Friday, November 13, 2026

SpaceX Starship Liftoff on Flight 15 | Starbase Texas

SpaceX Starship Liftoff on Flight 15 | Starbase Texas

SpaceX is attempting to catch its first Starship on land during its 15th flight at Starbase Texas. The 124-meter (406 feet) tall Starship rocket was launched successfully at 5:45pm Eastern Time on Friday, November 13, 2026. It is the second mission to carry an operational batch of Starlink satellites.

Watch the full flight and follow updates here: https://www.spacex.com/launches/starship-flight-14

"Booster 22 is the first Super Heavy V3 booster planned to return to the launch site for catch and was used for final catch testing upon arrival, including a suspended squeeze test at catch height"

NASA plans to use a lunar lander version of Starship to deliver astronauts and cargo to the Moon during the Artemis IV mission and beyond through the Human Landing System (HLS) Program.


Download the Free Starship User Guide (PDF):
https://www.spacex.com/media/starship_users_guide_v1.pdf

Video Credit: SpaceX
Duration: 44 seconds
Date: Nov. 13, 2026

#NASA #SpaceX #Space #Earth #Mars #Moon #MoonToMars #ArtemisProgram #ArtemisIII #ArtemisIV #Starship #StarshipV3 #FlightTest15 #ReusableSpacecraft #SuperHeavy #SuperHeavyBooster #SuperHeavyV3 #ElonMusk #Engineering #SpaceTechnology #HumanSpaceflight #CommercialSpace #LunarExploration #StarbaseTexas #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Remembering Three Summer Beauties

Remembering Three Summer Beauties

Astrophotographer Valerie Liard "A magical night under the stars . . . The Summer Triangle, formed by Deneb, Vega and Altair, shines above us, while the distant Andromeda Galaxy reveals itself millions of light-years away . . ."

The Summer Triangle is an astronomical asterism in the northern celestial hemisphere. Its defining vertices form a triangle and are Altair, Deneb, and Vega, each the brightest star of its constellation (Aquila, Cygnus, and Lyra, respectively).

The Andromeda Galaxy is a barred spiral galaxy and is the nearest major galaxy to the Milky Way. It was originally named the Andromeda Nebula and is cataloged as Messier 31 (M31) and NGC 224.

Andromeda galaxy's distance from Earth: 2.5 million light years

Andromeda galaxy has ~1 trillion stars


Image Credit: Valerie Liard/Vega Star Photography
Image Date: Aug. 23, 2025
Release Date: Nov. 13, 2026

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Stars #SummerTriangle #Deneb #Vega #Altair #SagittaConstellation #VulpeculaConstellation #Galaxies #MilkyWayGalaxy #AndromedaGalaxy #Messier31 #M31 #NGC224 #Astrophotographers #ValerieLiard #Astrophotography #Cosmos #Universe #STEM #Education

SpaceX Starship & Super Heavy Moved to Launch Pad: Pre-flight 15 | Starbase Texas

SpaceX Starship & Super Heavy Moved to Launch Pad: Pre-flight 15 | Starbase Texas






SpaceX is attempting to catch its first Starship on land during its 15th flight. In these images, Ship 42 and Super Heavy Booster were moved to their Starbase Texas pad ahead of launch. The 124-meter (406 feet) tall Starship rocket is scheduled to launch at 5:45 p.m. Eastern Time. It will be the second to carry an operational batch of Starlink satellites.

Watch and follow updates here: https://www.spacex.com/launches/starship-flight-14

"Booster 22 is the first Super Heavy V3 booster planned to return to the launch site for catch and was used for final catch testing upon arrival, including a suspended squeeze test at catch height"

NASA plans to use a lunar lander version of Starship to deliver astronauts and cargo to the Moon during the Artemis IV mission and beyond through the Human Landing System (HLS) Program.


Download the Free Starship User Guide (PDF):
https://www.spacex.com/media/starship_users_guide_v1.pdf

Image Credit: SpaceX
Date: Nov. 10 & 12, 2026

#NASA #SpaceX #Space #Earth #Mars #Moon #MoonToMars #ArtemisProgram #ArtemisIII #ArtemisIV #Starship #StarshipV3 #PreFlightTest15 #ReusableSpacecraft #SuperHeavy #SuperHeavyBooster #SuperHeavyV3 #ElonMusk #Engineering #SpaceTechnology #HumanSpaceflight #CommercialSpace #LunarExploration #StarbaseTexas #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Journey to Supernova SN 2026ahvu | Galaxy NGC 1433 in Horologium

Journey to Supernova SN 2026ahvu | Galaxy NGC 1433 in Horologium

Newly discovered supernova SN 2026ahvu is seen in the final image here in the nearby spiral galaxy NGC 1433. The supernova appears as a very bright bluish point of light to the right and slightly below the center of the galaxy. This image was captured by the Gemini South telescope in Chile using its Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS). Gemini South is one half of the International Gemini Observatory, an international collaboration led by the National Science Foundation (NSF)], in partnership with Canada, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, and the Republic of Korea, and operated by NSF NOIRLab.

Distance from Earth: 50 million light years

Caught early and still approaching its expected maximum brightness, SN 2026ahvu gives astronomers a valuable opportunity to study a stellar explosion as it unfolds. NSF NOIRLab is coordinating observations across the facilities it operates, working with its partners to maximize scientific return, and inviting other observatories to join the effort.

Gemini South Telescope in Chile:
https://noirlab.edu/public/programs/gemini-observatory/gemini-south/


Credits:

Dark Energy Survey/DOE/FNAL/DECam/CTIO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA
Acknowledgment: PIs: G. Narayan & T. Murphey (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
Images and Videos: Dark Energy Survey/DOE/FNAL/DECam/CTIO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/ESO/Digitized Sky Survey 2/Legacy Surveys/D. Lang (Perimeter Institute)/E. Slawik/M. Zamani
Image Processing: M. Zamani & D. de Martin (NSF NOIRLab)
Motion Graphics: R. Proctor (NSF NOIRLab)
Duration: 1 minute
Release Date: Nov. 12, 2026

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #Supernova #SN2026ahvu #Galaxies #NGC1433 #SpiralGalaxies #HorologiumConstellation #Cosmos #Universe #InternationalGeminiObservatory #GeminiSouthTelescope #GMOS5 #GeminiObservatory #CerroPachón #Chile #NOIRLab #AURA #NSF #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Close-up: Supernova SN 2026ahvu | Galaxy NGC 1433 in Horologium

Close-up: Supernova SN 2026ahvu | Galaxy NGC 1433 in Horologium

Newly discovered supernova SN 2026ahvu is seen here in the nearby spiral galaxy NGC 1433. The supernova appears as a very bright bluish point of light to the right and slightly below the center of the galaxy. This image was captured by the Gemini South telescope in Chile using its Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS). Gemini South is one half of the International Gemini Observatory, an international collaboration led by the National Science Foundation (NSF)], in partnership with Canada, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, and the Republic of Korea, and operated by NSF NOIRLab.

Distance from Earth: 50 million light years

Caught early and still approaching its expected maximum brightness, SN 2026ahvu gives astronomers a valuable opportunity to study a stellar explosion as it unfolds. NSF NOIRLab is coordinating observations across the facilities it operates, working with its partners to maximize scientific return, and inviting other observatories to join the effort.

Gemini South Telescope in Chile:
https://noirlab.edu/public/programs/gemini-observatory/gemini-south/


Credit:
International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA
Acknowledgments: PI: S. Dahm (NSF NOIRLab/Gemini)
Image Processing: J. Miller & M. Rodriguez (International Gemini Observatory/NSF NOIRLab), T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF NOIRLab), D. de Martin & M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab)
Duration: 1 minute
Release Date: Nov. 12, 2026

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #Supernova #SN2026ahvu #Galaxies #NGC1433 #SpiralGalaxies #HorologiumConstellation #Cosmos #Universe #InternationalGeminiObservatory #GeminiSouthTelescope #GMOS5 #GeminiObservatory #CerroPachón #Chile #NOIRLab #AURA #NSF #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Thursday, November 12, 2026

New Supernova SN 2026ahvu: Galaxy NGC 1433 in Horologium | Gemini South

New Supernova SN 2026ahvu: Galaxy NGC 1433 in Horologium | Gemini South

Newly discovered supernova SN 2026ahvu is seen here in the nearby spiral galaxy NGC 1433. The supernova appears as a very bright bluish point of light to the right and slightly below the center of the galaxy.
A comparison of spiral galaxy NGC 1433 before and after the detection of supernova SN 2026ahvu. The supernova appears as a very bright bluish point of light to the right and slightly below the center of the galaxy.
This image shows spiral galaxy NGC 1433 before the detection of supernova SN 2026ahvu. It was taken with the U.S. Department of Energy-fabricated Dark Energy Camera (DECam), mounted on the U.S. National Science Foundation Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), a Program of NSF NOIRLab.

Newly discovered supernova SN 2026ahvu is seen here in the nearby spiral galaxy NGC 1433. The supernova appears as a very bright bluish point of light to the right and slightly below the center of the galaxy. This image was captured by the Gemini South telescope in Chile using its Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS). Gemini South is one half of the International Gemini Observatory, an international collaboration led by the National Science Foundation (NSF)], in partnership with Canada, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, and the Republic of Korea, and operated by NSF NOIRLab.

Distance from Earth: 50 million light years

Caught early and still approaching its expected maximum brightness, SN 2026ahvu gives astronomers a valuable opportunity to study a stellar explosion as it unfolds. NSF NOIRLab is coordinating observations across the facilities it operates, working with its partners to maximize scientific return, and inviting other observatories to join the effort.

Gemini South Telescope in Chile:
https://noirlab.edu/public/programs/gemini-observatory/gemini-south/


Credit:
International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA
Acknowledgments: PI: S. Dahm (NSF NOIRLab/Gemini)
Image Processing: J. Miller & M. Rodriguez (International Gemini Observatory/NSF NOIRLab), T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF NOIRLab), D. de Martin & M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab)
Release Date: Nov. 12, 2026

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #Supernova #SN2026ahvu #Galaxies #NGC1433 #SpiralGalaxies #HorologiumConstellation #Cosmos #Universe #InternationalGeminiObservatory #GeminiSouthTelescope #GMOS5 #GeminiObservatory #CerroPachón #Chile #NOIRLab #AURA #NSF #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

A Message from NASA Astronaut Christina Koch | DarkSky International

A Message from NASA Astronaut Christina Koch | DarkSky International

"We’re honored to share a special video message from NASA astronaut Christina Koch celebrating the beauty and importance of dark skies." DarkSky is a recognized worldwide authority combating light pollution.

Learn about the causes of light pollution:
https://darksky.org/resources/what-is-light-pollution/causes/

Frequently asked questions about light pollution:
https://darksky.org/resources/faq/

The Artemis II Mission involved a ten-day test flight that carried NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen 252,756 miles from Earth before splashing down off the coast of San Diego. This mission tested Orion’s life-support, navigation, and deep-space systems and set the stage for future U.S.-crewed lunar landings and, eventually, the first missions to Mars.

Learn more at: https://www.nasa.gov/artemis-ii


Video Credit: DarkSky International
Duration: 2 minutes, 38 seconds
Release Date: Nov. 12, 2026

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Earth #LightPollution #DarkSkyInternational #Streetlights #Planets #SolarSystem #Stars #MilkWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #Astronomers #ArtemisProgram #Moon #ArtemisII #Astronauts #ChristinaKoch #HumanSpaceflight #SpaceExploration #STEM #Education #History #HD #Video

Journey to The Fornax Cluster | Victor Blanco Telescope | ESO

Journey to The Fornax Cluster | Victor Blanco Telescope | ESO

Members of the Fornax galaxy cluster are featured in the final image presented here from the Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) in Chile, a Program of National Science Foundation (NSF) NOIRLab. Appearing in the constellation Fornax (the Furnace), the Fornax Cluster is a relatively nearby galaxy cluster, only about 60 million light-years from Earth.

Learn about the Víctor M. Blanco Telescope:
https://noirlab.edu/science/programs/ctio/telescopes/victor-blanco-4m-telescope

Dark Energy Camera (DECam)
https://noirlab.edu/public/programs/ctio/victor-blanco-4m-telescope/decam/


Credit: CTIO/NOIRLab/DOE/NSF/AURA
Image Processing: T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF NOIRLab), J. Miller (Gemini Observatory/NSF NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab) & D. de Martin (NSF NOIRLab)
Duration: 1 minute
Release Date: Sept. 23, 2021

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxies #NGC1427A #IrregularGalaxy #FornaxCluster #GalaxyClusters #FornaxConstellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #VictorBlancoTelescope #DECam #CTIO #CerroTololo #Chile #NOIRLab #NSF #AURA #SouthAmerica #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Plunging into the Furnace: The Fornax Cluster | Victor Blanco Telescope

Plunging into the Furnace: The Fornax Cluster | Victor Blanco Telescope

A doomed galaxy falling into the core of the Fornax Cluster was captured by the Dark Energy Camera on the Víctor M. Blanco Telescope in Chile. The irregular galaxy NGC 1427A is plunging into the heart of the cluster at 2.2 million  kilometers (or 1.3 million miles) per hour. Over millions of years, the galaxy will be ripped apart by gravitational interactions from the two largest galaxies in the image. Many colorful galaxies of various sizes and shapes paint the background of this image, appearing alongside nearby stars inside our own Milky Way.

Members of the Fornax galaxy cluster are featured here in images from the Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), a Program of National Science Foundation (NSF) NOIRLab. Appearing in the constellation Fornax (the Furnace), the Fornax Cluster is a relatively nearby galaxy cluster, only about 60 million light-years from Earth.

Learn about the Víctor M. Blanco Telescope:
https://noirlab.edu/science/programs/ctio/telescopes/victor-blanco-4m-telescope

Dark Energy Camera (DECam)
https://noirlab.edu/public/programs/ctio/victor-blanco-4m-telescope/decam/


Credit: CTIO/NOIRLab/DOE/NSF/AURA
Image Processing: T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF NOIRLab), J. Miller (Gemini Observatory/NSF NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab) & D. de Martin (NSF NOIRLab)
Duration: 1 minute
Release Date: Sept. 23, 2021

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxies #NGC1427A #IrregularGalaxy #FornaxCluster #GalaxyClusters #FornaxConstellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #VictorBlancoTelescope #DECam #CTIO #CerroTololo #Chile #NOIRLab #NSF #AURA #SouthAmerica #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Galaxies in The Fornax Cluster | Victor Blanco Telescope

Galaxies in The Fornax Cluster | Victor Blanco Telescope

Members of the Fornax galaxy cluster fill this image from the Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) in Chile, a Program of National Science Foundation (NSF) NOIRLab. Appearing in the constellation Fornax (the Furnace), the Fornax Cluster is a relatively nearby galaxy cluster, only about 60 million light-years from Earth. Foreground stars, belonging to our own Milky Way Galaxy, appear in the image as well.

Learn about the Víctor M. Blanco Telescope:
https://noirlab.edu/science/programs/ctio/telescopes/victor-blanco-4m-telescope


Credit: CTIO/NOIRLab/DOE/NSF/AURA
Image Processing: T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF NOIRLab), J. Miller (Gemini Observatory/NSF NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab) & D. de Martin (NSF NOIRLab)
Release Date: Sept. 23, 2021

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxies #FornaxCluster #GalaxyClusters #FornaxConstellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #VictorBlancoTelescope #DECam #CTIO #CerroTololo #Chile #NOIRLab #NSF #AURA #SouthAmerica #Europe #STEM #Education

A 500 Gigapixel Mosaic of The Universe | Europe's Euclid Space Telescope

A 500 Gigapixel Mosaic of The Universe | Europe's Euclid Space Telescope

  

On November 12, 2026, the European Space Agency’s Euclid space telescope released its first major batch of data: DR1-Foundation. As part of this very large data release Euclid has captured the light of more than a billion objects over an area of sky as big as 9500 full Moons, laying the foundation for its largest ever 3D map of the cosmos.

In this video, we zoom into the northern mosaic, nearly 500 gigapixels in size. This mosaic comprises 740 observations collected in autumn 2024 and spring 2025 as part of the Euclid Wide Survey, and covers 367 deg2 of the northern sky. 

Read more: https://www.esa.int/articles/about-us/directorates/science/euclid/euclid-lays-the-foundation-for-its-best-ever-3d-map-of-the-universe

Euclid, originally built to explore dark matter and dark energy, is now helping open a new window on our own galaxy, and the unseen worlds within it.


Credit: ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/NASA Image Processing: J.-C. Cuillandre and E. Bertin; ESA/GaiaDPAC; ESA/Planck Collaboration
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
Duration: 3 minutes
Release Date: Nov. 12, 2026


#NASA #ESA #ESAEuclid #Astronomy #Space #Science #DR1Foundation #Stars #Galaxies #MilkyWayGalaxy #GalacticSurvey #Cosmos #Universe #EST #EuclidSpaceTelescope #SpaceTelescopes #Europe #STEM #Education #HD #Video

China Long March 2D Rocket Launches Space Science Satellites

China Long March 2D Rocket Launches Space Science Satellites









A Long March-2D carrier rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 7:41pm China Standard Time on November 11, 2026, successfully placing the Tanluozhe-1 scientific satellite into orbit along with three sub-satellites.

Belonging to the National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the main launched spacecraft is known as Tanluozhe-1, alternatively simply called ‘Pathfinder’. It was built by the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The main satellite is to be known as Tanluozhe-1A, with the smaller ones to be designated B, C, and D.

Once confirmed to be healthy in a 600-kilometer dawn-dusk orbit, Tanluozhe-1A will perform verifications of its Magnetic and Helioseismic Imager2, designed by the Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, while B, C, and D will fly in formation to prove the Very Large Area Gamma-ray Space Telescope Pathfinder3, made by Purple Mountain Observatory, the High-Resolution Atmospheric Boundary Layer Lidar4, from the University of Science and Technology of China as well as Langmuir Probes5 and Space Weather Effects Monitors6 from the National Space Science Center. The spacecraft and its sub-satellites are expected to operate for two years.

The Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) is a Chinese spaceport located between Ejin, Alxa, Inner Mongolia and Hangtian Town, Jinta County, Jiuquan, Gansu Province. It is part of the Dongfeng Aerospace City.

Today’s launch was the 107th mission for the Long March 2D, the 283rd Long March vehicle from the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, and the 677th launch of the Long March launch vehicle series. This was also the 81st launch from China in 2026.


Image Credit: China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)
Article Credit: Jack C.
Date: Nov. 11, 2026

#NASA #Space #Science #Earth #Satellites #SpaceScienceSatellites #Tanluozhe1 #探路者一号卫星 #China #中国 #RocketLaunches ##LongMarch2D #LongMarch2DRockets #LM2D #CZ2C #CASC #中国航天科技集团有限公司 #SpaceTechnology #JSLC #酒泉卫星发射中心 #Spaceports #STEM #Education

China Long March 2D Rocket Launches Space Science Satellites

China Long March 2D Rocket Launches Space Science Satellites

A Long March-2D carrier rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 7:41pm China Standard Time on November 11, 2026, successfully placing the Tanluozhe-1 scientific satellite into orbit along with three sub-satellites.

Belonging to the National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the main launched spacecraft is known as Tanluozhe-1, alternatively simply called ‘Pathfinder’. It was built by the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The main satellite is to be known as Tanluozhe-1A, with the smaller ones to be designated B, C, and D.

Once confirmed to be healthy in a 600-kilometer dawn-dusk orbit, Tanluozhe-1A will perform verifications of its Magnetic and Helioseismic Imager2, designed by the Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, while B, C, and D will fly in formation to prove the Very Large Area Gamma-ray Space Telescope Pathfinder3, made by Purple Mountain Observatory, the High-Resolution Atmospheric Boundary Layer Lidar4, from the University of Science and Technology of China as well as Langmuir Probes5 and Space Weather Effects Monitors6 from the National Space Science Center. The spacecraft and its sub-satellites are expected to operate for two years.

The Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) is a Chinese spaceport located between Ejin, Alxa, Inner Mongolia and Hangtian Town, Jinta County, Jiuquan, Gansu Province. It is part of the Dongfeng Aerospace City.

Today’s launch was the 107th mission for the Long March 2D, the 283rd Long March vehicle from the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, and the 677th launch of the Long March launch vehicle series. This was also the 81st launch from China in 2026.


Video Credit: China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)
Article Credit: Jack C.
Duration: 37 seconds 
Date: Nov. 11, 2026

#NASA #Space #Science #Earth #Satellites #SpaceScienceSatellites #Tanluozhe1 #探路者一号卫星 #China #中国 #RocketLaunches ##LongMarch2D #LongMarch2DRockets #LM2D #CZ2C #CASC #中国航天科技集团有限公司 #SpaceTechnology #JSLC #酒泉卫星发射中心 #Spaceports #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Lights in the Sky over La Silla Observatory in Chile | ESO

Lights in the Sky over La Silla Observatory in Chile | ESO

The glowing streak of the Milky Way splashes across the Chilean sky in this picture. The telescope gazing in admiration is the Danish 1.54-meter telescope, hosted at the European Southern Observatory’s La Silla Observatory. This telescope has previously imaged examples of the cosmic marvels we can see in this picture. The Carina Nebula can be seen glittering pink at the bottom of the Milky Way band. And at the top of the image we can see the bright, star-forming Lagoon Nebula.

From La Silla’s location in the southern hemisphere, the bright core of the Milky Way passes directly overhead. The dark patches we see across the glowing center are caused by clouds of interstellar dust and gas that absorb light from the galactic center on its way to Earth.

Do not worry, the green glow we see in this image is not a result of urban light pollution. This is a natural phenomenon known as airglow, caused by interactions between the Sun’s light and molecules in the atmosphere. This faint light is invisible to the human eye but appears in photographs like this one.

Image Description: This image shows a white dome beneath the bright streak of the Milky Way that takes up most of the image. The Milky Way glows bright with dark, dusty patches, and is surrounded by stars. The sky in the lower part of the image glows faintly green.

Danish 1.54-meter telescope: https://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/lasilla/danish154/


Credit: J. Rodrigues/ESO
Release Date: Nov. 9, 2026


#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #Galaxies #MilkyWayGalaxy #Nebulae #CarinaNebula #NGC3372 #CarinaConstellation #LagoonNebula #Messier8 #SagittariusConstellation #Cosmos #Universe #DanishTelescope #LaSillaObservatory #Chile #Europe #STEM #Education

Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Journey to The Seagull Nebula: IC 2177 in Monoceros | Vera C. Rubin Observatory

Journey to The Seagull Nebula: IC 2177 in Monoceros | Vera C. Rubin Observatory

Two years ago this month, National Science Foundation (NSF)–U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s engineering test camera, named the LSST Commissioning Camera (ComCam) on the Simonyi Survey Telescope, began capturing images of the sky to prepare for the revolutionary Legacy Survey of Space and Time. This image featuring the head of the Seagull Nebula was one of many ComCam images that led to the success of Rubin First Look and helped to document the observatory’s excellent performance.

The Rubin Observatory is packed with new technology. The Simonyi Survey Telescope’s drive system, rigid design, and compact shape give it incredible speed, forming the streaks of light showcased in this image. Thanks to these features, the telescope can be ready for its next image in only five seconds—faster than any other telescope of its size. The LSST Camera, constructed by DOE’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is the world’s largest digital camera. The camera is roughly the size of a small car and weighs almost 6600 lbs (3000 kg). Its size and design allow it to view vast areas of the sky, capturing 45 times the area of the full Moon in the sky with each exposure. Together, the innovative technologies in the Simonyi Survey Telescope and the LSST Camera is expected to make many discoveries.

Learn more about the new Vera Rubin Observatory:

The LSST Camera (LSSTCam)

An Introduction to Vera Rubin:

Credit: NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory/NOIRLab/SLAC/AURA
Image Processing: T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF NOIRLab), D. de Martin & M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab)
Duration: 1 minute
Release Date: Oct. 22, 2026

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Nebulae #SeagullNebula #IC2177 #Sharpless2296 #Sh2296 #Gum2 #MonocerosConstellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #LSSTCam #LSSTComCam #SimonyiSurveyTelescope #RubinObservatory #VeraRubin #CerroPachón #Chile #NOIRLab #NSF #DOE #AURA #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

A Tour of The Seagull Nebula: IC 2177 in Monoceros | Vera C. Rubin Observatory

 A Tour of The Seagull Nebula: IC 2177 in Monoceros | Vera C. Rubin Observatory

Two years ago this month, National Science Foundation (NSF)–U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s engineering test camera, named the LSST Commissioning Camera (ComCam) on the Simonyi Survey Telescope, began capturing images of the sky to prepare for the revolutionary Legacy Survey of Space and Time. This image featuring the head of the Seagull Nebula was one of many ComCam images that led to the success of Rubin First Look and helped to document the observatory’s excellent performance.

The Rubin Observatory is packed with new technology. The Simonyi Survey Telescope’s drive system, rigid design, and compact shape give it incredible speed, forming the streaks of light showcased in this image. Thanks to these features, the telescope can be ready for its next image in only five seconds—faster than any other telescope of its size. The LSST Camera, constructed by DOE’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is the world’s largest digital camera. The camera is roughly the size of a small car and weighs almost 6600 lbs (3000 kg). Its size and design allow it to view vast areas of the sky, capturing 45 times the area of the full Moon in the sky with each exposure. Together, the innovative technologies in the Simonyi Survey Telescope and the LSST Camera is expected to make many discoveries.

Learn more about the new Vera Rubin Observatory:

The LSST Camera (LSSTCam)

An Introduction to Vera Rubin:

Credit: NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory/NOIRLab/SLAC/AURA
Image Processing: T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF NOIRLab), D. de Martin & M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab)
Duration: 1 minute
Release Date: Oct. 22, 2026

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Nebulae #SeagullNebula #IC2177 #Sharpless2296 #Sh2296 #Gum2 #MonocerosConstellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #LSSTCam #LSSTComCam #SimonyiSurveyTelescope #RubinObservatory #VeraRubin #CerroPachón #Chile #NOIRLab #NSF #DOE #AURA #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video