IAU Symposium 406: Future landscape of astrophysical transients: novel approaches in theory and observations
Turku, Finland Organizer: International Astronomical Union (IAU)NET May 25-29
NET May 25-29
Expecting 300 exhibitors, 500 companies, 25 countries, 3,000 B2B (business to business) meetings
Today marks 4th full year / starts 5th year of continuous Human occupation of TSS; Shenzhou 14 three-member crew launched on this day in 2022, beginning occupation.
At Hilton McLean Tysons Corner
NASA, Cal-tech high-energy astrophysics satellite surpasses another year in space, having launched on this day in 2012.
New Year 1 Muharram (1st day) to begin at sunset on Jun 16; if young New Moon is not visible the beginning of the month and year may be delayed.
Meeting is dedicated entirely to the latest developments in all Astronomy, Astrophysics and Space Science related themes. The conference will highlight particular areas of promising technological development, and support the unifying themes of all Astronomy, Astrophysics and Space Science. Don't miss the unique workshop, "Shaping Future Eco-Friendly Habitats for Mars […]
NASA ARTEMIS P1 craft surpasses another year in lunar orbit since 2011; it was 1 of 5 satellites launched 2007 to study Earth magnetosphere.
Asteroid 98943 Torifune Flyby: JAXA Hayabusa 2 mission to flyby S-type asteroid 98943 Torifune this month and rendezvous with asteroid 1998 KY26 in 2031, after returning samples from (162173) Ryugu to Earth in 2020.
NET Q3 — Under US$77.5M NASA CLPS contract, IM 3rd mission using Nova-C, to Reiner Gamma ‘lunar swirl’ 7.5°N, 59.0°W with 4 NASA payloads: Lunar Vertex, CADRE, MoonLIGHT retroreflector, LUSEM; various private payloads.
CNSA to launch Long March 5 with Chang’E-7 lander from Wenchang Space Launch Center, Hainan Island, China (19° N); CE-7 planned to land at Moon South Pole to survey environment and resources with Relay Satellite, Orbiter, Lander (Rashid-2 from UAE), Rover, Mini-Flying Probe sometime in November 2026; lander has national […]
Kamo’oalewa (2016 HO3) Rendezvous: China asteroid sample return mission, to arrive at Kamo’oalewa today to collect at least 100 grams via anchoring-drilling, hover-sampling and touch-and-go techniques; planned to depart Apr 24, 2027 and return to Earth Nov 29, 2027.
Jul 5 — Space Age Publishing Company (SPC), Global / Inter-Global: SPC, publisher of Space Calendar and Lunar Enterprise Daily, observes 50 years since inception and looks towards the next 50 years of publishing-broadcasting from Earth, the surface of the Moon, and perhaps far beyond with its affiliated International Lunar Observatory Association and other enterprises.
NASA ARTEMIS P2 craft surpasses another full year in lunar orbit since 2011; 1 of 5 satellites launched 2007 to study Earth magnetosphere
Purdue University will bestow its newest honor – the Neil Armstrong Space Prize – upon those whose contributions to space in the preceding decade are deemed the most consequential for humanity. Prize recipients to be announced on or before July 20, 2026.
First USA spacecraft to successfully land on another planet commemorated today for its accomplishment 50 years ago; originally scheduled for July 4, landing was delayed until this day in 1976 due to rough landing site.
Celebrating the 1st people walking on the Moon / another celestial body – International Moon Day has been a recognized / endorsed declaration by the United Nations since 2022.
NASA Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory) rover surpasses another full year of operations on Mars surface today; launched Nov 26, 2011 – landed Aug 5, 2012 (Pacific Daylight Time).
NASA craft surpasses another full year in space today, having launched Aug 12, 2018; probe came within ~6.16M km of the Sun on Dec 24, 2024 which is ~7 times closer than any prior spacecraft, traveling faster than any other human-made object at ~692,000 km/hr.
Key themes include: Characterizing exoplanet-host solar-like stars; Star-planet interactions; Planet populations around solar-like stars. At University of Liège.
India orbiter surpasses another full year in lunar polar orbit since reaching the Moon in 2019; Chandrayaan-2 lander and rover were unsuccessful in lunar landing.
Chandrayaan-3 Vikram lander and Pragyan rover celebrated today after successfully landing on Moon in 2023; marking India as the 4th country to land on Moon, and 1st near the Moon South Pole.
~5,000 attendees expected; student discount on registration fee; winners of student competition receive up to US$10,000
NASA spacecraft surpasses another full year in space today, launched 2012; adding to the understanding of Earth radiation belt environment and its variability.
ESA Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) expected to perform its second flyby of Earth this month, arriving at Jupiter in 2031.
ESA plans to launch Ariane 6-2 with PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars (PLATO) spacecraft with array of 26 cameras to Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange Point to look for signs of planets in habitable zones of stars.
Japan's X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM), studying galactic plasma, surpasses another full year in space today at ~550-km LEO, having launched 2023.
Campbell was first appointed in September 2020. She was reappointed for an additional year, 14 Sep 2025 - 14 Sep 2026. It is rare that a President of the Canadian Space Agency serves longer than a one-year term, and Campbell becomes only the third to complete a full five-year term. Past […]
NASA Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft surpasses another full year of operations in Mars orbit after insertion on this day 2014; continuing to study upper atmosphere.
Observed today is 1st planetary defense / asteroid deflection test success: NASA DART crashed into minor-planet moon Dimorphos of asteroid Didymos on this day in 2022, shortening Dimorphos’ orbital period.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory surpasses another full year in space today, launched 2015.
Nationwide celebrations and educational events occur to observe NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) first business day as newly-formed National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on this day in 1958.
Celebrating international contributions of space science for betterment of the human condition; Oct 4 is 68th observation of 1st Space mission Sputnik One launched by Soviet Union 1957; Oct 10 is 58th observation of Outer Space Treaty going into effect 1967.
First solar observatory for China known as CHASE or Xihe / 羲和 surpasses another full year in space since launching on this day via Long March 2D in 2021.
For observation, appreciation, understanding of the Moon / its connection to planetary science / exploration; 1st quarter Moon is best time due to shallow angle of sunlight that illuminates details.
Detecting some of the most energetic radiation in space, ESA, NASA, Roscosmos spacecraft surpasses another year of operations in space, despite loss of its thrusters; launched 2002, expected to run out of fuel early 2020s and fall to Earth Feb 2029.
NASA spacecraft mapping boundary between the Solar System and interstellar space surpasses another full year in space; launched on this day 2008.
European Space Agency (ESA) and Roscosmos spacecraft surpasses another full year at Mars, launched 2016; craft continues collecting data on atmosphere, deployed Schiaparelli demonstration lander 19 Oct 2016 (unsuccessful).
European Space Agency / JAXA Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (dubbed Mio ‘waterway or fairway’) surpasses another full year in space today, launched 2018; expected to reach Mercury polar orbit in Nov 2026 to map planet, investigate magnetosphere.
NASA spacecraft surpasses another full year in orbit around Mars today, holds record for longest-surviving continually active spacecraft in orbit around a planet other than Earth; launched 2001.
At the Spokane Convention Center.
NASA craft imaging Sun and solar phenomena surpasses another full year in space today; launched 2006.
CNSA attempts to land its Chang’E-7 lander near Shackleton Crater, Moon South Pole region; craft launched with Relay Satellite, Orbiter, Lander (Rashid-2 from UAE), Rover, Mini-Flying Probe; lander has national science payloads as well as 6 international instruments integrated: from Egypt, Bahrain, Italy, Russia, Switzerland, Thailand, and the International Lunar […]
NET Nov — BepiColombo, Hermocentric Orbit Insertion at Mercury, Mercury Orbit: European Space Agency / JAXA Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO) expected to reach Mercury, achieve polar orbit and spacecraft separation; will map planet, investigate magnetosphere.
Today marks another full year of continuous Human occupation of ISS; first component Zarya launched Nov 20, 1998, occupation began Nov 2, 2000.
Coordinating Division Division C Education, Outreach and Heritage The IAU Symposium on Innovative Research and Techniques in Astronomy Communication will take place from November 2 to 6, 2026, at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan in Mitaka, Tokyo. The groundbreaking hybrid event will unite experts from astronomy and science communication, […]
Coordinating Division Division C Education, Outreach and Heritage The IAU Symposium on Innovative Research and Techniques in Astronomy Communication will take place from November 2 to 6, 2026, at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan in Mitaka, Tokyo. The groundbreaking hybrid event will unite experts from astronomy and science communication, […]
NASA 12-U CubeSat Capstone acting as a pathfinder for planned International Lunar Gateway surpasses another year around Moon today; launched in 2022.
Observing gamma-ray bursts & their afterglows in gamma-ray, X-ray, ultraviolet, optical wavelengths from LEO, multiwavelength craft surpasses another year of operations in space today, launched in 2004.
Coordinating Division Division E Sun and Heliosphere
SpaceX to launch Starship with Venturi Astrolab FLEX C rover from Starbase, Boca Chica TX. Flexible Logistics and Exploration (FLEX-C) rover to launch to Moon South Pole Region, with commercial payloads including the International Lunar Observatory Association's ILO-1 flagship instrument. ILO-1 will be providing Space Age's Space Calendar with weekly […]
China National Space Administration (CNSA) Chang'E-5 lander at Statio Tianchuan "ship sailing in the Milky Way", Mons Rümker, Oceanus Procellarum, Moon (43° N, 51.9° W), surpasses another full year on lunar surface today; landed on this day in 2020, with sample return launching from the Moon 2 days later.
European Space Agency (ESA) / National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) craft studying sun, surpasses another full year of operations in space today, launched 1995; discovered more than 3,000 comets.
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Hayabusa surpasses another full year in space today; launched Dec 3, 2014, returned samples to Earth in 2020, and now in extended mission to flyby asteroid 98943 Torifune in 2026 and rendezvous with 1998 KY26 in 2031.
European Space Agency (ESA) craft in Very Eccentric Elliptical LEO studying X-ray emissions, star-forming regions, galaxy clusters, environment of supermassive black holes, mapping dark matter, surpasses next full year in space today, launched 1999.
China National Space Administration (CNSA) spacecraft at Guang Han Gong "Moon Palace", Sinus Iridum / Mare Imbrium, 44.12°N 19.51°W, surpasses another full year on Moon surface, landed 2013.
NASA Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer spacecraft (redubbed Near-Earth Object WISE – NEOWISE) surpasses another full year in space today; launched 2009, went into hibernation February 17, 2011 and reactivated August 21, 2013.