SPACE

Cassini captured this sublime image of Saturn four days before it plunged into the planet's atmosphere.

Inside the Mission to Intentionally Destroy the Cassini Spacecraft

You probably saw the headlines. Here's the inside look—and the big picture.

Look Up! 3 Celestial Events to Watch This October

You could see spectacular meteor showers and an extra-bright Uranus.

The Northern Lights Won’t Be This Bright Again Until 2025

If you want to catch the phenomenon, this is the time to do it.

NASA, Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

Here's How to Watch NASA's Livestream Spacewalk Series

Today marks the first of three spacewalks the agency will air in October.

How Fast Do Astronauts Move While Spacewalking?

A lot of it depends on the tethers that keep them from floating away entirely.

Artist Plans to Launch a Giant Sculpture Into Orbit

Trevor Paglen's sculptural satellite will spend two months in low-Earth orbit before burning up in the atmosphere.

SpaceX's Landing Blooper Reel Shows That Even Rocket Scientists Make Mistakes

They're not explosions, they're "rapid unscheduled disassemblies."

Here's Where You Can Watch a Livestream of Cassini's Final Moments

The orbiter is about to send its last transmission after 20 years of exploration.

What Are the Northern Lights?

Lucky stargazers in America have gotten the chance to see them from their own backyards lately—and may be able to again this week.

Could Aliens Ever Spot Earth?

It all depends on which exoplanet they're on.

This portrait looking down on Saturn and its rings was created from images obtained by NASA's Cassini spacecraft on October 10, 2013.

9 Essential Facts About Saturn

On September 15, scientists will intentionally crash the Cassini spacecraft into Saturn. Mental Floss will be there in mission control as it happens. Here are some essential facts about Saturn to get you ready for the big event.

Still Got Those Eclipse Glasses? Put Them Back On to See Huge Sunspots

The sun is currently showing some impressive spots, so dig up those eclipse glasses and look up.

Who Owns the Land on Mars?

"Finders keepers" doesn't work here.

Is Your Town in the Path of the Next Total Solar Eclipse?

The 2017 solar eclipse was notable because of the wide swath of U.S. territory that got to witness totality. The rare event will happen again—but not for a while.