Space Today

Shuttle astronaut Wendy Lawrence talks spacesuits, Mir and learning Russian in 'Virtual Astronaut' webcast Friday
Lawrence's lecture on "The Virtual Astronaut" live event series will stream live Friday (Sept. 25) at 7 p.m. EDT (2300 GMT).
Pictures from space! Our image of the day
The Tarawa Atoll, a remote Pacific nation in the Republic of Kiribati, can be seen from space in this image captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission.
On This Day in Space: Sept. 25, 2008: China launches its 3rd human spaceflight mission
On Sept. 25, 2008, China's space program launched its third human spaceflight mission, Shenzhou 7. See how it happened in our "On This Day In Space" series!
NASA gearing up for epic asteroid-sampling maneuver next month
The OSIRIS-REx probe is scheduled to pull off NASA's first-ever asteroid-sampling operation on Oct. 20, snagging precious dirt and gravel from a carbon-rich space rock called Bennu.
Are some black holes wormholes in disguise? Gamma-ray blasts may shed clues.
Unusual flashes of gamma rays could reveal that what appear to be giant black holes are actually huge wormholes, a new study finds.

International Observe the Moon Night Is Here
International Observe the Moon Night is here. Step outside Saturday evening and admire our closest celestial neighbor with your family. The post International Observe the Moon Night Is Here appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
See Beyond the Celestial Sphere: Follow These Lines into Space
For a little perspective, observe along a line that takes you to the Moon, past Jupiter and Saturn, the Kuiper Belt, and onward into our galaxy. The post See Beyond the Celestial Sphere: Follow These Lines into Space appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Explore Caroline Herschel's Celestial Showpieces
More than 200 years ago Caroline Herschel pointed her telescope at the heavens and discovered some of the finest deep-sky objects. Follow in her footsteps and see them for yourself. The post Explore Caroline Herschel's Celestial Showpieces appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Comets Have (Ultraviolet) Aurora, Too
Observations from the European Space Agency’s Rosetta spacecraft show that Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko has its own aurora. The post Comets Have (Ultraviolet) Aurora, Too appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
Giant Planet Found Around a White Dwarf
Astronomers have found a Jupiter-size planet orbiting a much smaller white dwarf. The discovery shows what a system might look like after its star's death. The post Giant Planet Found Around a White Dwarf appeared first on Sky & Telescope.

Synthetic aperture radar finally shedding its mystique
SAR satellites can gather data day and night, but the resultant imagery is typically more expensive, less available, and more difficult to use than optical imagery. Technological advances are breaking down those barriers, positioning SAR for much more widespread adoption, according to experts. SpaceNews
U.K. to revise strategy for satellite navigation system
The British government, seeking a replacement for the Galileo satellite navigation system, said it will consider alternatives to an original plan to develop its own satellite constellation. SpaceNews
On National Security | Space Force’s tech-heavy vision faces daunting obstacles
Space Force leaders frequently remind audiences that the newest branch of the U.S. military will be a “digital service” on the leading edge of technology. SpaceNews
NASA working with cosmetics company on space station commercialization
NASA is taking the next small step in its efforts to promote commercialization of low Earth orbit by flying a cosmetics company’s product to the International Space Station, a project that has prompted questions from one senator. SpaceNews
U.S. Space Command announces improvements in space debris tracking
The 18th Space Control Squadron at Vandenberg Air Force Base is now providing “more meaningful” data on approximately 25,000 space objects. SpaceNews