Astronomy News

This October 27, 2026, the International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Center (MPC) announced 2026 ED138, a large object orbiting beyond Neptune that may be a dwarf planet discovered by Vera C. Rubin Observatory. If its physical properties and classification are confirmed, it could become one of the newest dwarf planets in the Solar System.

This morning, October 20, 2026, at exactly 2:41:03 AM Thailand time, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully launched its Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft aboard an H3-24L rocket from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. The spacecraft separated from the launch vehicle shortly after liftoff, beginning a mission planned to last around five years.

Tomorrow, October 20, 2026, Japan’s Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission is scheduled to launch from the Tanegashima Space Center, beginning an exciting journey to explore Phobos, one of Mars’s mysterious moons, and bring samples back to Earth. JAXA’s MMX mission could unlock new clues about the origins of the Martian moons and the evolution of our Solar System.

This coming October 20, 2026, Japan’s Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission is set to carry forward one of planetary science’s most ambitious goals: exploring Phobos and bringing a sample of the Martian moon back to Earth. But this pursuit did not begin with MMX. There were predecessors who tried to take up on this challenge, laying important groundwork through their own attempts to investigate Phobos.

Japan is no stranger to the challenges of exploring the Solar System. For decades, its spacecraft have ventured to comets, asteroids, the Moon, Venus, and beyond, with each mission advancing scientific discovery and space exploration technology. From the pioneering Sakigake and Suisei missions that explored Halley’s Comet in 1986 to the Hayabusa missions that brought asteroid samples back to Earth, Japan has steadily built its expertise in exploring distant worlds. With just four days to go before the scheduled launch on October 20, 2026, JAXA is preparing to take another major step forward with the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission. Its goal is to collect samples from Phobos, one of Mars’s two moons, and return them to Earth, potentially offering new clues about the origins of these enigmatic worlds and the evolution of the Martian system.

The remarkable journey of Japan’s Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission is set to begin on October 20, 2026. With just five days to go before its scheduled launch, let’s follow along the carefully planned operations that await MMX at Phobos, where the spacecraft will collect surface samples for their return to Earth. These precious samples could hold vital clues to some of the long-standing mysteries surrounding Mars and its moons, helping scientists better understand their origins and the evolution of the Martian system.

With just six days to go before the October 20, 2026 scheduled launch, anticipation is building up for the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission, let us look beyond the journey itself and ask the bigger question; What can we hope to learn from the planet Mars and its moons?

As our countdown to the launch of the MMX Spacecraft continues, let's learn more about the Red Planet’s two moons, Phobos and Deimos. Phobos is named after the Greek god and personification of fear while the other moon, Deimos, took its name from the personification of terror. These were named after the sons of the Greek god of war Ares which fittingly reflects the name of their planet Mars, the Roman counterpart.

Join us for a 7-day countdown. This coming October 20, 2026, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is scheduled to launch its Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft aboard an H3 rocket from Tanegashima Space Center. Its gravity defying goal is to reach Phobos, the larger of Mars’s two moons, and venture on a mission to collect samples and return them to Earth around 2031.