Active Space Telescopes
Humanity's eyes in the cosmos. Track status, wavelengths, and latest discoveries from the most advanced observatories.
James Webb Space Telescope
Studies stellar birth, the early universe, galactic evolution, and chemical signatures of exoplanet atmospheres.
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James Webb Detects Water Vapor on Mysterious Exoplanet
New data from the James Webb Space Telescope confirms that the atmosphere of exoplanet GJ 486 b contains significant water vapor, hinting at potential habitability.
James Webb Discovers the Oldest Supermassive Black Hole in the Early Universe
JWST has detected an active supermassive black hole dating back just 570 million years after the Big Bang, challenging models of cosmic structure.
Hubble Space Telescope
The observatory that revolutionized astronomy, capturing high-resolution optical views of the cosmos.
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NASA’s Hubble Seeks Lensed Supernova, Marks 200,000 Orbits
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope completed its 200,000th orbit around Earth on Sept. 19, marking another new milestone for an observatory that continues to transform our understanding of the universe. Hubble has traveled more than 5 billion miles around Earth over its 36-year lifetime, exceeding 1.7 million total observations. An observation completed on the day of […]
NASA’s Hubble Telescope Reaches Milestone, Looks for Elusive Supernova
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope captured this image of massive galaxy cluster MACS J0417 (left of center) on Sept. 19, 2026. This galaxy cluster acts as a gravitational lens, bending and magnifying light from objects far behind it. Supernova Athena, discovered by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope in 2025, is predicted to reappear between now and […]
NASA’s Hubble Spots an Out-of-Sync Galaxy
Though the spiral galaxy in this new image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope seems serene, it hides a chaotic secret. This galaxy is NGC 4698, and it lies about 55 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. It’s one of over a thousand galaxies in the Virgo Cluster, the nearest large cluster of galaxies bound together by […]
NASA’s Hubble, Webb Find Far-out Solar System Objects ‘Remember’ Past
For the first time, scientists used the joint power of NASA’s Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes to study some of the most far-flung bodies in our solar system, Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs). Some of these are the smallest and faintest ever directly seen. The researchers unexpectedly found fewer small TNOs than they expected, and that […]
APOD: 2026 September 8 – Hubble: Decagon Around Saturn’s South Pole
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 September 8 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Hubble: Decagon Around […]
NASA’s Hubble Spies Superbubble Scene
This Hubble Space Telescope image features a sprawling cosmic vista called N44.
Hubble's superbubble scene
This sprawling cosmic vista and subject of today’s ESA/Hubble Picture of the Month comes from the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). The LMC is the largest of the small galaxies that orbit our Milky Way galaxy. At just 160 000 light-years away, the LMC offers a close look at highly active stellar birthsites like the nebula shown here. This nebula is named LHA 120-N44, or N44 for short, and it’s located in the constellation Dorado.
NASA’s Hubble Tracks New Decagon Encircling Saturn’s South Pole
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope observes a giant, evolving, 10-sided atmospheric wave encircling Saturn’s south pole.
Hubble tracks new decagon encircling Saturn’s south pole
Recent observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have revealed a giant, evolving 10-sided atmospheric wave encircling Saturn’s south pole. This discovery marks the first time a large regular-sided jet pattern has been observed in the planet’s southern hemisphere. The feature appears remarkably similar to Saturn’s famous hexagon at its northern pole, but is also distinctly different, suggesting scientists may be witnessing a new atmospheric phenomenon develop on the iconic gas giant.
Hubble & Gaia solve our galaxy's merger mystery
Our home galaxy, the Milky Way, grew to its current size in part by consuming smaller galaxies. Now, new data from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope show definitive evidence of a dwarf galaxy merging with the young Milky Way galaxy in the earliest phases of its evolution. This finding extends our knowledge of our galaxy’s history 1.8 billion years farther back in time than before.
Hubble Solves Merger Mystery From Milky Way’s Early Years
New Hubble data shows definitive evidence of a dwarf galaxy merging with the young Milky Way in the earliest phases of its evolution.
Hubble Telescope Captures the Breathtaking Last Breath of a Dying Star
Hubble images reveal the detailed glowing gas envelope of planetary nebula NGC 6302, commonly known as the Butterfly Nebula.
Euclid
Investigates the cosmic expansion rate and maps the three-dimensional scaffolding of dark matter.
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Euclid Telescope Delivers Its First Giant 3D Map of the Dark Universe
The Euclid space mission has released its first massive dataset, mapping billions of galaxies to chart the invisible scaffolding of dark matter.
Gaia
Measures precise positions, distances, and motions of over one billion stars in our galaxy.
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Hubble & Gaia solve our galaxy's merger mystery
Our home galaxy, the Milky Way, grew to its current size in part by consuming smaller galaxies. Now, new data from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope show definitive evidence of a dwarf galaxy merging with the young Milky Way galaxy in the earliest phases of its evolution. This finding extends our knowledge of our galaxy’s history 1.8 billion years farther back in time than before.
Gaia Satellite Traces 100,000 Stellar Streams From Consumed Dwarf Galaxies
Data from Gaia Data Release 4 unveils the Milky Way's galactic cannibalism history with extreme precision in 3D velocity vectors.
Chandra X-ray Observatory
Observes X-rays from high-energy cosmic regions, supermassive black holes, and exploded star remnants.
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NASA’s Chandra Spots Galactic Gem
Two galaxies merge at a furious rate in this Aug. 25, 2026, image of the II Zw 096 system. This and several other images of both visually and scientifically interesting galaxies were released by NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes. Chandra X-ray data (magenta) pinpoint powerful black hole activity and hot gas, while optical […]
NASA’s Chandra Unveils Mysterious X-Ray Objects
Using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, scientists have discovered a new class of objects behaving unlike any they have seen before. Astronomers suggest these newly spotted objects in other galaxies may help solve not one, but two long-standing questions in astrophysics. These mysterious objects give off unusually low-energy X-rays but intense levels of ultraviolet radiation. This […]
Galactic Gems Glisten in New Gallery From NASA’s Chandra
Galaxies are like cosmic gems, each with characteristics including size and shape that make them distinct. A new gallery released today from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes displays a collection of galactic images that showcase this variety. Astronomers put galaxies into three main categories: spirals like our own Milky Way with arms emanating […]
Chandra Telescope Maps Glowing X-Ray Debris of Cassiopeia A Supernova
New X-ray maps of Cassiopeia A show how vital elements like silicon, sulfur, and iron are distributed after the supernova.
Vera C. Rubin Observatory
Will image the entire visible sky every few nights, creating the largest astronomical movie of all time.
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Perseverance’s View of ‘Turquoise Bay’
Description NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover used its Mastcam-Z camera to capture this 360-degree panorama of “Turquoise Bay,” a geologic area of interest in the “Margin Unit.” The 818 images used to create the natural-color panorama were captured between Oct. 5 and Oct. 16, 2023, the 933rd to 944th Martian days, or sols, of the mission. […]
Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 27 Starlink V2 Mini satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg
Liftoff from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base is scheduled during a window that opens at 6:47 p.m. PDT (9:47 p.m. EDT / 0147 UTC). It will be the 81st Starlink mission of the year.
Live coverage: SpaceX to launch national security payload for the U.S. Space Force on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg
The rocket will carry an unspecified number of satellites to orbit. Liftoff from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base is scheduled for 7:18 p.m. PDT (10:18 p.m. EDT / 0218 UTC).
Live coverage: Avio to launch spacecraft to monitor plant health and ocean conditions
The mission, with the shorthand VV30, is the second launch of a Vega-C rocket managed solely by Avio without Arianespace. Liftoff from Ensemble de Lancement Vega at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana is scheduled for 10:21 p.m. local time (9:21 p.m. EDT / 0121 UTC / 3:21 a.m. CEST).
Live coverage: SpaceX to launch final 3 O3b mPOWER satellites for SES
The launch marks the 400th orbital flight from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Liftoff is scheduled during an 87-minute window that opens at 2:49 p.m. EDT (1849 UTC).
Live coverage: SpaceX to launch classified payload for the U.S. Space Force
The mission, dubbed USSF-153 mission, will launch an undisclosed number of satellites for the U.S. Space Force. Liftoff from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base is scheduled during a three-hour window that opens at 8:37 a.m. PDT (1137 a.m. EDT / 1537 UTC).
Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 80th Starlink mission of 2026
SpaceX decided to shift all Starlink missions flying on Falcon 9 rockets to the West Coast as it pushes towards the debut of its Starship-Super Heavy in Florida. Liftoff of the Starlink 15-24 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base is scheduled during a window that opens at 3:59 a.m. PDT (6:59 a.m. EDT / 1059 UTC).
NASA Selects Blue Origin as Mars Telecommunications Network Provider
NASA awarded Blue Origin a contract Tuesday to develop the agency’s Mars Telecommunications Network, a next-generation communications system that will enable reliable, high-bandwidth communications and navigation services for current and future Mars missions. The firm-fixed-price contract has a maximum potential value of approximately $700 million to deliver a high-performance Mars telecommunications orbiter to NASA no […]
Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 27 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg
The Falcon 9 rocket will fly on a south-easterly trajectory upon launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Liftoff is scheduled for 2:34 a.m. PDT (5:34 a.m. EDT / 0934 UTC).
Perseverance Captures Another Phobos Transit
Description NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover used its Mastcam-Z camera to capture the silhouette of Phobos, one of the two Martian moons, as it crossed in front of the Sun on Aug. 12, 2026, the 1,948th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. The animation has been tinted to simulate what a human would see if […]
Live coverage: SpaceX to launch Starlink mission on a Falcon booster’s record-breaking 37th flight
The Starlink 10-49 mission is set to be the 100th launch of a Falcon 9 rocket in 2026. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is scheduled for 5:33 a.m. EDT (0933 UTC).
NASA Sets Coverage for Roman Space Telescope Launch from Florida
Coverage plans are ready for NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope prelaunch and launch activities. Roman is NASA’s next-generation observatory designed to explore some of the universe’s biggest mysteries, including dark energy. NASA and SpaceX are targeting Roman’s liftoff for no earlier than 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 30, aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket […]
Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 100th orbital mission of 2026
The Starlink 15-20 mission represents the 99th Falcon 9 rocket launch of the year. Liftoff from pad 4 East is scheduled for 12:25 a.m. PDT (3:25 a.m. EDT / 0725 UTC).
Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 75th Starlink mission of 2026
The Starlink 10-39 mission includes the 2,000th Starlink satellite to fly this year. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is scheduled at 11:38 a.m. EDT (1538 UTC).
Moog Inc. Expands METEORITE Satellite Bus Capacity for High-Maneuverability Missions
East Aurora, NY — Moog Inc. (NYSE: MOG.A and MOG.B), a worldwide designer, manufacturer and systems integrator of high-performance precision motion and fluid controls and control systems announces a new, […] The post Moog Inc. Expands METEORITE Satellite Bus Capacity for High-Maneuverability Missions appeared first on SpaceNews.
Live coverage: SpaceX to send Starlink satellites to orbit with Tuesday night launch from California
The Starlink 17-50 mission will add another 24 broadband satellites to the company’s megaconstellation. Liftoff from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base is scheduled for 8:45 p.m. PDT (11:45 p.m. EDT / 0345 UTC).
Blue Origin overviews plan for dual pad ops at Cape Canaveral
As Blue Origin continues restoring its primary launch pad at LC-36A, the company has released… The post Blue Origin overviews plan for dual pad ops at Cape Canaveral appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.
Live coverage: SpaceX to launch satellite replenishment mission for Globalstar from Cape Canaveral
The batch of eight Globalstar satellites will help refresh the company’s low Earth orbit constellation. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is scheduled for 9:12 p.m. EDT (0112 UTC).
Blue Origin outlines plans for second Cape Canaveral launch pad
Blue Origin disclosed new details about its plans to not only rebuild but also expand its Florida launch site, adding a second pad for a larger version of New Glenn. The post Blue Origin outlines plans for second Cape Canaveral launch pad appeared first on SpaceNews.
Perseverance Rover Finds Organic Molecules in Jezero Crater River Delta
Core samples from Jezero Crater on Mars show concentrated carbon compounds embedded in ancient aqueous clay sediments.
Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope
Designed to unravel the secrets of dark energy and dark matter, and discover thousands of exoplanets with a massive field of view.
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Roman telescope deploys solar array and communication systems, powers on Coronagraph Instrument
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope successfully launched on Sunday, Aug. 30, atop a SpaceX… The post Roman telescope deploys solar array and communication systems, powers on Coronagraph Instrument appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.
Igniting Roman’s Journey
Now on a three-month, million-mile journey to its final orbit, NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will soon reveal the universe’s darkest secrets. The mission launched at 7:26 a.m. EDT on Aug. 30 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Roman pairs a large […]
Roman Commissioning
Where is Roman? Roman is making its three-month journey from Earth to Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 2, or L2. Along the way, Roman is undergoing a process called commissioning, where systems are turned on, adjusted, calibrated, and prepared for science operations. Commissioning is the time for scientists and engineers to make sure that Roman is performing […]
Roman Space Telescope Headed to Deep Space
The observatory will shed new light on the mystery of dark energy, observe distant exoplanets, and explore the structure of the universe.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Launches
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, transits the Sun during launch from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Aug. 30, 2026. Roman is named after the agency’s first chief astronomer. Roman will survey billions of stars and galaxies with a field of view far larger than Hubble’s, […]
Roman lifts off on a mission to survey the infrared sky
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope lifted off on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, at 07:26 EDT / 12:26 BST/ 13:26 CEST on 30 August 2026. With the successful launch, Roman began its mission to survey the sky in visible to near-infrared light to help reveal the nature of dark energy and dark matter. The telescope will also investigate the true diversity of exoplanets in our galaxy.
APOD: 2026 August 31 – Launch of the Roman Space Telescope
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 August 31 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. To view this […]
NASA’s Dark Universe-Seeking Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Launches
Now on a three-month, million-mile journey to its final orbit, NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will soon reveal the universe’s darkest secrets. The mission launched at 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Roman pairs a large field of […]
Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Lifts Off to Open New Insights Into the Universe
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope lifted off this morning on a mission to find more planets around other stars in the universe and solve the mysteries of dark energy […]
NASA, SpaceX set to launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope from Florida on Sunday
NASA and SpaceX are set for the launch of NASA’s next great space observatory —… The post NASA, SpaceX set to launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope from Florida on Sunday appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.
Roman Space Telescope, NASA’s next ‘great observatory,’ poised for Sunday launch
Using a donated Hubble-class mirror originally built for a spy satellite, NASA's Roman Space Telescope is poised for launch Sunday on a $4.3 billion mission to open a new window on the universe. Liftoff from the Kennedy Space Center atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy is scheduled for 7:26 a.m. EDT (1126 UTC).
NASA’s Roman Space Telescope Go for Launch, Five Years of Discovery
NASA’s new flagship space observatory, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, is now attached to its Falcon Heavy rocket and ready to set out on its journey to uncover the secrets of the universe.
9 Things to Know About NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is set to launch at 7:26 a.m. EDT on Sunday, Aug. 30. While you wait to watch the launch, brush up on some key facts about this wide-view mission. To learn more about the Roman mission, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/roman Media contact: Claire AndreoliNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.claire.andreoli@nasa.gov301-286-1940
NASA Ames Experts Available for Roman Space Telescope Interviews
NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley invites media to learn more about NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, scheduled to launch Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Roman telescope will provide a wide, detailed view of the universe, helping scientists study dark energy, exoplanets, and cosmic structures. […]
NASA Ames’ Contributions to Roman’s Mission
Set to launch on Sunday, Aug. 30, NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will empower astronomers to explore vast regions of the cosmos and settle essential questions in the areas of dark energy, dark matter, planets outside our solar system, and the formation and growth of galaxies over cosmic time. Key contributions to Roman’s mission […]
Cutting-edge infrared space telescope Roman set to launch
The NASA-led Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is set to launch on 30 August 2026 at 07:26 EDT / 12:26 BST / 13:26 CEST from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA.
NASA Sets Coverage for Roman Space Telescope Launch from Florida
Coverage plans are ready for NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope prelaunch and launch activities. Roman is NASA’s next-generation observatory designed to explore some of the universe’s biggest mysteries, including dark energy. NASA and SpaceX are targeting Roman’s liftoff for no earlier than 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 30, aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket […]
Launch Preview: Falcon Heavy to launch Roman telescope, Falcon 9 to launch Starlink satellites
This week will see five orbital launches from China, the United States, and French Guiana.… The post Launch Preview: Falcon Heavy to launch Roman telescope, Falcon 9 to launch Starlink satellites appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.
NASA’s Roman telescope nears launch, reaches final integration and rehearsal milestones
With a scheduled launch date of Aug. 30, NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is… The post NASA’s Roman telescope nears launch, reaches final integration and rehearsal milestones appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com.
Square Kilometre Array (SKA)
Will be the world's largest radio telescope, using thousands of antennas across Australia and South Africa to study the cosmic dawn.
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Satrec Initiative to build 10-centimeter-class optical satellites for Hanwha constellation
PARIS — South Korean company Satrec Initiative is working with parent company Hanwha Systems to provide high-resolution Earth imagery for the synthetic-aperture-radar (SAR) constellation announced in July. Satrec Initiative, acquires 25-centimeter optical […] The post Satrec Initiative to build 10-centimeter-class optical satellites for Hanwha constellation appeared first on SpaceNews.
NASA Celebrates Restoration of Guam Station Damaged by Typhoon Mawar
NASA celebrated the full restoration of its Guam Remote Station with a ribbon-cutting on Sept. 10, closing out more than three years of recovery after Super Typhoon Mawar devastated the site in 2023. Engineers from across the agency completed the final and most complex step of the rebuild on July 1, when they returned the […]
State Department Launches Space Catalyst Partnership
During Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s trip to Peru last week, the State Department announced a new Space Catalyst Partnership with Artemis Accords countries to expand commercial and civil space […]
Why did US space companies pull out of a French space meeting? It’s complicated.
"Let me be clear: America is not only welcome—we want you there."
NASA Revamps Challenge Linking Community College Studies to Aerospace Careers
Community college students across the U.S. now have another opportunity to discover how their education can lead to fulfilling roles at the forefront of aerospace, science, engineering, and technology. The updated NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) student challenge invites students to learn about the agency and its missions, engage with NASA experts, and explore […]
SpaceWERX selects 11 firms to scale technologies for military space
The new round of STRATFIs were awarded to Agile Space Industries, Antares Nuclear, EO Solutions, Hydrosat, Kall Morris, Method Security, Muon Space, Scout Space, Sedaro, Star Catcher Industries and ThinkOrbital The post SpaceWERX selects 11 firms to scale technologies for military space appeared first on SpaceNews.
LandSpace becomes first commercial Chinese company to land an orbital-class booster
The August 19 landing of its ZhuQue-3 rocket marked the first landing of a Chinese-made rocket using landing legs as well.
Eartheye Space forges strategic partnership with IN2
SAN FRANCISCO – Risk-management firm IN2 will have access to Eartheye Space multi-sensor satellite tasking and analytics through a memorandum of understanding signed Aug. 19. IN2 will include Eartheye satellite […] The post Eartheye Space forges strategic partnership with IN2 appeared first on SpaceNews.
Rocket Lab to test Space Force data network connection in orbit in 2027
The company will use a Photon spacecraft to test interoperability with the Space Data Network's core infrastructure built by SpaceX The post Rocket Lab to test Space Force data network connection in orbit in 2027 appeared first on SpaceNews.
U.S. defense agencies tap three companies for satellite disposal study
Firefly, D-Orbit and Katalyst will compete to show how commercial operators could capture and remove aging spacecraft The post U.S. defense agencies tap three companies for satellite disposal study appeared first on SpaceNews.