Blue Origin explosion update: Less damage than expected

Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp gave an update on June 1, 2026, about the explosion that occurred during launch of its New Glenn mega-rocket in Florida.

The constellation Norma is home to the Great Attractor

The constellation Norma lies in southern skies and is home to the Great Attractor, the Norma cluster and other deep-sky objects.

Rare meteorite hints at giant early planet

A rare meteorite contains evidence of a lost early protoplanet, offering a glimpse into the chaotic collisions that shaped our solar system.

Magnetic exoplanets? Strange winds are strongest hint yet

Astronomers have found the strongest hint yet of magnetic exoplanets, thanks to new measurements of strange winds on distant worlds.

Crystal Ball Nebula hides a fading star and its companion

The Crystal Ball Nebula is a giant sphere of gas and dust encircling a pair of stars in the direction of the constellation Taurus the Bull.

Big and Little Dippers in the northern sky on June evenings

The Big and Little Dippers are June sky favorites, with the Big Dipper’s Pointer stars leading the way to Polaris and the Little Dipper.

The black hole or galaxy: Which came 1st?

QSO1 is an ancient Little Red Dot galaxy from the early universe. It contains a supermassive black hole. Which came first, the black hole or galaxy?

June birthstone: Pearl, moonstone or alexandrite

June babies ... it is time to choose your June birthstone: pearl, moonstone or alexandrite. All of them are lovely choices.

Elephant calf reunion melts hearts in Kenya

An elephant calf reunion in Kenya melted hearts recently. The lost baby answered her aunt’s call and her family rushed in to welcome her home.

Sun activity archive for June 2026

Sun activity archive for June 2026. A daily record of flaring, big filaments and prominences, and other sorts of activity, on our local star.