Space
Learn about the latest astronomy news and discoveries around humanity’s endeavor beyond the final frontier.
8 sky events all stargazers should catch this month
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The flower moon came and went on May 1. Most of what makes this month interesting is still ahead. This week: the Eta Aquarids The Eta Aquarids run from late April through late May, but their peak falls overnight on May 5 and 6. They’re fast, bright, and Read More...
Artemis II shows the moon can still unite a divided world
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM When 15 Girl Scouts in Pilot Mountain, North Carolina, gathered to watch the Artemis II launch, troop leader Heather Willard wasn't sure how captivated they'd be. Then the rocket lifted off. "All of the girls were mesmerized," she said. Across the Read More...
8 night sky events to catch this February, from a planetary parade to the Milky Way’s return
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM February may be the shortest month of the year, but it more than makes up for lost time when it comes to cosmic action. From the return of the Milky Way’s bright core to an otherworldly “ring of fire” eclipse, the sky is staging a spectacular lineup Read More...
Ozone layer recovery shows what global cooperation can achieve
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The Earth’s protective ozone layer is on track to recover by mid-century, according to a new bulletin released Tuesday, September 16, by the UN’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Calling it “welcome scientific news for people’s and planetary Read More...
Spacey September: 10 dazzling night sky events you won’t want to miss
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM September is shaping up to be a month where the sky itself feels like a calendar of wonders. A total lunar eclipse, bright planets at their peak, and even a rare solar spectacle are just a few of the reasons to step outside after dark. Whether you’re an Read More...
Could space-based solar panels power Europe’s clean energy future?
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM A new study suggests that solar panels in space could meet up to 80 percent of Europe’s renewable energy needs by 2050. The research, conducted by engineers at King’s College London (KCL), uses detailed computer modeling to assess the potential of Read More...
What trees can teach us about volcanoes: a new view from space
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The next time a volcano begins to stir, the first signs might come not from smoke or rumbling earth, but from the trees nearby. According to a new NASA-Smithsonian study, trees growing near volcanoes become visibly greener as underground magma releases carbon Read More...
US high school student uses AI to uncover 1.5 million hidden space objects
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM A U.S. high school student made headlines by identifying 1.5 million previously unknown objects in space using artificial intelligence. Matteo (Matthew) Paz, a student with a passion for astronomy and coding, developed a machine-learning algorithm that Read More...
ESA's Biomass satellite will weigh the world's rainforests from space to fight climate change
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Following over a decade of development, the European Space Agency (ESA) is on the verge of launching a groundbreaking satellite designed to revolutionize the way scientists observe forests and measure carbon. Set for liftoff on April 29 from Europe’s Read More...
Brilliant green comet makes rare appearance—and it won’t return for 1.4 million years
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Every so often, the cosmos offers a rare spectacle that feels timeless yet brand new. This spring, that spectacle is comet C/2025 F2 (SWAN)—a brilliantly green cosmic visitor currently visible in the early morning sky for those in the Northern Read More...