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![an illustration of five galaxies aligned like a string of pearls](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2eSXQDKgYuy8iDT5cA23qT-320-80.jpg)
Rare string of 'cosmic pearls' dance together in the universe
By Robert Lea published
A rare group of aligned, star-birthing dwarf galaxies resemble a cosmic string of pearls.
![A Chinese Long March 5 rocket launches the China National Space Administration's Tianwen-1 Mars rover, lander and orbiter from Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on Hainan Island on July 23, 2020.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/g2zXqitnZ56eamjm7JTqkb-320-80.jpg)
China plans to build enormous solar array in space — and it could collect more energy in a year than 'all the oil on Earth'
By Ben Turner published
China has announced plans to build a giant solar power space station, which will be lifted into orbit piece by piece using the nation's brand-new heavy lift rockets.
![An illustration of a ringed planet](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aYd5cZPsnRzXcbkpGYUcUZ-320-80.jpg)
Earth's moon could've had Saturn-like rings, new study hints
By Deepa Jain published
A new study implies that in the past, moons in our solar system may have had rings just like planets do — deepening the mystery of why no ringed moons exist today.
![Mars as seen from NASA's Mars Global Surveyor Orbiter](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fqTcjZ9Y4Yvt8JhwdkKeEP-320-80.jpg)
How to watch the full Wolf Moon 'swallow' Mars in the sky tonight — no telescope required
By Gretchen Rundorff last updated
Tonight (Jan. 13), bright Mars will disappear behind the full Wolf Moon for several hours before reappearing on the other side. It's the only lunar occultation of Mars visible from the U.S. this year. Here's how to get the most out of it.
![a black and white flyby close-up of Mercury's cratered surface](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/S5je5WiyVF2J29C43jh4U4-320-80.jpg)
See Mercury's frigid north pole in extraordinary new images from the BepiColombo spacecraft
By Stephanie Pappas published
A joint Japanese-European mission to Mercury just made its sixth flyby of the planet, revealing stunning close-ups of the permanently shadowed craters at Mercury's north pole.
![Frozen sand dunes sit locked in place in Mars' northern hemisphere, stuck until the spring thaw melts their icy shells](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6fy6CzX8vqo8KdRJYXs8GG-320-80.jpg)
Giant 'kidney beans' spotted in Mars satellite images could point to signs of water and life
By Damien Pine published
A NASA satellite has spotted frozen "kidney beans" on Mars' sand dunes trapped in place until springtime. Photographing them can help us determine if there was ever enough water on Mars to sustain life.
![A photo of a spiral galaxy](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oXAxcp8ddMPDfreD5HgBNa-320-80.jpg)
Space photo of the week: The tilted spiral galaxy that took Hubble 23 years to capture
By Jamie Carter published
In this special Hubble image 23 years in the making, the sparkling spiral galaxy UGC 10043 reveals the secrets of its unusually big bulge.
![An illustration of an asteroid in space](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KcHcQQYSD2rnE3NGusNKGN-320-80.jpg)
Enormous, mountain-size asteroid will be visible from Earth this weekend in rare 'once in a decade' event
By Brandon Specktor published
The enormous near-Earth asteroid (887) Alinda has made its closest approach to our planet in decades, and it's about to peak in brightness in a rare once-in-a-decade event. Here's how to watch it live this weekend.
![A close up image of the sun's surface with added magnetic field lines](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7jayXJqMFEKziWvnBA8eMF-320-80.jpg)
X-class solar flares hit a new record in 2024 and could spike further this year — but the sun isn't entirely to blame, experts say
By Harry Baker published
There were significantly more X-class solar flares in 2024 than any other year for at least three decades. The arrival of solar maximum was a key reason for the spike, but other factors were also at play.
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