A 3D map of the local universe with the various galaxy superclusters. On the left is the Vela Supercluster

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An article submitted for publication in the journal “Astronomy & Astrophysics” reports the results of an astronomical study that used a hybrid technique to examine the Vela Supercluster. A team of researchers combined redshifts with the distances and peculiar velocities of galaxies within the Vela Supercluster to obtain a complete portrait of it, a result that was previously impossible due to its location, hidden by the Milky Way’s so-called zone of avoidance.

Key information was obtained using the SALT optical telescope and the MeerKAT radio telescope, both in South Africa. Given the importance of this nation in this research, the authors used the nickname Vela-Banzi, adding a term in Xhosa, a Bantu language, which means “revealing widely.”

On the left, a combination of photos of the planetary nebula NGC 6543 obtained by the Euclid and Hubble space telescopes with a detail from a photo obtained by Hubble on the right.

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The planetary nebula NGC 6543, also known with the nickname Cat’s Eye, is the protagonist of the Hubble Space Telescope’s photo of the month. However, for this occasion, a juxtaposition was created between an image captured by Hubble and one captured by ESA’s Euclid Space Telescope. These two instruments can both capture wavelengths in the near-infrared and visible light, but Euclid specializes in deep-field surveys. For this reason, it portrayed NGC 6543 as part of a large region of space. The combination of the two telescopes offers greater detail on a planetary nebula that has been studied for over two centuries.

The Dragon cargo spacecraft departing the International Space Station to end its CRS-33 mission (Image NASA+)

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A little while ago, SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft ended its CRS-33 (Cargo Resupply Service 33) mission for NASA splashing down smoothly off the coast of California. The Dragon left the International Space Station about 12 hours earlier. The Dragon spacecraft had reached the International Space Station on August 25, 2025. For SpaceX, it was the 50th mission to the Station, including the Dragon cargo and Crew Dragon crewed missions.

An illustration of the emission detected from the galaxy HATLAS J142935.3–002836

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An article accepted for publication in the journal “Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Letters” reports the detection of a megamaser generated by HATLAS J142935.3–002836, a galaxy undergoing considerable activity due to a galaxy merger that also led to an intense star formation. A team of researchers led by the University of Pretoria, South Africa, used the MeerKAT radio telescope to detect the maser emissions. The strength of its emissions is so high that the researchers called it a gigamaser, but certain detections are only possible thanks to a gravitational lensing phenomenon. This still makes it the brightest and most distant astronomical maser known.

Views of the Crew Dragon Freedom spacecraft docking with the International Space Station in its Crew-12 mission (Image NASA+)

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A few hours ago, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Freedom spacecraft docked with the Harmony module of the International Space Station, completing the first part of its Crew-12 or SpaceX Crew-12 mission that began with its launch about 34 hours earlier. After checking that the pressure gets properly balanced, the hatch will be opened to allow Andrey Fedyaev, Jack Hathaway, Jessica Meir, and Sophie Adenot to enter the Station and start their mission.