Happy Monday! Kenna here with your latest developments in space news and science.
Today is one for the history books, as the Vera C. Rubin Observatory is unveiling its first images, using the world's largest digital camera. We've got the livestream for you over on our website so be sure to check it out.
In other news, the Houston company Celestis is flying human remains into space aboard SpaceX's Transporter 14 rideshare mission, taking ancient sky burials to a whole new level. In writing our space quiz for today about this story, I was amazed by how many people have their DNA in space. My biggest question is if there's a risk of these remains raining back down to Earth. Only time will tell.
Other stories in our roundup include burping supermassive blackholes, white auroras, and a second batch of satellites being launched for Amazon's Project Kuiper megaconstellation. It's all here and more.
The Houston company Celestis is flying a memorial payload on SpaceX's Transporter 14 rideshare mission, which is scheduled to launch on Monday (June 23)
Each June, Earth encounters a stream of particles shed by the 5-kilometer-wide (3.1-mile-wide) comet 7P/Pons-Winnecke, heralding the onset of the Bootid meteor shower.
With the arrival of a visiting crew still delayed, science and maintenance work on board the International Space Station continued to fill the Expedition 73 crew's week, along with time for Earth observations and an interview for a podcast.
This week, the moon puts on a dazzling evening performance — from delicate crescents and earthshine to planetary pairings and even a rare occultation. After Wednesday's new moon, a young crescent returns to the twilight sky, where it meets Mercury and the bright stars of Gemini. On Friday, it frames the Beehive Cluster with Mercury, and by Sunday, it gets close enough to Mars to cover it entirely for some lucky observers. Whether you're peering through binoculars or just enjoying the view with your eyes, there's something to see almost every night.
The moon reaches its new phase at 6:32 a.m. EDT (1032 GMT), rendering it completely invisible in the sky. Positioned between Earth and the sun, the moon's illuminated side faces away from us. Enjoy dark, moonless nights, perfect for deep-sky observing before the lunar crescent reappears later in the week.
Look west after sunset for a beautiful trio: a delicate crescent moon, bright Mercury, and the twin stars of Gemini — Castor and Pollux. Mercury shines just a few degrees from the moon, with the Gemini stars aligned nearby. Best viewed with binoculars, especially in the Eastern Time Zone, where the whole group will be better placed.
The crescent moon's dark side glows faintly with earthshine — sunlight reflected from Earth back onto the moon's night side. After sunset, look west to find the moon and Mercury framing the Beehive Cluster, a loose group of stars in Cancer. Binoculars will help you spot the sparkling cluster just below the moon.
Don't miss this rare celestial alignment! The crescent moon will slide right in front of Mars in parts of the Pacific and western Ecuador, temporarily hiding the red planet. Elsewhere in the Americas, the moon and Mars will appear extremely close — a striking binocular sight in the evening sky.
I love the moon at this time of the month — a delicate thin crescent softly lit by Earthshine. It's a beautiful sight, and there are plenty of photo opportunities this week. One of the best comes on June 29, when the moon shines close to Mars in the evening 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.
Here are the best star projectors to enjoy a night sky experience from the comfort of your couch. They are often reduced on special occasions such as Prime Days, so keep your eyes open.
