SPoW 02 15 19 Gallery
01The long and Martian road: In August 2010, the Opportunity rover looked back and took a photo of its tracks in the Red Planet’s sand. This image features the lovely ripples of small dunes created by the wind, similar to the ones we have here on Earth. Opportunity took many epic shots like this as it cruised around Mars for 15 years. [Now it’s lost to us](https://www.wired.com/story/rip-opportunity-rover/).
What the Heck? Another Perfect Geometric Shape Has Been Detected on Saturn
The discovery adds to the planet’s history of strange atmospheric phenomena that scientists don’t fully understand.
Jorge Garay
The Diamond Moon and Other Astronomical Events to See in September 2026
September is full of opportunities to expand your knowledge of the night sky. Mark your calendars.
Jorge Garay
How to See the Partial Lunar Eclipse and Blood Moon on August 27
The eclipse will obscure about 93 percent of the moon’s surface. Here are the peak times and tips for the best viewing experience.
Jorge Garay
Japan Is Launching a Probe to Collect the First-Ever Samples From a Martian Moon
The mission to Phobos, Japan’s first Mars probe launch in 28 years, may reveal new information about our closest planetary neighbor.
Ritsuko Kawai
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Has a Hidden Technological Leap
Astronomers will test equipment that, if it’s successful, will one day be crucial for discovering Earthlike planets.
Meghan Bartels
A Satellite Falling Out of Orbit Embarks on Its Final Mission
Before reentering our atmosphere, the telescopes onboard NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory have been restarted to take their last observations.
Teruyuki Hayakawa
Astronomers Have Completed the Largest Map of Space. Yes, You Can Play With It
The intricate, 5.6 trillion-pixel map covers approximately 75 percent of the sky and includes about 4 billion celestial objects.
Ritsuko Kawai
The Galaxy’s Fastest Star Could Reveal the Secrets of a Supermassive Black Hole
S301 passes close to Sagittarius A*—so close that its orbit could reveal how the black hole’s rotation warps the spacetime around it.
Jorge Garay
The Range Rover Electric Has Finally Arrived
After long delays, JLR’s biggest gamble with its Range Rover brand is here with huge performance, range, and off-road EV skills. It’s mighty pricey, but the US gets a cheaper model.
Jeremy White
With a Better Understanding of Physics, We Could Predict Volcanic Eruptions
“There’s no reason we can’t think that, at some point in the future, we can have volcano forecasts that are like weather forecasts.”
Robin George Andrews
Congratulations! You Just Lived Through the Hottest Month Ever Recorded
While the strengthening El Niño helped boost temperatures, climate change is the main culprit for making August so hot.
Molly Taft
How Rising Temperatures Likely Contributed to Nepal’s Deadly Flood
Climate change is causing glaciers to retreat and become less stable, upping the odds of catastrophic collapses.
Molly Taft



