Brandon is the space / physics editor at Live Science. With more than 20 years of editorial experience, his writing has appeared in The Washington Post, Reader's Digest, CBS.com, the Richard Dawkins Foundation website and other outlets. He holds a bachelor's degree in creative writing from the University of Arizona, with minors in journalism and media arts. His interests include black holes, asteroids and comets, and the search for extraterrestrial life.
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Declassified Apollo 12 images show UFOs on the moon — Space photo of the weekNewly declassified images from the Apollo 12 mission highlight strange, unidentified lights spotted by astronauts on the moon.
By Brandon Specktor Published
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US government declassifies nearly 200 UFO files, including Apollo astronaut sightingsThe Department of Defense just declassified more than 160 documents, images and recordings related to UFO/UAP sightings dating back to before the Apollo era.
By Brandon Specktor Last updated
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48 jaw-dropping James Webb telescope photosFrom black holes and baby stars to familiar solar system planets, the universe has never looked more glorious thanks to NASA's James Webb Space Telescope
By Brandon Specktor Last updated
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NASA shares 12,000 new Artemis II photosNASA just uploaded more than 12,000 photos snapped by the Artemis II crew during their record-breaking flyby around the moon. Here are some of the most inspiring ones.
By Brandon Specktor Published
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'A measurable, enormous global impact': Astronaut Chris Hadfield on why the true power of Artemis II could take decades to hitInterview Astronaut Chris Hadfield shares his emotional response to the Artemis II mission, and why it could change the course of people's futures.
By Brandon Specktor Last updated
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'Welcome home, Integrity': Artemis II crew return to Earth after 'bullseye landing' caps historic moon missionLive Blog The Artemis II crew have safely landed in the Pacific Ocean after a historic flight around the moon. Take a look back at our live blog's launch coverage from the hours and seconds until splashdown.
By Ben Turner Last updated
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Artemis II moon flyby begins: How to watch and what to knowThe Artemis II astronauts have reached the moon and will soon lose contact with NASA as they whip around the lunar far side. Here's how to follow along with their journey and everything you need to know about the "dark side" of the moon.
By Kenna Hughes-Castleberry Published
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'We go for all of humanity': Artemis II rocket lifts off to the moon — look back at our live coverageLive Blog The Artemis II crew have left Earth and are bound for the moon. Take a look back at our live blog's launch coverage from the days, hours and seconds until takeoff.
By Ben Turner Last updated
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Universe-shaking collision of black hole and neutron star could upend our understanding of monster cosmic mergersThe catastrophic collision of a black hole and a neutron star sent ripples across the universe. New analysis of those ripples could upend a major theory about how these extreme pairs form.
By Brandon Specktor Published
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'City killer' asteroid will narrowly miss the moon, James Webb Telescope revealsThe "city killer" asteroid 2024 YR4 won't hit Earth or the moon when it whizzes by in 2032, the latest James Webb Space Telescope observations confirm.
By Brandon Specktor Last updated
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'Blood moon' total eclipse dazzles millions around the world (photos)Here are the first images of the March 3 'blood moon' total lunar eclipse visible over North America, Australia, and eastern Asia.
By Brandon Specktor Published
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NASA announces sweeping overhaul of Artemis return to moonA major shakeup to NASA's Artemis program will step rocket launches up to an annual basis, and discard a Boeing-designed upper stage.
By Ben Turner Published
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'Rare and enigmatic' structures found at the Milky Way's center in largest-ever map of its kindScientists using the ALMA telescope have created the most-detailed-ever map of the Milky Way's chaotic center. The observations could open a window to the ancient universe as it appeared shortly after the Big Bang.
By Brandon Specktor Last updated
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Artemis II update: NASA targets March 6 for launch of historic moon mission following successful 'wet dress rehearsal'NASA is targeting March 6 as the earliest possible launch date for the Artemis II mission to the moon following a successful 'wet dress rehearsal' on Thursday.
By Brandon Specktor Published
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Auroras likely as most active sunspot in years turns toward EarthThe sunspot region 4366 fired off dozens of powerful solar flares in 24 hours, including the single strongest flare since 2024. Auroras are possible later this week.
By Brandon Specktor Last updated
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SETI scientists reveal 100 'signals of interest' from collapsed Arecibo ObservatoryA crowd-sourced search for alien intelligence called SETI@Home is in its final stages, analyzing 100 'signals of interest' with the world's largest radio telescope.
By Brandon Specktor Published
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NASA spacecraft takes milestone 100,000th image of Mars (photo)NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft has just taken its milestone 100,000th photo of the Red Planet using its high-definition camera. It reveals a dark region of moving sand dunes.
By Brandon Specktor Published
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NASA eyes 3I/ATLAS with alien-hunting Clipper spacecraft in new imageNASA's alien-hunting Europa Clipper spacecraft took seven hours of ultraviolet observations of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS while both objects zoom toward Jupiter.
By Brandon Specktor Published
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Comet 3I/ATLAS is getting greener and brighter as it approaches EarthNew images taken with the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii confirm that the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS has gotten brighter and greener since its close flyby of the sun in October.
By Brandon Specktor Published
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New 3I/ATLAS images show the comet getting active ahead of close encounter with EarthNASA and ESA both shared new images of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS this week, as the agencies gear up for the mysterious object's closest approach to Earth on Dec. 19.
By Brandon Specktor Published
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When is the next full moon?When does the next full moon rise? Find out exactly when to see the full moons of 2025, including the full 'Cold Moon' supermoon in December.
By Jamie Carter Last updated
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That was the week in science: Soyuz launch pad seriously damaged | 'Holy Grail' of shipwrecks | Interstellar object dangersLive blog Friday, Nov. 28, 2025: Your daily feed of the biggest discoveries and breakthroughs making headlines.
By Ben Turner Last updated
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Watch live: New images of comet 3I/ATLAS revealed by NASA today (Nov. 19)NASA will finally share long-awaited images of interstellar object 3I/ATLAS taken during the comet's close flyby of Mars. A live stream has been set for today (Nov. 19).
By Brandon Specktor Last updated
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'Severe' solar storm brings auroras as far south as Florida — and more are on the way tonightThe most powerful solar flare of 2025 has launched a ball of energy toward Earth that could trigger widespread auroras across the United States tonight.
By Brandon Specktor Last updated
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