heavens to find certain objects. Instead, they come with a built-in bank of objects of interest; press a couple of keys, or tap a button, and the scope will hone right in on that object. It really is that simple. It could be a real boon if you've got children who are easily bored.
On top of that, all the scopes in our guide allow you to take pictures through your smartphone, without the need to use one of the best dedicated astrophotography cameras. Here are the smart scopes you can save on.
Save $200on this user-friendly Celestron Origin scope. It's the best smart telescope for deep sky images, offering stunning shots of nebulae, galaxies and other sights outside our solar system. View Deal
Save $50 on the ZWO Seestar S30, which we rank as the best smart telescope for portability. It's whisper quiet but its image quality is excellent, including those of some deep space objects.View Deal
Want to save on a top-end smart scope? Get $500 off the best smart telescope for larger budgets. Its smartphone interface makes it a breeze to use, and it's ideal for those who want to go all-in on astrophotography. View Deal
Binocular deals
As stunning as the view from a telescope, smart or otherwise, can be, there's plenty to be said for the power and portability of binoculars. The best binoculars can, in the right circumstances, actually be a better choice than telescopes, especially on the go.
Want stunning views of deep space, without light pollution? Just grab a pair of reasonably powerful binoculars, drive or walk away from civilization, and point them at the night sky.
The models we've selected are also excellent for nature watching or zooming in on sporting events. Some even boast image stabilization, which essentially eliminates handshake.
Save over $450on the best overall binoculars you can buy. Not only do these offer amazing views of the cosmos, thanks to their high-resolution optics, their image stabilization offers shake-free stargazing. View Deal
Want a closer look at the lunar surface? Save $65 on the best binoculars for moon views. They offer excellent wide-field views, with an impressive 15x magnification level. View Deal
Monocular deals
Depending upon who you listen to, monoculars are either a mini-telescope, or half a binocular. But that's no reason to overlook these optical devices; the best monoculars are even more portable than binoculars or telescopes, and can be popped into a pocket with ease.
Save 10%on the best monocular for magnification which, with its BaK-4 glass, and multi-coated lenses, can be used as a stand-alone monocular and as smartphone telephoto lens. View Deal
]]>
@@ -426,6 +749,24 @@
+
+ <![CDATA[ The best last-minute holiday gifts for any die hard space superfan ]]>
+ The holiday season is upon us. So, whether you've had your eye on something for a while or you're busy shopping the sale to come up with ideas, it's the perfect time to grab a deal, especially if there's a diehard space fan in your life that you need a gift for.
From tabletop telescopes to actual pieces of the moon, we've searched across the web for the best gifts at the best prices so you don't have to. And we're not talking about your average cosmic gifts from space-themed socks to star maps, although they're still great picks. No, these are for the space fans who are madly obsessed with the universe.
So, with the holidays finally upon us, here's what you should be shopping for if you're on your own intergalactic journey to find something extra special for a space lover this holiday season. Or, if you're incredibly organized, bag a deal now and save it for their birthday.
Best holiday gifts for diehard space fans we recommend
This is one of the best tabletop telescopes money can buy, and it just got a little more affordable. The ZWO Seestar S30 is a compact smart telescope with 30mm aperture, a 2MP sensor, and it's ultra-portable for astrophotography, weighing just 3.6lb.
It's our favorite pick for imaging on a budget with 150mm focal length and a 2.9 x 1.6-degree field of view, ideal for capturing images of large deep-sky objects. It's packed with futuristic features, too, from auto-tracking, image stacking and Wi-Fi control. View Deal
Own a replica of the rocket that literally took Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to space with this Estes Blue Origin New Shepard 1/66th scale model. Named after Alan Shepard, who once walked on the moon, it's a legacy piece with a rich history and a far-reaching goal to make space exploration accessible to everyone.
While an actual trip on the rocket is incredibly expensive, owning a small replica that you can launch up to 400ft before deploying its own capsule with a parachute is a pretty cool consolation prize. Plus, it's one of the best model rocket sets on the market. Though it's worth noting that the engines and launchpad are sold separately.View Deal
Lego is excellent at making replica model crafting not only a fun experience, but something amazing to look at when it's all done, perfect for home decor. And you'll be kept very busy constructing over 2,000 pieces to create this detailed Lego replica model of the Boeing 747 carrier aircraft and NASA Space Shuttle Enterprise.
This collectible building set is part of the Lego Icons series, a perfect gift for adult fans of model aircraft, science and space exploration. A truly iconic piece to display an era that played an integral part in human space travel.View Deal
The Celestron NexStar 6SE is a fuss-free telescope that'll give you some of the best views of the solar system you'll ever experience.
It's got flawless optical coating for clear views, no color fringing or coma, Vixen dovetail for flexible mount changes, an excellent tracking system and all wrapped up in a high-quality build. If you've got a budding astronomer in your life, this telescope grants them the opportunity to explore space like never before.View Deal
The Lego NASA Mars Rover Perseverance set features over 1,100 pieces and is a fantastic buildable replica of the vehicle that has roamed the Red Planet's surafce. This is one of the best Lego space sets on the market right now.
One of the most impressive parts about it? It actually comes equipped with full steering and suspension, as well as working wheels. View Deal
A must-have piece of kit for rocketeers, the Eetes Super Orbital Transport is an upgraded version of the company's OG model. It's like the original, only bigger and better. What you get is a rocket that needs some serious skills to build, as well as some basic tools.
And once you've built it, you can launch it up to 800 feet into the air, though you'll need to spend a little extra on the launching kit parts. Once launched, a dual recovery system is deployed with a parachute and glider, meaning you can launch it again and again.View Deal
The best viral star projector on the market, which surprised us with how good it is, the Orzorz Galaxy Projector gives the premium models on the market a run for their money, for a fraction of the cost.
In our review, we were thrilled with the bright and vivid imagery, the premium feel of the model and the realistic imagery, along with the features, like a sleep timer and 180-degree rotation available.View Deal
]]>
+ https://www.space.com/technology/the-best-last-minute-holiday-gifts-for-any-die-hard-space-superfan
+
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+ WQGLPxuZENbrKLHgyJnG4N
+
+ Sat, 20 Dec 2025 10:00:00 +0000Tue, 16 Dec 2025 11:28:29 +0000
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+ <![CDATA[ Mysterious bright blue cosmic blasts triggered by black holes shredding stars, scientists say. 'It's definitely not just an exploding star.' ]]>The brightest cosmic object of its kind ever detected may have helped astronomers solve the mystery of powerful, bright blue cosmic explosions.
At the heart of the discovery is a signal from a so-called Luminous Fast Blue Optical Transient (LFBOT), designated AT 2024wpp, first spotted in 2024. The signal revealed to a team of scientists that LFBOTs are the result of extreme Tidal Disruption Events (TDEs), in which a black hole with a mass up to 100 times that of the sun, completely shreds a companion star in just a matter of days.
Just over a dozen LFBOTs have been discovered to date, and their cause has puzzled astronomers for around a decade. Now off the hook, previous suspects have included strange types of exploding stars (supernovas) and interstellar gas being gobbled up by black holes.
LFBOTs are so named because they are incredibly bright, visible at distances up to billions of light-years, shining high-energy light ranging from the blue end of the optical region of the electromagnetic spectrum through ultraviolet and X-ray wavelengths, and only last a few days. While the first LFBOT was spotted in 2014, it wasn't until four years later that astronomers caught one in enough detail to properly analyse.
This 2018 event was designated AT 2018cow, leading to its nickname Tthe Cow," with LFBOT that followed also getting zoological nicknames: the Koala (ZTF18abvkwla), the Tasmanian devil (AT 2022tsd), and the Finch (AT 2023fhn). AT 2024wpp doesn't have its nickname yet, but the Wasp is a fairly good bet.
No ordinary Tidal Disruption Event
When researchers assessed AT 2024wpp, they found that it emitted around 100 times as much energy as the average supernova, seemingly ruling exploding stars out as a potential cause. In fact, to produce this much energy, an exploding star would have to convert around 10% of its mass instantly into energy via Einstein's energy/mass relation E=mc^2 over the course of just a few weeks.
The team's observations, using the Gemini South observatory, revealed an excess of near-infrared light from the source of AT 2024wpp, something only seen before around AT 2018cow, which is not associated with normal supernovas.
"The sheer amount of radiated energy from these bursts is so large that you can't power them with a core collapse stellar explosion — or any other type of normal stellar explosion," team member Natalie LeBaron of the University of California, Berkeley said in a statement. "The main message from AT 2024wpp is that the model that we started off with is wrong. It's definitely not just an exploding star."
TDEs are fairly common occurrences across the cosmos, happening when stars venture too close to ravenous black holes and are "spaghettified," creating a noodle of stellar pasta that wraps around the culprit black hole like linguine around a fork. However, not all TDEs create an LFBOT, so the question is: what is so special about these particular TDEs?
This infographic depicts AT 2024wpp, the brightest fast blue optical transient (FBOT) ever seen, and the likely mechanism behind its extreme power output. (Image credit: NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/R. Margutti/P. Marenfeld)
The team theorizes that in the case of the TDE behind AT 2024wpp, the black hole has been parasitically feeding from a companion star for a long time. This resulted in the black hole being completely encased in a spherical shell of material. However, this shell is too far away from the black hole to be devoured by it.
However, the companion star eventually spirals close enough to the black hole to be spaghettified by its immense gravitational influence. This results in new stellar material slamming into the matter that the black hole has been stealing throughout the system's history. This generated X-ray, ultraviolet, and optical blue light, seen as AT 2024wpp. Radio waves are generated when material from around the black hole is channelled to its poles, where it is accelerated to around 40% the speed of light and blasted out as jets. The team estimated that the star shredded in the event that launched AT 2024wpp has a mass around 10 times that of the sun and was a highly evolved star nearing the end of its life, called a Wolf-Rayet star, explaining the weak hydrogen emission seen around AT 2024wpp. Stars like this are thought to be common in actively star-forming galaxies like the one 1.1 billion light-years away from which AT 2024wpp erupted.
The team's research has been accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal Letters and is currently available as a pre-peer-review paper on arXiv.
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- <![CDATA[ Geminid meteors streak under green sky | Space photo of the day for Dec. 19, 2025 ]]>
- Every December, Earth plows through a dusty lane of debris in space, and the night becomes illuminated by streaks of meteors. This year's Geminids meteor shower peaked around Dec. 13, with generally favorable viewing thanks to a relatively dim moon.
The beauty of the Geminids was captured by astrophotographers worldwide, including well-known astrophotographer Josh Dury.
What is it?
A meteor isn't a "falling star" but instead a piece of space grit, usually no bigger than a grain of sand, hitting the Earth's atmosphere at tens of miles per second and vaporizing in a bright, brief flare.
The point from which the Geminids appear to originate (also called the radiant) sits in the constellation Gemini, near the bright star Castor, which is why the meteor shower is named the Geminids.
Where is it?
This image was taken on the south coast of England, U.K.
This image shows fossils and meteors in one shot. (Image credit: Josh Dury)
Why is it amazing?
According to Dury's instagram post on this image: "The Geminids are strange; unlike most meteor showers, they are not debris from a comet, but rather - an asteroid." The asteroid in question is 3200 Phaethon, which is known to act more like a comet than an asteroid.
"This narrative of asteroid fragments raining down conjured the image for me of the extinction of the dinosaurs when the Chicxulub asteroid impacted with the Earth," Dury told Space.com. "Utilizing this year's meteor shower over the fossilized dinosaur tracks, I was able to reconstruct the morbid scene that might well have been the final scene before life on earth changed as we know it."
Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct the image location. The photo was taken on the south coast of England, not near the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico.
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- https://www.space.com/stargazing/meteor-showers/geminid-meteors-streak-under-green-sky-space-photo-of-the-day-for-dec-19-2025
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- Fri, 19 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000Mon, 22 Dec 2025 10:32:20 +0000
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- <![CDATA[ Traveling over the holidays? Maximize your online safety with our exclusive 72% discount on Norton VPN ]]>
- Save a massive 72% with our exclusive Norton VPN deal, a sensational seasonal saving for online security, to help protect your devices and data while online.
VPN stands for virtual private network and can make your device appear as if it's in another location. With Norton VPN, you get online security measures like a dedicated IP address, ad blockers, a kill switch, a no-log policy on your online activity and more. You can secure multiple devices at once and it's particularly useful if using public servers at any point. By having a dedicated IP address, you can also unlock streaming content from back home, which may become geolocked when traveling. The best VPNs are ideal for the best streaming services and the best laptops on the market.
Our exclusive Norton VPN deal allows its users to increase their online security with ad blockers, no activity logging, a kill switch, a dedicated IP address from any one of over 100 locations, IP rotation for an extra layer of security and more.
Note: This deal is live until the end of the year, so if you want extra online security and the ability to unlock content from back home while traveling, you'll have to act quickly.View Deal
This is the same deal as above, with the same features available, but for UK users. View Deal
Again, this is the same deal as above, with the same features, but for Australian users.View Deal
You can save 72% with our exclusive Norton VPN deal. (Image credit: Norton)
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Our exclusive Norton VPN deal increases your online security for a discounted price. (Image credit: Getty Images)
Our exclusive Norton VPN deal is live until the end of the year, making it ideal for holiday travel or trips planned for the year ahead (like the upcoming solar eclipse). The deal covers up to five devices at once and you'll experience all the safety features for a whole year, which, at $29.99, works out at $2.50 a month. Along with added online security, you'll be able to access content from back home, which might become geolocked while traveing.
Of course, several plans are available and you can still explore other plans by using our link. While prices will vary, so will the level of protection. If you opt for either the Plus or the Ultimate plan, you can enjoy further security features like a password manager, scam, phishing and malware protection (powered by AI), dark web monitoring, dedicated cloud storage, parental controls and location supervision.
Key features: Exclusive 72% discount on a year's access, a dedicated IP address, ad blockers, a kill switch, a no-log policy on your online activity, scam, phishing and malware protection (powered by AI), dark web monitoring, dedicated cloud storage, parental controls and location supervision
Price history: Without our exclusive offer, Norton VPN would normally set you back $109.99 for a full year, so with a 72% discount, you're getting great value for money.
✅ Buy it if: You want added online security and to access content from back home, which may become geolocked while traveling, all for a discount.
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- https://www.space.com/technology/travelling-over-the-holidays-maximize-your-online-safety-with-our-exclusive-72-percent-discount-on-norton-vpn
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- Fri, 19 Dec 2025 13:40:39 +0000Mon, 22 Dec 2025 11:49:41 +0000
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- <![CDATA[ Best VPN services we recommend 2025 ]]>
- VPN stands for Virtual Private Network and it's a tool that gives you a unique IP address when turned on, making your connection appear as if it's in a different location. Below, we've highlighted the six best options in different categories on the market.
You might want to consider a VPN if you do a lot of streaming, traveling, downloading or uploading content or if you're generally online frequently. Different VPNs will offer different things, but the benefits can include unlocking geolocked content, which is ideal if you're traveling and want to stream the content you would at home. Online safety features include, but are not limited to: Ad blockers, malware detection, password management and more.
If you subscribe to some of the best streaming services or best value streaming services, or you use one of the best laptops, getting one of the best VPNs could be in your interest. So whether you're looking for the best overall, the best free option, the best for security or something else, scroll down below
Nord VPN
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NordVPN is the best VPN on the market, in our opinion. (Image credit: NordVPN)
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NordVPN is the best VPN on the market, in our opinion. (Image credit: NordVPN)
Nord VPN
The best overall, Nord VPN offers plenty of online security at a good price, when on offer.
Number of geolocations: 164 | Maximum devices covered: 10 | Online security features: Ad and tracker blocker, anti-malware protection, insurance, password manager and more | Money back guarantee: 30 days | Price: From $2.99 a month
Lots of geolocations
Robust online security features
Ample plans available
Can be expensive
Not the simplest to use
NordVPN is up there with the best options available and by most metrics, it is the best. Several plans are available with prices starting from just $2.99 a month for their most basic plan. It offers a fast connection, plenty of security features and is often on offer.
The security features that NordVPN offers include filtering malicious sites and blocking ads with their most basic plan. As plans get more expensive, the level of security features increases, too. Ad and tracker blockers feature as well as anti-malware protection. You can also get encrypted cloud storage, scam detection, a data breach scanner, dark web monitoring, insurance and you can secure up to 10 devices simultaneously.
NordVPN claims their connection speeds can reach over 2,000 Mbps, which is super quick, and you only need a fraction of that to stream 4K video. Connection speeds won't always be that quick; the quality of your connection, as well as how far away you set your geolocation, will always have an effect on this.
All of this, with the choice of up to 164 geolocations and prices starting at $2.99 (and Nord is often on offer, so prices are unlikely to change drastically from this), makes Nord one of the best value options as well as one of the best VPNs overall.
Surfshark
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Surfshark is the best value. (Image credit: Surfshark)
Surfshark
If you're looking for a speedy connection at a reasonable price, Surfshark offers what you're looking for.
Number of geolocations: 141 | Maximum devices covered: Unlimited | Online security features: Ad and tracker blocker, complete antivirus solution, data leak monitoring and more | Money back guarantee: 30 day | Price: From $1.99 a month
Fastest connection on offer
Well priced
Easy to use
Not the best protection - Doesn't stop all malware and phishing
Price hike on renewal
If you're looking for quality and reliability on a budget, then Surfshark could be the VPN you're looking for. It has up to 141 geolocations available and you can protect an unlimited number of devices with prices starting from just $1.99, making it a top value option.
Surfshark claims their connection speeds will reach 460Mbps, which is pretty quick and plenty to stream 4K video, more than enough for general online use and is faster than a lot of the competition, which you'll find more information on below.
The safety features Surfshark offers its users are more than sufficient, too. Antivirus software for your device, along with ad and pop-up blockers, data leak monitoring, identity theft coverage, alternative ID and a dedicated IP address. All of this allows for improved safety when online and Surfshark will alert you and cover you, should something go wrong.
Surfshark has three options available: Their Starter, One and One+ plans, each with increasing levels of security available, but also increasing costs. But, starting out at $1.99 a month on the 24-month plans, and regular offers available, so you often won't have to pay full price, Surfshark offers a lot for a lower cost than its direct competitors.
Express VPN
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ExpressVPN is the best VPN for an easy user experience. (Image credit: ExpressVPN)
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ExpressVPN is the best VPN for an easy user experience. (Image credit: ExpressVPN)
Express VPN
If you're looking to use a VPN with just the click of a button, Express VPN is the choice for you.
Number of geolocations: 160 | Maximum devices covered: 14 | Online safety features: Ad and tracker blocker, password manager, dedicated IP and more | Money back guarantee: 30 days | Price: From $3.49
Super easy to use
Plans available with extra features
Not the fastest
Not the cheapest
Express VPN isn't necessarily the cheapest option available, nor does it offer the most security features, but it is very straightforward to use, and if you like something that's one-click-and-go, Express VPN is the option for you.
If you're looking for security features, Express VPN does still offer plenty. You can get malicious site, ad and tracker blockers, a dedicated IP address and up to 14 devices covered simultaneously. Express VPN also offers a dedicated Wi-Fi router with a VPN built in.
When it comes to connection speed, Express VPN doesn't overtly advertise speeds and states,"No two VPN servers are alike. Even servers located in the same country can have different speeds." Our sister site, TechRadar, reported speeds of sub-400Mbps when connected to the US from the UK. This is still more than enough to download content, stream and browse effectively, but isn't quite as fast as some of the competition.
It's important to remember that Express VPN offers users a big button that turns the VPN on and off from the selected location, and that's all there is to using it. It's simple to use, and that's its unique selling point and what helps it stand out from the rest of the market.
Proton VPN
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We think Proton VPN is the best for privacy. (Image credit: ProtonVPN)
Proton VPN
It may not be the cheapest, but it offers robust online protection.
Number of geolocations: 120+ countries | Maximum devices covered: 10 | Online safety features: Ad, tracker and malware blocker, encrypted cloud storage, password manager and more | Money back guarantee: 30 days | Price: From $2.99 (free option available)
Huge numbers of servers
Free option includes unlimited data
Strong security and privacy features
Not the easiest to use
Can be expensive
When it comes to robustness and the quality of security features on offer, Proton VPN is a standout in the VPN market, offering servers in over 120 countries and even has a free option available.
Proton VPN guarantees that your activity does not get logged, ads don't appear and malware is blocked. You'll also get encrypted cloud storage, dark web monitoring, a password manager with integrated two-factor authentication and even a private email. You can secure up to 10 devices at a time, too, so you can get stringent safety protocols for many devices all at once.
The connection speeds Proton VPN offers are up to 300Mbps. Again, this isn't necessarily the quickest on the market, but it does offer a more than good enough user experience. Bear in mind, you may only need as little as 10Mbps for general online browsing and basic video streaming; anything around the 300 mark will be enough to give you what you want.
With prices starting at $2.99 a month, you get plenty for your money with Proton VPN, and there's even a free option available. Of course, prices do go up as the plans start to offer more, but with it being an affordable option, Proton VPN isn't a bad option at all if you're looking for a fast enough connection and robust safety features.
PrivadoVPN
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If you're looking for a free option, PrivadoVPN is it. (Image credit: PrivadoVPN)
PrivadoVPN
If you're looking for a free option, PrivadoVPN is a good way to go, for occasional use.
Number of geolocations: 240 | Maximum devices covered: Unlimited | Online safety features: 24/7 support, Swiss privacy laws | Money back guarantee: 30 days on paid plans | Price: Free (Paid from $1.11 a month)
Free is free
Good to use occasionally
Not nearly as secure as above options
Limited data usage
Last but by no means least, we have the best free option on the market, PrivadoVPN. PrivadoVPN does have paid options, which start from a low price point, but the free option gives you some pretty handy protection and connection speeds for the first 10GB of usage.
Every month, you get 10GB of usage with Privado's free VPN, and that offers you protection in line with Switzerland's privacy laws, some of the strictest in Europe, 13 global server locations, a no-log policy for your activity, the same level of encryption as paid plans, an ad-free user experience, a killswitch and 24/7 support. Remember, this is all for free. So if you're not willing to spend on a VPN, this level of protection is better than no added protection.
If you use up your 10GB allowance before the month is over, you won't get the same speeds, which will lead to a disappointing experience. But, if you're only using your laptop for general online browsing and maybe some basic video streaming, then 10GB should cover you. It's not ideal if you're going to be regularly streaming, downloading and/or browsing, but for occasional use, this will absolutely do the job.
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- https://www.space.com/technology/best-vpn-services-we-recommend
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- Fri, 19 Dec 2025 13:05:00 +0000Fri, 19 Dec 2025 12:28:02 +0000
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- <![CDATA[ Watch South Korean startup Innospace attempt its 1st-ever orbital launch today ]]>
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Update for 7:40 p.m. ET on Dec. 19: Innospace has called off today's planned launch of the Spaceward mission due to a technical issue. A new target date has not yet been announced.
South Korean startup Innospace is set to attempt its first orbital launch today (Dec. 19), and you can watch the action live.
Liftoff is currently scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST (9:30 p.m. local time and 0030 GMT on Dec. 20) from the Alcantara Space Center in Brazil. Innospace's Hanbit-Nano rocket will aim to insert five small satellites for customers from Brazil and India into a 186-mile-high (300 kilometers) orbit and mark a first for a private Korean company.
Watch it live here at Space.com, courtesy of Innospace, or directly via the company. Coverage will begin at 6:30 p.m. EST (2330 GMT).
Innospace team members together with officials from the Brazilian Air Force and the Brazilian Space Agency pose with the company’s first commercial launch vehicle Hanbit-Nano at the Alcântara Space Center in Brazil. (Image credit: Innospace)
"Hanbit-Nano has been successfully rolled out from the integration facility and transported to the launch pad ahead of liftoff. Preparations for the Spaceward mission are right on track," Innospace said Wednesday (Dec. 16) in a post on the social media platform X.
The 57-foot-tall (17.3 meters) rocket is designed to be able to launch 198 pounds (90 kilograms) into a sun-synchronous orbit from Brazil. The rocket's first-stage hybrid engine burns paraffin and liquid oxygen while the upper stage uses methane and liquid oxygen or paraffin and liquid oxygen, depending on its configuration.
SPACEWARD | Mission UpdateWeather needs a bit more time. 🌧️⏳ Due to unfavorable weather conditions at the launch site, including rain and wind, the launch time has been moved by two hours.Updated Launch Time• Dec. 19, 17:00 (BRT)• Dec. 20, 05:00 (KST)• Dec. 20, 01:30…December 19, 2025
Innospace CEO Kim Soo-jong told Space.com at the International Astronautical Congress in Sydney, Australia, in October that the company was established in 2017 and employs 260 people.
"All of our technology is developed by ourselves. The engineers are Korean, and the development is fully indigenous," Kim said. "Korea has built an ecosystem to develop a launch vehicle. We work with more than 100 supply-chain companies in South Korea," he added.
Kim said Innospace is very focused on the global market. "We already have around 14 contracts with global satellite companies."
A lot is riding on this first launch. Kim said that Hanbit-Micro, an advanced model of Hanbit-Nano that can carry 375 pounds (170 kg) to orbit, is set to begin commercial flights early next year, should all go according to plan.
Today's launch was originally scheduled for Wednesday (Dec. 17), but Innospace pushed it back two days to replace a part in the cooling system of the rocket's first stage.
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- https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/south-korea-innospace-first-orbital-launch-attempt-spaceward
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- Fri, 19 Dec 2025 13:00:00 +0000Sat, 20 Dec 2025 00:42:51 +0000
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- <![CDATA[ Farewell, comet 3I/ATLAS! Interstellar visitor heads for the outer solar system after its closest approach to Earth ]]>
- On Friday (Dec. 19), the interstellar invader, comet 3I/ATLAS, made its closest approach to Earth, coming to within 168 million miles (270 million kilometers) of our planet at 1 a.m. EST (0600 GMT).
Following this close approach and the opportunity it offers to investigate this interloper from beyond the solar system, 3I/ATLAS will begin to move back out to the outer regions of the solar system, before leaving altogether to continue its voyage through the Milky Way.
3I/ATLAS is just the third body discovered passing through the solar system from interstellar space, its predecessors being 1I/'Oumuamua in 2017 and comet 2I/Borisov in 2019. As such, 3I/ATLAS has been offering scientists the unique opportunity to study the raw materials that came together to form comets, asteroids, and planets orbiting stars other than the sun.
First spotted by NASA's Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) on July 1, 2025, with its trajectory indicating its origin lies elsewhere in the Milky Way.
In fact, its path through space suggests that this interstellar comet comes from a region of our galaxy that is much older than the 4.6 billion-year-old solar system.
The water-rich comet seems to originate from the Milky Way's "thick disk" of stars, rather than the thin stellar disk of which the sun is a member. The thick disk formed earlier than the thin disk, meaning 3I/ATLAS could be up to 7 billion years old.
"All non-interstellar comets, such as Halley's comet, formed at the same time as our solar system, so they are up to 4.5 billion years old," University of Oxford astronomer Matthew Hopkins said in a statement back in July. "But interstellar visitors have the potential to be far older, and of those known about so far, our statistical method suggests that 3I/ATLAS is very likely to be the oldest comet we have ever seen."
The comet 3I/ATLAS as it streaks through the solar system. (Image credit: ESA/M. Devogele, T. Santana Ros, M. Michell, F. Ocana and L. Conversi)
Comets tend to brighten as they approach our star due to solar radiation heating their icy cores and causing solid ice to transform straight into vapor, which erupts from the comet, growing its halo or "coma" and its characteristic glowing tail.
Quite why 3I/ATLAS brightened more than expected as observed by STEREO-A and STEREO-B, the twin spacecraft that make up Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO), the sun observing Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), and the weather satellite GOES-19, is still unknown.
The trajectory of 3I/ATLAS through the solar system (Image credit: NASA Scientific Visualization Studio)
"The reason for 3I’s rapid brightening, which far exceeds the brightening rate of most Oort cloud comets at similar r [radial distance], remains unclear," the scientists behind the research, Qicheng Zhang of Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, and Karl Battams, an astrophysicist at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington DC, wrote in a paper discussing the observation published on the research repository site arXiv.
Though 3I/ATLAS is now in the final stage of its occupation of the solar system, the data collected from it will likely inform scientists for some time to come, continuing to paint a more intricate picture of the Milky Way beyond the solar system.
Using NASA’s Eyes on the Solar System interactive app, you can track comet 3I/ATLAS through the solar system and see where it’s headed next.
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- https://www.space.com/astronomy/comets/interstellar-comet-3iatlas-heads-for-the-outer-solar-system-after-its-closest-approach-to-earth
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- Fri, 19 Dec 2025 11:33:20 +0000Fri, 19 Dec 2025 11:33:21 +0000
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- <![CDATA[ How did interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS capture our imagination in 2025? ]]>
- It came from outer space. Interstellar space, to be precise. From somewhere beyond the influence of our sun, possibly from one of our Milky Way galaxy's most ancient stars, one that formed long before our own sun and solar system. We may never know for sure.
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS was discovered on July 1, 2025, by the NASA-funded ATLAS survey (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) in Chile, a network of telescopes that scans the entire sky multiple times each night looking for moving objects that might pose a threat to Earth. Within hours, astronomers around the world were thrilled by the discovery: the object appeared to be the third-known interstellar object to pass through our solar system, behind 1I/'Oumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019.
Such visitors offer astronomers a rare opportunity to study objects that may be unlike anything found in our own cosmic neck of the woods. But within months, observations from some of Earth's most powerful telescopes as well as multiple spacecraft and observatories in orbit revealed 3I/ATLAS to in fact be much like comets from our own solar system: it appears to have an icy nucleus surrounded by a coma, a bright cloud of gas and dust that sublimates away from the nucleus as the comet approaches the sun and warms up.
Nevertheless, in what may be indicative of the post-truth age and influencer-dominated media landscape we now live in, a feeding frenzy of sensationalism and misinformation sprang up around the comet throughout the latter half of 2025. Claims that 3I/ATLAS might be an alien spacecraft or some form of extraterrestrial probe spread rapidly throughout social media within weeks of its discovery.
Cable news channels caught on. Kim Kardashian published a viral request on X imploring acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy to spill the "tea" on the object. Even members of the U.S. Congress got interested, writing letters to implore NASA to release whatever data it may have on the comet.
How, or why, did this interstellar comet generate such mainstream interest and capture the public imagination throughout 2025? Where did all of the sensational claims come from?
"It all came during the shutdown"
For one, it came down to timing.
Qicheng Zhang, a postdoctoral fellow at the Lowell Observatory in Arizona and author of a study of the comet's brightness as it approached the sun earlier this year, said that because 3I/ATLAS was discovered months before its closest approaches to the sun and Earth (unlike the previous two interstellar objects), there was much more of an opportunity for misinformation to spread.
"That seems to have given it a whole lot of extra time for conspiracy theorists to run wild and drum up attention before their unsubstantiated predictions are disproven to the extent they can ever be and people lose interest," Zhang told Space.com.
Another aspect of the timing of the comet's discovery centered on the fact that the U.S. government was shut down from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12 as Congress deliberated over funding appropriations for the 2026 fiscal year. During that time, many NASA operations were paused, including most public affairs agencies that would normally issue press releases and answer questions from the media and the public.
But during that time, the comet was also racing through the solar system. On Oct. 2, NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took images of 3I/ATLAS with its HiRISE camera, which, given the instrument's resolution, were thought to be the best opportunity astronomers had to nail down an estimate of the comet's size.
An annotated version of an image of 3I/ATLAS captured by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter using its (HiRISE) camera on Oct. 2, 2025. The image was released on Nov. 19, after NASA resumed operations following a 43-day U.S. government shutdown. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona)
In the vacuum of any official information from NASA, unofficial theories flourished, particularly ones that accused the space agency of using the shutdown to hide the "true" nature of the comet, said Larry Denneau of the University of Hawaii, who discovered 3I/ATLAS.
"Unfortunately, it all came during the shutdown," Denneau told Space.com. "And so that created its own complications, because the folks out there, who, you know, are conspiracy bent, thought NASA was trying to hide something."
In fact, when asked about why the comet became such a mainstream topic throughout 2025, most of the sources Space.com spoke to had one singular answer: the Frank B. Baird, Jr. Professor of Science at Harvard University, Avi Loeb, who served as the chair of Harvard's astronomy department from 2011 to 2020.
"The public laps it up"
In July, just weeks after the comet's discovery, Loeb published a non-peer-reviewed paper on the open source repository arXiv, arguing that the comet's characteristics suggest it might actually be alien technology. Loeb later wrote that images of 3I/ATLAS were "held hostage for bureaucratic reasons at NASA" during the shutdown.
The claims spread like wildfire, and within weeks, the comet was dominating headlines and social media feeds. But many astronomers were baffled by the attention 3I/ATLAS was receiving.
"It doesn't help that we have a Harvard professor who's out there, you know, saying that this thing could be an alien spacecraft or this doing all of this weird stuff," Denneau told Space.com. "That's a whole thing in itself. Why is Avi Loeb doing that? It's kind of a mystery to some of us in the field," Denneau added.
Mick West, a science writer who has published books on how to debunk sensational claims, echoed the comet's discoverer. "It's because of Avi Loeb," West told Space.com. "His unremitting push, combined with the gravitas of his Harvard professorship, makes it an easy sensational story for the media. He has many technical critics who point out (with the math) that it's almost certainly just a comet.
"But that's boring, so the media goes with 'Harvard astrophysicist says alien probe' and the public laps it up."
A Hubble Space Telescope image of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS captured in November 2025. (Image credit: NASA, ESA, STScI, D. Jewitt (UCLA). Image Processing: J. DePasquale (STScI))
Space.com reached out to Loeb to ask why he thought the comet captured so much public interest throughout the year.
"My explanation for the viral interest in 3I/ATLAS involves its anomalies, as listed in my essay," Loeb said via email. "My essays received more than 5 million views over the month of November, and my interview on the Joe Rogan Experience received more than 7 million views for the same reason."
Loeb previously wrote that "seeking scientific data is key to learning the truth" in a blog post criticizing NASA for not releasing its data on 3I/ATLAS during the government shutdown. "By staying curious and humble while collecting clues in this detective story, science brings us together. When egos get in the way, politics and social media set us apart."
"Not too much is unusual there"
As more imagery and observations of 3I/ATLAS continue to be made, scientists aren't focused on these anomalies, but instead say the comet appears to be just that: a normal comet.
"You kind of know the signatures that you're looking for; we were quick to be able to say, 'Yep, it definitely behaves like a comet,'" Nicky Fox, associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, said during a Nov. 19 press briefing during which the agency released imagery of 3I/ATLAS. "We certainly haven't seen any technosignatures or anything from it that would lead us to believe it was anything other than a comet."
Other astronomers have said the same. "We can see how much of each particular gas the comet is emitting and compare it to the gas coming out of solar system comets," Zhang said in a Lowell Observatory statement this month. "And so far, those ratios fall within the fairly typical range that we're seeing for solar system comets. So, not too much is unusual there."
Likewise, a new study published in Research Notes of the AAS based on observations by two different interplanetary spacecraft, NASA's Psyche spacecraft and Europe's Mars Trace Gas Orbiter, was able to calculate the non-gravitational acceleration 3I/ATLAS exhibited as it approached the sun caused by gases escaping its frozen shell. It found that 3I/ATLAS behaves as scientists expect a comet should.
"The results are pretty typical of ordinary comets, and certainly not record-breaking," lead author T. Marshall Eubanks told SpaceWeather.
But in a blog post in November 2025, Loeb criticized the "violent insistence of comet experts" that argued the acceleration was caused by this ordinary outgassing, "rather than thrusters on a spacecraft."
Comet 31/ATLAS just after it emerged from behind the Sun on the morning of Oct. 31, 2025, captured with the Lowell Discovery Telescope. (Image credit: Qicheng Zhang/Lowell Observatory.)
"Always an uphill battle"
The mainstream interest in 3I/ATLAS appears to have waned, but Earth-based telescopes and space-based observatories continue to study the comet.
An image of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS captured by the Gemini North Observatory (Image credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/B. BolinImage Processing: J. Miller & M. Rodriguez (International Gemini Observatory/NSF NOIRLab), T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab))
But as more data continues to be collected about the comet, it's unlikely these observations will make the types of headlines that 3I/ATLAS generated earlier in the year. The possibility of alien visitors from afar is far easier to understand than photometric analyses of cometary outgassing, and for decades, science fiction has encouraged us to keep our eyes to the skies not for conducting routine science, but in the search for signs of intelligent life out there in the vacuum of space.
Unfortunately, it truly appears that what made 3I/ATLAS such a popular topic throughout 2025 is the fact that one scientist with an impressive list of credentials made claims of possible alien technology, claims that landed him on television and podcasts, but that clouded the real, hard science being done to learn about the third-known object to fly through the solar system from another star.
"The misinformation is much easier to produce and much harder to squash, and so it's just always an uphill battle," Denneau told Space.com. "But you know, we're all doing what we can do right?"
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- https://www.space.com/astronomy/comets/how-interstellar-comet-3i-atlas-went-from-routine-discovery-to-viral-obsession-in-2025
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- dyuWQytT2HW8ci2CJJmunk
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- Fri, 19 Dec 2025 11:00:00 +0000Fri, 19 Dec 2025 14:28:38 +0000
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- <![CDATA[ Trump signs sweeping executive order aimed at 'ensuring American space superiority' ]]>
- The United States has some new marching orders in the final frontier.
On Thursday (Dec. 18), President Donald Trump issued an executive order entitled "Ensuring American Space Superiority." Dominance off Earth is vital to the nation's security and prosperity, according to the document.
"The United States must therefore pursue a space policy that will extend the reach of human discovery, secure the Nation's vital economic and security interests, unleash commercial development and lay the foundation for a new space age," the executive order states. You can find the full text of the order here.
The document gets into some specifics about how to make this happen. For example, it calls for the nation to return astronauts to the moon by 2028, and to start construction of a permanent lunar base by 2030 "to ensure a sustained American presence in space and enable the next steps in Mars exploration."
Nuclear power in space is part of this vision. "Ensuring American Space Superiority" lists as a priority the deployment of nuclear reactors in Earth orbit and on the moon, and states that one such facility should be ready to launch toward the lunar surface by 2030.
These goals aren't terribly surprising. For example, NASA is already working toward a 2028 crewed moon landing via its Artemis program, which also aims to set up one or more bases near the lunar south pole over the ensuing years.
The agency has also been developing a potential fission reactor for use on the moon for several years now, with the goal of deploying it in the early 2030s. And a few months ago, we got wind of the more aggressive 2030 timeline for this power source, via a directive from then-NASA Acting Administrator Sean Duffy.
Duffy no longer leads NASA, by the way: Billionaire entrepreneur and private astronaut Jared Isaacman officially took the reins, in a full rather than acting capacity, on Thursday.
The executive order also stresses the need to strengthen the United States' defensive capabilities in space.
For example, it calls for the development and testing of "prototype next-generation missile defense technologies by 2028 to progressively and materially enhance America's air and missile defenses pursuant to Executive Order 14186 of January 27, 2025 (The Iron Dome for America)." Trump has billed his vision for such a missile defense shield as a Golden Dome for the country.
Growing the space economy is a priority as well. Trump calls for the attraction of "at least $50 billion of additional investment in American space markets by 2028," and he wants to boost the cadence of rocket launches and landings, which are already at an all-time high (thanks in large part to SpaceX's incredible productivity).
The document also reinforces the plan to have one or more private outposts up and running in Earth orbit by the time the International Space Station retires in 2030.
Artist's illustration of Starlab, a planned private space station that will consist of a service module and a habitat for four astronauts. (Image credit: Starlab)
The executive order gets the ball rolling on implementation as well. For instance, it directs NASA to submit within 90 days a plan explaining how it will achieve the "the policy objectives in this order regarding leading the world in space exploration and expanding human reach and American presence in space."
Also within 90 days, Isaacman (along with the Secretary of Commerce) must identify any "acquisition programs" that are 30% behind schedule, 30% over budget, underperforming and/or "unaligned with the priorities in this order, along with a description of their planned mitigation or remediation efforts."
"Ensuring American Space Superiority" also revokes Executive Order 14056, which was issued by then-President Joe Biden on Dec. 1, 2021. Biden's order officially renewed the National Space Council (NSC), which Trump revived from a nearly quarter-century hiatus in 2017, during his first term as president. The new order may spell the end for the NSC, which is chaired by the vice president and helps steer the nation's space policy.
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- https://www.space.com/space-exploration/trump-signs-sweeping-executive-order-aimed-at-ensuring-american-space-superiority
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- mHdhdUCRH8EWjtnvi2YMW
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- Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:23:32 +0000Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:34:48 +0000
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- <![CDATA[ Best streaming devices to watch sci-fi shows and movies in 2025 ]]>
- Streaming services are proving to be an ever-popular way to watch movies and TV shows, but unless you have a smart TV you won't be able to watch them on your 'big screen' without one addition: A streaming device.
Also known as a streaming stick or smart TV stick, these devices usually connect to the HDMI port on your TV or monitor and connect directly to the internet. Apps for streaming services like Disney+, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video etc are then installed, usually through the proprietary firmware on the stick. You'll be able to log in to your existing subscriptions and watch all the TV shows and movies you've come to love, without the need to purchase a new TV or hook up a laptop or desktop computer.
Best streaming devices we recommend in 2025, watch TV shows and movies with a streaming stick
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K
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The Amazon Fire TV Stick is the best value streaming device on the market. (Image credit: Amazon)
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The Amazon Fire TV Stick is the best value streaming device on the market. (Image credit: Amazon)
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K
Sitting at the top of our list, it offers value beyond its competitors.
Price: $49.99 | Maximum resolution: 4K | Audio: Dolby Atmos | Output: HDMI 2.1 | Streaming services available: Netflix, Prime Video, Paramount Plus, Disney Plus, many more.
All major services available
4K viewing
Affordably priced
Interface can be ad-heavy
Uses a HDMI port for use
Simply put, Amazon's Fire TV Stick is the option you want if you want a simple-to-use streaming device that won't break the bank and offers good quality audio and visual. Is it the most premium option on the market? No. Is it one of the more cost-effective options? Yes. Does it do everything you want and need? Also, yes.
With 4K Ultra HD video resolution (providing the device you're watching on supports that) and Dolby Atmos audio, you're going to be satisfied with the quality of whatever it is you're streaming. You will need an HDMI port in order to use the Fire TV Stick, but most Smart TVs and laptops support that anyway. Another feature of the Fire TV Stick is that it's one of the most compact and portable devices on the market. Yes, it comes with its own remote but the device itself is akin to a standard USB stick. The only downside to that is that it makes it easier to misplace and lose.
On top of the quality of technology on offer, the Amazon Fire TV Stick's library contains all major streaming services. Of course, geolocking and regional services may not show but the likes of Netflix, Disney Plus, Paramount Plus, Apple TV, and of course, Prime Video etc. are all available.
Roku Ultra Media Player
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The Roku Ultra is the best value streaming box on the market. (Image credit: Roku)
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(Image credit: Amazon)
Roku Ultra Media Player
Roku's most advanced offering yet, it's 30% faster than other Roku devices and connects to the Wi-Fi.
Price: $99.99 | Maximum resolution: 4K | Audio: Dolby Atmos | Output: HDMI, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 6 | Streaming services available: Disney Plus, Netflix, Prime Video, Paramount Plus, all major services
More affordable than some premium options
4K viewing
Often on sale
Multiple cables needed
Fire TV Stick is similar and more convenient
If you're looking for a streaming device that offers plenty of quality and isn't a Fire TV stick, or you don't want to risk easily misplacing it, then the Roku Ultra is probably the option you're looking for.
The Roku Ultra differs from the Fire TV Stick in some ways and has its own useful features. It offers 4K viewing, Dolby Atmos audio and all major streaming services are available through the media player. It's also a box, rather than a stick, so it's harder to misplace by accident. It also features Bluetooth connectivity so you can connect your headphones to it, if that's how you prefer to listen to the audio.
However, it does come with multiple cables. A power cable, an HDMI cable and a charging cable for the remote. It also requires Wi-Fi connectivity to browse your streaming options. Despite these slight inconveniences, it is 30% faster than any other Roku player and is often on sale, so if you shop around and time it right, you can pick up a Roku Ultra 4K streaming device for considerably less than its MSRP.
Apple TV 4K
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The Apple TV 4K is the best premium option on the market. (Image credit: Apple)
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The Apple TV 4K is the best premium option on the market. (Image credit: Amazon)
Apple TV 4K
The most premium option in this guide, you pay for quality with the Apple TV 4K player.
Price: From $129 | Maximum resolution: 4K | Audio: Dolby Atmos, Spatial Audio | Output: HDMI 2.1 | Streaming services available: Netflix, Disney Plus, Prime Video, all major services
128GB version available
Bluetooth and Ethernet connectivity
4K viewing
Expensive
Prices only go up for more advanced models
Apple account required for purchases and rentals
If you're looking for the best of the best, irrespective of price, or you're a fan of Apple products, then you'll want to consider the Apple TV 4K streaming device.
Different options are available, including a 128GB model that comes with Bluetooth and Ethernet connectivity features. You get 4K viewing, providing your TV or other device supports that, and Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio sound. It comes with a power cord to plug in and a Siri remote, meaning the controller can be voice-controlled. The device is powered by Apple's A15 Bionic Chip, which allows for seamless scrolling and minimal loading times. But you will need an Apple account for rentals and purchases.
Again, all major streaming services are available through the app store. Our only gripe with this model is the price, and that it's more convenient to use when you have an Apple account. Otherwise, its premium look, design and performance shine through, giving you the best overall option on the market, if you're not on a budget or not wanting to get an Apple account.
Google TV Streamer
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The Google TV Streamer is the best option for Android users. (Image credit: Amazon)
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The Google TV Streamer is the best option for Android users. (Image credit: Amazon )
Google TV Streamer
Google's answer to the Apple TV 4K, it's a solid choice but its audio lets it down.
Price: $99.99 | Maximum resolution: 4K | Audio: Dolby Atmos | Output: HDMI | Streaming services available: Netflix, Disney Plus, Prime Video, all major services
Sleek design
22% faster than its predecessor
All major streaming services available
Less powerful than competitors
Equally impressive devices available for less money
The Google TV streamer is a solid choice if you're looking for a streaming device. It offers 4K viewing, Dolby Atmos audio and it's arguably the best looking device on the market. If you're looking for something that won't let you down and looks the part, this could be what you want.
While the Apple TV 4K might be the top option for Apple users, the Google TV Streamer is the equivalent for Android users. It's sleek design it meant to sit alongside your television rather than to just be slotted into a port on the side of a device or hidden out of sight. As it supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision for great visuals and given itss price tag, it's clear that it sees the Apple TV 4K as its rival in the market, as opposed to the more affordable Amazon Fire TV Stick and Roku Ultra.
Despite the promising looks and technology, the audio on offer lets it down slightly, as other options in this guide perform better. Not to say that the Google TV Player's audio is bad, it's just not the best. Again, you can get most major streaming apps and both Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity are available. One final negative is that 32GB of storage means there's less memory available than other options on this page.
It's harsh to say it's not bad, as it's actually quite good, it's just that other options in this guide are easier to justify.
All of the streaming devices above will allow you access, providing you have a subscription, to all major streaming services. That means you can watch content from the likes of Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video, Paramount Plus, Apple TV and more.
If you're looking for Star Wars, Marvel or other sci-fi hits, Disney+ is a great option. Paramount Plus is where you want to go for all Star Trek content. If you're looking for a seemingly endless library of stuff to stream, you'll want a Netflix subscription and if you want access to blockbusters and recent releases, Prime Video is what you'll want.
Above, we've highlighted four of the best options for streaming devices on the market. The Amazon Fire TV Stick is the best value-for-money option, the Apple TV 4K is the best premium option, the Roku Ultra is the best value box option and the Google TV streamer is the best choice for Android users.
Best streaming devices frequently asked questions
What's the best streaming device on the market?
Overall, it's the Apple TV 4K. Different versions are available but with 4GB of RAM, an A 15 bionic chip, Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio and 4K HDR visuals, combined with all the apps you could want or need and access the storage to hold everything you need in one place, it can't be beaten.
Do you still need streaming subscriptions with a streaming device?
Yes. Unfortunately, having a streaming device like the ones in this guide doesn't give you automatic access to streaming services like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus etc. You will still need to have an account with those services and subscribe.
Why do I need a streaming device?
The best streaming devices, which we've highlighted above, are handy tools. Yes, many smart devices can download the major streaming services, but these devices hold them all in one place, which saves you scrolling and searching for individual services. They're particularly handy if you don't have a smart TV with everything pre-installed, giving you access to the apps you want and need, without having to connect a PC to a tele, to search for what you're looking for, or even purchase a new tele altogether.
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- https://www.space.com/technology/the-best-streaming-devices-to-have-all-your-subscriptions-in-one-place
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- HwVHp5ssQkX7QdomUdfAqA
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- Thu, 18 Dec 2025 21:00:00 +0000Thu, 18 Dec 2025 10:59:46 +0000
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- <![CDATA[ Why are the 'Avatar' movies so massive? Their success seems to defy conventional logic ]]>
- What will be highest grossing film released in 2025? Record-breaking Chinese animation "Ne Zha 2" is currently in pole position, hundreds of millions of dollars ahead of "Lilo & Stitch" and the still-in-theaters "Zootopia 2" ("Zootropolis 2" in the UK). But you'd be unwise to bet against a movie that arrives on the big screen this week, the third instalment in a franchise with a proven track record of blowing box office expectations out of the water.
2009's "Avatar" and 2022 sequel "Avatar: The Way of Water" are currently the highest and third-highest grossing movies of all time, sandwiching "Avengers: Endgame" at the top of the all-time list. Although they're not built on decades-old IP, James Cameron's sci-fi actioners have both made more money than every single "Star Wars" movie, and all-but-one of the MCU's 37 big-screen outings to date. And with accepted Hollywood wisdom suggesting that films don't gain access to the $2 billion club unless a sizeable number of viewers are heading back for repeat viewings, the "Avatar"s have clearly found the secret sauce — the, if you will, box office unobtanium — that everybody else in Hollywood would happily travel to Alpha Centauri to find.
But — and here's the thing — I just don't get it. I appreciate the technical achievement, of course, and Cameron still has few equals when it comes to directing action scenes — you can take the man out of "Terminator" and "Aliens", but you can't take "Terminator" and "Aliens" out of the man.
(Image credit: 20th Century Studios)
The stories, however, are extremely derivative, populated by characters who don't always share the 3D qualities of the visuals. Although they're both decent (if overlong) movies, I've never felt a desire to watch them again right away, as I have with "The Force Awakens", "Avengers: Endgame" and many other blockbusters. I'm also unconvinced that either — particularly the inferior "The Way of Water" — deserved a Best Picture Oscar nomination.
In fact, when it comes to "Avatar"'s multi-billion-dollar success story, the only thing I can be certain about is that normal rules don't apply.
Which got me thinking: did I always feel this way, or have I just jumped on some post-release bandwagon?
I first saw the original "Avatar" at a preview screening in 2009, before anyone had any idea that its box office take would leave the then-record holder, Cameron's own "Titanic", trailing in its wake.
The review I wrote for SFX magazine said that, "The dense forests of Pandora look so real that you feel like someone's smashed a rectangular hole through the cinema wall and opened a window onto another planet." Indeed, I was full of praise for the game-changing 3D visuals, but lukewarm about the "predictable and derivative" story. I gave the film 4.5 stars out of 5, with the caveat that the experience was so geared towards the multiplex that the film would "automatically get a star docked as soon as it arrives on the small screen".
(Image credit: Disney)
I stand by every word, to the extent that I didn't watch the original film again for over a decade, keen not to sully the experience by watching on TV. I wasn't alone among critics, either, seeing as the original movie currently stands at 81% on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer. It's a good but not great score — the second lowest (ahead of "Jurassic World") in the all-time box-office top 10, and well behind previous Cameron classics "The Terminator", "Aliens", "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" and "Titanic".
"Avatar" wouldn't be the first franchise where critics and audiences have disagreed, and we're hardly in "Transformers" territory, where box office takings have often seemed inversely proportional to the quality of the movies. Nonetheless, it's hard to think of another recent Hollywood property where the theatrical experience has been so integral to the sales pitch.
Just as Tom Cruise has done his best to pack out multiplexes by risking life and limb in the name of "Missions: Impossible", Cameron has weaponized the prospect of 3D visuals light years ahead of his competitors. I still remember watching a preview for "The Way of Water" where the illusion of depth was so convincing that I wondered if it was raining indoors.
(Image credit: Disney)
"Avatar" didn't quite kickstart a stereoscopic revolution — though it did prompt thousands of cinemas to get 3D-ready — but how many other films have convinced their audience that watching "flat" would diminish the experience? With 3D tickets generally selling at a premium price, this certainly didn't harm those box office receipts.
The "wow" factor has arguably stretched "Avatar"'s appeal, drawing in viewers who wouldn't otherwise contemplate spending three hours in the company of big blue aliens.
But it's outside the US that "Avatar" has really come into its own. According to a YouGov survey, a whopping 48% of urban consumers in India and 33% in China saw "The Way of Water" in theaters — that's compared to just 13% in the UK and just 11% in the US. Both are markets where "Star Wars", for example, has historically struggled to make an impact — while "The Force Awakens" made almost half its money in the US, barely a quarter of "Avatar"'s revenue was earned at home.
(Image credit: Disney)
Most remarkably, the two "Avatar" movies to date have achieved their success without a vast shared universe — or spin-off shows on Disney+ — to support them. In an era when saturating the market with "product" has been the strategy for pretty much every major franchise in Hollywood, they're something of an outlier. That "The Way of Water" should arrive a whole 13 years after its predecessor and still sail past $2 billion defies all conventional logic, especially given the global box office's well-documented struggles in a post-pandemic world.
Any movie that can help fight the good fight for theaters against streaming feels like a good thing, as does a franchise that keeps its focus firmly on the big screen. Even so, I don't think "Avatar" is a saga I'm ever going to love.
Part of me still dreams that Cameron might one day back and make something more tactile again, a throwback to the glory days of "Aliens" and the "Terminator"s — it's telling that the thing I liked most in "The Way of Water" was the Colonial Marines-esque military hardware. But maybe yearning for a director to make films as he did three decades ago is a bit like going to see Radiohead and complaining the set wasn't dominated by songs from "The Bends" and "OK Computer".
Perhaps I should just accept that I'll never truly understand why the "Avatar" films are so successful, and admire them for best-in-class technical qualities. Besides, there is one thing I do know — as anyone in Hollywood will tell you, you should never, ever bet against James Cameron.
"Avatar: Fire & Ash" hits theaters worldwide on December 19, 2025. "Avatar" and "Avatar: The Way of Water" are available on Disney+.
Sign up to Disney+ to watch Avatar: Fire and Ash when it launches, along with the first two Avatar movies.
You can also catch the Star Wars movies and TV shows on there, plus loads of other Disney, Marvel, and Nat Geo content too.View Deal
Disney+ Bundle (Disney+, Hulu, & HBO Max): $19.99/month
Get even better value with the Disney+ bundle, which also comes with Hulu and HBO Max. View Deal
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- https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-movies-shows/why-are-the-avatar-movies-so-massive-their-success-seems-to-defy-conventional-logic
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- apNiwT23SxJzjqgA8LpU95
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- Thu, 18 Dec 2025 21:00:00 +0000Thu, 18 Dec 2025 19:11:33 +0000
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- <![CDATA[ A SpaceX Starlink satellite is tumbling and falling out of space after partial breakup in orbit ]]>
- One of SpaceX's Starlink broadband internet satellites suffered an anomaly in orbit on Wednesday (Dec. 17) and is now plunging toward Earth.
The mishap led to a loss of communication with the Starlink spacecraft, which was orbiting at an altitude of 260 miles (418 kilometers), according to the company.
In addition, "the anomaly led to venting of the propulsion tank, a rapid decay in semi-major axis by about 4 km [2.5 miles], and the release of a small number of trackable low relative velocity objects," representatives of Starlink, a company that's owned by SpaceX, said in an X post on Thursday morning (Dec. 18). That description suggests that the Starlink satellite's propulsion tank may have ruptured or suffered some other type of damage.
On December 17, Starlink experienced an anomaly on satellite 35956, resulting in loss of communications with the vehicle at 418 km. The anomaly led to venting of the propulsion tank, a rapid decay in semi-major axis by about 4 km, and the release of a small number of trackable…December 18, 2025
SpaceX is working with NASA and the U.S. Space Force to keep tabs on the newly liberated pieces of space debris, the post continued, stressing that there's not much to worry about.
"The satellite is largely intact, tumbling, and will reenter the Earth’s atmosphere and fully demise within weeks. The satellite's current trajectory will place it below the @Space_Station, posing no risk to the orbiting lab or its crew," Starlink representatives wrote.
"As the world’s largest satellite constellation operator, we are deeply committed to space safety," they added. "We take these events seriously. Our engineers are rapidly working to root cause and mitigate the source of the anomaly and are already in the process of deploying software to our vehicles that increases protections against this type of event."
The Starlink megaconstellation is by far the largest ever assembled. It currently consists of nearly 9,300 active satellites, meaning that SpaceX operates about 65% of all the functional spacecraft zipping around our planet.
And that number is growing all the time. SpaceX has launched 122 Starlink missions this year alone, sending more than 3,000 of the satellites to low Earth orbit.
Starlink satellites have a design lifetime of about five years, and SpaceX deorbits each one intentionally before it conks out in orbit.
The company has taken other steps to mitigate the space-junk threat posed by the megaconstellation as well. For example, Starlink spacecraft avoid potential collisions autonomously, an ability they put into practice quite often: In the first six months of 2025, Starlink satellites conducted about 145,000 evasive actions — an average of about four per spacecraft per month.
There's no guarantee that every satellite operator is quite so responsible, however. Last week, for example, a satellite recently deployed by a Chinese rocket gave a Starlink spacecraft a close shave, apparently without providing the proper warning ahead of time.
"As far as we know, no coordination or deconfliction with existing satellites operating in space was performed, resulting in a 200-meter close approach between one of the deployed satellites and STARLINK-6079 (56120) at 560 km altitude. Most of the risk of operating in space comes from the lack of coordination between satellite operators — this needs to change," Michael Nicolls, vice president of Starlink engineering at SpaceX, said via X on Dec. 12.
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- https://www.space.com/space-exploration/satellites/a-spacex-starlink-satellite-is-tumbling-and-falling-out-of-space-after-partial-breakup-in-orbit
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- 4UYMtr7KzkVAAh2fNpnyzH
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- Thu, 18 Dec 2025 19:51:11 +0000Thu, 18 Dec 2025 19:51:13 +0000
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- <![CDATA[ Astronomers capture 1st direct images of collisions in a nearby star system: 'It's like looking back in time' ]]>
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Astronomers have been treated to a stunning fireworks display from around a young star called Fomalhaut. The events, detected in 2004 and 2023, represent the first collisions between large objects seen in a planetary system beyond our own. Observing collisions occurring in a young star system like that of Fomalhaut could provide astronomers with a window to the conditions under which our own planet and its siblings formed around the infant sun around 4.6 billion years ago.
Fomalhaut is located only around 25 light-years away and is just 440 million years old. If this seems far from "young," remember our planet is 4.6 billion years old, and is considered middle-aged. Young star systems like Fomalhaut are estimated to be a hub of such violent collisions as space rocks, asteroids, and larger planetesimals, objects smaller than dwarf planets, slam into each other. Often, planetesimals rebound away from each other, but sometimes they stick to one another and turn dust and ice into planets and moons. The largest collisions are rare, occurring maybe once every 100,000 years over the hundreds of millions of years it takes to form a planetary system like the solar system.
"We just witnessed the collision of two planetesimals and the dust cloud that gets spewed out of that violent event, which begins reflecting light from the host star," team leader Paul Kalas, of the University of California, Berkeley, said in a statement. It's like looking back in time in a sense, to that violent period of our solar system when it was less than a billion years old."
Illustration of the collision of two planetesimals in the circumstellar disc of the star Fomalhaut. (Image credit: Thomas Müller (MPIA))
Kalas added that the team did not directly see the two objects that crashed into each other, instead spotting the aftermath of this enormous impact.
He and his colleagues first began investigating the young star Fomalhaut back in 1993, hunting for the debris leftover from planet birth, eventually finding a disk of this material around the star with the Hubble Space Telescope. Then, in 2008, Kalas found a bright spot in that so-called protoplanetary disk that was initially thought to be a planet. This new research suggests that this planet, Fomalhaut b, is actually a dust cloud that was stirred up by the collision between planetesimals in the protoplanetary disk.
"This is a new phenomenon, a point source that appears in a planetary system and then over 10 years or more slowly disappears," Kalas said. "It's masquerading as a planet because planets also look like tiny dots orbiting nearby stars."
The brightness of the events observed in 2004 and 2023 revealed that the bodies involved were around 37 miles wide (60 kilometers) or more, meaning they are each at least four times as large as the Chicxulub impactor, the asteroid that struck Earth 66 million years ago, wiping out the dinosaurs along with 75% of all species of animals and plants.
Hubble Space Telescope image shows the debris ring and dust clouds cs1 and cs2 around the star Fomalhaut. (Image credit: NASA, ESA, Paul Kalas/UC Berkeley. Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI))
"The Fomalhaut system is a natural laboratory to probe how planetesimals behave when undergoing collisions, which in turn tells us about what they are made of and how they formed," team member Mark Wyatt, of the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, said. "The exciting aspect of this observation is that it allows us to estimate both the size of the colliding bodies and how many of them there are in the disk, information which is almost impossible to get by any other means." Indeed, the team estimates that there are around 300 million planetesimals in the region around Fomalhaut of sizes similar to those involved in these two crashes. The fact that carbon monoxide gas has previously been detected in this system indicates these objects are rich in volatiles, substances such as hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and methane that easily turn gaseous at low temperatures.
That makes these icy bodies in Fomalhaut similar to the frigid comets of the solar system, which are also packed with volatiles. In a further comparison with the solar system, Kalas suggested that the 2004 and 2023 dust clouds seen by the team are akin to the dust cloud created in 2022 when NASA struck the moonlet Dimorphos with the DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) to test if this could shift its parent asteroid Didemos.
Kalas and colleagues will continue to investigate Fomalhaut with Hubble, also adding the powerful infrared vision of the James Webb Space Telescope to their investigation. This should allow them to track how the cloud seen in 2023 evolves. It is already around 30% brighter than the 2003 cloud, and observations conducted in August 2025 confirmed that it is indeed still visible.
As this investigation continues, Kalas warns astronomers not to fall into the trap of mistaking dust clouds for newly formed planets around infant stars.
"These collisions that produce dust clouds happen in every planetary system," Kalas said. "Once we start probing stars with sensitive future telescopes such as the Habitable Worlds Observatory, which aims to directly image an Earth-like exoplanet, we have to be cautious because these faint points of light orbiting a star may not be planets."
The team's research was published on Thursday (Dec. 18) in the journal Science.
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- https://www.space.com/astronomy/stars/astronomers-capture-1st-direct-images-of-collisions-in-a-nearby-star-system-its-like-looking-back-in-time
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- Thu, 18 Dec 2025 19:01:00 +0000Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:40:13 +0000
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- <![CDATA[ 4 ways to track 3I/ATLAS without a telescope as it makes its closest approach to Earth tonight ]]>
- Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS makes its closest approach to Earth on Dec. 19. Here's how you can track its progress both during the pass and as it races out of the solar system on its way to interstellar space, never to be seen again.
An analysis of 3I/ATLAS's movement quickly confirmed it to be just the third visitor to our solar system that was created in the orbit of an alien star, after the 2017 comet 'Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov, which buzzed the sun in 2019.
3I/ATLAS came closest to the sun on Oct. 31, when it advanced within 130 million miles (210 kilometers) from our parent star. At its closest approach to Earth — which will occur at 1 a.m. EST (0600 MGT) on Dec. 19 — the interstellar visitor will still be separated by a mind-boggling 170 million miles (273 million km) from our Blue Marble.
As such, the interstellar invader won't be visible to the naked eye, though a 12-inch (30 centimeter) telescope may allow you to spot it as a point of light travelling through a patch of sky below the stars of the constellation Leo on the night of Dec. 19, according to NASA.
Naturally, the vast majority of stargazers won't get to see 3I/ATLAS bid farewell to Earth with their own eyes. Instead, these handy resources — and a livestream — can be used to track the interstellar visitor during its flyby and in the weeks that follow, as it gradually disappears from our view forever.
NASA Eyes on the Solar System
Follow along with 3I/ATLAS's trajectory using NASA's Eyes on the Solar System, which uses data and imagery from agency missions to create a sophisticated 3D model of the sun's domain, which visualizes the orbits of planets, moons and spacecraft, along with wandering asteroids and comets.
A simulation of the solar system showing the trajectory of 3I/ATLAS flying beyond the orbits of Earth, Mars, Mercury and Venus (Image credit: NASA Scientific Visualization Studio)
Simply click on the magnifying glass icon in the upper right and search "3I/ATLAS" to see the interstellar invader's path. On Dec. 19 the comet will be travelling beyond the orbit of Mars ahead of a flyby of the gas giant Jupiter on March 12, 2026.
You can also scroll backwards and forwards through time and select to replay close planetary passes using the intuitive on-screen options to see all the highlights of 3I/ATLAS's journey through the solar system.
Track 3I/ATLAS's brightness using the the Comet Observation Database
You can track the average brightness of 3I/ATLAS and other solar system objects using the Comet Observation Database (COBS), courtesy of the Crni Vrh Observatory in Slovenia.
COBS accepts data submissions from amateur astronomers and plots the observations to show how a comet's lightcurve — or brightness as perceived from Earth — has varied over time. As expected, 3I/ATLAS's brightness has dipped significantly following its closest approach to the sun on Oct. 29, as it travels further from the warming influence and light of our parent star.
Virtual Telescope Project Livestream
Hoping to catch a glimpse of 3I/ATLAS on Dec. 19, but don't own a monster telescope capable of spotting it? Then be sure to tune into the Virtual Telescope Project's free YouTube livestream of the event starting at 11 p.m. EST pm Dec. 18 (0400 GMT on Dec. 19), which will feature real-time images of the comet captured by robotic telescopes located in Manciano, Italy. You can also watch the comet 3I/ATLAS livestream on Space.com.
Track its position using a smartphone astronomy app
While it may not be visible to most telescopes, you can still track the patch of sky containing 3I/ATLAS in the constellation Leo using a trusted smartphone astronomy app such as Stellarium, which uses augmented reality tech to help you find its position in the night sky.
Are you looking to upgrade your skywatching equipment? Then be sure to check out our picks of the best binoculars and telescopes for exploring the post-sunset realm in 2025 and beyond.
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- https://www.space.com/stargazing/4-ways-to-track-3i-atlas-without-a-telescope-as-it-makes-its-closest-approach-to-earth-tonight
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- aPZu56XgHmkovbBg3pB7TS
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- Thu, 18 Dec 2025 18:00:00 +0000Thu, 18 Dec 2025 20:21:15 +0000
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- <![CDATA[ 'Crash Clock' reveals how soon satellite collisions would occur after a severe solar storm — and it's pretty scary ]]>
- How long would it take for satellites to begin to collide with space junk and each other if they were to suddenly lose their ability to avoid each other?
A new study finds that, with the immense quantity of satellites that hurtle in Earth's orbit today, the first smashup would occur in less than three days, potentially triggering a dangerous collision cascade that could quickly make space around the planet unusable.
The study, published on the online preprint repository arXiv, has not yet been peer-reviewed, the authors caution, but it raises questions about the sustainability of humanity's use of space. The researchers call this expected time-to-collision value the Crash Clock and calculated it by running a model of all known objects in space and determining an average collision rate for various orbital regions in the absence of avoidance maneuvers.
They found that regions in low Earth orbit (LEO) at altitudes around 300 miles (500 kilometers), where most satellites of megaconstellations like SpaceX's Starlink reside, could see a collision in as little as 2.8 days. For comparison, the team ran an identical simulation with numbers of satellites and space debris in orbit from 2018. At that time, it would have taken 128 days for the first collision to occur, Samantha Lawler, an associate professor in astronomy at the University of Regina in Canada and one of the paper's authors, told Space.com.
"It's been a big change since 2018," Lawler said.
The idea that satellites in orbit could suddenly lose their ability to avoid collisions is not science fiction. Every time the sun unleashes a coronal mass ejection (CME) — a burst of magnetized plasma — toward Earth, the planet's tenuous upper atmosphere thickens. Satellites in LEO then experience more drag and slow down, meaning their trajectories become impossible to predict.
In 2003, for example, after the Halloween storm — one of the most intense space weather events of the last three decades — satellite operators lost track of positions of their spacecraft for days. At that time, a few hundred operational satellites orbited the planet, and no collision occurred. And the Halloween storm was only a fraction of what the sun is capable of. A stronger solar storm, perhaps as potent as the Carrington Event of 1859 — the most intense recorded solar storm in human history — would take a week or more to fully subside.
"At the beginning of a solar storm, there's a huge increase in atmospheric density and things start to get pulled down," Sarah Thiele, an astrophysics researcher at Princeton University, and corresponding author of the paper, told Space.com. "Before things start getting back to normal, you have uncertainties of several kilometers in the positions of satellites, and it becomes impossible to estimate where objects are going to be in the future — and therefore it becomes impossible to predict collisions and conduct avoidance maneuvers."
The Crash Clock data suggests that, in 2018, near-Earth space would most likely have had enough time to recover from the most extreme solar storm before the first collision occurred. In 2025, however, an orbital smashup would be almost certain. Such a collision would create thousands of fragments that would threaten everything in their path, potentially triggering an unstoppable chain of events. With every subsequent crash, the affected orbital region would become more unsafe — a nightmare scenario known as the Kessler syndrome.
"2.8 days is the average expectation value for time to the first collision," Thiele said. "It's a probabilistic estimate. We're not saying that for sure this is going to happen in exactly that time. It's what you might expect."
Currently, some 13,000 functioning satellites orbit the planet, according to the European Space Agency, together with more than 43,500 pieces of space debris — defunct satellites, rocket stages and collision fragments — that are large enough to be tracked. These objects circle the planet at speeds of about 7.8 kilometers (4.8 miles) per second, and their paths frequently intersect. Space situational awareness companies, the U.S. Space Command and other agencies predict satellite trajectories and alert operators to perform collision-avoidance maneuvers in case of close approaches. Starlink, by far the currently largest constellation in orbit, encompassing around 9,000 functioning satellites, performed 145,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers in the six months prior to July 2025, equivalent to around four maneuvers per Starlink satellite every month.
Over 46,000 space debris fragments more than 4 inches wide now clutter Earth's orbit. (Image credit: ESA)
The global space industry, however, is far from done with satellite constellation deployments. Analysts estimate that by 2035, tens of thousands more satellites might be added to Earth orbit. Things might therefore become much more treacherous in the not-so-distant future.
Lawler and Thiele declined to estimate how short the Crash Clock could be if there were perhaps six or 10 times as many satellites in Earth's orbit as there are today.
They say the satellite operators can, to a degree, improve their chances to survive solar mayhem by quickly de-orbiting old satellites and carefully considering how many spacecraft to launch to certain altitudes.
"The part that satellite operators can control is the number of satellites and the density of satellites," said Lawler.
Thiele added that the study highlights how fragile the space environment has become in a few short years.
"The Crash Clock demonstrates how reliant we are on errorless operations," she said. "If everything works as it's supposed to all the time, then we're okay."
Sooner or later, however, another Carrington-size solar storm will hit. Whether satellite operators will be ready for it remains a question. In 2025, the number of global space launches exceeded 300 for the first time in history, and the industry shows no signs of slowing down.
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- https://www.space.com/space-exploration/satellites/crash-clock-reveals-how-soon-satellite-collisions-would-occur-after-a-severe-solar-storm-and-its-pretty-scary
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- qE8fRGLrgFv5pxkj3DiGkG
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- Thu, 18 Dec 2025 17:00:00 +0000Thu, 18 Dec 2025 13:46:55 +0000
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- <![CDATA[ Scientists detect X-ray glow from interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS extending 250,000 miles into space ]]>
- For the first time ever, astronomers have captured two distinct X-ray views of an interstellar comet, providing an unprecedented glimpse into the interplay between a visitor from beyond our solar system and solar wind.
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, the third confirmed object known to have originated outside our solar system, has now been imaged in X-ray light by both the European Space Agency's (ESA) XMM-Newton observatory and the X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) led by the Japanese space agency JAXA in partnership with NASA and ESA. These X-ray observations allow scientists to detect and study gases that other instruments can't easily spot, according to a statement from ESA.
Comets shine in visible light when sunlight reflects off dust and gas escaping their icy core, while X-ray light tells a very different story. In space, the interaction between fast-moving charged particles from the sun — also known as solar wind — and a comet's surrounding gas cloud produces X-ray emissions. Detecting that glow lets scientists trace where and how these interactions occur and what kinds of gases are present at levels that optical telescopes might miss.
While NASA's James Webb Telescope and other instruments have already spotted abundant water vapor, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide in 3I/ATLAS's coma, X-ray observations are uniquely sensitive to lighter gases such as hydrogen and nitrogen that are otherwise hard to detect.
The first X-ray observation of 3I/ATLAS was made by the XRISM space telescope, which observed the comet for 17 hours between Nov. 26 and 28. The resulting image was captured using XRISM's soft X-ray telescope, Xtend, whose field of view spans roughly 1.2 million square miles (3 million square kilometers), revealing X-ray emission extending about 250,000 miles (400,000 kilometers) from the comet's nucleus — evidence that the comet's gas is being energized by the solar wind, according to a statement from ESA releasing the image.
An image of comet 3I/ATLAS from the X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM). (Image credit: JAXA)
The XRISM data also carry spectral signatures of elements such as carbon, nitrogen and oxygen, which helps scientists begin to disentangle the mix of particles released from the comet's nucleus and how they interact with the high-energy environment near the sun, ESA officials said in the statement.
Shortly after, ESA's XMM-Newton X-ray observatory studied 3I/ATLAS for about 20 hours on Dec. 3, when the comet was roughly 175–177 million miles (282–285 million km) from the spacecraft. The image was captured using the telescope's most sensitive X-ray instrument, the European Photon Imaging Camera (EPIC)-pn, revealing a distinct X-ray glow (shown in red) surrounded by fainter gradients. These features mark regions where the solar wind is interacting with gas streaming off the comet, according to a statement from ESA releasing the image.
Another x-ray view of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS (Image credit: ESA/XMM-Newton/C. Lisse, S. Cabot & the XMM ISO Team)
"3I/ATLAS presents a new opportunity to study an interstellar object, and observations in X-ray light will complement other observations to help scientists figure out what it is made of," ESA officials said in the statement.
Together, X-ray, optical, infrared and radio observations are offering fresh insights into 3I/ATLAS as it makes its rare journey through the inner solar system, with its upcoming closest approach to Earth expected around Dec. 19.
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- https://www.space.com/astronomy/comets/scientists-detect-x-ray-glow-from-interstellar-comet-3i-atlas-extending-250-000-out-miles-into-space
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- Q4LChwGpiFBKbRqcF2geMH
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- Thu, 18 Dec 2025 15:00:00 +0000Thu, 18 Dec 2025 12:37:58 +0000
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- <![CDATA[ Will 2026 bring strong auroras? What the sun's recent activity tells us ]]>
- Activity on the sun is not constant; it varies along a cycle of about 11 years. The peak of this solar cycle — called solar maximum — is when sunspots, solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are the most frequent. At the bottom of the cycle, called solar minimum, these phenomena may be absent for months at a time.
We are currently midway through Solar Cycle 25, the 25th solar cycle since the naming convention began back with Solar Cycle 1 in 1755. Solar Cycle 25 officially began at the last solar minimum in December 2019.
Over the past few years, activity on the sun has been high — something millions around the world have experienced firsthand during the severaldisplays of low-latitude auroras throughout 2024 and 2025. Although it is valid to consider the recent years of heightened solar activity to be the general solar maximum period, solar maximum itself is defined by the individual month in which the 13-month smoothed sunspot number reached its peak.
Although we can't guarantee that sunspot numbers won't surge again, it is very likely that the solar maximum of Solar Cycle 25 occurred back in October 2024. This puts all of 2025 into the declining phase of the current solar cycle — a trend that will almost certainly continue through 2026. This means that in 2026, we will see fewer sunspots, solar flares and CMEs, but it doesn't mean our chances for strong auroras are over.
Solar Cycle 25 in sunspot numbers, courtesy of NASA. The gray line marks monthly sunspot numbers, and the black line shows the 13-month average sunspot number (which defines the point of solar maximum). The blue, green and red lines show the upper, average and lower limits of the NASA forecast for the remainder of the solar cycle. (Image credit: NASA)
Comparing solar flares and geomagnetic storms
As of Dec. 10, 2025, the sun had produced 19 X-class solar flares this calendar year, with more likely before the year is up. However, only four of these solar flares were over a threshold of X2.0, with the strongest event reaching an X5.1-class flare on Nov. 11, 2025. In comparison, 2024 saw over 50 X-class solar flares, with 20 at or above the X2.0 level. In 2024, there were also five solar flares stronger than the largest solar flare of 2025 (at the time this was written), with the largest reaching an X9 level — the strongest Earth-facing solar flare of the solar cycle so far.
Strong solar flares routinely produce CMEs — eruptions of plasma from the sun's atmosphere. Solar flares and CMEs can happen independently, but the strong CMEs typically originate from X-class solar flares. If a CME is directed at Earth, it will impact Earth's magnetic field upon arrival and trigger a geomagnetic storm.
The strongest solar flare of 2025 so far, an X5.1-class event, occurred on Nov. 11. (Image credit: Ryan French/NASA)
Geomagnetic storms are what produce the northern and southern lights at lower latitudes than usual. They are ranked on a scale of G1 to G5. 2025 saw the third-strongest geomagnetic storm of the solar cycle so far, reaching a G4 (severe) level on Nov. 11. In 2024, we saw two stronger geomagnetic storms, a G5 (extreme) and G4 (severe) in May and October 2024, respectively. For each of these events, widespread auroras were seen across the world. So can we expect this activity to continue?
The strongest (Earth-facing) solar flare of Solar Cycle 25 so far was an X9.0-class event on Oct. 3, 2024. (Image credit: Ryan French/NASA)
Strong flares remain likely
Although we are now in the declining phase of the solar cycle, it doesn't mean our chances for strong flares or geomagnetic storms are over. Although solar flares and CMEs will become less frequent in the coming years, strong individual events will still occur. Historically, the strongest events on the sun typically happen during the cycle's declining phase, and sometimes even years after solar maximum.
Let's take, for example, solar flares in solar cycles 23 and 24. Solar Cycle 23, which peaked in 2001, was a strong solar cycle — with far higher sunspot numbers and stronger solar flares than Solar Cycle 24 and Solar Cycle 25. Solar Cycle 23 had 10 flares over the X10.0-class level, with four in 2003, two in 2005 and one in 2006 — years after solar maximum in 2001.
The largest of these flares, which occurred in 2003, is estimated to have reached the X40-class level (but, because it exceeded the sensitivity of detectors at the time, it is difficult to say for sure). Solar activity surrounding this strongest flare led to back-to-back G5 (extreme) geomagnetic storms around Halloween 2003, bringing auroras down to low latitudes during the strongest event in recent decades — two years into the solar cycle's declining phase.
In a similar story, Solar Cycle 24 peaked in 2014, with the two largest flares occurring in September 2017 (an X13.3 and an X11.88), more than three years after solar maximum. These events, however, were not notably Earth-directed, so they did not bring strong aurora displays.
This historical precedent can aid predictions. Although the total number of solar flares will likely decrease through 2026, we will likely continue to see strong solar flares next year. If we are lucky with the timing and eruptive nature of these strong solar flares, then we'll still have good odds of experiencing further strong aurora displays in 2026.
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- https://www.space.com/stargazing/auroras/will-2026-still-bring-strong-auroras-what-the-suns-recent-activity-tells-us
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- SCU8cgF68KVq8BsbcxNPc3
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- Thu, 18 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000Wed, 17 Dec 2025 19:18:49 +0000
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- <![CDATA[ As above, so below: Earth in the sky | Space photo of the day for Dec. 18, 2025 ]]>
- From Dec. 5 to Dec. 8 of every year, France celebrates the Fetes des Lumieres (Festival of Lights) at the Parc de la Tete d'Or in Lyon. There, the city hosts artwork spread across its iconic squares and opera house, including artwork made via drone.
What is it?
The Fetes des Lumieres is far older than LEDs, projectors or drones. Its roots go back to the 17th century, when people of Lyon vowed to honor the Virgin Mary for protecting the city from plague. In 1852, the devotion settled on a key day, Dec. 8, when residents placed candles, or lumignons, on their windowsills to celebrate the inauguration of a new statue of Mary in the city.
Over time, the religious event became much more urbanized, and in modern times now uses projectors, LEDs, and even drones to light up the night sky. By the 2000s, the festival had become world-famous, attracts millions of visitors to Lyon every December.
Where is it?
This image was taken at the Parc de la Tete d'Or in Lyon, which is in central-eastern France.
A view of our home planet made by drones. (Image credit: ALEX MARTIN/Getty Images)
Why is it amazing?
This year's celebration included a "ballet" of 500 synchronized dronesworking together to make distinct shapes in France's night sky, including this model of planet Earth. Each performance lasted about eight to 10 minutes, with shows beginning every 30 minutes to allow the drones' batteries to recharge. This image captures two moments in time, a centuries old tradition meeting cutting-edge technology to give spectators a dazzling wintry show they would never forget.
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- https://www.space.com/technology/as-above-so-below-earth-in-the-sky-space-photo-of-the-day-for-dec-18-2025
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- 2YE9C5zyz3sH72XgvcJy9h
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- Thu, 18 Dec 2025 13:46:22 +0000Thu, 18 Dec 2025 13:46:23 +0000
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- <![CDATA[ Night sky tonight Dec. 22: Look for the crescent moon and Earthshine shortly after sunset ]]>
- There is so much to see in the night sky tonight, here's what you can look forward to.
Read on to find out what you can see in the night sky tonight, from planetary meet-ups to the ever-changing moon phases, meteor showers and more. Want to look even further ahead? Check out our monthly night sky guide our brightest planets guide also tells you what planets are visible and when this month.
Sign up for our skywatching newsletter"Night Sky This Week"to discover this week's must-see night sky events, moon phases, and stunning astrophotos.
Thursday, Dec. 18: Orion’s Sword (after dark)
See Orion’s Sword on Dec. 18. (Image credit: Starry Night)
Anytime after dark is great for looking more closely at one of the jewels of the winter night sky. Look below Orion's Belt — which will be visible in the southeast after sunset — for a short vertical line of faint stars known to astronomers as Orion's Sword.
A soft haze of light may be visible surrounding the middle star. This is the Orion Nebula (M42), the closest large star-forming region to the solar system, which orbits within the Milky Way at just 1,500 light-years from Earth. — Jamie Carter
Night sky for tonight and the weekend
Friday, Dec. 19: New moon and the winter Milky Way (after dark)
See the new moon’s dark sky on Dec. 19. (Image credit: Westend61 via Getty Images)
The moon turns new at 8:43 p.m. EST on Dec. 19 (0143 a.m. GMT on Dec. 20), giving stargazers the darkest skies of the month. Astrophotographers often obsess about the Milky Way's bright core, which is at its most visible during the summer months from the northern hemisphere, but the winter Milky Way — looking away from its center — is almost as impressive. From rural locations, the Milky Way faintly arcs from Cassiopeia to Orion, providing a stunning reminder of the vast galaxy that we inhabit. — Jamie Carter
Saturday, Dec. 20: Jupiter as the 'Christmas Star' (after sunset)
See Jupiter rising in the east on Dec. 20. (Image credit: Starry Night.)
Was Jupiter the 'Christmas Star'? According to the Bible, a star appeared in the sky at the time of the birth of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem, causing a group of wise men to "follow yonder star" to worship him. Was it a planet? The source of this Christmas legend is unclear. The 17th-century German astronomer Johannes Kepler — he who laid down the laws of planetary motion — pondered whether it may have been a very close conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in the year 7 BC. Tonight, Jupiter alone makes a play for the title, shining at magnitude -2.6 as it appears in the east about 90 minutes after sunset and remains visible for the rest of the night. It will shine alongside the two brightest stars in the constellation Gemini, Castor and Pollux. — Jamie Carter
Sunday, Dec. 21: Young moon on the solstice as Ursids peak (after dark)
See the Ursid meteor shower and solstice on Dec. 21. (Image credit: Saptarshi Mandal / 500px via Getty Images)
Winter begins in the Northern Hemisphere at 10:03 a.m. EST (1503 GMT). Hours later, a 4%-illuminated waxing crescent moon will be visible in the southwest, just after sunset. It will set soon after, leaving the night sky dark for the peak of the Ursid meteor shower. Expect about 10 shooting stars per hour, which come from dust and debris left in the inner solar system by comet 8P/Tuttle. Meteors will appear to radiate from between the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper in the northern sky. — Jamie Carter
Monday, Dec. 22: Crescent moon and Earthshine (after sunset)
Look for Earthshine tonight (Dec. 22)/ (Image credit: Starry Night)
Look to the southwest just after sunset, and you'll see a 7%-illuminated waxing crescent moon shining in front of the stars of the constellation Capricorn. Look out for Earthshine on its night side. — Jamie Carter
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- https://www.space.com/news/live/night-sky-what-you-can-see-tonight
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- 52DH2aygGsKfK5FMMwijQC
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- Thu, 18 Dec 2025 11:11:59 +0000Mon, 22 Dec 2025 10:16:26 +0000
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- <![CDATA[ What time will interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS be closest to Earth today? ]]>
- Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS made its closest approach to Earth early on Friday, Dec. 19. While it didn't come close enough to pose any risk to our planet, astronomers have calculated the precise moment when the comet reached its minimum distance to us.
According to the orbital calculations from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Horizons system, comet 3I/ATLAS was closest to Earth at 1 a.m. EST (0600 GMT) on Dec. 19. At that time, the comet was about 1.8 astronomical units away — roughly 168 million miles (270 million kilometers — or nearly twice the average distance between Earth and the sun.
Discovered on July 1, by NASA-funded ATLAS telescopes in Chile, 3I/ATLAS is only the third known interstellar object ever detected passing through our solar system, following 'Oumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019.
While comet 3I/ATLAS will remain far too distant and faint to become a naked-eye spectacle as it passes Earth, its flyby is scientifically valuable because interstellar objects are so rare. Studying 3I/ATLAS near its closest approach provides astronomers with their best opportunity to examine material formed around another star, offering a fleeting glimpse into planetary systems beyond our own.
Skywatchers can also follow along with the flyby live online Dec.19-20 on Space.com courtesy of the Virtual Telescope Project. The livestream will begin at 11 p.m. EST on Dec. 19 (0400 GMT on Dec. 20), offering viewers a chance to see the interstellar visitor as it makes its closest approach to Earth, weather permitting.
Editor's note: This article was updated at 1:30 a.m. EST (0630 GMT) to reflect the close approach that occurred as expected at 1:00 a.m. (0600 GMT) Dec. 19, 2025.
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- https://www.space.com/astronomy/comets/what-time-will-interstellar-comet-3i-atlas-be-closest-to-earth-on-dec-19
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- Thu, 18 Dec 2025 11:00:00 +0000Fri, 19 Dec 2025 06:24:20 +0000
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