NASA

Rare noctilucent clouds are showing up in places they never used to, and scientists are trying to find out why.

Astronauts have left a lot more than footprints on the moon.

Golf balls, a word from the queen, and an X-rated drawing by Andy Warhol are just some of the items left behind by astronauts.

Can you guess which pieces of space junk American astronauts left on the Moon?

NASA’s iconic image of Pluto, showing its heart-like pattern, captured by the New Horizons flyby in 2015.

The dwarf planet sports steep mountains, smooth young surfaces, ice dunes, and a stunning blue atmosphere.

NASA officially prohibits alcohol aboard its missions, but that didn’t stop some American astronauts from enjoying a wee nip with their Russian colleagues.

Get ready to feel small: The sun is 99.8 percent of the mass of the solar system. Here are more colossal facts about our star.

Figure out which of these tasty treats have left Earth to become astronaut appetizers or meals.

America’s entry into the space Olympics.

On January 31, 1958, the United States became a space-faring nation with the Explorer-1 satellite.

Space shootouts are possible. The Soviets proved it.

John Denver really wanted to go to space.

The country music icon spent years trying to get higher than any musician had ever been.

The Milky Way over Monument Valley in Arizona.

The Milky Way is one of the biggest in the observable universe: Even if you traveled at the speed of light, it would take 100,000 years to go from one end of our home galaxy to the other.

In space, it isn’t just number one and done.

Coming up with a practical way of replicating the earthbound poop experience took many years, many engineers, and a whole lot of ingenuity.

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly watches a bunch of fresh carrots float in front of him on the International Space Station.

NASA scientists have figured out ways for astronauts to eat bread without leaving crumbs, shower without running water, and sleep without floating free from their beds.

Sick astronauts on a space mission can’t just pop down to Earth to see a doctor. Here’s how they deal with bumps, bruises, and worse.

The space agency helped out on a landmark criminal case in 1990.

Katherine Johnson at NASA's Langley Research Center, 1980.

Before she helped send the first astronauts to the moon, Katherine Johnson was a human “computer” working behind the scenes at NASA.

Astronauts face lots of challenges, including what to do with dirty underwear.

Tossing stinky socks in a washer isn’t really an option once you leave Earth.

The northern lights are an event to remember.

If the northern lights are on your bucket list, the 2026 to 2027 winter season will be exciting for you.

These processed images of Jupiter make the planet look like a painting.

Green space Japan set to test world's first wooden satellite | REUTERS

A type of wood commonly used to make Samurai sword sheaths may be the future of space exploration.

Scientists can now better understand how supermassive black holes and stars interact.

A scientific breakthrough in astrophysics demonstrates how stars and supermassive black holes interact.

The northern lights—caused by solar or geomagnetic storm—float over Tromsø, Norway.

Solar storms are one of the most extreme types of space weather, and big ones can cause electronic malfunctions, GPS breakdowns, and gorgeous northern lights.

Space has a starting point, but where it begins is still a topic of debate for experts.

Some experts believe the Kármán Line is the deciding factor, but others aren't in agreement about where the frontier of space really begins.

The James Webb Space Telescope has captured the sharpest images of the Horsehead Nebula ever taken.

NASA Wants Your Help Documenting Rare ‘Space Clouds’

7 Strange Things That Have Been Left On the Moon

Quiz: Was This Object Left on the Moon?

7 Surprising Facts About Pluto

Can Astronauts Get Drunk in Space?

7 Fascinating Facts About the Sun

Quiz: Can You Guess the Foods That Went to Space?

The Secret Cold War History of the Missile That Launched America’s First Satellite

What Happens If You Shoot a Gun in Space?

When John Denver Almost Went into Space

10 Astonishing Things You Should Know About the Milky Way

To Boldly Go: The Science Behind Pooping in Space

11 Daily Tasks That Are Hard to Do in Space (And How Astronauts Actually Do Them)

What Happens When an Astronaut Gets Sick in Space?

How NASA Helped Solve a Murder

10 Fascinating Facts About Katherine Johnson

Do Astronauts Do Laundry in Space?

Missed the Northern Lights This Year? Scientists Say They’re About to Get More Active

New Jupiter Images Paint a Detailed Picture of the Gas Giant

The First Wooden Satellite Is Headed To the International Space Station

See How Black Holes Shred Stars in This Groundbreaking Simulation

12 Stunning Facts About Solar Storms

Where Does Space Begin?

Horsehead Nebula Captured Like Never Before in New Images