NOAA to hold public meetings on California Coastal Management Program

Public invited to provide input on the state’s coastal management program and performance evaluation

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/aug26/czma-public-meetings.html

Astranis' newly announced Perceptor spacecraft will monitor satellite activity in geostationary orbit, a distant and increasingly contested domain.

Source: New private 'Perceptor' probes will keep an eye on satellites high above Earth

APOD: 2026 August 13 - Total Solar Eclipse Over Spain
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 August 13 - Total… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Total Solar […]
https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-august-13-total-solar-eclipse-over-spain/

Mike Fincke, a 30-year astronaut with experience across four spacecraft, retires from NASA
Mike Fincke trained on the Boeing CST-100 Starliner side of the Commercial Crew Program from January 2019 until his reassignment to the SpaceX Crew-11 mission. His fourth and final mission to the International Space Station launched on Aug. 1, 2025.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2026/08/12/mike-fincke-a-30-year-astronaut-with-experience-across-four-human-rated-spacecraft-retires-from-nasa/

How bad timing, a studio in financial turmoil, and a movie that looked nothing like the cartoon conspired to defeat the most powerful man in the universe.

Source: This year's 'Masters of the Univers... tried back in 1987, and failed then too

NASA Data Helps Commercial Space Plan Living Off Our Moon 
The barren lunar landscape has some important resources, such as water and minerals like iron and titanium, but extracting and processing them will require special equipment. Where those resources can be found will dictate where to land and how to mine them. To help with that, Lunar Station Corp. is using a wealth of NASA […]
https://www.nasa.gov/technology/tech-transfer-spinoffs/nasa-data-helps-commercial-space-plan-living-off-our-moon/

2026 Total Solar Eclipse in Spain
A total solar eclipse is seen from San Millán de los Caballeros, Spain, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026. A total solar eclipse - the Moon passing between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun - swept across parts of Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, the Atlantic Ocean, Spain, and a small corner of […]
https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/2026-total-solar-eclipse-in-spain/

A total solar eclipse wowed skywatchers on Aug. 12, 2026 as it arced across Greenland, Iceland and Spain. Here are our favorite photos and videos from the event.

Source: Total solar eclipse 2026 thrills millions with a stunning cosmic spectacle (photos, video)

The first breathtaking photos of totality for the total solar eclipse 2026 are pouring in, revealing incredible views of the sun's atmosphere radiating out from behind the moon's colossal silhouette.

Source: Total solar eclipse 2026 has begun. Here are the first views of totality

A radiation-shielding vest aced its Artemis I lunar test in 2022, suggesting that it could protect astronauts on long-duration missions to the moon or Mars.

Source: Radiation-shielding vest aced Artem...ect astronauts on moon and Mars missions

NASA Upgrades Vertical Motion Simulator for Modern Mission Needs
Imagine stepping into a machine that can make you feel like you’re flying a spacecraft, piloting a next generation air taxi, or landing on the Moon, all without leaving the ground. NASA’s Vertical Motion Simulator, the largest of its kind in the world, does exactly that. And now, with new upgrades, it’s more powerful and […]
https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/ames/nasa-upgrades-vertical-motion-simulator-for-modern-mission-needs/

NASA Astronaut Mike Fincke Leaves NASA, Career Includes 4 Spaceflights
NASA astronaut Mike Fincke is departing the agency on Wednesday after 30 years of service. Throughout his career, he flew four missions, spent 549 days in space, and completed nine spacewalks in support of the International Space Station. “Few people have had the opportunity to shape as many chapters of NASA’s history as Mike Fincke,” […]
https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-astronaut-mike-fincke-leaves-nasa-career-includes-4-spaceflights/

Source: nothing i say

Pursuing a Dream of Working for NASA
As a young girl raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, Lindsey Waitt dreamed of working for NASA. Her dream is now a reality as she embarks on her role as a NASA test project engineer with the Artemis launch team – an integral part of the agency’s missions that will enable humans to return to the surface […]
https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/kennedy/pursuing-a-dream-of-working-for-nasa/

A distant black hole star is providing strong evidence that these objects lie at the hearts of the mysterious little red dots found shortly after the Big Bang by the James Webb Space Telescope.

Source: Farthest 'black hole star' ever fou...Space Telescope's little red dot mystery

APOD: 2026 August 12 - Perseids over a Little Planet
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 August 12 -… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Perseids over a […]
https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod/apod-2026-august-12-perseids-over-a-little-planet/

Quality Assessment Report Evaluates Polar Geospatial Center EarthDEM Elevation Products
CSDA’s assessment reports help inform the user community about the quality of commercial Digital Elevation Models (DEMs).
https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/earth-science/quality-assessment-report-evaluates-polar-geospatial-center-earthdem-elevation-products/

A shot so spectacular it will leave other astrophotographers green with envy.

Source: Green comet caught soaring over Namibia | Space photo of the day for Aug. 12, 2026

On Aug. 12, 2005, NASA launched its Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) mission.

Source: On this day in space! Aug. 12, 2005: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter launched

Universities Experiment with Hidden Grades

The University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science and the Arts is trying out something new this coming term: a dual grading system in which professors give students ordinary letter grades based on the quality of their work, but what shows up on the student’s transcript is either a “pass” or “no credit”. The initiative applies just to first-semester students. The idea, it seems, is to bring about the benefits of both graded and ungraded systems, without some of the costs of each. A benefit of grades is that they are a relatively practicable way for instructors to inform students about how well they’re learning the relevant material and skills, at least insofar as that’s demonstrated on course assignments. A benefit of having no grades (or ungrading) is that students might be more encouraged to explore new subjects, less concerned that their unfamiliarity might put them at a disadvantage, grade-wise. And perhaps liberating students from a significant pressure to instrumentalize their learning might help some of them develop better attitudes about the value of their own education. Furthermore, instructors might be less susceptible to grade inflation pressures and less targeted by grade grubbers, and may be able to provide students with more honest feedback about their work. The University of Michigan isn’t the only school to try out a grade-covering program. MIT has long had one for students during their first year (switching to first-semester-only a few years ago), and California Institute of Technology, Swarthmore College, Wellesley College, and others have had similar programs, according to news reports. The university, in announcing its policy, also discusses grades and the mental health of students, along with some other reasons for it: We believe that covering grades will help students start strong and curb the mental health crisis unfolding among college-aged individuals. Our goal is to help first-year students acclimate to the demands of college and allow intrinsic motivations to guide personally meaningful academic journeys—core elements of a liberal arts and sciences education. For example, they can explore a subject that may not come easily to them or take a course in a new field without the fear that a low grade may have long-term consequences. LSA is investing in students’ well-being and..

The post Universities Experiment with Hidden Grades first appeared on Daily Nous.

https://dailynous.com/2026/08/12/universities-experiments-with-hidden-grades/

Don't miss the peak of the Perseid meteor shower tonight. Here's when, where and how to see it.

Source: Perseid meteor shower peaks under perfect skies tonight — here's what to expect

SpaceX launched 24 more of its Starlink global internet satellite constellation to orbit from California on Aug. 11, wrapping the second Starlink launch of the day.

Source: SpaceX wraps Starlink double header day with the launch of 24 Starlink satellites from California

Source: my heebies

The wait is over. Today's total solar eclipse will sweep across Greenland, Iceland and Spain. Here's where to find timings, livestreams, safety advice and live coverage.

Source: A total solar eclipse will darken the sky for millions today! Here's what you need to know

Stops Along the Path of Totality
Western Iceland and northern Spain are among the few Northern Hemisphere locations experiencing a total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026.
https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/stops-along-the-path-of-totality/