Space weekly recap, September 5–11, 2026: Key stories you may have missed
New rockets for NASA, discovery of new cosmic objects, and some watchdog reports round out the week.
Published: Sep 11, 2026 | By Pranjal Nath
Like 50 tons of TNT: 200-pound comet piece explodes over Kentucky; NASA shares pictures
This piece from a comet was about 16 inches in diameter and was traveling at 145,000 miles per hour.
Published: Sep 11, 2026 | By Harsh Vardhan
Mercury has been shrinking faster than we realized. Here’s what that means
New research suggests the planet has lost nearly 12 miles from its diameter, and the reason could lie deep inside.
Updated: Sep 11, 2026 | By Ankita Garkoti
Could the Moon be hiding signs of ancient alien technology? SETI scientist proposes how we might find them
The research, led by a SETI scientist, takes a completely different approach to the existing efforts of searching for life beyond our planet.
Published: Sep 10, 2026 | By Pranjal Nath
Did Venus once have a moon? Scientists think the planet may have destroyed it
As of now, scientists are not sure whether Venus ever had a moon.
Published: Sep 10, 2026 | By Purva Muley
The Sun was about to unleash a coronal mass ejection—but it didn't. Scientists now know why
The four different spacecrafts that were observing the Sun at that time have finally provided the data that helped scientists reach a conclusion.
Published: Sep 9, 2026 | By Pranjal Nath
Could future telescopes reveal oceans on distant Earth-like planets? What latest research says
The ability to detect ocean glint on other worlds could be invaluable in the search for life.
Published: Sep 8, 2026 | By Purva Muley
What happens when a star dies? New research gets closer to an answer
The research offers clues about how dying stars forge the elements that make up everything from planets to people.
Published: Sep 8, 2026 | By Ankita Garkoti
Ancient meteorite found in Antarctica reveals gravity wasn't the only thing that helped form the Sun
The new study suggests that gravity was an important factor but that magnetism also played a role.
Published: Sep 7, 2026 | By Harsh Vardhan
Asteroid that exploded over Australia on September 6 might be the first-of-its-kind discovered before impact
2026 RW1, the 13th asteroid discovered by scientists before it impacted our planet, is special.
Published: Sep 7, 2026 | By Harsh Vardhan
Did comets carry water to inner Solar System planets? Study of young star system offers clues
Scientists studying a young system around a Sun-like star think exocomets could be ferrying water.
Published: Sep 4, 2026 | By Purva Muley
How do icy bodies become comets? A Centaur's encounter with Saturn may provide a clue
Scientists are studying the changing orbit of Centaur 450P/LONEOS, which could provide insights.
Published: Sep 4, 2026 | By Purva Muley
NOAA’s alert about a Type II radio emission from the Sun could signal an incoming CME
If a CME does arrive, we could experience a geomagnetic storm, with auroras becoming visible.
Published: Sep 4, 2026 | By Pranjal Nath
India’s Aditya-L1 catches early warning signs before major solar flares—it could be a life saver
This could help improve space weather forecasting and protect astronauts and technological infrastructure.
Published: Sep 4, 2026 | By Harsh Vardhan
NASA's Hubble Telescope spots mysterious 10-sided structure around Saturn's south pole. What is it?
"We've never seen anything quite like this in Saturn's southern hemisphere," said Amy Simon, the principal investigator on Hubble’s Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy (OPAL) program.
Published: Sep 4, 2026 | By Lakshmi Kola
Meteor seen exploding with a bright flash over U.S. states of Washington, Oregon
While the meteor exploded in a fiery spectacle, no sonic boom was heard. Here's what to know.
Published: Sep 3, 2026 | By Pranjal Nath
Solar flares explained: What these giant explosions on the Sun mean for us
NASA has described these eruptions as the most powerful explosions within our solar system.
Published: Sep 3, 2026 | By Pranjal Nath
A unique system of four stars reveals a series of eclipses astronomers have never seen before
The rare system could help scientists understand how multiple-star systems work.
Published: Sep 2, 2026 | By Purva Muley
Moon may have formed in 5 hours after a Mars-sized object smashed Earth, says new study
One mystery that still remains is the almost identical compositional makeup of the Earth and the Moon.
Published: Sep 2, 2026 | By Harsh Vardhan
What's making Venus' clouds dark in UV light? Scientists may have a clue to nearly 100-year-old mystery
A new study has established important constraints on the mystery material in Venus' clouds.
Published: Sep 2, 2026 | By Lakshmi Kola