Mars rover captures western frontier & Mercury disappears behind sun - Space News (May 14, 2026)

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SpaceX cargo launch delayed weather - SpaceX scrubbed the CRS-34 Dragon cargo mission launch scheduled for May 13 due to unfavorable weather, pushing the next attempt to May 15 with approximately 6,500 pounds of supplies destined for the International Space Station. Solar activity triggers aurora forecasts - Solar activity continues at moderate levels with multiple M-class and C-class flares, with forecasters predicting possible G1 minor geomagnetic storms that could produce northern lights activity over the next few days. Pentagon releases UFO investigation files - The Pentagon released previously classified documents detailing investigations into unidentified aerial phenomena and UFO sightings, allowing the public to examine evidence while clarifying that most sightings are eventually explained as weather balloons or aircraft. Moon visible between Mars Saturn - Early morning skywatchers can observe a thin crescent moon positioned between reddish Mars and yellowish Saturn in the pre-dawn eastern sky, creating a rare planetary alignment visible from Earth. Episode Transcript Mars rover captures western frontier First up, that Mars rover selfie we mentioned. On March 11th, Perseverance took a composite image made from 61 separate photographs using a camera on its robotic arm. The images were just released to the public, and they show the rover at a location the science team calls Lac de Charmes. The striking part is the backdrop: you can see the western rim of Jezero Crater stretching into the distance. The rover was grinding into a rock to study its composition, and it captured itself mid-mission. This is Perseverance's sixth selfie since landing in 2021. What makes these images scientifically valuable is that each one helps NASA's team map new parts of Mars and plan future expeditions. Think of it as Google Maps for the Red Planet. Mercury disappears behind sun Now, if you step outside tonight just before sunrise, look to the pre-dawn eastern sky. You'll see something pretty special. A crescent moon is positioned right between the planet Mars on one side and Saturn on the other. Mars appears as a reddish point, while Saturn gleams in yellowish tones. It's the kind of alignment that happens occasionally but always catches the eye of skywatchers. The moon will be low on the horizon though, so you might need a clear view to spot it. SpaceX cargo launch delayed weather Speaking of planetary movement, Mercury just hit a significant milestone today. The planet is passing behind the sun, an event called superior conjunction. When this happens, Mercury becomes completely hidden in the sun's glare for several weeks. It's actually the transition point where Mercury moves from being a morning object in the sky to becoming an evening object. So if you've been spotting Mercury in the dawn sky recently, enjoy it while you can. Come back in a few weeks and you'll find it in the evening instead. Solar activity triggers aurora forecasts Now let's talk about what's happening with our sun. Solar activity has been ramping up over the past few days. We've seen multiple moderate-class solar flares, with the strongest reaching M5.8 in magnitude. These flares send waves of energy and charged particles toward Earth. The good news for aurora chasers is that forecasters are predicting possible minor geomagnetic storm conditions, which means there's a decent chance of northern lights in the coming days, particularly over high-latitude regions. If you live somewhere like Alaska, Canada, or Scandinavia, keep your eyes on the sky. Pentagon releases UFO investigation files The big spaceflight news of the day involves a postponed launch. SpaceX had planned to launch its Dragon cargo mission to the International Space Station yesterday evening from Cape Canaveral. The spacecraft is loaded with about 6,500 pounds of supplies, experiments, and equipment for the astronauts aboard the station. Unfortunately, weather conditions weren't cooperating. Clouds and rain forced the team to scrub the launch just 30 seconds before liftoff. The next launch window is Friday, May 15th at 6:05 in the evening Eastern time. Once it does launch, Dragon should reach the station on Thursday morning, though that timing will shift if the launch gets postponed again. Moon visible between Mars Saturn One last thing making headlines today. The Pentagon released a batch of documents related to investigations into unidentified aerial phenomena and UFO sightings. The files contain photos and videos showing unusual flying objects. While some sightings remain unexplained, government officials have clarified that the vast majority are eventually attributed to weather balloons, aircraft, mirages, or meteors. The releases have certainly captured public attention though, and officials say more files are coming soon. Subscribe to edition specific feeds: - Space news * Apple Podcast English * Spotify English * RSS English Spanish French - Top news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish French * RSS English Spanish French - Tech news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish Spanish * RSS English Spanish French - Hacker news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish French * RSS English Spanish French - AI news * Apple Podcast English Spanish French * Spotify English Spanish French * RSS English Spanish French Visit our website at https://theautomateddaily.com/ Send feedback to [email protected] Youtube LinkedIn X (Twitter)