Science

Saturn reached opposition on October 4, 2026, offering skywatchers a chance to observe the ringed planet throughout the night. Its rings may appear brighter around opposition due to the Seeliger effect, while telescopes can reveal the planet's changing ring orientation and several of its moons

Scientists have detected unusual radio bursts from exoplanet 'Beta Pictoris b', about 63 light-years away, providing evidence of auroral activity and a powerful magnetic field. The findings could offer new insights into magnetic fields on planets beyond our Solar System.

ISRO has rejected speculation that it will be privatised or its role reduced, saying it will remain central to India's space programme. The agency said private firms will scale mature technologies while ISRO focuses on advanced R&D, strategic missions and next-generation space capabilities.

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has detected a mysterious 10-sided atmospheric wave around Saturn's south pole. The evolving feature resembles the planet's northern hexagon and could reveal new insights into the atmospheric dynamics of gas giants.

ISRO has successfully launched EOS-05 aboard the GSLV-F17, placing the 2,367-kg Earth observation satellite into its intended orbit. Designed to operate from geosynchronous orbit, EOS-05 will provide frequent imagery to support agriculture, disaster management, and environmental monitoring

NASA has launched the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope to investigate dark matter and dark energy, study distant galaxies and black holes, and search for potentially habitable exoplanets. The observatory is expected to discover up to 100,000 new worlds while creating vast maps of the universe.

A lunar eclipse on August 27-28 will turn much of the Moon reddish-orange, with around 96% of its surface covered at maximum. The event will be visible across parts of the Americas, Europe and Africa, but 'not from India', where it occurs during daytime.

Astronomers have discovered a mysterious "black hole star" in the early universe using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. The object, surrounded by dense gas, could offer new clues about how supermassive black holes formed and evolved.

The Perseid meteor shower reached its 2026 peak on the night of August 12 and early hours of August 13, with the New Moon creating ideal dark-sky conditions for observers across India and the Northern Hemisphere.

The August 12, 2026 total solar eclipse will darken skies across Greenland, Iceland and Spain, with totality lasting up to 2 minutes and 18 seconds. The rare event will be visible partially across parts of Europe, Africa and North America, but not from India.

A discarded SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stage is believed to have crashed into the Moon at nearly 8,700 km/h, creating a new crater. NASA said the impact posed no risk to Earth and will help scientists study artificial lunar impacts and improve space debris tracking.

NASA's Curiosity rover has discovered a vast field of honeycomb-like polygon patterns in Mars' Valle Grande valley. The unusual formations, captured in a 360-degree panorama, may provide new clues about the planet's ancient water activity, climate changes, and potential habitability.

Astronomers have confirmed that Betelgeuse is part of a binary system after directly imaging its hidden companion with ESO's Very Large Telescope. The discovery ends a century-long search and could reshape scientists' understanding of the red supergiant's evolution and eventual supernova.

NASA-ISRO's NISAR satellite captured a radar image of Antarctica resembling a giant hummingbird. NASA says the shape is a natural illusion that showcases NISAR's advanced capabilities for studying glaciers, climate change and Earth's surface.

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has revealed how a supermassive black hole feeds and confirmed the hidden exoplanet Beta Pictoris d, offering new insights into black hole growth and exoplanet discovery.