Earth’s only natural satellite
A SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage has struck the Moon near Einstein Crater at about 5,400 mph, carving a new crater and launching a dust plume. South Korea’s Danuri orbiter has photographed the site and released images. NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is scheduled to image the impact next week while scientists begin analysing ejecta and crater formation.
A study suggests that early animal digestion and fecal matter helped drive nutrient cycles, supporting marine life growth and possibly accelerating the Cambrian diversification. Coprolites trace the emergence of complex guts and debris distribution, hinting at a global fecal feedback that shaped oceans 540–520 million years ago.
A total solar eclipse on 12 August 2026 has passed across Greenland, Iceland and parts of northern Spain while the UK and Ireland have seen a deep partial eclipse — the most extensive visible from Britain since 1999. Scientists have collected coronagraph and in‑flight data to study the Sun’s corona and short‑term atmospheric effects; safety warnings about direct viewing were widely issued.
In Scotland, Nicola’s Law seeks to make women’s health education mandatory for NHS staff after Nicola Thyne’s death from endometriosis-related complications. Campaigners say comprehensive training could curb dismissive care and reduce delays in treatment.
VinSpace has signed a contract with SpaceX to send its first satellites into orbit on a Transporter rideshare mission in 2027. The Hanoi-based company, part of Vietnam’s Vingroup, plans to develop and operate its satellites to test technology and support future commercial space services. The agreement aligns with Vietnam’s push to become a mid-level space power by 2030.
A band of Europe witnesses a rare solar eclipse, with totality across parts of Spain, Iceland and Portugal. The event is being observed with safety warnings as millions prepare to view the sky-darkening phenomenon; high public interest is accompanied by safety campaigns and warnings about eye damage.
A deep partial lunar eclipse has occurred, with about 96% of the Moon in Earth's shadow for observers across much of the Americas. The event followed a recent total solar eclipse and is part of a pair of celestial events that are visible under clear skies. The maximum viewing is around midnight EDT, with visibility shifting by location. NASA notes the Artemis II mission remains a backdrop to ongoing space activity.
SpaceX has pledged $100 billion to build a 125,000‑acre Starbase in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, that it says will support thousands of Starship launches a year, add about 3,000 direct jobs and include propellant production, power generation and deep‑water shipping. Construction is scheduled to start in 2027; SpaceX targets initial launches by 2029 while state officials give a 2030 timeline.
The Chang’e-7 mission is delaying its launch as conditions for lift-off have not been met this year. The China Manned Space Agency has given a brief statement that the launch cannot take place within the planned window after a comprehensive assessment.
A partial lunar eclipse will dim the Moon in the early hours of Friday, 28 August, turning it reddish as Earth’s shadow darkens the surface. The event follows a dramatic partial solar eclipse weeks earlier. Visibility depends on clear skies and the Moon’s low western horizon across the UK.
SpaceX has announced a $100 billion plan to develop a 125,000-acre Starbase Louisiana on Pecan Island, expanding beyond Texas and Florida. The site will host methane production, power generation, deep-water shipping, vehicle processing, and potentially an on-site airport. Construction starts next year, with the first launch expected in 2029, creating more than 3,000 jobs.
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has launched from Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy and has separated cleanly. The observatory is travelling toward Lagrange point 2, about one million miles from Earth, for a five‑year primary mission to map billions of galaxies, search for exoplanets and study dark matter and dark energy.
President Trump has signed an executive order to begin creating a U.S. Space Academy to train astronauts, engineers and civil operators for NASA, the U.S. Space Force and the civilian spaceflight industry. A presidential commission chaired by NASA administrator Jared Isaacman will deliver proposals within 120 days; the academy’s location and funding remain undecided.
Lebanon and Israel are engaged in direct talks mediated by the US, after Hezbollah-triggered conflict escalations. A framework signed in June calls for Hezbollah disarmament and a staged Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon, with Greece and Athens’ arms deal cited as regional context. Lebanon seeks renewed UNIFIL support as violence persists.
French president Emmanuel Macron has opened a two-day International Space Summit in Paris that has gathered officials, astronauts, researchers and industry leaders from about 120 countries to press Europe to build sovereign space capabilities, debate regulation and seek commercial deals. U.S. companies SpaceX and Blue Origin are absent after White House concerns over the event’s framing.
Researchers at the Niels Bohr Institute have published results showing collisions of oxygen-16 and neon-20 nuclei have produced quark–gluon plasma droplets. The experiments have revealed that particle emission patterns reflect the original nuclear shapes, offering a new probe of nuclear structure and the conditions that existed microseconds after the Big Bang.
Autumn has delivered a run of visible celestial events: a partial lunar eclipse in late August that reddened much of the Moon, close pairings of the young crescent Moon with Venus and Jupiter in September, and a string of upcoming spectacles — the Pleiades, the Orionid and Leonid meteor showers, a planetary parade on 14 November and a Beaver supermoon on 24 November.
President Donald Trump has proposed renaming the Strait of Hormuz to "Trump Strait" in a Truth Social post and has repeated earlier moves to relabel bodies of water. His post follows an executive order renaming Lake Ontario and earlier declarations renaming the Gulf of Mexico; officials have not explained how a change to an international waterway would be implemented.
NASA has announced that Artemis II commanders Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover have stepped from active duties to emeritus status, remaining connected to lunar programs. Glover will lead at Cal Poly while Wiseman’s plans are ongoing. The pair will mentor personnel and advise future Artemis missions as the agency pivots toward near-term lunar milestones.
Europe is pushing to build sovereign space capabilities and reduce reliance on the United States for launches, satellites and defense-related space infrastructure. The International Space Summit in Paris has spotlighted EU ambitions, private sector growth, and tensions with U.S. and Chinese players.
Scientists have identified a 222‑metre‑wide, up to 43‑metre‑deep crater on the Moon formed in spring 2024 and first spotted in LRO images in 2025. The impact churned material across more than 100 km, produced a roughly 7‑km cold spot and has provided rare data scientists say will inform risk assessments for planned lunar bases.
Apple has introduced Reference Image, a feature for the iPhone 18 Pro that signs sensor data to produce an unalterable reference image. The tool lets users compare the original photo with later edits to verify authenticity, and will support Google SynthID in a software update later this year.
The United States is accelerating its space and lunar defense posture as officials announce on-orbit space control weapons and a doubling of the Space Force. Leaders say operations will defend US interests from low Earth orbit to cislunar space, signaling a shift in the military balance in space ahead of potential actions around the Moon.
The autumn equinox has arrived, marking astronomical autumn. The Sun crosses the celestial equator, creating roughly equal day and night. This year, the UK is experiencing varying daylight changes, with northern Scotland losing daylight faster. Weather is unsettled in parts of the UK this week, but milder conditions persist in the southeast before a rain system moves in.
SpaceX has flown Starship into low‑Earth orbit for the first time during its 14th test flight from Starbase, Texas, and has deployed 26 Starlink V3 satellites. The Super Heavy booster has returned to the Gulf of Mexico; the upper stage has completed multiple orbits before a planned reentry and splashdown west of Chile during a roughly 10‑hour mission on Monday.
NASA has allocated a further $359 million to Boeing to complete Starliner upgrades and certify it for a new rocket, aiming to ensure crewed access to low-Earth orbit while SpaceX winds down Crew Dragon operations. A cargo-only mission could occur by December, with crewed flights expected in mid-2028 after safety redesigns.
Arab News reports a moon-Pleiades conjunction marks a transition from summer to cooler weather in the Arabian Peninsula, guiding Bedouin and farming calendars. Wasm Al-Harif spans 27 days, Wasm Al-Wasm about 81 days, with rainfall and desert truffles tied to the pattern. The New Arab notes a gradual autumnal shift across the region, influenced by air masses and pressure patterns.
SpaceX has achieved an orbital Starship flight, deploying 26 Starlink V3 satellites and signaling a new era of high-frequency, reusable launches. The mission faced an early engine issue but proceeded to orbit with a Pacific splashdown and a rapid return-to-flight plan taking shape for future missions.
Margaret Hamilton has died at 90. The MIT computer scientist has led development of the onboard flight software for NASA's Apollo program, coined the phrase "software engineering," and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016. Her daughter has confirmed she died on 30 September in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Japan-led MMX mission has launched to study Phobos and Deimos, with a lander and rover designed to fetch samples from Phobos and return them to Earth by 2031. The mission involves multiple international partners including NASA and ESA.
The Orionids meteor shower has reached its peak tonight, with up to 20 meteors per hour expected under clear skies. The shower, caused by debris from Halley’s Comet, is visible across hemispheres through early November. Moonlight may wash out fainter meteors, but dark skies and patience will reward observers.
Elon Musk has said special committees at Tesla and SpaceX are exploring a possible merger and that combining the firms "would be a good idea." He has recused himself from the committees. The proposal would require approval from at least 50% of Tesla shareholders and has sparked stock movement and renewed debate over control, AI and national-security implications.
NASA officials say Artemis III will dock with lunar landers in 2027 ahead of a 2028 moon landing, while Artemis IV remains targeted for late 2028. The agency aims to speed up development with lighter suits and faster launch cadence, as it weighs SpaceX vs. Blue Origin for the lunar lander.
Pakistan is set to join China’s Shenzhou-24 mission under their space-cooperation deal. The Pakistani astronaut has been training in China, with a launch expected by year-end. Pakistan and China have outlined a broader program including Jinnah-1 lunar rover and joint short flights.
Novaya Gazeta has ceased operations after a Kremlin-led crackdown, marking the end of Russia’s last major independent newspaper based in the country. Editors say authorities forced the newsroom to close, with banks blocking reader donations and offices evicted. The closure follows years of pressure after Moscow designated the paper a foreign agent.