12. This sculpture by Bruno Catalano portrays the profound emptiness experienced by migrants as they depart from their homeland—leaving their loved ones and their community behind—in pursuit of a better life.

The ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission to Mercury has experienced a technical issue that is preventing its thrusters from operating at full power.

Top spaceflight experts from ESA and its partners are working the problem, but the long-term impact on the mission is uncertain.

Details:

IF G4-G5 storm happens Sunday night, this could be best chance for DC area to the see the northern lights as there will be less cloud cover. Stay tuned!!!

I’m so happy for you, Bill!

Yes! Thank you all for sharing w those is us stuck under clouds

If you have clear skies this weekend, please look up at night. There’s a once-in-twenty-years solar storm hitting the Earth. People seeing the Northern lights down to the Carolinas.

DC has thick clouds, le sigh

As an astronomer, I’m usually at peace with the reality of cloudy nights. But this is a night that has me yelling at clouds

Extreme (G5) geomagnetic conditions have been observed!

Aha! Monisha’s article captures something that’s been rattling in my brain:

Science isn’t just about the numbers, or what’s “out there” in space — it’s about our shared humanity and capacity for wonder. Yeah.

NASA Science took a big hit in FY24, and it's great to see that there are so many advocates within Congress who are willing to elevate NASA Science for FY25!

Even in a runaway train looming fiscal nightmare, the United States can afford vastly more investment in NASA Science - it's a many-fold societal+technological ROI. Thank you to signatories for supporting a strong NASA SMD approps in '25. planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/pdfs/Ch…

Fantastic news — congratulations to Marcia!

Marcia Rieke awarded the Gruber Cosmology Prize 'recognis[ing] her “lasting impact on our understanding of the Universe,” in particular through her role as Principal Investigator on a key instrument aboard the JWST' **YES** 👏🤜🤛🙌
iau.org/news/pressrele…

The floor is lava! 🔥

Webb may have detected atmospheric gasses around molten 55 Cancri e, 41 light years from Earth. It’s the best evidence to date for a rocky planet with an atmosphere outside our solar system! go.nasa.gov/3UAG4F8

Thank you, Senator Van Hollen! It’s an honor to represent the amazing Webb team.

Dr. Jane Rigby is a groundbreaking astrophysicist in charge of the most powerful telescope ever launched into space. Her work embodies the American spirit of adventure and wonder.

My notes from when the President cold-called me two weeks ago, to offer me the Presidential Medal of Freedom. (Scribbled on the back of a paper draft).

You too, Ellen? I woke up Saturday and thought I’d dreamed it. Then took a long walk along the creek and let it all settle in my brain

Yesterday, Dr. Jane Rigby and Dr. Ellen Ochoa received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from the The White House for their work to broaden our horizons of discovery, both on Earth and beyond our home planet: go.nasa.gov/3UInjRA