Japan's SLIM lander touchdown may have given an entirely new definition to the expression "on the nose." The country's SLIM spacecraft landed on the moon on Jan. 19, making Japan just the fifth nation ever to pull off a soft lunar touchdown. And a new photo provides visual evidence of that success, showing SLIM resting on the gray dirt, albeit on its nose instead of its landing pads.
It's a great night to get out and howl at the moon. January's Full Wolf Moon rises on Thursday (Jan. 25), marking the first full moon of 2024. The moon will appear between the claws of the Cancer constellation, otherwise known as "the Crab." The moon will be visible for the whole of tonight, appearing in the east just as the sun sets in the west. Here's what to know.
In 1972, NASA's Apollo 17 astronauts saw something strange on the moon. Now, more than 50 years later, scientists are wondering if Artemis astronauts will see the same thing, and maybe solve once and for all what the spectacle really is.
Leica are known for the quality of their optics and the reliability of their builds. It comes as no surprise then that Leica is a widely-trusted name in the industry. The best Leica binoculars deals are worth hunting for and we've rounded up the biggest discounts as numerous top models are on offer.
The January full moon is often called the Wolf Moon, a name which may date back to when wolves would howl outside villages. In 2024, the full January moon will rise on Jan. 25 and shine with the Gemini constellation, while Jupiter and Saturn are also visible.
On Episode 94 of This Week In Space, Tariq and Rod preview the global plans for spaceflight this year. 2024 looks to be another exciting year in spaceflight! Despite the delay of the Artemis crewed lunar program, a number of exciting missions are queued up this year, among them the launch of Europa Clipper, ESA's HERA mission to Didymos, the first flight of Blue Origin's mammoth New Glenn rocket, and the first crewed flight of India's new spacecraft, the Gagaanyan capsule. Tune in!
((JAXA, RITSUMEIKAN UNIVERSITY, THE UNIVERSITY OF AIZU))
Japan's SLIM spacecraft made a strange but precise lunar landing, touching the moon with the tip of its nose as it landed incredibly close its target location."We proved that you can land wherever you want, rather than where you are able to," SLIM project manager Shinichiro Sakai said in a press conference today.
(NASA, ESA, Leah Hustak (STScI), Ralf Crawford (STScI))
Using the Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have discovered that the atmosphere of a relatively small planet outside the solar system is rich with water vapor. Don't plan a vacation to this destination just yet, however. The planet's surface is hot enough to melt lead, meaning it's a steamy world inhospitable to life as we know it. Here's what it's like.
It's the farewell season for "Star Wars: The Bad Batch," but it's going out with a serious bang as this new trailer from Disney Plus shows. Here's our first look at season 3, which we can't wait to watch.
