Space News Mission Log — Satellite Launches, Orbital Events & Analysis
Daily space news, satellite launch reports, orbital debris analysis and weekly roundups — grounded in live tracking data from our network monitoring 9 published reports.
Earthly Expanse Around Rubin: Where Sky Meets Science
A northwest view from Rubin Observatory’s dome reveals the Chilean Andes—and the terrestrial infrastructure that helps turn clear skies into astronomical discoveries.
Silent Mirror of the Atacama: SEST's Legacy
The Swedish-ESO Submillimetre Telescope, once a pioneer in submillimetre astronomy, now reflects the starry skies of Chile's Atacama Desert.
Stars on demand: four lasers sharpen a black hole’s view
Four yellow streaks above ESO’s Very Large Telescope are artificial stars, created to correct atmospheric blur and sharpen observations of a distant galaxy’s active centre.
Dark clouds and a starry night reveal the Milky Way’s heart
The Milky Way’s centre emerges between telescopes at La Silla Observatory, where glowing hydrogen and dark dust reveal contrasting faces of stellar nurseries.
Rubin’s First Photons: Inside the April 2025 Milestone
Rubin Observatory’s first photons arrived on 15 April 2025. This control-room photograph captures the human response to a milestone decades in the making.
Tracing the Stars: A Glimpse from Paranal
Star trails captured above Paranal Observatory reveal Earth's rotation, with arcs centred at the south celestial pole.
Celestial Duet: Milky Way and Zodiacal Light Over Atacama
The Atacama Desert offers a stunning view of the Milky Way and zodiacal light, revealing insights into cosmic dust origins.
Unveiling the Hamster Wheel Nebula: A Cosmic Enigma
The Hamster Wheel Nebula, or Longmore 8, showcases a dying star's remnants with intricate hydrogen and oxygen structures, highlighting advances in astronomical imaging.
Comet R3 PanSTARRS: A Celestial Farewell
Witness the departure of Comet R3 PanSTARRS from the inner Solar System, a rare event captured in stunning detail.