NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day · Jul 30, 2026 · 1:49 AM UTC

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day

1,193 Photos and videos

Mission To Psyche retweeted

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day

@apod

Jul 30

Solar System bodies make deep space exploration more fuel efficient! Today’s video shows the Psyche spacecraft gaining speed and changing its trajectory with minimal fuel spent due to a gravity assist from Mars in May 2026. Mars has an average orbital speed of almost 87,000 km/h (54,000 mph) around the Sun. Its orbital motion and its gravity allowed Mars to pull Psyche along with it, increasing the spacecraft’s speed. Gravity assists have been used since 1959’s Luna 3 mission to allow for spacecraft (the Voyagers, Cassini) to reach farther than they could with fuel alone. This assist helped the Psyche spacecraft on its journey to the Psyche asteroid, which it will reach in 2029. While passing Mars, the spacecraft tested instruments that will analyze the asteroid’s composition and magnetic field. This is the first mission to an asteroid thought to be largely made of metal, an essential building block for planets, rather than rock or ice. Video Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/True Story Films Text: Keighley Rockcliffe (NASA GSFC, UMBC CSST, CRESST II)

216

35,336

NASA Solar System · Jul 9, 2026 · 5:33 PM UTC

Mission To Psyche retweeted

NASA Solar System

@NASASolarSystem

Jul 9

1,000 days in space! 🌌📷 As of today, our Psyche spacecraft has been traveling for a thousand days. Watch for more views of its recent Mars flyby soon! Next stop: the intriguing, metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche.

241

1,192

71,270

Lindy Elkins-Tanton · Jul 9, 2026 · 4:02 PM UTC

Mission To Psyche retweeted

Lindy Elkins-Tanton @ltelkins

Jul 9

Congratulations on 1,000 days in flight, Psyche mission! Here's the moment in 2023 when 1 hr 2 min 40 sec after liftoff that gorgeous Falcon Heavy (on the right) gave our s/c (lower left) a perfect tip-off, no angular momentum, on her way. @MissionToPsyche @NASA

1,406

MIT EAPS · Jul 17, 2026 · 6:09 PM UTC

Mission To Psyche retweeted

MIT EAPS @eapsMIT

Jul 17

Hello, Mars 👋 The NASA Psyche spacecraft completed a flyby of the red planet in May, and took the opportunity to test out its on-board instruments to make sure everything is functioning properly on its @MissionToPsyche in 2029. buff.ly/035vscG

Psyche spacecraft delivers Mars flyby data, detailed look at Mars’ magnetic signatures

NASA’s Psyche spacecraft, on a journey to explore the metal-rich asteroid Psyche, completed a flyby of Mars on May 15. While the flyby was primarily planned to provide a gravity […]

eaps.mit.edu

774

NASA Mars · Jul 17, 2026 · 6:18 PM UTC

Mission To Psyche retweeted

NASA Mars

@NASAMars

Jul 17

These stunning views of our favorite planet come courtesy of NASA’s Psyche spacecraft, which recently completed a Mars gravity assist on its way to explore a metal-rich asteroid. Psyche captured this series of images throughout the month of May as it sped toward the Red Planet.

A composite image of a series of images of the crescent Mars against the darkness of space. The crescents are nested within each other, showing the planet growing larger in the view over time. In the largest, closest views, clouds can be seen above the planet's surface.

ALT A composite image of a series of images of the crescent Mars against the darkness of space. The crescents are nested within each other, showing the planet growing larger in the view over time. In the largest, closest views, clouds can be seen above the planet's surface.

199

1,022

65,466

ESA Science · Jul 17, 2026 · 5:40 PM UTC

Mission To Psyche retweeted

ESA Science

@esascience

Jul 17

Our Mars Express (image 1) meets @MissionToPsyche (image 2) 🤝 As Psyche flew past Mars for a gravity boost on its way to an asteroid, the two missions captured exactly the same patch of the Red Planet's surface. Find out why these joint observations can be useful 👉 esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Image…

ALT A square image from Mars Express showing a mostly-orange patch of Mars's surface, scattered with sharp craters, many of which are blue inside.

ALT A square image from Psyche showing a mostly-orange patch of Mars's surface, scattered with sharp craters, many of which are blue inside.

166

9,334

NASA JPL · Jul 17, 2026 · 6:13 PM UTC

Mission To Psyche retweeted

NASA JPL

@NASAJPL

Jul 17

Mars in motion! ⏩ While on its way to explore a mysterious, metal-rich asteroid, our Psyche spacecraft sped by Mars for a gravity assist to pick up speed and adjust its trajectory. As it approached the planet, it captured this series of high-res snaps.

211

749

70,781

NASA Solar System · Jul 17, 2026 · 6:32 PM UTC

Mission To Psyche retweeted

NASA Solar System

@NASASolarSystem

Jul 17

Some things our Psyche spacecraft picked up during its brief visit to Mars in May: - 1000 MPH speed boost - 3-degree trajectory adjustment - Science data - Lots of pictures!

205

1,257

71,635

Lindy Elkins-Tanton · Jun 29, 2026 · 5:39 PM UTC

Mission To Psyche retweeted

Lindy Elkins-Tanton @ltelkins

Jun 29

Undergrads in the US, consider applying, and share with your friends! @MissionToPsyche team loves our art interns.

Learn With NASA

@LearnWithNASA

Jun 29

Looking for something new to spark your creativity? Why not look to a metal-rich asteroid?👩‍🎨🪨 Undergrads at U.S. universities & community colleges are invited to join the next NASA Psyche Inspired intern cohort. Applications are due Aug. 28. Learn more: psyche.ssl.berkeley.edu/get-…

This body of work by artist Martha Quirie is called Carrier Craters and is intended to be a functional dining set for four, based on the imagined craters of 16 Psyche. The bowls are all unique and intended to mimic the unique impact craters. Each cup is made with dimple “handles” that look like mini craters for better handability and more consistent connection to the surface of Psyche.

ALT This body of work by artist Martha Quirie is called Carrier Craters and is intended to be a functional dining set for four, based on the imagined craters of 16 Psyche. The bowls are all unique and intended to mimic the unique impact craters. Each cup is made with dimple “handles” that look like mini craters for better handability and more consistent connection to the surface of Psyche.

1,091

Lindy Elkins-Tanton · Jul 8, 2026 · 5:52 PM UTC

Mission To Psyche retweeted

Lindy Elkins-Tanton @ltelkins

Jul 8

Everything we do is art...a new essay from Monica Moreno, a Psyche Inspired art intern, about her experience at the intersection of art and space exploration wirh @MissionToPsyche. medium.com/p/a154211fcf9b

Everything We Do Is Art

By Monica Moreno, Artist and former NASA Psyche Inspired Intern (Cobalt Class: 2019–2020)

medium.com

988

Learn With NASA · Jun 29, 2026 · 1:57 PM UTC

Mission To Psyche retweeted

Learn With NASA

@LearnWithNASA

Jun 29

3,818

NASA · May 20, 2026 · 8:21 PM UTC

Mission To Psyche retweeted

NASA

@NASA

May 20

First stop, Mars. Next stop, Psyche 📍 On May 15, our Psyche spacecraft swung by Mars on its way to its next destination: a metal-rich asteroid also named Psyche. The Red Planet gave the spacecraft a 1,000-mph speed boost and provided some stunning photos as well!

$A view of crescent Mars against black space. The planet\u2019s warm color glows faintly along its rim. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU$

ALT A view of crescent Mars against black space. The planet\u2019s warm color glows faintly along its rim. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU

$A bird\u2019s-eye view of the double-ring Martian crater Huygens, seen in the top right of the image. The colors appear as a dramatic, blotchy mix of radiant blue and rusty red. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU$

ALT A bird\u2019s-eye view of the double-ring Martian crater Huygens, seen in the top right of the image. The colors appear as a dramatic, blotchy mix of radiant blue and rusty red. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU

A photo of Mars, partially shadowed toward the top of the image, from its south polar region. The planet appears gray from this angle, and its southern ice cap is stark white by contrast. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU

ALT A photo of Mars, partially shadowed toward the top of the image, from its south polar region. The planet appears gray from this angle, and its southern ice cap is stark white by contrast. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU

$A bird\u2019s-eye view of the rusty-red Martian surface. The surface is heavily cratered with white outlines around them, streaky due to the planet\u2019s wind. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU$

ALT A bird\u2019s-eye view of the rusty-red Martian surface. The surface is heavily cratered with white outlines around them, streaky due to the planet\u2019s wind. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU

764

3,623

24,990

2,338,508

NASA Solar System · May 20, 2026 · 12:49 AM UTC

Mission To Psyche retweeted

NASA Solar System

@NASASolarSystem

May 20

The initial reports are in: #MissionToPsyche aced its Mars flyby. ☑️ With the Red Planet in the rearview mirror, the spacecraft will soon resume using its solar-electric propulsion system to make a beeline to the main asteroid belt and rendezvous with the asteroid Psyche.

NASA JPL

@NASAJPL

May 19

Hello Mars, goodbye Mars 👋 NASA’s #MissionToPsyche spacecraft was speeding by the Red Planet on May 15 when it snapped this rare, crescent view of Mars. The successful flyby flung the Psyche spacecraft toward its final destination: the metal-rich asteroid Psyche. 1/2

ALT A crescent-shaped Mars against the darkness of space. Within the thin illuminated crescent, the reddish surface and some clouds can be seen.

210

799

54,312

NASA JPL · May 19, 2026 · 10:16 PM UTC

Mission To Psyche retweeted

NASA JPL

@NASAJPL

May 19

ALT A crescent-shaped Mars against the darkness of space. Within the thin illuminated crescent, the reddish surface and some clouds can be seen.

282

1,458

201,352

NASA Solar System · May 15, 2026 · 7:41 PM UTC

Mission To Psyche retweeted

NASA Solar System

@NASASolarSystem

May 15

Replying to @NASAJPL

Thanks for the boost, @NASAMars! Next stop: the asteroid Psyche. There's still a long way to go – the #MissionToPsyche spacecraft will enter orbit there in 2029. Exactly what we will find remains to be seen... Follow along at science.nasa.gov/mission/psy… and watch this space

110

629

43,725

NASA Solar System · May 15, 2026 · 7:28 PM UTC

Mission To Psyche retweeted

NASA Solar System

@NASASolarSystem

May 15

Replying to @NASAJPL

☑️Closest approach! Distance: 2,800 miles Speed: 12,300 mph

Simulated view of the Psyche spacecraft, with its "wings" of solar panel arrays, passing above the surface of the planet Mars, now seen in nearly full phase.

ALT Simulated view of the Psyche spacecraft, with its "wings" of solar panel arrays, passing above the surface of the planet Mars, now seen in nearly full phase.

118

849

53,742

NASA Solar System · May 15, 2026 · 6:59 PM UTC

Mission To Psyche retweeted

NASA Solar System

@NASASolarSystem

May 15

Replying to @NASAJPL

Psyche sends its data via the giant antennas of NASA's Deep Space Network. You can see which DSN stations are active and which spacecraft they're communicating with in real time at: eyes.nasa.gov/apps/dsn-now/d… Distance: 5,020 miles Speed: 11,660 mph

Simulated view of the Psyche spacecraft, with its "wings" of solar panel arrays, growing ever closer to the planet Mars, now seen in nearly half-full phase.

ALT Simulated view of the Psyche spacecraft, with its "wings" of solar panel arrays, growing ever closer to the planet Mars, now seen in nearly half-full phase.

115

7,245

NASA Solar System · May 15, 2026 · 6:30 PM UTC

Mission To Psyche retweeted

NASA Solar System

@NASASolarSystem

May 15

Replying to @NASAJPL

During the approach to Mars, the Psyche spacecraft's cameras and other science instruments are active. As raw images are transmitted to Earth during the coming hours and days, they will be available at solarsystem.nasa.gov/psyche-… Distance: 9,510 miles Speed: 11,020 mph

ALT Simulated view of the Psyche spacecraft, with its "wings" of solar panel arrays, approaching the planet Mars, seen in crescent phase.

195

10,428

NASA Solar System · May 15, 2026 · 6:00 PM UTC

Mission To Psyche retweeted

NASA Solar System

@NASASolarSystem

May 15

This "gravity assist" flyby will use the Red Planet's pull to boost the spacecraft's speed and refine its trajectory on its way to explore the mysterious, metal-rich asteroid Psyche. Details: go.nasa.gov/4tsCLPQ Current distance from Mars: 14,450 miles Speed: 10,710 mph

ALT Simulated view of the Psyche spacecraft, with its "wings" of solar panel arrays, approaching the planet Mars, seen in crescent phase.

342

22,308

NASA · May 15, 2026 · 4:35 PM UTC

Mission To Psyche retweeted

NASA

@NASA

May 15

Follow @NASASolarSystem for live updates as our Psyche mission slingshots around Mars! Learn more about the asteroid explorer: science.nasa.gov/mission/psy…

Psyche

The Psyche spacecraft is traveling to a unique metal-rich asteroid with the same name. By August 2029 the spacecraft will begin exploring asteroid Psyche.

science.nasa.gov

NASA Solar System

@NASASolarSystem

May 15

Right now, NASA's #MissionToPsyche is approaching Mars. Current distance: 29,780 miles Current speed relative to Mars: 10,340 mph This simulated view, based on actual trajectory data, comes from our Eyes on the Solar System experience. Ride along: eyes.nasa.gov/apps/solar-sys…

188

665

3,540

557,556