Spotlight Look up! You might see rare comet PanSTARRS passing Earth this week JANET LOEHRKE USA Today Apr 15, 2026 Apr 15, 2026 Updated 18 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… Trial against former McDowell High volleyball coach accused of sex crimes began Wednesday Where Duke basketball stands after one week in transfer portal McDowell County native started mowing lawns at 15. 5 years later, he has a business, employees First freight train to return to Old Fort this Saturday. When can you see it come through McDowell? McDowell Endowment giving $56,950 in grants to local nonprofits Marion sixth graders say city needs a dog park; family nonprofit aiming to create toddler park Marion native assumes command of U.S. Army rapid response task force McDowell County man charged with sexual assault of employee This new spot in Marion is offering locally grown food and beer, run by farmers and a brewer McDowell County leaders to hear updates on trains, parks Monday One person critically injured in Sunday crash involving bicycle in McDowell County Frye Regional Medical Center given Immediate Jeopardy status. What does that mean and what's next? Buncombe County celebrates soon-to-be mountaintop public park McDowell County quilters guild donates to Mountain Gateway Museum in Old Fort Marion City Hall's cupola gets some repairs after leak, damage in winter storm kAm%96 :>286 36=@H D9@HD E96 AC65:4E65 4@FCD6 @7 4@>6E #b !2?$%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 Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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 Raffle winner thrilled to claim a $1 million Picasso with a $117 ticket "How do I check that it's not a hoax?" Ari Hodara, 58, said after organizers called him following the draw at a Paris auction house. 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 A1 Minute! April 16, 2026: New Kroger behind the scenes; ART 180 to close; Virginia collective bargaining AP Top Stories April 16 AP AP Top Stories April 16 Swalwell's Capitol Hill office sign removed following resignation from Congress AP 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 Recommended for you
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
Raffle winner thrilled to claim a $1 million Picasso with a $117 ticket "How do I check that it's not a hoax?" Ari Hodara, 58, said after organizers called him following the draw at a Paris auction house.
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 16, 2026: New Kroger behind the scenes; ART 180 to close; Virginia collective bargaining