Space
Learn about the latest astronomy news and discoveries around humanity’s endeavor beyond the final frontier.
NASA: There is water on the moon hiding in lunar soil
Scientists have long argued as to whether there is water on the moon or not. Now, after decades of debate, NASA has solved the mystery: Water has been confirmed on the sunlit surface of the moon, and it’s not just in the form of ice limited to the shadowed surfaces of larger craters as previously Read More...
NASA collects samples from a space asteroid for the first time
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has spent nearly two years in space circling Bennu, a near-Earth asteroid. Now, it has successfully helped NASA gather samples from an asteroid in space for the very first time. In a momentous milestone for space exploration, the spacecraft’s robotic arm was Read More...
Get lost in these incredible x-ray images of the universe
You would only need to be subscribed to the Optimist Daily for a little while to know we are geeks for outer space. That’s why we were over the moon when NASA released a gallery of jaw-dropping imagery of the universe captured by telescopes from around the world. The gallery is a “treasure Read More...
Time lapse: This supernova was 5 billion times brighter than the sun
For all you space geeks, we have something dazzling for you. The Hubble Space Telescope recorded footage of a supernova exploding in the sky over the course of a year, creating one of the brightest light shows ever seen. In fact, the exploding star burned at the radiance of 5 billion suns before Read More...
New device could detect even faint signs of life on Mars
The potential for water and even life on the red planet has captivated scientists and citizens alike, but if we were to discover life on Mars, it would likely look like compounds in the planet’s soil rather than green life forms. This is why researchers at the California Institute of Technology Read More...
Japan’s space agency to capture ultra-detailed images of Martian moons
Last week, we published a story coming out of Chile where scientists are building a camera so powerful it can spot a golf ball 15 miles away. The camera can snap 3,200-megapixel images and is meant to help us unlock some of the universe’s biggest mysteries. In related news out of Japan, the Read More...
NASA has mapped out a faster and cheaper route to the moon
It took Apollo 11 just over two days to reach the moon in 1969, but for non-manned missions, the voyage can take up to a year. Now, thanks to a new route designed by NASA, there is a faster and cheaper way to reach lunar orbit. Designed by NASA's upcoming Dark Ages Polarimeter Pathfinder Read More...
Here's the best place on earth for a telescope, according to astronomers
Summer is the season for stargazing. Whether you’re just laying out on a picnic blanket in your backyard or have invested in a high-tech telescope, the twinkling vastness of space above can captivate our attention for hours. Now, astronomers have identified the most ideal place on earth for a Read More...
NASA calls on young scientists to solve the problem of sticky lunar dust
This week on The Optimist Daily Update, our CEO Summers and Editor in Chief Kristy discussed the undervalued role that ingenious teens play in our society. Whether it’s coming up with coloring books to teach kids about the pandemic or donating to climate action, the next generation is a real Read More...
These are the closest images ever taken of the Sun
This week, NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) released the closest images ever taken of the Sun. Close, however is a relative term. The new photos were taken by the Solar Orbiter at 48 million miles from the Sun. The Orbiter was launched in February, and the photos captured were taken in Read More...