NYT > Science > Space & Cosmos

  • George Carruthers, Whose Telescopes Explored Space, Dies at 81
    by Richard Sandomir on 2021-01-25 in Carruthers, George (1939-2020), Deaths (Obituaries), Space and Astronomy, Apollo Project, Telescopes and Observatories, Engineering and Engineers, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Black People, Race and Ethnicity

    At a time when there were few other Black astrophysicists, he developed a telescopic device that went to the moon on Apollo 16.

  • Six Stars, Six Eclipses: ‘The Fact That It Exists Blows My Mind’
    by Robin George Andrews on 2021-01-25 in Stars and Galaxies, Eclipses, Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (Spacecraft), Space and Astronomy, Research, Astronomical Journal

    A handful of other six-star systems have been discovered, but this one is unique.

  • How Space Became the Next ‘Great Power’ Contest Between the U.S. and China
    by William J. Broad on 2021-01-25 in United States International Relations, China, United States Politics and Government, Defense Department, United States Defense and Military Forces, United States , Space and Astronomy, Cyberwarfare and Defense, Satellites, Missiles and Missile Defense Systems, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Public-Private Sector Cooperation, Obama, Barack, , Donald J, Biden, Joseph R Jr, Space Exploration Technologies Corp

    The Biden administration faces not only waves of Chinese antisatellite weapons but a history of jumbled responses to the intensifying threat.

  • Five Takeaways From the Developing Space War Between China and the U.S.
    by William J. Broad on 2021-01-25 in China, United States International Relations, United States Politics and Government, Defense Department, United States Defense and Military Forces, United States Space Force, Space and Astronomy, Satellites, Cyberwarfare and Defense, Public-Private Sector Cooperation, Obama, Barack, Trump, Donald J, Biden, Joseph R Jr, Austin, Lloyd J III

    The Biden administration is inheriting the menace of Chinese antisatellite arms as well as an innovative way of trying to defuse the escalating threat.

  • Missing: One Black Hole With 10 Billion Solar Masses
    by Dennis Overbye on 2021-01-20 in Space and Astronomy, Stars and Galaxies, Black Holes (Space), Gravitation and Gravity, Telescopes and Observatories, your-feed-science

    One of the biggest galaxies in the universe seems to lack its dark centerpiece.

  • NASA’s Decision for S.L.S. Moon Rocket: Test Again, or Prepare for Launch?
    by Kenneth Chang on 2021-01-20 in National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Rocket Science and Propulsion, United States Politics and Government, Bridenstine, James F (1975- ), Appointments and Executive Changes, Moon, Space and Astronomy

    The booster of the Space Launch System was in good condition after a test was cut short, officials said.

  • A Bitter Archaeological Feud Over an Ancient Vision of the Cosmos
    by Becky Ferreira on 2021-01-19 in Archaeology and Anthropology, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Germany, Copper, Brass and Bronze, Space and Astronomy, Black Markets, Research, Arts and Antiquities Looting, your-feed-science

    The Nebra sky disk, which has been called the oldest known depiction of astronomical phenomena, is a “very emotional object.”

  • The International Space Station: 20 Years of Promise, Peril and Fun
    by The New York Times on 2021-01-19

    Humanity has never built anything like the outpost that orbits Earth about 240 miles above the planet. These are some moments that have defined the two decades it has been our home in space.

  • NASA’s SLS Rocket to the Moon Faces Setback After Test
    by Kenneth Chang on 2021-01-19 in Rocket Science and Propulsion, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Space and Astronomy, Engines, Mississippi, Moon

    A test firing of the engines of the Space Launch System was halted after only about a minute, meaning NASA astronauts may have to wait longer before setting foot on the moon again.

  • Japan Asteroid Mission Ends With Recovered Capsule in Australian Outback
    by Kenneth Chang on 2021-01-07 in Hayabusa2, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Asteroids, Japan, Space and Astronomy, Australia, Solar System, Earth, Research

    The Hayabusa2 mission cements Japan’s role in exploring the solar system, but finding its asteroid cargo presented one last challenge.

  • The Newest Guardians of the Galaxy Are Run by the U.S. Military
    by Christina Morales on 2021-01-05 in United States Space Force, United States Air Force, United States Defense and Military Forces, Pence, Mike, Trump, Donald J, United States Politics and Government

    On the first-anniversary celebration of the newest branch of the U.S. armed forces, Vice President Mike Pence announced that Space Force members would be called Guardians.

  • Missions to Mars, the Moon and Beyond Await Earth in 2021
    by Michael Roston on 2021-01-04 in Space and Astronomy, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Moon, Mars (Planet), Travel and Vacations, Jupiter (Planet), Solar System, Perseverance (Mars Rover), Emirates Mars Mission, Tianwen-1 (Mars Mission), James Webb Space Telescope, International Space Station, Private Spaceflight, Rocket Science and Propulsion, Space Exploration Technologies Corp, China, United Arab Emirates, Intuitive Machines LLC, Astrobotic Technology Inc

    Here’s a preview of what to expect in space and astronomy in the year to come.

  • Was That a Dropped Call From ET?
    by Dennis Overbye on 2021-01-04 in Extraterrestrial Life, Telescopes and Observatories, Space and Astronomy, Stars and Galaxies, Radio, Research, Breakthrough Listen

    A spooky radio signal showed up after a radio telescope was aimed at the next star over from our sun.

  • Meteor Showers in 2021 That Will Light Up Night Skies
    by Nicholas St. Fleur on 2021-01-04 in Meteors and Meteorites, Asteroids, Comets, Solar System, Space and Astronomy

    All year long, Earth passes through streams of cosmic debris. Here’s a list of some major meteor showers and how to spot them.

  • Neptune’s Weird Dark Spot Just Got Weirder
    by Shannon Stirone on 2020-12-22 in Neptune (Planet), Space and Astronomy, Hubble Space Telescope, Wind

    While observing the planet’s large inky storm, astronomers spotted a smaller vortex they named Dark Spot Jr.

  • A Winter Solstice, a Meteor Shower, Jupiter and Saturn Walk Into Your Night Sky
    by The New York Times on 2020-12-21 in Space and Astronomy, Jupiter (Planet), Saturn (Planet), Sun, Earth, Solar System, Meteors and Meteorites, Seasons and Months, Winter (Season)

    One day that has room for three distinct astronomical events.

  • China Moon Mission Brings Lunar Rocks to Earth, and New Competition to Space
    by Steven Lee Myers and Kenneth Chang on 2020-12-17 in China, Moon, Space and Astronomy, Science and Technology, Rocket Science and Propulsion, Solar System, Research, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, United States International Relations, United States Politics and Government

    The Chang’e-5 mission’s success highlights the progress of China’s space program, and growing rivalry with the United States.

  • NASA Picks Artemis Astronauts for Moon Training
    by Kenneth Chang on 2020-12-09 in Moon, Space and Astronomy, Artemis Program, Astronauts, Apollo Project, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Bridenstine, James F (1975- ), Koch, Christina H, Meir, Jessica (1977- ), Mann, Nicole Aunapu, Acaba, Joseph M, Barron, Kayla J, Chari, Raja, Dominick, Matthew Stuart, Glover, Victor J Jr, Hoburg, Warren, Kim, Jonathan (1984- ), Lindgren, Kjell N, McClain, Anne C, Moghbeli, Jasmin, Rubins, Kathleen (1978- ), Rubio, Francisco C (1975- ), Tingle, Scott D, Watkins, Jessica A (1988- ), Wilson, Stephanie D

    Among the group are astronauts who could be the first woman on the moon.

  • NASA Launched a Rocket 54 Years Ago. Has It Finally Come Home?
    by Katherine Kornei on 2020-12-07 in Rocket Science and Propulsion, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Space and Astronomy, Telescopes and Observatories, Asteroids, Moon, Earth

    Surveyor 2 crashed on the moon in 1966. Astronomers think they’ve spotted a piece of the mission that kept going deeper into space.

  • The Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico Collapses
    by Maria Cramer and Dennis Overbye on 2020-12-02 in Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory, Space and Astronomy, Telescopes and Observatories, National Science Foundation, Puerto Rico

    Astronomers and residents of Puerto Rico mourned as an eye on the cosmos shuttered unexpectedly on Tuesday morning.