The Lyrid meteor shower put on a spectacular show last night as Earth plunged through the debris stream cast off by comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher), triggering a peak of activity that saw shooting stars blaze a path away from the blue-white star Vega in the constellation Lyra.
Shooting stars appear when fragments of comets and asteroids cross paths with Earth, ending their existence in a fiery…
New observations of Uranus’s enigmatic outer rings have shown them to be even more mysterious than astronomers had thought, and their unusual properties hint at some puzzling things going on with the planet’s system of moons.
These observations suggest that…
NASA reveals its Roman Space Telescope today: How to watch live, and what's next for the next-generation observatory
April 22, 2026
Watch live: NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is a game changer and fully assembled – YouTube
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NASA’s newest space telescope is ready for its moment on stage — and soon, in space.
The agency will unveil the Nancy Grace Roman…
Don't miss the Lyrid meteor shower 2026 peak tonight! Viewing times, location and tips
April 22, 2026
Heads up, skywatchers! Don’t miss the Lyrid meteor shower tonight, as activity peaks in the predawn hours of April 22.
Under ideal conditions, it’s possible to see up to 20 meteors per hour during the peak, with the chance to witness dramatically bright flashes known as fireballs.
Viewing conditions are looking promising for the Lyrids this year. The moon will set around midnight…
NASA's Curiosity rover finds building blocks of life on Mars. Scientists aren't sure how they got there
April 22, 2026
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover has found a diverse mix of organic molecules on Mars, including chemicals widely considered building blocks for the origin of life on Earth. The finding marks the first time a new kind of chemical experiment has been performed on another…
It turns out that living in space can have a lasting impact on how your brain works, researchers have found.
In space, astronauts have to learn to live without gravity — whether they’re aboard the International Space Station (ISS) or on a journey to the moon, such…
The Lyrid meteor shower is currently active and peaks tonight, during predawn hours on April 22 — but if cloudy skies, light pollution, or a busy schedule are getting in your way of the show, you don’t have to miss out.
A large number of high-quality night sky livestreams from around the world let you hunt for the Lyrids from the comfort of your home. Many livestreams even include a live…
What's the best time to see Lyrid meteors in 2026?
April 21, 2026
The Lyrid meteor shower is nearing peak activity! Here’s the best time to hunt for shooting stars as well as a guide on where to find them in the spring sky so you can maximize your chances of spotting these fast-moving meteors.
When are the Lyrids most active?
In…
Our universe is full of mysteries, but few are as perplexing as the dark, tiny galaxies that hover around larger ones like the Milky Way.
Small, dim, and almost invisible, dwarf spheroidal galaxies are packed to the brim with something we can’t see: dark matter.
Last week, Artemis 2 astronauts witnessed a total solar eclipse from space, as the Orion spacecraft spent nearly an hour in the moon’s shadow. But, as a remote team at the French-Italian Concordia Research Station recently experienced, you don’t need to travel beyond the moon to see a truly private eclipse.
The Concordia Research Station is the most remote research base in Antarctica…
