Trump's NASA budget will make it harder to track asteroids | This Week In Space: Episode 161 - The TWiS Comedy Hour! | Astrophotographer catches cosmic sunflower in bloom
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On Thursday (May 15), the U.S. House Committee on Space, Science and Technology convened with scientists to discuss a rather exciting topic: What can NASA do if we identify a dangerous asteroid on a collision course with Earth? It was an especially prudent subject given all the recent fuss about asteroid 2024 YR4, which had a notable chance of hitting our planet before scientists refined its position and deemed it harmless.
On Episode 161 of This Week In Space, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik catch up on headlines ... and space dad jokes! We're going to update you on the ever-slimming NASA budget, the latest news on the Voyager spacecraft, what's up with the SLS, Orion capsule, and Artemis programs? SpaceX's 9th Starship test flight, AliBaba in orbit, and the end of the universe. And more space jokes than ever for you to choke on.
Astrophotographer Ronald Brecher captured a gorgeous view of the 'Sunflower Galaxy' (Messier 63) from his backyard observatory near the city of Guelph in southwestern Ontario, Canada.
ISRO officials reported the same statement on social media, referring to the rocket as PSLV-C61. "PSLV-C61 performance was normal till 2nd stage. Due to an observation in 3rd stage, the mission could not be accomplished," ISRO stated on X.
Houston-based startup Venus Aerospace has completed the first-ever test flight of a rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE) in the United States. The launch took place on Wednesday (May 14) from Spaceport America in New Mexico. A small rocket equipped with Venus' RDRE lifted off at 9:37 a.m. EDT (1337 GMT; 7:37 a.m. local time in New Mexico). The milestone marked the first successful test of such an engine from U.S. soil and took Venus a "step closer to making high-speed flight accessible, affordable and sustainable," the company said in a statement.
Netflix's acclaimed animated anthology, "Love, Death + Robots" returned May 15, 2015, with another twisted season showcasing a banquet of bold shorts spawned from the worlds of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. It's another eclectic assortment spanning the entire emotional spectrum, injected with that signature brand of spirited cutting-edge animation and produced by some of the finest minds and artistic talent on the planet.
This week brings a mix of midnight and pre-dawn delights. It begins with Tuesday's third quarter moon, perfect for deep sky observing in the evenings. Then, early risers are rewarded with graceful planetary meetups: a crescent moon pairs with Saturn and Neptune on Thursday, followed by a stunning trio with Venus joining the scene on Friday. Whether you're a night owl or an early bird, the skies have something special in store.
The moon reaches its third quarter phase, rising around midnight and lingering after sunrise. Enjoy dark, moonless evenings ahead — perfect for spotting spring galaxies through binoculars or a telescope.
Early risers will see the waning crescent moon near Saturn in the eastern sky. Neptune is nearby, but a tough catch unless you're in southern latitudes with darker skies.
A stunning trio! The crescent moon shines between Saturn and dazzling Venus before dawn. Try capturing the scene with a scenic foreground. Venus lingers longest as sunrise approaches.
My favorite moon phase to look out for this week will be the third quarter moon on May 20. It will rise around midnight local time and set around midday so you'll be able to catch a glimpse of it in both the night and daytime sky.
Feeling inspired to take a more in-depth moonlit tour of our rocky companion? Our ultimate guide to observing the moon will help you plan your next skywatching venture, whether it be exploring the lunar seas, mountainous terrain, or the many craters that blanket the landscape. You can also see where astronauts, rovers and landers have ventured with our Apollo landing sites observing guide.
Astrophotographer Ronald Brecher captured a gorgeous view of the 'Sunflower Galaxy' (Messier 63) from his backyard observatory near the city of Guelph in southwestern Ontario, Canada.
The Canon EOS R6 Mark II is a mid-range full-frame mirrorless camera offering a 24.2MP resolution with up to 4K video capture in-camera alongside impressive autofocus.
