Space

Photography and astronomy offer humanity a fascinating view into the universe.
Two side-by-side images show distant, irregularly shaped galaxies with bright, glowing blue cores against a dark space background.

Astronomers Capture ‘Exceptionally Rare’ Star Explosion for Only the Second Time in 20 Years

In March, the Einstein Probe, a satellite made by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in partnership with the European Space Agency, detected a very brief flash of "soft X-rays" emitted by a galaxy about 500 million light-years away. Within an hour, ground-based telescopes, including several at National Science Foundation (NSF) NOIRLab facilities, began investigating the region, getting a front-row seat to bombastic and very special star death.

Two white, modern, robotic telescopes on tripods stand against a twilight sky with mountains in the background.

Vaonis’ Newest Smart Telescopes Look Stellar

While the news flew under my radar a bit, Vaonis recently unveiled its next generation of smart telescopes for astrophotographers: the Vespera 3 and the Vespera Pro 2. Each smart telescope promises exciting upgrades for astronomy enthusiasts and improved imaging capabilities.

A rocky, dusty surface with scattered stones of various sizes. Part of a circular, metallic object appears in the lower right corner. The scene looks barren and textured.

50 Years Later: The First Photo Ever Taken on Mars

This week marked the 50th anniversary of the NASA Viking 1 spacecraft landing safely on Mars, spearheading a new era of space exploration. Just minutes after Viking 1 landed on the Red Planet, it captured a photo, the first ever taken on the surface of Mars and the first time any human had ever seen a photo from another planet.