China starts push to Moon with first test of Long March-10

China starts push to Moon with first test of Long March-10

Special to CosmicTribune.com, February 19, 2026 Geostrategy-Direct By Richard Fisher On Feb. 11, 2026 China began its push to the Moon, testing an early version of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) Long March-10 space launch vehicle (SLV) that is expected to take Chinese astronauts to the Moon in 2029 or 2030. This […]

The sky, Feb. 15-20: Dark sky for the clusters and planets

The sky, Feb. 15-20: Dark sky for the clusters and planets

Special to CosmicTribune.com, February 16, 2026 Excerpts from weekly Astronomy.com report. Sunday, February 15 The Moon passes 0.9° north of Pluto at 10 A.M. EST. This evening, Saturn passes 0.9° south of Neptune at 11 P.M. EST. The two planets stand together in Pisces, located in the west after sunset. An hour after the Sun goes […]

Mars? Yes, but Elon Musk now prioritizes the Moon

Mars? Yes, but Elon Musk now prioritizes the Moon

Special to CosmicTribune.com, February 12, 2026 Geostrategy-Direct By Richard Fisher For over a decade SpaceX founder and leader Elon Musk has placed an emphatic corporate priority on developing the means — spaceships and associated habitation technology — to build permanent human settlements on Mars. As the 4-astronaut Artemis-II circumlunar mission prepares for its 10-day journey […]

The sky, Feb. 8-13: Jupiter and its transiting moons

The sky, Feb. 8-13: Jupiter and its transiting moons

Special to CosmicTribune.com, February 9, 2026 Excerpts from weekly Astronomy.com report. Sunday, February 8 Last night, Ganymede passed behind Jupiter in an occultation. Tonight, the smaller moon Europa passes in front of Jupiter in a transit, bringing with it its dark shadow, visible on the cloud tops. The transit begins shortly before 10 P.M. EST, with […]

In battle for the heavens Trump-Musk are in lead, but China’s vision is long-term

In battle for the heavens Trump-Musk are in lead, but China’s vision is long-term

Special to CosmicTribune.com, February 5, 2026 Geostrategy-Direct By Richard Fisher As the Trump Administration maneuvers to block the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) quest for hegemony on Earth — attacking its proxies Iran and Venezuela while arming Taiwan — in January 2026 is its becoming clear that the United States and China are also locked in […]

The sky, Feb. 1-6: Full Snow Moon on Feb. 1

The sky, Feb. 1-6: Full Snow Moon on Feb. 1

Special to CosmicTribune.com, February 1, 2026 Excerpts from weekly Astronomy.com report. Sunday, February 1 Full Moon occurs at 5:09 P.M. EST, bringing the light of the February Snow Moon to our nighttime skies. This name may seem particularly apt, given the weather much of the U.S. has been experiencing as of late! The Snow Moon gains […]

Rocket Lab advances with low-cost, innovative ‘Neutron’ SLV

Rocket Lab advances with low-cost, innovative ‘Neutron’ SLV

Special to CosmicTribune.com, January 29, 2026 Geostrategy-Direct By Richard Fisher In the twenty years since its founding in June 2006, New Zealand-born space engineer and entrepreneur Sir Peter Beck has turned his Rocket Lab company into a world-class competitive and innovative space launch provider, meeting civil and military requirements for economical medium-lift capability. An American […]

The sky, Jan. 25-30: The Moon and Jupiter stand out on Jan. 30

The sky, Jan. 25-30: The Moon and Jupiter stand out on Jan. 30

Special to CosmicTribune.com, January 25, 2026 Excerpts from weekly Astronomy.com report. Sunday, January 25 The Moon reaches First Quarter phase at 11:47 P.M. EST this evening, showing off a face that appears halfway lit as sunrise creeps across the lunar nearside. The Moon is now located in Aries — fitting, given our telescopic target for tonight […]

China announces discovery of carbon nanotubes on 2024 mission to far side of Moon

China announces discovery of carbon nanotubes on 2024 mission to far side of Moon

Special to CosmicTribune.com, January 22, 2026 Geostrategy-Direct By Richard Fisher With the potential to greatly increase the utility and value of building a permanent presence on the Moon, on Jan. 20, 2026 Chinese state media lit up with the news that Chinese scientists had discovered naturally occurring carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in lunar regolith samples returned […]

The sky, Jan. 18-23: Bonanza of faint objects: Nebulae, star clusters, galaxies

The sky, Jan. 18-23: Bonanza of faint objects: Nebulae, star clusters, galaxies

Special to CosmicTribune.com, January 18, 2026 Excerpts from weekly Astronomy.com report. Sunday, January 18 New Moon occurs at 2:52 P.M. EST. The moonless sky this week is the perfect time to enjoy deep-sky observing; tonight our target is the open cluster NGC 7789. It is also called Caroline’s Rose for its discoverer, Caroline Herschel, who first […]