Spotlight Look up! You might see rare comet PanSTARRS passing Earth this week JANET LOEHRKE USA Today Apr 15, 2026 Apr 15, 2026 Updated 5 hrs ago 0 × FMM - F24 Video Clips Since Artemis II touched back down on Earth, the crew has had time to reflect on their record-setting journey. Gabrielle Nadler reports. Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Time to look up stargazers. There's another comet coming our way.kAmp ?6H=J 5:D4@G6C65 4@>6E[ 4@>6E r^a_ad #b W!2?$%p##$X[ H9:49 2AA62CD E@ 92G6 366? EC2G6=:?8 :? E96 D@=2C DJDE6> D:?46 $6AE6>36C[ :D D6E E@ >2<6 2 563FE :? E96 }@CE96C? w6>:DA96C6 E9:D >@?E9[ D2JD }p$p] %96 4@>6E H:== 36 G:D:3=6 7@C 2 G6CJ D9@CE E:>6[ 23@FE EH@ 9@FCD 367@C6 DF?C:D6[ ?@H F?E:= pAC:= a`] %96? 52JD =2E6C[ @? pAC:= ae[ :E H:== >2<6 :ED 4=@D6DE 2AAC@249 E@ t2CE9] %96 4@>6E H:== A2DD FD 2E 2 5:DE2?46 @7 cd]d >:==:@? >:=6D]k^AmkAm%96 4@>6E :D AC65:4E65 E@ C6249 :ED >2I:>F> 3C:89E?6DD 2E E9:D E:>6[ A@E6?E:2==J >2<:?8 :E G:D:3=6 E@ E96 F?2:565 6J6]k^Am k9amr@>6E #b !2?$%p##$V A2E9 2D :E A2DD6D t2CE9k^9am People are also reading… Marion's fire-EMS chief is leaving Marion to serve the Commonwealth After 888 days, Smyth Animal Rescue dog finds her home Smyth supervisors honor emergency dispatchers Marion-based free clinic wins grant to address patient transportation needs Smyth supervisors expected to take up junkyard permit request Smyth officials urge US Forest Service to reopen Grindstone Campground New attorney is representing Wolfe as case moves forward Kaine tours School of Health Sciences, meets with students and faculty Marijuana sales, sick leave bills amended | Recap of Virginia's legislation deadline Work on Exit 39 truck stop expected to move more quickly now Trump to visit Charlottesville Friday Virginia Democrats spar with governor over money to pay looming bills Virginia Tech President Tim Sands announces he will step down soon Trump: US Navy will begin Strait of Hormuz blockade after US-Iran ceasefire talks end without agreement Spanberger signs into law, amends major gun control proposals kAm%96 :>286 36=@H D9@HD E96 AC65:4E65 4@FCD6 @7 4@>6E #b !2?$%p##$ 2D :E 2AAC@2496D t2CE9] %96 4@>6E H:== A2DD 36EH66? |6C4FCJ 2?5 '6?FD :? E96 =2DE 52JD @7 pAC:=]k^AmkAm%96 4@>6E :D 36=:6G65 E@ @C3:E E96 DF? 2AAC@I:>2E6=J 6G6CJ `f_[___ J62CD 2?5 H2D 7@F?5 :? $6AE6>36C a_ad 3J E96 !2?\$%p##$ DFCG6J :? w2H2::]k^Am Comet C/2025 R3 PanSTARRS is now visible in the early hours just before sunrise. Illustration by Janet Loehrke/USA TODAY k9am(96C6 42? J@F G:6H r@>6E #b !2?$%p##$ :? E96 D<Jnk^9am kAm%96 36DE E:>6 E@ 42E49 2 8=:>AD6 @7 4@>6E #b !2?$%p##$ H:== 36 36EH66? ?@H 2?5 pAC:= a_[ 244@C5:?8 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^$A246]4@>Qm$A246]4@>k^2m]k^Am kAm%96 4@>6E :D 6IA64E65 E@ 3C:89E6? BF:4<=J 2D :E 86ED 4=@D6C E@ A6C:96=:@? W:ED 4=@D6DE A@:?E E@ E96 DF?X @? pAC:= `hU?52D9ja_] u@C E96 36DE G:6H:?8 6IA6C:6?46[ D42? E96 =@H6C A@CE:@? @7 E96 62DE6C? D<J H:E9 3:?@4F=2CD[ 2AAC@I:>2E6=J h_ >:?FE6D 367@C6 DF?C:D6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^$A246]4@>Qm$A246]4@>k^2m]k^Am k9am(96? :D E96 ?6IE 46=6DE:2= 24E:G:EJnk^9am kAmx7 J@FC F?23=6 E@ G:6H 4@>6E r^a_ad #b[ D<J H2E496CD 42? AC6A2C6 7@C EH@ 4@D>:4 DA64E24=6D E9:D DAC:?8]k^AmkF=mk=:m%96 {JC:5 >6E6@C D9@H6CD 2C6 24E:G6 7C@> pAC:= `f\ae 2?5 H:== A62< @? pAC:= a`\aa]k^=:mk=:m%96 tE2 pBF2C::5 >6E6@C D9@H6CD 2C6 24E:G6 7C@> pAC:= `d\|2J af 2?5 H:== A62< @? |2J d]k^=:mk^F=m Science Circling the moon, a Black astronaut inspires millions DAVID HOOD-NUNO Reuters Science Artemis II astronauts return to Earth with a splash, close record-breaking moon voyage MARCIA DUNN Associated Press Science Artemis II astronauts channel Apollo 8 with a striking Earthset photo MARCIA DUNN Associated Press Sources: NASA, Space.com, TheSkyLive.com, StarWalk.space, EarthSky.org and USA TODAY researchContributing: Tamara Walker USA TODAY NETWORK 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Artemis II crew reflects on lunar trip Since Artemis II touched back down on Earth, the crew has had time to reflect on their record-setting journey. Gabrielle Nadler reports. Watch Now: Related Video Swalwell's Capitol Hill office sign removed following resignation from Congress US To Deploy Thousands More Troops To The Middle East US To Deploy Thousands More Troops To The Middle East A1 Minute! April 15, 2026: Mechanicsville student competes for America’s Most Artistic Kid; Fifth and Foundry; Colonial Downs entertainment options A1 Minute! April 15, 2026: Mechanicsville student competes for America’s Most Artistic Kid; Fifth and Foundry; Colonial Downs entertainment options House Democrats File 25th Amendment Bill Targeting Trump House Democrats File 25th Amendment Bill Targeting Trump
Science Artemis II astronauts return to Earth with a splash, close record-breaking moon voyage MARCIA DUNN Associated Press
Science Artemis II astronauts channel Apollo 8 with a striking Earthset photo MARCIA DUNN Associated Press
Artemis II crew reflects on lunar trip Since Artemis II touched back down on Earth, the crew has had time to reflect on their record-setting journey. Gabrielle Nadler reports.
A1 Minute! April 15, 2026: Mechanicsville student competes for America’s Most Artistic Kid; Fifth and Foundry; Colonial Downs entertainment options
A1 Minute! April 15, 2026: Mechanicsville student competes for America’s Most Artistic Kid; Fifth and Foundry; Colonial Downs entertainment options
