![Robert Lea](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FrPVWMGMDcv5rjJzExQQ4f.jpg)
Robert Lea
Robert Lea is a science journalist in the U.K. whose articles have been published in Physics World, New Scientist, Astronomy Magazine, All About Space, Newsweek and ZME Science. He also writes about science communication for Elsevier and the European Journal of Physics. Rob holds a bachelor of science degree in physics and astronomy from the U.K.’s Open University. Follow him on Twitter @sciencef1rst.
Latest articles by Robert Lea
![illustration shows the cross section of a neutron star made of quark matter](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yqtGMY3DVG82eL5EPF6iW3-320-80.png)
The inside of a dead star might look like a gigantic atomic nucleus
By Robert Lea published
The mystery of what dwells within dead stars could be solved at last, thanks to supercomputer simulations that show neutron stars are comprised of "cold quark matter."
![An illustration of different exoplanets.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6teLJZLPw45uGZSxVt3EY4-320-80.png)
James Webb Space Telescope could look for 'carbon-lite' exoplanet atmospheres in search for alien life
By Robert Lea published
If the James Webb Space Telescope detects depleted carbon dioxide in a planet's atmosphere, that could indicate water.
![A stunning image of the volcanic moon Io as seen by Juno on Dec. 30, 2023](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6ydiDBU3zVrCSsn73fEoYH-320-80.png)
NASA Juno spacecraft reveals Jupiter's volcanic moon Io like never before in spectacular new images
By Robert Lea published
On Dec. 30, 2023, NASA's Juno spacecraft came closer to the volcanic moon Io than any other mission has in 20 years. In the process, Juno was able to grab some incredible images.
![An image of the sun in ultraviolet showing a solar flare that erupted on new Year's Eve and is about to rock Earth](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pRPcV6JnoZcobG5k8jU8M9-320-80.png)
Coronal mass ejection from colossal New Year's Eve solar flare will strike Earth today
By Robert Lea published
A coronal mass ejection from an X-5 class flare that erupted on New Year's Eve, the strongest flare of solar cycle 25, will likely trigger geomagnetic storms when it hits Earth today (Jan. 2).
![The pulsar wind nebula at the heart of the Crab Nebula](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5QpcAJbbofNvRjBvnGEuFh-320-80.png)
A bizarre speed-demon star has winds powering a cloud of gas called 'Potaroo'
By Robert Lea published
Astronomers have discovered a new gas cloud created by winds blown from a rapidly spinning neutron star, naming it "Potoroo" after a small Australian marsupial.
![a rover on the surface of mars](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ByTi42ffHtMS5fH9Y9hA9Y-320-80.png)
NASA's Curiosity rover films from dawn to dusk on Mars during downtime (video)
By Robert Lea published
NASA 'sCuriosity Rover filmed footage from dawn to dusk, capturing half a day on Mars as it sat waiting for contact with ground control Nov. 8.
![An illustration shows OSRIS-APEX as it watches the asteroid Apophis skim Earth in 2029](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2YWna38BTfWJyKKPY5mLFL-320-80.png)
NASA can't wait for its OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft to meet 'God of Chaos' asteroid Apophis in 2029
By Robert Lea published
'God of Chaos' asteroid Apophis will make a flyby like no other in recorded history in 2029 as it becomes visible with the naked eye, and NASA's OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft will be on hand to supervise.
![An illustration shows NASA's Juno spacecraft as it makes a flyby of the Jovian moon Io.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CvGGfBm7S3vg3w92T6iD8k-320-80.png)
NASA's Juno spacecraft will get its closest look yet at Jupiter's moon Io on Dec. 30
By Robert Lea published
NASA's Juno spacecraft will come closer to Jupiter's moon Io on Dec. 30 than any spacecraft has in 20 years, getting a good look at the solar system's most volcanic body.
![The Falcon Heavy carrying the USSF-52 to space launches fropm Florida](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vBSQojWgYD2JtGew3fhKG9-320-80.png)
SpaceX wows with a double header of final 2023 rocket launches (photos, video)
By Robert Lea published
SpaceX ended 2023 with not 1 but 2 rocket launches. Within hours on Dec. 28, it sent a Falcon Heavy rocket loaded with the X-37B space plane, and a Falcon 9 carrying Starlink satellites.
![a rocket launching in the blackness](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5hp4HfSGgE9vEreu3XKfAa-320-80.jpg)
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 23 Starlink satellites into orbit in final flight of 2023
By Robert Lea last updated
SpaceX launched 23 new Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Thursday (Dec. 28).
![a rocket sits on a launch pad in between towers with cloudy sky in behind](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UMiBRyQ8KWh2UUsWKPV7za-320-80.jpg)
Japan's H3 rocket will launch a 2nd time in February 2024 after explosive failure
By Robert Lea published
Japan's space agency says its H3 rocket will attempt to fly again as soon as Feb. 14, 2024. That's nearly a year after the rocket's explosive failure, shortly after its 1st liftoff.
![The first images of the moon and the lunar surface as seen by Jaxa's SLIM lander](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/z9viDXSciHmHz8vd52iF74-320-80.jpg)
Japan's SLIM lander beams moon images home before Jan. 19 landing (photos)
By Robert Lea published
Arriving in orbit on Christmas Day, Japan's lunar lander SLIM has beamed images of the lunar surface home ahead of its planned touchdown on the moon on Jan. 19.
![The Peregrine prior to being loaded atop the ULA Vulcan rocket](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zcwVEq8gtZD9HDZmMzorGT-320-80.png)
Private Peregrine moon lander is stacked on ULA Vulcan rocket ahead of Jan. 8 launch
By Robert Lea published
Astrobotic's Peregrine lunar lander was stacked on the rocket that will launch it to space, with final checks and fueling now completed.
![close-up of the moon with the black sky in behind](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dAQBY7gNN98VgEhYf7KvX9-320-80.png)
See December's Full Cold Moon shine in the sky like a Christmas ornament (photos)
By Robert Lea published
The final full moon of 2023, the Cold Moon, rose on Dec. 26. Skywatchers around the globe were primed and ready to capture some fantastic images of the fully illuminated lunar face.
![a cylindrical probe pokes beneath the ice of a dark watery scape, shining a light upward.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Q4etuCxRKwAtDySk3qBAs6-320-80.jpg)
NASA outlines plan to deploy burrowing 'cryobots' on icy moons of Saturn and Jupiter
By Robert Lea published
NASA has laid out a roadmap for major aspects that need to be addressed while developing a robotic system that can explore icy moons with water oceans.
![A numerical simulation of the smash-up between neutron stars that launches a kilonova blast](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hztmmCLF5GZDcVYJmN3ipn-320-80.png)
Gold mine of kilonova explosions forged by neutron stars crashing together
By Robert Lea published
The gold that forms the ring on your finger was formed in the collision between two neutron stars. Now, scientists have mapped the kilonova blasts powered by these collisions in detail.
![The crew of the ISS celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah in space](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iTfJYYHxbc8egxMzVHEYkb-320-80.png)
International Space Station astronauts hang stockings and light a menorah for the holidays (images, video)
By Robert Lea published
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station celebrated Christmas and Hannukah this festive season with the hanging of stockings and "lighting" a felt menorah.
![A gathering of spiral galaxies as seen by the Hubble Space Telescope](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xoAxuQ5Cm6L4QqUZDbC4tT-320-80.png)
Hubble Space Telescope spots a festive gathering of spiral galaxies (image)
By Robert Lea published
The Hubble Space Telescope spotted a gathering of spiral galaxies for a stunning image released Monday (Dec. 25). But this apparent togetherness may be an illusion.
![a bright, full moon taking up most of the photo in a starry sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PSNERaqdmdWgjwGVTEA6nd-320-80.jpg)
The Full Cold Moon of December comes late for Christmas tonight
By Robert Lea published
The last full moon of 2023, December's Cold Full Moon, will miss Christmas by just a day this year, illuminating the sky over Earth on Tuesday (Dec. 26).
![An extremely starry scene in space. The center looks like a white haze, and it's where lots of the stars are congregated.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TcdPNxU9QN39h2j7QaiBR5-320-80.jpg)
Hubble Telescope sees a bright 'snowball' of stars in the Milky Way's neighbor (image)
By Robert Lea published
The space telescope imaged a globular cluster located in the Milky Way satellite galaxy named the Large Magellanic Cloud, ensuring a starry white Christmas for space fans.
![The historic first image of a supermassive black hole ever recorded shows the shadow of the monster black hole inside the distant galaxy M87.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/72Cf6AnqJutDA5fMHxo3zj-320-80.jpg)
12 of the most exciting black hole discoveries of 2023
By Robert Lea published
2023 has been a bumper year for black holes, especially those of the supermassive variety. Here is Space.com's picks for the most exciting black hole stories of the year.
![An illustration shows the Einstein Probe as it hunts cosmic X-rays.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tSeek8CWinBRNUnGLgChQG-320-80.jpg)
Upcoming Einstein Probe will use its 'lobster eye' to hunt for extreme black holes and star explosions
By Robert Lea published
Launching in Jan. 2024, the Einstein Probe will use a "lobster eye" to search the universe for blasts of X-rays and help scientists investigate powerful cosmic events like supernova explosions.
![the moon and jupiter together in the night sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QYVV6XJRJNGU5CnALqtXVC-320-80.jpg)
See the moon and Jupiter enjoy their final meet-up of 2023 in the night sky tonight
By Robert Lea published
The moon and Jupiter will meet-up with Jupiter for one last time in 2023 on Friday (Dec. 22), with the two bodies making a close approach to each other in the sky as they reach conjunction.
![below polaris, teal lines emanate from the constellation Ursa Minor, in a dark sky full of blue-traced constellations.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yUJKiKsfagtYT3VfgybJ8d-320-80.jpg)
The Ursids peak tonight, offering the last meteor shower of 2023 tonight
By Robert Lea published
The annual December meteor shower, the Ursids, peaks overnight on Dec. 22, allowing skywatchers willing to brave the cold the chance to spot meteors streaking through the sky ahead of Santa Claus.