Latest news and features from theguardian.com, the world's leading liberal voice
Asteroid 2023 BU about to pass Earth in one of closest ever encountersNo danger, says Nasa, from delivery truck-sized asteroid that was discovered on Saturday and will pass lower than communication satellites
01/26/23
Nasa to test nuclear rockets that could fly astronauts to Mars in record timeProject, in concert with US government agency Darpa, aims to develop pioneering propulsion system for space travel
01/24/23
Space dust from 4.2bn-year-old asteroid could hold key to preventing cataclysmic collisions with EarthRubble pile asteroid is almost as old as the solar system, a sign that it can withstand great shocks and may be difficult to destroy, study finds
01/24/23
As a girl, I was thrilled by the night sky. Must my son grow up without seeing the Milky Way? | Rhiannon Lucy CosslettI love the idea of my boy and his dad peering through a telescope together. But what will light pollution leave for them to look at?
01/24/23
Exotic green comet not seen since stone age returns to skies above EarthComet C/2022 E3, which orbits the sun every 50,000 years, will be closest to us next Wednesday and Thursday
01/23/23
Starwatch: Mercury up before the sun – but only in the southern hemisphereNorthern latitudes will have to wait until March and April for better view of the inner planet
01/23/23
Dark energy ‘chameleon trap’ wins £100,000 prize for Nottingham scientistIngeniously simple lab experiment led by Prof Clare Burrage recognised by Blavatnik awards
01/22/23
Dark energy ‘chameleon trap’ wins £100,000 prize for Nottingham scientistIngeniously simple lab experiment led by Prof Clare Burrage recognised by Blavatnik awards
01/22/23
Over the moon! Buzz Aldrin marries ‘long-time love’ on his 93rd birthdaySecond man to walk on the moon says he and his new wife are ‘as excited as eloping teenagers’
01/21/23
Light pollution rapidly reducing number of stars visible to naked eye, study findsResearch suggests if trend continues, view of Orion’s belt will disappear due to glow from artificial lighting
01/19/23
Starwatch: Venus outshines Saturn in twilight conjunctionPlanetary pairing will be visible to naked eye from across the globe
01/16/23
‘Wings like cracked eggshells’: Richard Branson faces turbulence over safety of space flightsInvestors are pursuing legal action against Virgin Galactic, claiming the company’s two spacecraft were not designed for regular space travel
01/14/23
I watched as LauncherOne aborted its mission – it reminded me of an important truth about failure | Maggie Aderin-PocockAs a space scientist, I was disappointed on Monday night. But advances in science come from learning, not giving up
01/13/23
US government logs more than 500 UFO reports with hundreds unexplainedAlthough many are attributed to drones or balloons, others point to the spying capabilities of rival nations
01/12/23
Attack from space would trigger collective defence, say US and Japan, amid China fearsAntony Blinken says China is ‘greatest shared strategic challenge’ in the region as US backs Japan’s biggest military build-up since second world war
01/12/23
Image of star cluster more than 10bn years ago sheds light on early stages of universeJames Webb space telescope brings insight into birth of stars at ‘cosmic noon’ with image of NGC 346 cluster
01/11/23
Russia to launch mission to rescue stranded ISS crew after meteoroid strikeSpace agency mounts rescue mission to bring home two cosmonauts and US astronaut marooned on ISS
01/11/23
UK space launch: does failure spell end of Britain’s ambitions?Five key questions answered after first Cornish space mission ended in failure
01/11/23
Wednesday briefing: Does failure to launch spell the end of the UK’s space ambitions?In today’s newsletter: The first rocket mission from the UK didn’t reach orbit, but industry leaders explain why the burgeoning field is ready for liftoff – and what comes next
01/11/23
Meteor reported blazing across sky in parts of UKVideo footage shows fireball which was sighted in areas including London and Wolverhampton