Magazine Posts

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

Did you need to be on the right side of this airplane to see this eclipse? No. Lunar eclipses are routinely seen from the half of the Earth facing the Moon when the eclipse occurs, making them some of the most commonly witnessed astronomical events. You don't even need any special equipment to see one -- just your unaided eyes. Lunar eclipses are also some of the most photographed astronomical events because, unlike with a solar eclipse, your eyes and camera do not have to look toward the bright Sun. However, considering the featured image taken last week from Portugal, if you were on the left side of that airplane during takeoff, you might have trouble seeing it -- at first. But even then, after takeoff, since lunar eclipses typically last for hours, you might soon be able to safely cross the aisle(s) to see it. Gallery: Lunar Eclipse of 2026 August APOD's main NASA site is moving: From apod.nasa.gov to science.nasa.gov/apod

The shipwreck of Cabo de Santa Maria in Boa Vista, Cape Verde as it appeared in December 2010. The Spanish cargo ship ran aground at Praia de Atalanta beach on this date in 1968.

Ximonic (Simo Räsänen), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. View source.

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

A new telescope has been launched into space to study the universe. The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (RST) has the same size main mirror as the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) but sees 100 times more sky during each snapshot. This is possible because when compared to HST, RST's main mirror is more curved, its secondary mirror is closer, and its main camera is larger. The result is that RST can inspect more of the sky more quickly, likely allowing, among other capabilities, the discovery of many more supernovas which tell us more about the expansion rate and composition of our universe, and many more planets orbiting other stars that tell us more about the possibilities for life elsewhere in the universe. RST will orbit the Sun, not the Earth, like the James Webb Space Telescope. The featured video shows Roman being launched yesterday from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. APOD's main NASA site is moving: From apod.nasa.gov to science.nasa.gov/apod

Watch NASA's Astronomy Video of the Day

Devonshire Lodge (Low-Martin House), Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Commissioned by the rum-runner Harry Low in 1927, the building was designed in the style of a Cotswold cottage and completed in 1928. It served as the home of Member of Parliament Paul Martin Sr. for almost three decades. It was designated under the Ontario Heritage Act in 2008.

Chris Woodrich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. View source.

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

If not the most grand, then this spiral galaxy is at least one of the most photogenic. An island universe of about 100 billion stars, 32 million light-years away toward the constellation Pisces, M74 presents a gorgeous face-on view. Classified as an Sc galaxy, the grand design of M74's graceful spiral arms are traced by bright blue star clusters and dark cosmic dust lanes. Constructed from archival images, this sharp composite is from the Hubble Space Telescope. Spanning about 30,000 light-years across the face of M74, it includes exposures recording emission from hydrogen atoms, highlighting the reddish glow of the galaxy's large star-forming regions. APOD's main NASA site is moving: From apod.nasa.gov to science.nasa.gov/apod

August 30, 2026 — World News At a Glance 

China–Nepal — Himalayan disaster approaches 800 deaths. Rescue operations are continuing after a glacier collapse triggered devastating floods and mudslides across the border region. Nearly 800 people have died, more than 3,000 remain missing, and tens of thousands have been affected.

Iran — Tehran appeals for greater regional unity as economic pressure grows. Iran's supreme leader urged Gulf and other Muslim governments to unite  their common adversaries, while the country continues struggling with sanctions, disrupted trade and the economic consequences of six months of war.

United States–Venezuela — New details emerge on major oil agreement. Venezuela says its energy agreement with the United States will run for 25 years and aims to increase Venezuelan crude production to 1.5 million barrels a day. President Trump says Venezuelan oil from the arrangement will also be used to replenish the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve. 

Global Economy — G20 confronts unusually difficult agenda. Finance ministers and central-bank leaders gathering in North Carolina face tensions over the Iran war, trade and tariffs, China's export-driven economy, rising government debt and instability in global bond markets.

Europe–United States — Central bankers increasingly concerned about financial cooperation. European monetary officials are expressing unease about unpredictability in U.S. economic policy, including recent American intervention in currency and government-bond markets and the long-term reliability of international financial arrangements.

Russia — Fuel restrictions extended after refinery disruptions. Moscow has extended its diesel-export ban through September as Ukrainian drone attacks and other disruptions strain Russian refining capacity and domestic fuel supplies. Russia is one of the world's largest diesel exporters.

Iceland — Voters reject reopening European Union membership talks. Icelanders have voted to remain outside the EU accession process, rejecting a proposal to reopen negotiations that were suspended more than a decade ago

Canada — GM plans major new investment despite U.S. tariff pressure. A tentative labor agreement calls for General Motors to invest about C$1.1 billion in Canadian manufacturing and add heavy-duty pickup production at an Ontario plant, providing a significant boost to an auto industry confronting U.S. tariffs.

South Korea — Major cabinet reshuffle puts new leadership over economic policy. President Lee Jae Myung has named veteran economic official Lee Hyoung-il as deputy prime minister and finance minister as South Korea navigates trade pressures and an uncertain global economy.

Science — NASA launches major new space observatory. The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has begun its journey into space. The flagship observatory is designed to investigate dark energy, dark matter, exoplanets and other fundamental questions about the universe.

Toco toucan (Ramphastos toco) in Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Giles Laurent, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. View source.