Moon Occults Mercury Today & Artemis 2 Critical Test Underway - Space News (Feb 18, 2026)
February 18, 20266m 10s
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Show Notes
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Today's topics: Moon Occults Mercury Today - The crescent Moon passes directly in front of Mercury today, a rare celestial event visible from parts of North America with keywords: lunar occultation, Mercury visibility, celestial mechanics. Artemis 2 Critical Test Underway - NASA's second Artemis 2 wet dress rehearsal is underway after initial hydrogen leak issues, with fueling scheduled for February 19 to test systems before lunar launch, keywords: Space Launch System, rocket testing, moon mission preparation. SpaceX Continues Starlink Expansion - SpaceX launched additional Starlink satellites on February 14 and 16, continuing rapid deployment of its broadband megaconstellation now exceeding 9,600 active spacecraft, keywords: Starlink deployment, satellite internet, SpaceX operations. Crew-12 Begins ISS Science Mission - Four astronauts from Crew-12 docked at the ISS on February 14 and are now conducting advanced scientific investigations including cancer research and plant biology in microgravity, keywords: International Space Station, human spaceflight, orbital research. JWST Tracks Potentially Hazardous Asteroid - NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is monitoring asteroid 2024 YR4 with a 4.1 percent chance of impacting the Moon in 2032, gathering precise trajectory data through spectroscopy, keywords: asteroid tracking, planetary defense, JWST observations. Planetary Parade Coming Late February - Six planets will align in the evening sky on February 28, with Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Uranus, and Neptune all visible after sunset for skywatchers worldwide, keywords: planetary alignment, February 2026 astronomy, evening sky observation.
Episode Transcript
Moon Occults Mercury Today
Let's start with tonight's main event. For observers across much of North America, Mexico, and Central America, the young crescent Moon will slide directly in front of the planet Mercury. This is called an occultation, and it's rarer than you might think. Mercury is notoriously difficult to spot because it stays so close to the Sun. But today, February 18th, it's reaching what astronomers call greatest eastern elongation—its farthest point from the Sun this evening—which means it's actually in a pretty good spot for viewing. From places like Dallas and westward through New Mexico, you'll see Mercury disappear behind the Moon's dark edge and then reappear on the bright edge about thirty minutes later. Even if you miss the occultation itself, Mercury and the Moon will make for a nice pairing in the western sky around sunset. Just remember to look well after the Sun has gone down to protect your eyes.
Artemis 2 Critical Test Underway
Shifting gears to something that's been a bit of a rollercoaster. NASA's Artemis 2 mission has hit some technical snags, but the team is pressing forward. Right now, they're in the middle of a critical second attempt at a wet dress rehearsal—basically a full practice run of everything that happens before launch. The first attempt back on February 3rd ran into trouble when liquid hydrogen leaked from connections at the rocket's tail service mast. This time around, they've replaced a suspect filter and made repairs, and as of yesterday evening, the countdown kicked off. The real test comes tomorrow when they'll load over 730,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and oxygen into the Space Launch System rocket. If all goes well, this will clear the way for Artemis 2 to launch astronauts around the Moon, with March 6th now targeted as the earliest launch date. It's worth noting this is the same fueling system that gave them trouble back during Artemis 1 testing, so there's definitely some scrutiny on this one.
SpaceX Continues Starlink Expansion
While we're talking about lunar missions, let's touch on what SpaceX has been up to. Over the past few days, they've been busy adding to the Starlink constellation. On February 14th and 16th, two Falcon 9 rockets launched with a combined 53 new satellites. The company now has over 9,600 Starlink spacecraft in orbit, providing broadband internet coverage to underserved regions across the globe. What's particularly interesting is the speed at which they're operating—these launches are part of SpaceX's ongoing effort to maintain and expand the network. The company just hit 10 million subscribers, and airlines like Southwest are beginning to outfit their fleets with Starlink connectivity. It's a pretty remarkable pace of deployment when you think about it.
Crew-12 Begins ISS Science Mission
On the International Space Station front, Crew-12 has settled in nicely after docking on February 14th. The four-person team—two NASA astronauts, one from the European Space Agency, and one Russian cosmonaut—is already deep into their science work. They're investigating everything from how to manufacture medicine in microgravity to studying how plants grow without gravity's influence. One particularly cool project involves using advanced microscopy to observe human cells and tissues in space, research that could accelerate drug development and disease modeling here on Earth. There's also work on cancer treatments and studying nitrogen-fixing microbes that could help future space missions grow their own food. These long-duration missions are crucial not just for advancing science, but for testing systems and procedures we'll need when humans eventually return to the Moon and push on to Mars.
JWST Tracks Potentially Hazardous Asteroid
Now, here's something that shows how far our space technology has come. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is currently keeping watch over asteroid 2024 YR4. This isn't some doomsday scenario—the asteroid will safely pass our planet in 2032. But calculations show there's roughly a 4.1 percent chance it could hit the Moon instead. While those odds are low, they're high enough to be interesting. So JWST is pointing its infrared instruments at this faint, distant rock to gather precise data on its position and trajectory. The observations will help refine predictions and improve our ability to track potentially hazardous objects. If the asteroid does strike the Moon, it could carve a crater up to two kilometers wide and create a visible flash from Earth—essentially a natural experiment written in lunar dust. Either way, the data we gather now helps us prepare for planetary defense in the future.
Planetary Parade Coming Late February
Before we wrap up, one quick heads-up for late February. If you've been hearing buzz about a planetary parade, mark your calendar for February 28th. Six planets—Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune—will all be visible in the evening sky. Now, I should be honest: finding all six is more of a challenge than the marketing suggests. Mercury and Saturn are fading into twilight, and you'll need binoculars or a telescope to spot Uranus and Neptune. But Venus and Jupiter will be bright and unmissable, and if you have a clear western horizon and some optical aid, you can definitely piece together the full set. It's a nice reminder that even though we're focused on getting humans back to the Moon, the solar system's regular celestial mechanics provide plenty of wonder right here in our neighborhood.
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Today's topics: Moon Occults Mercury Today - The crescent Moon passes directly in front of Mercury today, a rare celestial event visible from parts of North America with keywords: lunar occultation, Mercury visibility, celestial mechanics. Artemis 2 Critical Test Underway - NASA's second Artemis 2 wet dress rehearsal is underway after initial hydrogen leak issues, with fueling scheduled for February 19 to test systems before lunar launch, keywords: Space Launch System, rocket testing, moon mission preparation. SpaceX Continues Starlink Expansion - SpaceX launched additional Starlink satellites on February 14 and 16, continuing rapid deployment of its broadband megaconstellation now exceeding 9,600 active spacecraft, keywords: Starlink deployment, satellite internet, SpaceX operations. Crew-12 Begins ISS Science Mission - Four astronauts from Crew-12 docked at the ISS on February 14 and are now conducting advanced scientific investigations including cancer research and plant biology in microgravity, keywords: International Space Station, human spaceflight, orbital research. JWST Tracks Potentially Hazardous Asteroid - NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is monitoring asteroid 2024 YR4 with a 4.1 percent chance of impacting the Moon in 2032, gathering precise trajectory data through spectroscopy, keywords: asteroid tracking, planetary defense, JWST observations. Planetary Parade Coming Late February - Six planets will align in the evening sky on February 28, with Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Uranus, and Neptune all visible after sunset for skywatchers worldwide, keywords: planetary alignment, February 2026 astronomy, evening sky observation.
Episode Transcript
Moon Occults Mercury Today
Let's start with tonight's main event. For observers across much of North America, Mexico, and Central America, the young crescent Moon will slide directly in front of the planet Mercury. This is called an occultation, and it's rarer than you might think. Mercury is notoriously difficult to spot because it stays so close to the Sun. But today, February 18th, it's reaching what astronomers call greatest eastern elongation—its farthest point from the Sun this evening—which means it's actually in a pretty good spot for viewing. From places like Dallas and westward through New Mexico, you'll see Mercury disappear behind the Moon's dark edge and then reappear on the bright edge about thirty minutes later. Even if you miss the occultation itself, Mercury and the Moon will make for a nice pairing in the western sky around sunset. Just remember to look well after the Sun has gone down to protect your eyes.
Artemis 2 Critical Test Underway
Shifting gears to something that's been a bit of a rollercoaster. NASA's Artemis 2 mission has hit some technical snags, but the team is pressing forward. Right now, they're in the middle of a critical second attempt at a wet dress rehearsal—basically a full practice run of everything that happens before launch. The first attempt back on February 3rd ran into trouble when liquid hydrogen leaked from connections at the rocket's tail service mast. This time around, they've replaced a suspect filter and made repairs, and as of yesterday evening, the countdown kicked off. The real test comes tomorrow when they'll load over 730,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and oxygen into the Space Launch System rocket. If all goes well, this will clear the way for Artemis 2 to launch astronauts around the Moon, with March 6th now targeted as the earliest launch date. It's worth noting this is the same fueling system that gave them trouble back during Artemis 1 testing, so there's definitely some scrutiny on this one.
SpaceX Continues Starlink Expansion
While we're talking about lunar missions, let's touch on what SpaceX has been up to. Over the past few days, they've been busy adding to the Starlink constellation. On February 14th and 16th, two Falcon 9 rockets launched with a combined 53 new satellites. The company now has over 9,600 Starlink spacecraft in orbit, providing broadband internet coverage to underserved regions across the globe. What's particularly interesting is the speed at which they're operating—these launches are part of SpaceX's ongoing effort to maintain and expand the network. The company just hit 10 million subscribers, and airlines like Southwest are beginning to outfit their fleets with Starlink connectivity. It's a pretty remarkable pace of deployment when you think about it.
Crew-12 Begins ISS Science Mission
On the International Space Station front, Crew-12 has settled in nicely after docking on February 14th. The four-person team—two NASA astronauts, one from the European Space Agency, and one Russian cosmonaut—is already deep into their science work. They're investigating everything from how to manufacture medicine in microgravity to studying how plants grow without gravity's influence. One particularly cool project involves using advanced microscopy to observe human cells and tissues in space, research that could accelerate drug development and disease modeling here on Earth. There's also work on cancer treatments and studying nitrogen-fixing microbes that could help future space missions grow their own food. These long-duration missions are crucial not just for advancing science, but for testing systems and procedures we'll need when humans eventually return to the Moon and push on to Mars.
JWST Tracks Potentially Hazardous Asteroid
Now, here's something that shows how far our space technology has come. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is currently keeping watch over asteroid 2024 YR4. This isn't some doomsday scenario—the asteroid will safely pass our planet in 2032. But calculations show there's roughly a 4.1 percent chance it could hit the Moon instead. While those odds are low, they're high enough to be interesting. So JWST is pointing its infrared instruments at this faint, distant rock to gather precise data on its position and trajectory. The observations will help refine predictions and improve our ability to track potentially hazardous objects. If the asteroid does strike the Moon, it could carve a crater up to two kilometers wide and create a visible flash from Earth—essentially a natural experiment written in lunar dust. Either way, the data we gather now helps us prepare for planetary defense in the future.
Planetary Parade Coming Late February
Before we wrap up, one quick heads-up for late February. If you've been hearing buzz about a planetary parade, mark your calendar for February 28th. Six planets—Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune—will all be visible in the evening sky. Now, I should be honest: finding all six is more of a challenge than the marketing suggests. Mercury and Saturn are fading into twilight, and you'll need binoculars or a telescope to spot Uranus and Neptune. But Venus and Jupiter will be bright and unmissable, and if you have a clear western horizon and some optical aid, you can definitely piece together the full set. It's a nice reminder that even though we're focused on getting humans back to the Moon, the solar system's regular celestial mechanics provide plenty of wonder right here in our neighborhood.
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
X (Twitter)