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Happy World UFO Day, space fans!
On this UFO day, we still don't have evidence of life beyond Earth (sorry), but we do have some exciting space news. First and foremost, this morning, after a few delays, we expected to see NASA launch a rescue mission to keep its SWIFT space telescope from falling to Earth by the end of the year. The mission is set to launch aboard a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket (its last flight), which will take off mid-air from a Stargazer airplane. However, after Stargazer took off with the rocket mounted below it, an issue with the launch vehicle prevented liftoff from taking place. Teams are assessing Pegasus as they plan for a new launch date.
And just in time for the July 4 weekend, we are expecting nature's fireworks, auroras, in the night sky following 10 consecutive solar flares in just 24 hours. Check out our story below to see if you might be able to see a natural light show in the sky this weekend. Speaking of July 4, we are taking a look back 250 years ago to see what the moon, the night sky, astronomy, and space exploration looked like in 1776.
Check out what's big in space below:
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Multiple CMEs are heading toward Earth, with G1-G2 geomagnetic storm conditions possible as the holiday weekend begins.
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NASA joined in the semiquincentennial celebrations this year by painting "America 250" on the rocket that launched the Artemis 2 astronauts around the moon.
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The moon over America's first Independence Day was about 31 feet closer to Earth than it is today. Here's how colonists used it as a clock, calendar and streetlight — and what astronomers knew about it.
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Astronomers have discovered a curious new exoplanet that challenges assumptions about hot Jupiters, some of the most extreme planets in the universe.
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Just in time for UFO Day.
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From "Independence Day" to "Invasion of the Body Snatchers", movies and TV shows are packed with advice for anyone aspiring to conquer this unassuming blue dot.
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That's it for our space update today!
How will you be celebrating World UFO day? You could take some time to peruse Space.com and read about what we've learned so far in the search for life, or even take a walk down memory lane with some of your favorite alien movies. We will keep you in the loop as we learn more about NASA's rescue mission to save the SWIFT observatory. This morning wasn't perfect, but we will keep our fingers crossed for a new launch date soon so we can see the Pegasus XL take its final flight.
Now in the vortex of July 4 weekend and the 250th anniversary of the United States, we will also continue to share insights into how our relationship with space has evolved over these two and a half centuries. The moon was closer, telescopes were simpler, but one thing has remained the same: we love space. Always have, and always will.
Ad astra, per aspera
Chelsea Gohd
Content Manager, Space.com
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