Spotlight Look up! You might see rare comet PanSTARRS passing Earth this week JANET LOEHRKE USA Today Apr 15, 2026 Apr 15, 2026 Updated 10 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 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… Franklin County wants to raise taxes. Here's where the money would go. Single-vehicle wreck kills 18-year-old in Franklin County Spanberger signs bills that tighten controls on guns Manhunt ends with fatal shooting of Henry County suspect Franklin County sheriff's deputies often make immigration arrests for ICE Board approves carp comeback at Smith Mountain Lake to eat invasive hydrilla Franklin County School Board expels 4-day school week proposal Lawsuit against state trooper on behalf of Franklin County girl moves forward Trump to visit Charlottesville Friday Carter Bank sold Justice loan portfolio to Omni parent company Virginia Democrats spar with governor over money to pay looming bills Hop on 'The Energy Bus': Book inspires Rocky Mount Elementary students Marijuana sales, sick leave bills amended | Recap of Virginia's legislation deadline Spanberger signs into law, amends major gun control proposals Rocky Mount man charged with killing his brother 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 Unable to play video AP Top Stories April 16 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 AP Top Stories April 15 AP AP Top Stories April 15 Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax says governor is making it "pretty hard to legislate" Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax says governor is making it "pretty hard to legislate"
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
Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax says governor is making it "pretty hard to legislate"
Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax says governor is making it "pretty hard to legislate"
