Vulcan Centaur rocket launches experimental military satellite

Hello space enthusiasts! | Stunning Perseid meteor shower outshines moon | Vulcan Centaur rocket launches test satellite Created for znamenski.spacecom@blogger.com | Web Version August 13, 2025 CONNECT WITH SPACE.COM       Something amazing every day. SIGN UP ⋅   WEBSITE   The Launchpad Hello space enthusiasts! We have a lot going on in the newsroom today, starting with yesterday's successful liftoffs of both the United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur rocket (with experimental military satellite in tow) and Europe's Ariane 6 rocket carrying a weather satellite to low-Earth orbit.  Other stories for today include stunning photos from yesterday's Perseid meteor shower peak, a blazar nicknamed 'the Eye of Sauron' spewing particles into space and a possible new mission headed to Pluto.  We have all that and more for your daily read.  Thanks for exploring with us.  Keep looking up,  Kenna  Content Manager, Space.com  Stunning Perseid meteor shower outshines moon The Perseid meteor shower peaked on Aug 12-13, overcoming the glare of a waning gibbous moon to put on a spectacular show of shooting stars that delighted onlookers worldwide. Read More Vulcan Centaur rocket launches test satellite The company lofted an experimental navigation satellite on behalf of the U.S. military Tuesday at 8:56 p.m. EDT (0056 GMT on Aug. 13). Read More Space quiz! What is a quasar? Click here for the answer! A star about to explode A spinning cloud of dust only found in spiral galaxies A bright center of an active galaxy powered by a supermassive black hole The wormhole at the center of a supermassive black hole Space Deal of the Day Lego Mars Rover Perseverance almost 20% off The 1132-piece buildable replica with moving parts is 18% off as Lego's Technic Mars Rover Perseverance set is one of its lowest prices on Amazon. Read More Skywatching 1 year until total solar eclipse 2026: what to know Where to go, how to see it, and why the 2026 eclipse is worth the journey. Read More Spaceflight Europe's Ariane 6 rocket launches for 3rd time ever Liftoff occurred at 8:37 p.m. ET tonight (Aug. 12). Read More Virgin Galactic's new space plane could fly in 2026 The company is also looking at using its mothership aircraft that releases spacecraft at high altitude as a carrier platform for other customers. Read More Science & Astronomy This real 'Eye of Sauron' spits out ghost particles "We have never seen anything quite like it." Read More New Pluto mission may spot dwarf planet's ocean "This mission should be able to image the whole of Pluto. It should be phenomenal." Read More Technology Lunar surface simulator puts moon machinery to test "There are lots of opportunities to use the testbed for lunar excavation testing, construction, mobility, sensing, dust mitigation and more." Read More Entertainment Zoologist explains 'Alien' xenomorph's biology To celebrate Alien: Earth landing on Hulu, we asked a zoologist if any of the Xenomorph's infamous characteristics occur in the natural world Read More Today in Space On this day: Aug. 13, 2014: WorldView-3 sat launches WorldView-3 is a high-resolution imaging satellite that can resolve features as small as 1 foot (31 centimeters) across. Read More Image of day: China's moon lander passes key test This test is a key step in the journey to China's goal of landing astronauts on the moon by 2030. Read More   Sign Up  |    Update Profile  |    Unsubscribe Privacy Policy  |    Cookies Policy  |    Terms and Conditions CONTACT US: FEEDBACK  |    ADVERTISE Future US LLC © Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036