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Latest about space
Asteroid that exploded over Berlin was fastest-spinning space rock ever recorded
By Sascha Pare published
Scientists have calculated the rotational speed of asteroid 2024 BX1, which exploded over Berlin earlier this year, by letting it trail in images of the sky. It turns out, 2024 BX1 was spinning faster than any other near-Earth object ever seen.
Dusty 'Cat's Paw Nebula' contains a type of molecule never seen in space — and it's one of the largest ever found
By Victoria Atkinson published
Scientists have detected a new, unusually large molecule never seen in space before. The 13-atom molecule, called 2-methoxyethanol, was detected in the Cat's Paw Nebula.
Enormous explosion in 'Cigar Galaxy' reveals rare type of star never seen beyond the Milky Way
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
An incredibly brief, ultrabright explosion has led astronomers to a newfound magnetic star outside the Milky Way, which could be the first of many extragalactic magnetars, according to new research.
After months of sending gibberish to NASA, Voyager 1 is finally making sense again
By Sascha Pare published
NASA's Voyager 1 probe has resumed sending usable data back to Earth after engineers fixed a computer error that caused the interstellar spacecraft to only transmit gibberish for five months.
Space photo of the week: Bizarre 'Helix Galaxy' is unlike any other in the universe. Can you see why?
By Jamie Carter published
The Helix Galaxy is a rare "polar ring" galaxy found near the Big Dipper. Its odd shape and history set it apart from every other galaxy we know of.
Car-size asteroid discovered 2 days ago flies by Earth at 1/30th the distance of the moon
By Josh Dinner published
A newly discovered asteroid got within 12,000 miles of Earth on a harrowing, ultra-close approach today. The space rock won't return for 70 years.
NASA spacecraft snaps mysterious 'surfboard' orbiting the moon. What is it?
By Jennifer Nalewicki published
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter photographed a mysterious, surfboard-shaped object orbiting the moon. Here's what it really was.
Solar eclipse 2024: 8 things to watch for during totality
By Jamie Carter last updated
From "diamond rings" to Baily's beads, here's what to look for today during the brief darkness within the path of totality.
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