SCIENCE

For the first time in 25 years, NASA cut short an International Space Station mission, bringing four astronauts home a month early after a crew member developed a serious but stable medical condition in orbit.

NASA is sending Crew-11 home from the International Space Station several weeks early after an astronaut developed a medical problem. The agency has not identified the crew member but says the condition is stable and not caused by ISS operations.

The first full moon of 2026, known as the Wolf supermoon, will reach its peak brilliance at 10:03 GMT on January 3rd, bringing stargazers a striking celestial show with Jupiter and Orion alongside it. It's the last supermoon until November 2026.

NASA confirms interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS displays never-before-seen wobbling jets, anti-tail formations, and a cohesive structure, challenging current comet theories and remaining observable until spring 2026.

Rare interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is flying past Earth overnight, Dec. 18–19, 2025, coming within 168 million miles—its closest approach. Although not visible to the naked eye, the comet impresses astronomers with a glowing blue-green tail and a massive X-ray halo.

On December 12, 2025, the Moon transitions from its last quarter phase in Virgo to a waning crescent, with just 50% illumination. Astronomers and skywatchers alike now look ahead to the next major event: the Wolf Moon, January 3, 2026.

The last supermoon of the year—and the final chance until 2042—will dazzle the skies on December 4, 2025, appearing brightest at 6:14 p.m. EST.

December 2025 and early 2026 are packed with astronomical highlights, including a supermoon on December 24, Jupiter shining brightest at opposition on January 10, and rare planetary alignments.

NASA’s Perseverance rover has spotted a shiny, metal-rich rock on Mars, potentially its first meteorite find. The 80 cm object, called “Phippsaksla,” contains high iron and nickel levels, matching meteorites formed deep in ancient asteroids.

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket booster landed successfully at sea, making the Jeff Bezos-led company the only one besides SpaceX to pull off this challenging reusable rocket maneuver.