June skygazing highlights: Strawberry Moon, summertime planet parade

June is the start of meteorological summer, which is a great time to be outside for some stargazing. Here are some celestial events to give you a reason to look up.

NASA has a new game plan for Hubble Space Telescope to resume science observations

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope stopped collecting science at the end of May after part of its directional system returned faulty data. Teams will begin transitioning to use only one out of three gyroscopes, reducing the telescope's efficiency.

Rare juvenile T. rex fossil unearthed by 3 boys, now on display at Denver museum

A juvenile T. rex fossil, discovered by a group of children during a hike near Marmarth, North Dakota, is now on display at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

1st annual space piracy conference aims to combat space crime and smuggling

The First Annual Space Piracy Conference, scheduled for early next year by the Center for the Study of Space Crime, Policy, and Governance (CSCPG), will gather experts to address growing concerns of space crime and smuggling, discussing risks and solutions from various perspectives.

'Planet parade' time: Guide to the 6-planet alignment in June

Skywatchers are in for a treat on June 3, 2024, when a rare alignment of six planets will be visible in the pre-dawn sky.

Boeing Starliner launch scrubbed minutes before takeoff

Boeing’s Starliner capsule launch was scrubbed minutes before it was scheduled to take off from Cape Canaveral.

Northern lights forecast for NY, NJ, CT: Will aurora borealis be visible Friday and Saturday?

Another solar storm hitting Earth this weekend could produce northern lights in parts of the United States. But will the glow of the aurora borealis be visible in the tri-state area?

SpaceX says it's ready for Starship's fourth test flight from Texas

If the FAA grants SpaceX its modified launch license, the company said it could attempt the fourth test flight of Starship and the Super Heavy booster as soon as June 5 from its launch site in Boca Chica, Texas.

Family infected with parasitic worms from undercooked black bear meat, CDC reports

Several family members, including some from Minnesota, were infected with parasitic worm larvae after sharing a meal with black bear meat, a recent report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says.

Moon will 'kiss' Saturn on May 31 and other summer sky events to watch

On May 31, sky lovers can witness a stunning celestial event as the Moon will appear to "kiss" Saturn in the southeastern sky just before dawn, offering a rare and captivating visual spectacle for amateur astronomers and stargazers, with several other noteworthy celestial events occurring this year.

NASA assessing when Boeing's Starliner could be ready to launch with astronauts

Boeing continues to troubleshoot a new issue with its Starliner spacecraft before the company tries again to launch two NASA astronauts to the International Space Station. 

‘Planet Parade’ 2024: watch guide for 6 planets aligned on June 3

On June 3, 2024, skywatchers can witness a rare "planet parade" of six planets—Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—aligning in the pre-dawn sky, visible near the eastern horizon about 20 minutes before sunrise.