The $53 million, 25,000-square-foot FDRF, built by BL Harbert International, is the first wind tunnel added to NASA鈥檚 wind tunnel assets in 40 years. The project was started in June 2022, with construction completed in March 2026.

Over the next few months, the facility will undergo more data collection and certifications before it can begin actual wind tunnel test runs. The first flight test run will involve NASA鈥檚 experimental and revolutionary .

Langley was , established in 1917, with the purpose of studying aeronautics, or aircraft flight. It may surprise you, but NASA, or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, has been central to the development and testing of America鈥檚 military and civilian aircraft, helicopters and now drones.

One of the main focal points of Langley, working under the auspices of the (NACA), NASA鈥檚 predecessor in the 1920s, was determining aircraft spin mode profiles, how an aircraft goes into a spin and how can the pilot recover as a result. The hit movie “Top Gun” showed Maverick and Goose going into a flat spin from which they could not recover and had to eject.

Langley, at its inception and for the future with the FDRF, has been central to aircraft and spacecraft development and testing. For decades, Langley utilized its 鈥� the 20-foot vertical spin tunnel and the 12-foot low-speed tunnel. In her speech given to a large audience, , director of the Langley Research Center, said that components from these historic wind tunnels are incorporated into the new wind tunnel.

If it flies in the atmosphere or enters the atmosphere of Earth or the planets and moons of the Solar system with atmospheres, it gets tested at Langley. The latest solar system mission spacecraft getting tested at Langley is headed to the planet Venus and is called .

One of the highlights in touring the FDRF and visiting the Virginia Air and Space Museum, which is , was seeing parts of these historic tunnels and the models of aircraft and spacecraft tested by them. I saw wind tunnel blades, biplanes, World War II aircraft and just about every aircraft flown in the U.S. military and commercial fleet.

I also saw precision scale models of the crewed spacecraft of , , and now , which is a key component of , all having been tested at Langley. The testing of Orion also included the , which clears the Orion spacecraft from the (SLS) rocket in case of an emergency.

In fact, a model of the Orion spacecraft equipped with a parachute, got 鈥渢ested鈥� by at the FDRF. The 鈥渢est鈥� was successful as the parachute fully deployed and was eventually retrieved by a fancy fishing net. He also personally greeted the new .

During his speech, , of Virginia, highlighted the impact NASA Langley has had on inspiring .

In 黑料不打烊鈥檚 continuing reporting on NASA Artemis, NASA Langley has been quite active in supporting , just as it did for .

To get more information on Artemis support at Langley, Mr. Jeremy T. Pinier, , did work on the , which was canceled in 2011. In that same year, the SLS program began to take shape and eventually a reality.

He explained that the data provided by 200 sensors on the led to significant changes to the SLS for Artemis II that helped smooth the airflow and ride.

Having watched the entire eight-minute liftoff video for Artemis II, which included views from the SLS, I commented how amazingly smooth the SLS looked on the entire ascent. Pinier pointed out the 鈥渨hite strakes鈥� I saw in the video really smoothed out the ride for Artemis II.

He commented that data acquisition from future SLS launches and resulting testing at Langley will contribute significantly to Artemis.听

In closing, looking at the FDRF harkens one to imagine it is from a 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� movie set and that the 鈥淢illennium Falcon鈥� should be there at the top of the futuristic 130-foot tall structure.听

One thing is for sure: FDRF and Langley will be at the forefront of America鈥檚 future aeronautic and spacecraft frontiers.

Follow听Greg Redfern鈥檚听 to keep up with the latest news in astronomy and space exploration.

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Let鈥檚 get to the skies for August 2026!

Must-see sky sights for August

Partial eclipses of the sun and moon will take place this month.

The summer constellations and the Milky Way galaxy are visible after dark, spanning the sky from the northeast to the southeast and getting higher until morning twilight. August is peak Milky Way viewing in the Northern Hemisphere, as our galaxy is visible in the sky right after dark and through the night.

Star of the month

In August we will experience an 鈥溾�� with the moon and sun as the 鈥渟tars鈥� of the month due to their partial eclipses that will be widely visible in the D.C. region.

Also, the 鈥渇alling stars鈥� of the Perseid meteor shower at its peak take center stage this month. Details are below.

Highlights of the month

Aug. 7: A slim lunar crescent moon accompanies the Pleiades in the east before dawn. Worthy of taking a picture with your smartphone or digital camera using zoom.

Aug. 9: In the eastern sky before dawn, look for reddish Mars and the thin crescent moon side by side. Worthy of taking a picture with your smartphone or digital camera using zoom.

Aug. 10: Remember our star of the month in October, Algol? It is worth looking at it going to minimum brightness for two hours centered at 2:23 a.m., and then getting brighter. See the other dates this month below. Try taking a picture with your camera or smartphone, or maybe even a video.

Aug. 11: See Mercury and a razor-thin lunar crescent above the eastern horizon before dawn. You will need a clear horizon view and binoculars to help see the pair. Try taking a picture with your smartphone or digital camera using zoom.

Aug. 12: A will be widely visible in the D.C. region starting at 1:17 p.m. and ending at 2:27 p.m. In the D.C. region, this partial solar eclipse will only obscure about 1% of the sun.

In parts of Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, the Atlantic Ocean, Spain and a small corner of Portugal, NASA said eclipse viewers will experience a . Visit the on Aug. 12 for the agency’s eclipse coverage.

Eye safety first

You must adhere to the following solar eclipse viewing to prevent and damage to your smartphone or camera.

If you plan on wearing or using a for your camera, smartphone or other optical aid, you need to ensure that you purchase them from a reputable supplier.

In 2017 and 2024, there were solar filter and viewer products that did not meet the strict ISO standard and .

For those planning on photographing the eclipse, . If you want to use your smartphone, I highly recommend using the . I beta tested it and it worked like a charm.

Aug. 12 and 13: On this night, the peak of the Perseid meteor shower takes place and will not be hampered by the new moon, which will have eclipsed the sun earlier. This should be an excellent .

Aug. 12: Algol again at 11:12 p.m.

Aug. 15: Before dawn and very low on the eastern horizon, Jupiter and Mercury form a very close pair. Mercury will be slightly to the left of Jupiter. You will need a clear horizon, and likely binoculars, to see this striking sight. In a low-magnification telescope, you might get both planets.

Aug. 15: Venus is in the west after sunset, accompanied by the crescent moon. Worthy of taking a picture with your smartphone or digital camera using zoom.

Aug. 20: A bright waxing gibbous moon and the star Antares are close together in the south after dark.

Aug. 27 and 28: In the D.C. region, the full sturgeon moon undergoes a deep partial lunar eclipse that starts Aug. 27 at 9:23 p.m. and ends Aug. 28 at 3:01 a.m. You can get eclipse information for your exact location by entering your city.

Tips for photographing the eclipse using your smartphone , while camera tips .

You can see the eclipse from essentially anywhere, but it is best to be away from bright lights. When the moon is deep in the Earth鈥檚 shadow, the stars become visible and it’s a sight to see the suspended copper-colored moon in a sea of stars.

Aug. 30: Algol again at 4:06 a.m.

The moon

Aug. 6: Last quarter

Aug. 12: New moon (partial solar eclipse)

Aug. 20: First quarter

Aug. 28: Full sturgeon moon (deep partial lunar eclipse)

Planets

Mercury is low in the east before dawn.

Venus is in the west after sunset.

Mars is in the east before dawn.

Jupiter is coming out of the glare of the sun in the east before dawn.

Saturn is in the sky from late evening to dawn.

Uranus is in the western sky after dark. You need a telescope to best observe the planet, although it is visible in binoculars.

Neptune is in the western sky after dark. You need a telescope to observe the planet.

Pluto is way out there in the solar system and requires taking images through a telescope spaced days apart to hunt it down.

D.C.-area events

• Join me at听听for my听听presentations.听for other sky events. Rangers also host night sky programs, so check it out when you visit the park.
• , George Mason University. Check the calendar for astronomy events.
• has resumed observatory operations. Check the link regarding Friday night public viewing sessions at Turner Farm in Great Falls, Virginia. Check their calendar for other astronomy activities in August.
• The in D.C and Chantilly has loads of astronomy stuff in August.
• Check out the new attraction at the Smithsonian Air & Space in D.C.:听. Read more about it in this听黑料不打烊 story.
• You can check听and听 for astronomy clubs that are outside the D.C. region.
• The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope mission is scheduled to launch from the agency鈥檚 Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Aug. 30. NASA .

Bonus section!

Smartphone photographers: This is a must-have for .

Use this useful tool to for your location to help you find your way around the stars. While you are at it, check out these very .

And if you want to plan ahead for 2026 sky events, here鈥檚 a nifty听听to help.

You can also send in any space-related questions to my 听Suggestions about this feature are also welcome.

Follow Greg Redfern on his听听to keep up with the latest news in astronomy and space exploration.

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Last month鈥檚 full strawberry moon showed impressive color as it rose and we may get a repeat this month.

The full buck moon starts to rise at around 9 p.m. in the southeast on Wednesday. Go to to get a more precise time for your location as you really want to see the moon just as it ascends from the horizon.

With the heat and humidity the D.C. region is currently experiencing, I predict that it will be an impressively colored moonrise that will occur deep yellowish, orange or reddish. Try to find a clear view of the horizon or a favorite landmark to watch the moon rise 鈥� I don鈥檛 think you will be disappointed! Take a picture too!

Escape the heat this summer by visiting and enjoying a variety of , including some by yours truly. In fact, I will be at Big Meadows Lodge on Wednesday night at 9 p.m. followed by some stargazing, if it is clear.

The rangers at the park also conduct astronomy related events, so check their schedule once you are at the park.

If you want to stay cooler, see dark skies and the Milky Way, Shenandoah National Park is the place to be.

Oh, and be sure to be on the lookout for the Aug. 1 edition of 鈥淓yes to the Skies鈥� on 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Space Place as it is going to be a very busy month of sky happenings.

Follow Greg Redfern on his听听to keep up with the latest news in astronomy and space exploration.

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Each month 黑料不打烊鈥檚 鈥淓yes to the Skies鈥� feature previews the best the sky has to offer stargazers regarding the moon, planets and stars. Space-related events that might interest you taking place in the D.C. region will be included as well.

Let鈥檚 get to the skies for July 2026!

Must-see sky sights for July

Venus dominates the west after sunset all month.

The are visible after dark spanning the sky from the northeast to the southeast getting higher until morning twilight.

Star of the month

In July be on the lookout for two stars that are the eyes of Draco, the . They are just to the upper left of our May star, Vega. All three are easy to spot in the northeast sky after it gets dark.

Highlights of the month

July 1: As July starts turn your attention to the west at dusk. Brilliant Venus dominates the sky scene. To the lower right of Venus, Jupiter is fast approaching the glare of the sun which Mercury has already done. Watch each night as they change their positions in the sky. The planets orbit the sun which causes their motion in the sky. It is fascinating to watch. Take astropics with your smartphone and/or digital camera to record these changing sky positions.

July 1: Remember our star of the month in October, Algol? It is worth looking at it going to minimum brightness for two hours centered at 10:57 p.m. and then getting brighter. See the other dates this month below. Try taking a smartphone/camera pic or maybe even a video.

July 4: In the eastern sky before the dawn look for reddish Mars. The planet Uranus and Mars will be very close to one another. Use binoculars to zero in on Mars and then look for Uranus as a 鈥済reenish-colored star that doesn鈥檛 twinkle鈥� just above Mars. You might be able to image the planetary pair with zoom mode on your smartphone or camera. Definitely worth a try. A telescope will give a fine view of the pair.

July 6: Earth is farthest from the sun, or aphelion, for 2026, 152,087,774 km, at 1 p.m.

July 17: The crescent waxing moon, the star Regulus and Venus will share the western sky as it gets dark. Worthy of taking an astropic with your smartphone using zoom and/or digital camera

July 18: Algol again at 3:51 a.m.

July 24: A bright waxing gibbous moon and the star Antares are close together in the south after dark.

July 29: The full buck moon occurs at 10:35 a.m. Get the particulars for your location by using this .

July 30-31: The will be severely hampered by the bright moon.

The moon

July 7: Last quarter

July 14: New moon

July 21: First quarter

July 29: Full buck moon

Planets

Mercury is in the glare of the sun

Venus is very bright in the west.

Mars is in the east before dawn.

Jupiter is in the glare of the sun

Saturn rises in the east around midnight.

is in the western sky after dark. You need a telescope to best observe the planet although it is visible in binoculars.

is in the western sky after dark. You need a telescope to observe the plan-et.

is way out there in the solar system and requires taking images through a tele-scope spaced days apart to hunt it down.

D.C.-area events

• Join me at for my presentations. for other sky events. Rangers also host night sky programs so check it out when you visit the park.
• , George Mason University, July 14, 4 p.m. Check the calendar for astronomy events.
• has resumed observatory operations. Check the link regarding Friday night public viewing sessions at Turner Farm in Great Falls, Virginia. Check their calendar for other astronomy activities in July.
• in D.C and Chantilly has loads of astronomy stuff in July.
• Check out the new attraction at the Smithsonian Air & Space in D.C.: . Read more about it in this 黑料不打烊 story.
• You can check and for astronomy clubs that are outside the DMV.

Bonus section!

Use this useful tool to create a for your location to help you find your way around the stars. While you are at it, check out the very useful .

And if you want to plan ahead for 2026 sky events, here鈥檚 a nifty to help.

You can also send in any space related questions to my Suggestions about this feature are also welcome.

Follow Greg Redfern on his to keep up with the latest news in astronomy and space exploration.

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This year鈥檚 Asteroid Day has worldwide and online. Even Google is recognizing the event 鈥� you can see how when you search 鈥淎steroid Day.鈥�

June 30 is a significant date in the history of Earth impacts. On that date in 1908, the 鈥溾�� occurred over Tunguska, Russia. A stony (not icy) body between 165 and 260 feet in diameter entered the atmosphere at around 33,500 mph, creating a 4-megaton explosion, about 3 to 6 miles above the ground, more than 250 times more powerful than the atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima, according to earthsky.org.

devastated 830 square miles, and 80 million trees were flattened, according to NASA. This is the largest event with such impact in modern history and is why Asteroid Day is observed every year on June 30 as a reminder to the world that planetary defense against asteroids and comets matters.

The Chelyabinsk impact event in 2013 was historic because of the number of injuries and damage it caused to buildings 鈥� the most ever recorded from an asteroid or meteorite event. It was also the most documented asteroid explosion and meteorite fall ever with the number of videos, sound recordings, photographs, witness interviews and the recovery process of meteorites.

Chelyabinsk also improved our knowledge of smaller than a kilometer. These smaller asteroids like Chelyabinsk may be a greater hazard for damage than previously thought. In December 2018, an event with 40% of the energy release of Chelyabinsk took place over , as reported by BBC, reaffirming that such events happen more often than we would like.

Efforts by the , , the and the continue to improve the detection of asteroids and develop a defensive capability.

Advances in planetary defense

There have been some recent highlights in planetary defense that have significantly improved Earth’s ability to detect and deflect an asteroid.

The Vera Rubin Observatory is now operational and capable of discovering millions of new asteroids. During its inaugural 鈥�First Look鈥� last summer, 2,104 new asteroids were .

The James Webb Space Telescope has made discoveries about our and .

Citizen scientists recently using data from the Hubble Space Telescope.

NASA established a .

Interagency exercises, including held in Maryland, are testing real world scenarios and responses regularly.

, approved in 2021, that is designed specifically for finding asteroids 鈥� especially those near the sun and difficult to spot by telescopes 鈥� like Chelyabinsk.听 Principal Investigator Dr. Amy Mainzer told 黑料不打烊 last June, “We鈥檙e excited to ramp up work on the spacecraft bus starting this fall in preparation for launch in September 2027.鈥�

successfully changed the orbit of an asteroid in September 2022.

The European Space Agency’s is scheduled to arrive at the DART target system in November, where it will study the results of humanity’s first asteroid-deflection test.

According to the space agency’s website, 鈥淎s part of the world鈥檚 first test of asteroid deflection, Hera will perform a detailed post-impact survey of the target asteroid, Dimorphos 鈥� the orbiting moonlet of a binary asteroid system known as Dimorphos. Now that NASA鈥檚 DART mission has impacted the moonlet, Hera will turn the grand-scale experiment into a well-understood and repeatable planetary defense technique.鈥�

A worldwide community of citizen astronomers, working with the , are also participating in planetary defense by making real time observations using telescopes made by . Anyone with a telescope can participate as well.

One final thought:

鈥淭he dinosaurs are dead because they didn鈥檛 have telescopes or a space program.鈥�

I use this phrase of mine to remind audiences why planetary defense is important. The dinosaurs disappeared after about 66 million years ago.

The cosmic clock is ticking.

If we need a reminder, we got one just last weekend when a large asteroid passed by earth.

Asteroid Day 鈥� become part of the movement.

Follow听Greg Redfern鈥檚听 to keep up with the latest news in astronomy and space exploration.

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The first full moon of summer, , will take place on Monday, June 29, at 7:56 p.m. EDT. The full strawberry moon will mark the moon鈥檚 .

Watch the moon rise in the Southeast at sunset Monday, as it might be an impressively colored moonrise 鈥� deep orange and/or reddish. Also enjoy the 听while the moon is near the horizon.

Try to find a clear view of the horizon and/or a favorite landmark to watch the moon rise. I don鈥檛 think you will be disappointed. You should take a photo too.

As the night progresses, the moon will be at its highest at midnight in the South and low in the Southwest as it is setting around sunrise.

You will also notice a bright reddish colored star to the upper right of the moon. That is the red giant star Antares 鈥� also known as the .

Monday鈥檚 weather looks good for a summer night.

Enjoy the beauty of the full strawberry moon.

Follow听Greg Redfern鈥檚听 to keep up with the latest news in astronomy and space exploration.

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The dream was part of a three-part plan that was finally fulfilled as was unveiled in a launch configuration during a well-attended press conference at the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center.

Today also marked the completion of a decades-long quest by me to photograph all remaining space shuttles:

• Endeavour
• Atlantis 鈥� , Florida, displayed in an orbit configuration
• Discovery 鈥� , Chantilly, Virginia, displayed in a wheels stopped configuration
• Enterprise 鈥� , New York City, New York, static display; used for Space Shuttle unpowered flight tests to prove ability to maneuver and land
• Independence 鈥� , Houston, Texas; full-scale mock-up attached to the 747 Space Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.

The last time I saw Endeavour was when she was launched on Jan. 22, 1998, at night to the . What an unforgettable sight and experience that was.

With $410 million raised out of a goal of $450 million, CSC is putting the final touches on the newest expansion that will include over 100 hands-on exhibits related to the Space Shuttle era.

According to , the California Science Center announced that the public will be able to see the new exhibit on Nov. 13, 2026.

They added that 鈥渢he Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center will be the only place in the world to see a complete, authentic space shuttle system, displayed in a 20-story launch position. This transformative 200,000-square-foot expansion of the California Science Center will nearly double its exhibit space, showcasing a diverse collection of 100 artifacts, including rare and historic aerospace objects, as well as 100 new hands-on exhibits, featuring interactive experiences focused on science and engineering.鈥�

This is a truly amazing story that started in 2012 when Endeavour flew to LA on the back of NASA鈥檚 747. A Toyota Tundra truck, on display in the CSC parking lot, towed Endeavour through the tight squeeze of city streets to its new home.

She remained on static display until, as explained in the release, 鈥淚n early 2024, Space Shuttle Endeavour was lifted into its full stack vertical configuration at 185 feet tall, mated to real solid rocket boosters and ET-94, the last remaining flight-qualified external tank, and installed in its permanent home in the Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery, at the conclusion of a six-month process known as 鈥淕o for Stack.鈥�

The stack had to be assembled first and was wrapped in a weatherproof covering while the building surrounding it was constructed. This is the only stacking of a space shuttle ever conducted outside of a NASA facility. I can tell you from my experience it is a breathtaking display.

If you ever get to LA 鈥� or any of the other space shuttle displays 鈥� you owe it to yourself to see these remarkable exhibitions. I know I am looking forward to seeing CSC鈥檚 completed project.

Follow听Greg Redfern鈥檚听听to keep up with the latest news in astronomy and space exploration.

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Viewing the event with no optical aid or smartphone/camera to assist would be difficult.

states that, 鈥淭he occultation will be visible from Washington, D.C. It will begin with the disappearance of Venus behind the moon at 3:48 EDT, in daylight. Its reappearance will be visible at 5:13 EDT, in daylight. Extreme caution is necessary when pointing binoculars or telescopes at the sky when the Sun is above the horizon, as even a momentary glance at the Sun through such an instrument can cause permanent blindness.鈥�

You can get times for other locations on the group’s website.

The sun will be to the west of the moon and Venus, so you must ensure you do not view that section of the sky. You will get a better, and safer, view if you can observe the occultation with the sun blocked from view by a tree or building. Read more viewing safety tips on.

Around 3:15 pm. the moon will be just to the left (east) of due south and roughly seven held at arm鈥檚 length above the southern horizon.

This rare occultation event is worthy of taking an astropic with your smartphone using zoom, or through a digital camera with a telephoto lens and a telescope.

If you do not have binoculars or a telescope, use a low zoom setting to try and locate the moon by slowly sweeping the described section of the sky. The moon will be visible as a crescent in a blue sky and bright Venus will be to the lower left of the moon.

A telescope would work best for close up pics but using zoom/telephoto will work, especially using a tripod or bracing yourself against a building or car to steady your camera. Take multiple pics of the disappearance and reappearance.

If you have a clear view of the western horizon at dusk on Wednesday, look for the slim crescent moon just to the upper left of Venus. Use Venus as a guide to find the moon. Look for on the moon. This is also worthy of taking an astropic with your smartphone and/or digital camera.

Check out the other D.C.-area sky and earth-bound events for June on 黑料不打烊.

Here鈥檚 to clear skies!

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And while you are outside, look north.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Space 黑料不打烊 Prediction Center Update on a G3 Watch for Thursday and Friday:

鈥淭he current forecast calls for combined CME arrival around mid-afternoon EDT of June 4, with up to G3 levels possible afterwards. CME passage would likely continue into the evening and possibly overnight hours of June 5,” the statement reads, referencing , abbreviated CME.

If the forecasts hold 鈥� readers need to keep checking the NOAA website for updates 鈥� aurora conditions for the D.C. area might, emphasizing 鈥渕ight鈥� here, develop Thursday night. I鈥檓 providing this forecast to you because of the unique circumstances involved, which are a story in their own right, as well as the possibility of aurora.

What makes this forecast rather intriguing is explained by :

鈥淪ky watchers in Europe and North America might see auroras tonight (June 4-5) if, as expected, a strikes Earth. The impact could spark strong (G3) with isolated periods of severe (G4) activity. During similar storms in the past, naked-eye auroras have been visible in more than 25 US states.鈥�

What’s a cannibal CME exactly? Spaceweather.com described it as “a听CME that eats other CMEs.”

According to space news website, on Wednesday, “sunspot 4455 exploded several times and hurled multiple CMEs into space. One of the CMEs was so fast, it caught a slower CME and swallowed it.鈥�

The cannibal coronal mass ejection is set to reach Earth late Thursday or Friday.

鈥淭his is good news for sky watchers because Cannibal CMEs are very good at producing geomagnetic storms and auroras,” according to spaceweather.com.

The geomagnetic storm that produced stunning displays of northern lights across the Northern Hemisphere in May 2024 was in part caused by a cannibal CME, according to spaceweather.com. Thursday night’s storm isn’t expected to be as strong.

It will be worth taking a look to the north Thursday night, after dark until dawn, from a dark sky site with a clear horizon. You might be able to visually detect some color in the sky if bright aurora are present, but they will likely be low on the northern horizon.

Your camera and/or smartphone significantly improve your chances of detecting and imaging the aurora due to their digital sensors. Even if you do not see aurora, photograph the northern horizon to possibly get an image of them.

Use a camera or smartphone that can take exposures of several seconds 鈥� including using 鈥淣ight Sky鈥� or 鈥淟ow Light鈥� settings if your camera has them 鈥� of the Northern horizon. Steady the camera or use a tripod for best image results. The that your eyes did not.

Our weather is looking promising so our best bet is to monitor for sky conditions, NOAA and space-related websites such as , , for aurora viewing updates. There also are aurora apps available as well to help you; I use Aurora Pro and Glendale App.

Good luck, aurora chasers.

Follow听Greg Redfern鈥檚听听to keep up with the latest news in astronomy and space exploration.

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Each month 黑料不打烊鈥檚 鈥淓yes to the Skies鈥� feature previews the best the sky has to offer stargazers regarding the moon, planets and stars. Space-related events that might interest you taking place in the D.C. region will be included as well.

Let鈥檚 get to the skies for June 2026!

Must-see sky sights for June

Venus and Jupiter dominate the west after sunset all month, as they move toward and then away from each other.

The moon will occult, or cover, Venus in the daytime.

Summer solstice

The Summer Constellations and are visible after dark, spanning the sky from the northeast to the southeast getting higher until morning twilight.

Star of the month

In June, be on the lookout for . It marks the corner of the 鈥淪ummer Triangle鈥� when it appears above the horizon about 10 p.m. EDT.

Highlights of the month

June 1: As June starts, turn your attention to the west at dusk. Brilliant Venus and dimmer 鈥� but still very bright 鈥� Jupiter dominate the sky scene. Keeping them company to the lower right and above the horizon is Mercury. Watch each night as they change their positions in the sky. The planets orbit the Sun, which causes their motion in the sky. It is fascinating to watch! Take astropics with your smartphone or digital camera to record these changing sky positions.

June 5: Remember our star of the month in October, Algol? It is worth looking at it going to minimum brightness for two hours centered at 3:37 a.m. EDT, and then getting brighter. See the other dates this month below. Try taking a smartphone/camera photo or maybe even a video.

June 7: At dusk in the west, Jupiter and Venus are very close to one another and the two bright stars to their right are Pollux and Castor. Worthy of taking an astropic with your smartphone and/or digital camera!

June 8: Algol again at 12:25 a.m. EDT.

June 9: At dusk in the west, Jupiter and Venus are at their closest to one another. Worthy of taking an astropic with your smartphone and/or digital camera.

June 10: Algol again at 11:14 p.m. EDT.

June 16: If you have a clear view of the western horizon at dusk, look for a very slim crescent moon between lower Mercury and higher Jupiter. Use Jupiter as a guide to find the moon. Look for on the moon. Worthy of taking an astropic with your smartphone and/or digital camera!

June 17: The moon will occult Venus during daylight hours. states that, 鈥淭he occultation will be visible from Washington. It will begin with the disappearance of Venus behind the Moon at (2:45 EDT), though in daylight. Its reappearance will be visible at (4 p.m. EDT), though in daylight. Extreme caution is necessary when pointing binoculars or telescopes at the sky when the Sun is above the horizon, as even a momentary glance at the Sun through such an instrument can cause permanent blindness.”

The sun will be to the west of the moon and Venus, meaning you must ensure you do not view that section of the sky.

This occultation is worthy of taking an astropic with your smartphone using zoom and/or a digital camera with a telephoto lens. A telescope would work best. Take pics of the disappearance and reappearance.

June 17: If you have a clear view of the western horizon at dusk, look for a slim crescent moon just to the upper left of Venus. Use Venus as a guide to find the moon. Look for Earthshine on the moon. Worthy of taking an astropic with your smartphone and/or digital camera.

June 20: If you have a clear view of the western horizon at dusk, Venus, Jupiter and Mercury will be visible. You will want an astropic with your smartphone and/or digital camera of this beautiful lineup.

June 21: occurs at 4:25 a.m. EDT and marks the longest daylight of the year and start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.

June 25: If you have a clear view of the western horizon at dusk, lower Mercury and higher Jupiter are close together. You will want an astropic with your smartphone and/or digital camera of this lineup.

June 25: Algol again at 5:19 a.m. EDT.

June 27: Almost full moon and the star Antares are visible in the Southeast after dark.

June 28: Algol again at 12:08 a.m. EDT.

June 29: The full strawberry moon occurs at 7:57 p.m. EDT. Get the particulars for your location by .

The moon

June 8: Last quarter

June 14: New moon

June 21: First quarter

June 29: Full strawberry moon

Planets

Mercury is in the west at dusk at the start of June.

Venus is very bright in the west.

Mars is in the east before dawn.

Jupiter is visible after dark and bright in the west.

Saturn rises in the east around 2 a.m.

Uranus is in the western sky after dark. You need a telescope to best observe the planet, although it is visible in binoculars.

Neptune is in the western sky after dark. You need a telescope to observe the planet.

Pluto is way out there in the solar system and requires taking images through a telescope, spaced days apart to hunt it down.

D.C.-area events

Join me at Shenandoah National Park for my presentations. Check for other sky events. Rangers also host night sky programs so check it out when you visit the Park.

• NOVAC online meeting, George Mason University on June 14 at 4 p.m. Check for astronomy events.
• The has resumed observatory operations. Check the link regarding Friday night public viewing sessions at Turner Farm in Great Falls, Virginia. Check their calendar for other astronomy activities in June.
• has loads of astronomy stuff in June.
• You can check and for astronomy clubs outside the D.C. region.

Bonus section!

Use this useful tool to for your location to help you find your way around the stars. While you are at it, check out these .

And if you want to plan ahead for 2026 sky events, here鈥檚 .

You can also send in any space-related questions to my email address. Suggestions about this feature are also welcome.

Follow听Greg Redfern’s听 to keep up with the latest news in astronomy and space exploration.

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Each month 黑料不打烊鈥檚 鈥淓yes to the Skies鈥� feature previews the best the sky has to offer stargazers regarding the moon, planets and stars. Space-related events that might interest you taking place in the D.C. region will be included as well.

Let鈥檚 get to the skies for May 2026!

Must-see sky sights for May

Venus dominates the west after sunset all month.

The moon will be very near some planets and stars.

The summer constellations and the are visible after midnight, spanning the sky from the northeast to the southeast getting higher until morning twilight.

A blue moon month.

Star of the month

In May, be on the lookout for . It marks the onset of summer constellations when it appears above the horizon about 10 p.m.

Highlights of the month

May 1: The full flower moon occurs at 10:12 p.m. Get the particulars for your location by

May 4: Almost full moon and the star Antares rise very close together in the southeast after midnight.

May 5: The peak takes place in the predawn hours but the bright moon really diminishes the shower. Maybe 10 meteors an hour.

May 13: Remember our star of the month in October, Algol? It is worth looking at it going to minimum brightness for two hours centered at 4:05 a.m., and then getting brighter. Try taking a smartphone/camera pic or maybe even a video. See the other dates this month below.

May 16: Algol again at 1:54 a.m.

May 18: If you have a clear view of the western horizon at dusk, look for a very slim crescent moon just to the right of Venus. Use Venus as a guide to find the moon. Definitely worth taking an astropic with your smartphone and/or digital camera.

May 18: Algol again at 9:43 p.m.

May 20: If you have a clear view of the western horizon at dusk, the crescent moon will be just above Jupiter. Venus will be below the pair. You will want an astropic with your smartphone and/or digital camera of this beautiful lineup.

May 23: Moon and Regulus are very close together after dark. They draw closer together until moonset.

May 31: The is the second full moon of the month and the smallest full moon for 2026. It will rise very close to the star Antares in the southeast after midnight.

The moon

May 1: Full flower moon

May 9: Last quarter

May 16: New moon

May 23: First quarter

May 31: Full blue moon

Planets

Mercury is in the west at dusk starting to be visible May 22.

Venus is bright in the west.

Mars is low in the east before dawn early in the month.

Jupiter is visible after dark and bright, high in the west.

Saturn is low in the east before dawn early in the month.

is in the western sky after dark. You need a telescope to best observe the planet, although it is visible in binoculars.

is in the western sky after dark. You need a telescope to observe the planet.

is way out there in the solar system and requires taking images through a telescope spaced days apart to hunt it down.

D.C.-area events

• NOVAC General Meeting, George Mason University. Check for astronomy events.
• The has resumed observatory operations. Check the link regarding Friday night public viewing sessions at Turner Farm in Great Falls, Virginia. Check their calendar for other astronomy activities in May.
• has loads of astronomy stuff in May.
• You can check and for astronomy clubs outside the D.C. region.

Bonus section!

Use this useful tool to for your location to help you find your way around the stars. While you are at it, check out these .

And if you want to plan ahead for 2026 sky events, here鈥檚 .

You can also send in any space related questions to my email address. Suggestions about this feature are also welcome.

Follow听Greg Redfern’s听 to keep up with the latest news in astronomy and space exploration.

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The Lyrid meteor shower is underway, with its peak expected on the night of April 21-22.

With the moon out of the sky and the peak centered on 4 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, April 22, observers in dark locations could see 15 to 20 meteors 鈥� falling stars 鈥� an hour from midnight through dawn early Wednesday. A second good viewing opportunity follows Wednesday night.

Each year around this time, Earth passes through a stream of debris left behind by Comet Thatcher. As our planet moves through the cloud of cometary dust, particles hit our atmosphere and burn up, creating what we see as shooting or falling stars.

Traveling at about 108,000 mph, these comet fragments hit the atmosphere around 80 miles above Earth, heating the air to a white-hot glow.

The parent comet won鈥檛 come our way again until around the year 2283!

No special equipment is needed to enjoy the show 鈥� just find a dark location where you can lie down in a lounge chair or on a blanket to see the sky. Starting around midnight, face northeast and look for the constellation , which begins low on the horizon and rises higher as the night goes on.

The bright star Vega, located in Lyra, is to the left and near the area of the sky where the Lyrids appear to come from.听Called the radiant, a meteor that is part of the shower can be traced back to Lyra. Sporadic meteors that are not part of the shower can be seen during the night as well.

Lyrids can appear anywhere in the sky but looking straight up offers the widest viewing area 鈥� this is where the lounge chair or blanket come in handy.

City dwellers may still spot the brightest Lyrids as long as they avoid streetlights and tall buildings. If you can鈥檛 make it to a good viewing site or if it is cloudy, you can still observe the meteor shower by a very novel and cool way.

As I write this I am listening to meteor radar 鈥� yes, radar that scans for incoming meteors, along with satellites and space debris.

It is a fascinating way 鈥� just heard one! 鈥� to monitor a meteor shower like the Lyrids. Essentially the louder a ping is, the brighter the meteor is in the sky.

You can listen during the day and night and when cloudy 鈥� which is forecast in the hours before dawn Wednesday 鈥� by listening at .

Enjoy the meteor shower with family, friends or your significant other. Some food and beverages can add to the experience. Be sure to have extra clothing, as nighttime temperatures can drop.

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The Roman telescope was originally called the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) in February 2016.

NASA it was 鈥渘aming its next-generation space telescope currently under development, the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST), in honor of Nancy Grace Roman, NASA鈥檚 first chief astronomer, who paved the way for space telescopes focused on the broader universe.”

Roman is considered the 鈥渕other鈥� of NASA鈥檚 Hubble Space Telescope, which launched into space with the

Delivered to Goddard in November 2024, the Optical Telescope Assembly, which includes a 7.9-foot (2.4-meter) primary mirror, nine additional mirrors and supporting structures and electronics, was designed and built by L3Harris Technologies in Rochester, New York.

鈥淭he assembly incorporates key optics (including the primary mirror) that were made available to NASA by the National Reconnaissance Office. The team at L3Harris then reshaped the mirror and built upon the inherited hardware to ensure it would meet Roman鈥檚 specifications for expansive, sensitive infrared observations,” NASA

I had the opportunity to visit Goddard Space Flight Center in early January and spoke with Jamie Dunn, the Roman Telescope project manager, as well as seeing the telescope in the huge clean room.

Dunn said the telescope was in the final stages of testing and 100% complete. Testing will be finishing up and NASA plans to ship the Roman to Kennedy Space Center in Florida this summer.

The Roman will be launched from Kennedy Space Center using a In a news release, NASA indicated the launch of the Roman 鈥渋s planned as early as this fall.鈥�

Dunn said his biggest challenge since he joined the Roman team in 2018 was keeping the project on track during the COVID-19 pandemic. Challenges abounded as the virus took hold and caused personnel and logistical issues everywhere. Nonetheless, he and his team were able to keep working throughout the crisis.

At its 2023 peak, the construction of the Roman Space Telescope involved a thousand GSFC personnel with hundreds more contractors and personnel from the

Goddard built the optical telescope element of the James Webb Space Telescope, and by doing so acquired invaluable experience that was applied to the Roman Space Telescope. Dunn described the Goddard testing of the Roman Space Telescope as very similar to that of JWST.

I asked Dunn how many 鈥渟ingle points of failure鈥� 鈥� an event which if not successfully completed would lead to complete mission failure 鈥� the Roman Space Telescope has compared to JWST鈥檚 300-plus. He explained that Roman is far less complicated than JWST, as Roman Space Telescope doesn鈥檛 have to 鈥渦nfold,” has no and is far smaller. As a result the number is 鈥渓ess than a dozen.”

In researching the Roman Space Telescope, I discovered that it is designed to be refueled robotically.

Dunn said that the nominal lifetime requirement of Roman is five to 10 years and robotic refueling was built into the telescope.

He said that Goddard will be the location of the Roman Space Telescope鈥檚 Mission Operations Center and that the telescope will have a MOM 鈥� or Mission Operations Manager. Dunn said the Roman Space Telescope鈥檚 team was conducting training to prepare for the telescope鈥檚 mission.

In my briefing, it was explained that the Roman Space Telescope and JWST will overlap one another, with the new telescope supplementing JWST.

JWST has a very small field of view of the universe compared to the Roman Space Telescope. With its wide field of view, the Roman Space Telescope can image large sections of the sky and find new potential objects for Webb to observe. It is this large wide field of view and advanced imaging capability that makes the Roman Space Telescope so exciting.

The telescope will conduct that 鈥渁re designed to investigate some of the most profound mysteries in astrophysics while enabling expansive cosmic exploration that will revolutionize our understanding of the universe.鈥�

Whenever astronomers have a new ground or space-based telescope, new instruments or new theories, we always advance in our knowledge of the universe. The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope would make its namesake, the first chief astronomer of NASA, very excited and proud.

Oh, the wonders we will see 鈥� and 黑料不打烊 will keep you up to date.

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A , C/2025 R3, is now visible low in the eastern sky before dawn. The comet appears in the constellation Pegasus, , and is slowly gaining brightness as it approaches its closest point to the sun.

This week is the best and only opportunity to see the comet from the D.C. region and much of the Northern Hemisphere. After that, it will be lost in the sun鈥檚 glare before heading back out of view.

See more details .

Grab your camera, smartphone, binoculars or telescope and look east before sunrise. This brief celestial visitor will not be around for long.

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Artemis astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen are on board. They鈥檒l hurtle several thousand miles beyond the moon, hang a U-turn and then come straight back. The mission is set to last less than 10 days.

黑料不打烊 covered the first portion of the itinerary here. More excitement is in store in the later days of the mission.

After about a four-day voyage, the crew will review the lunar flyby imaging plan on Day 5. That will be done in two shifts, with two astronauts looking out Orion鈥檚 windows with cameras and writing what they see in their personal computers.

In the first hour of Day 6, the crew will make its closest approach to the moon, and minutes later will reach its maximum distance from Earth.

Here is how NASA .

After the TLI burn that sent Orion on its path to the Moon, the lunar science team began building a Lunar Targeting Plan, a guide to what the crew will look at on the Moon鈥檚 surface during its approximately six-hour observation on Monday, April 6.

The targeting plan will include documenting features that can help scientists understand how the Moon and solar system formed, such as craters, ancient lava flows, and cracks and ridges created as the Moon鈥檚 outer layer slowly shifted over time.

One feature that will be added to the plan is a solar eclipse, which will last for nearly an hour toward the end of the flyby window. During the eclipse, the Sun will be hidden from view as it moves behind the Moon from the perspective of Orion. The crew will see a mostly dark Moon at this time 鈥� an opportunity for them to look for flashes of light from meteoroids striking the Moon鈥檚 surface, dust lofting above the edge of the Moon, and deep space targets, including planets. While the Sun slides behind the Moon, the crew will observe the solar corona, the Sun鈥檚 outermost atmosphere, while it鈥檚 visible.

The astronauts, using safe sun viewing glasses, will also witness an eclipse of the sun and see the solar corona.

Artemis mission project scientist Noah Petro is very familiar with the moon, as he was the project leader for , which has been absolutely .

Petro said Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter images of the moon were used to make a movie simulating what the astronauts would see through the windows of Orion and help in their lunar science training. They also conducted classroom sessions and field geology training in Iceland (parts of that country really do look like the moon).

“A human eyeball connected to a trained brain is a very powerful combination,” Petro told 黑料不打烊.

He said the time of the launch determines precisely what the Artemis II crew will see on the far side of the moon. The hope is that they will be able to see an almost fully illuminated far side disk, including areas that have never been seen by human eyes, since Artemis II will fly a different profile than the Apollo astronauts did.

The crew will also get a glimpse of the moon鈥檚 South Pole 鈥� a prized area for human exploration.

One big difference between the Apollo and Artemis missions, which is a huge advantage for exploring and imaging the moon, is the altitude above the lunar surface.

Petro said Artemis II is 4,000-6,000 miles above the moon, compared with the 60-70 mile altitude of Apollo. That height allows for a wide, global assessment of lunar features.

The moon will appear as big as a basketball held at arm鈥檚 length through the windows of the the Orion spacecraft. There will be two separate shifts during the approximately four-hour flyby; one crew member will image the moon and the other will document observations.

Petro described the mission as a 鈥渓unar linchpin.” It will bring the legacy of Apollo and the promise of Artemis together. That is a very powerful combination.

Stay tuned to 黑料不打烊 for ongoing coverage of Artemis II.

GO ARTEMIS II!

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