Eight new planets have been discovered orbiting at a distance where oceans and life could exist - and two are the most similar to Earth found to date.

A lonely spacecraft is nearing Pluto after a 4.8 billion-kilometer journey lasting almost nine years.

Holidaying star-gazers this week have the chance to observe a huge chunk of ice and gas hurtling through the night sky faster than a speeding bullet.

You can take a role in testing the effect of warming skin on memory. Or you can involve yourself in a bid to land a spaceship on the Moon....

The Rosetta mission, which has for the first time put a spacecraft in orbit around a comet and landed a robotic probe on its surface...

It's not evidence of "little green men" but intriguing "burps" of methane have been recorded by Nasa's Curiosity Rover - which may be from primitive microorganisms.

Qantas is diverting its planes away from central Sydney to free up space for authorities dealing with the siege in a city cafe.

Kiwis will have a chance to see one of the most world's spectacular meteor showers with the naked eye in the early hours of tomorrow morning.

A mysterious Russian object is being tracked by space agencies, giving new life to fears about the increase of space weapons.

Mankind may have already accomplished the giant leap of walking on the moon, but a group of scientists and entrepreneurs is hoping to boldly go where no one has gone before.

Scientists are hailing Philae's flight and landing - described as the equivalent of aiming a fly at a speeding bullet - as an outstanding success.

European space engineers hope to carry out carefully programmed manoeuvres over the coming hours and days to rescue the Philae lander from its precarious position on the comet.

Rosetta’s lander comes to rest in the shade – starving it of the solar power it requires to function.

It was audacious, it was bold, but it was a success. For the first time, humanity has a physical presence on the icy surface of a passing comet.

Virgin Galactic's Peter Siebold says he regained consciousness on the way down to Earth after tragic explosion that claimed the life of his co-pilot.

Virgin Galactic customers have begun asking for refunds after the crash that killed a co-pilot during testing.

A European Space Agency astronaut has made a dazzling time-lapse video from aboard the International Space Station as it flew over New Zealand.

This timelapse video was taken by ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst as he flew over New Zealand on the International Space Station at around 400 km altitude. The nighttime video shows an aurora that occurs when Earth’s atmosphere interacts with solar radiation. The International Space Station travels at 28 800 km/h meaning that it only takes 90 minutes to circle Earth completely. Footage: European Space Agency

Kiwis on waiting lists for commercial space flights remain determined would-be astronauts, although one admits to losing some confidence in Virgin Galactic's programme.

The pilot who died in a tragic accident aboard Virgin's SpaceShipTwo has been identified.

A NZer booked to go into space with Virgin Galactic is weighing up his plans after the company's rocket exploded yesterday.

Tesla chief executive Elon Musk, warns about artificial intelligence, saying it could be more threatening than nuclear weapons.

Rocket taking cargo to ISS as part of US$1.9bn project exploded after lift-off – and the whole frightening scene was captured on video.

'One giant leap for mankind', proclaimed Neil Armstrong from the moon's surface. Did that just underscore the status of women's future in space?

A glorious blood moon delighted skygazers in many parts of New Zealand last night.

Aucklanders might not get the best glimpse of tonight's total lunar eclipse, with cloudy skies and a few evening showers forecast.

Billionaire Jeff Bezos will team up with a Boeing-Lockheed Martin to develop US-made rocket engines, in competition with Elon Musk's SpaceX venture.