What’s launching this week Early this morning, Monday, June 1, the state owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) successfully completed the maiden flight of the reusable Long March 12B — a two-stage, 236-foot (72-meter) rocket powered by nine liquid oxygen and kerosene engines with a 44,000-pound (20,000 kilogram) payload capacity. The mission launchedContinue reading "SpaceX, China set for busy launch week"

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On May 22, 2026, the Pentagon released a second batch of previously classified photos and videos showing what appear to be unexplained flying objects. These file dumps were the culmination of a process that was set in motion back in July 2023, when a group of government whistleblowers testified before Congress that the U.S. government was secretly inContinue reading "Could aliens ever visit Earth?"

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Occasionally I see references in Astronomy to the speed of something as “supersonic.” I’m having trouble reconciling this term with velocities typically found among astronomical objects. Wouldn’t “relativistic” be closer to the truth? Anything close to sonic speeds in Earth’s atmosphere wouldn’t cover much distance in outer space. Peter IanchiouTucson, Arizona One would certainly thinkContinue reading "What does the term ‘supersonic’ mean in astronomy?"

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The phenomenon of a Full Moon arises when our planet, Earth, is precisely sandwiched between the Sun and the Moon. This alignment ensures the entire side of the Moon that faces us gleams under sunlight. Thanks to the Moon’s orbit around Earth, the angle of sunlight hitting the lunar surface and being reflected back toContinue reading "2026 Full Moon calendar: When to see the Full Moon and phases"

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In the 1870s, real-estate mogul James Lick established a trust of $700,000 (around $1.2 billion today) for the purpose of constructing the world’s most powerful telescope. By August 1875, he had selected the peak of Mount Hamilton, near San Jose, California, as his site, taking advantage of the clear air at the high elevation. ConstructionContinue reading "June 1, 1888: Lick Observatory changes hands"

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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  May 31: Blue Moon, red star Mercury is at its best for the year. It’s now easy to spot in the evening sky, already 10° above the western horizon 30 minutes after the Sun sets. Tonight, it shines at magnitude –0.5 andContinue reading "The Sky Today on Monday, June 1: Mercury at its best"

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Mercury reaches greatest elongation in the evening sky this month. Venus and Jupiter have a spectacular conjunction, and later in the month the Moon occults Venus. Meanwhile, Jupiter drops deeper into twilight as it sinks toward next month’s conjunction with the Sun. The morning sky hosts ever-more-prominent Saturn, while Mars and Uranus meet in Taurus.Continue reading "June 2026: What’s in the sky this month? Venus and Jupiter have a spectacular conjunction, and the Moon occults Venus"

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June evenings offer a great chance to view three bright planets. Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury gather in the northwestern sky as darkness settles in, creating a grand sight to the naked eye and worthy targets through a telescope. Jupiter has been wandering through Gemini the Twins since the dawn of 2026. Shining at magnitude –1.9,Continue reading "June 2026: What’s in the Southern Hemisphere sky this month?"

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