On this day in space! Oct. 13, 1773: Astronomer Charles Messier discovers the Whirlpool Galaxy before we ever knew it was a galaxy

space.com Oct 13, 2026

On this day in space! Oct. 13, 1773: Astronomer Charles Messier discovers the Whirlpool Galaxy before we ever knew it was a galaxy

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Oct 13, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

On October 13, 1773 French astronomer Charles Messier recorded a fuzzy object now known as the Whirlpool Galaxy (M 51) while compiling a list of non‑comet sightings to aid comet hunters. Messier catalogued it as the 51st entry but could not discern its spiral form or recognize it as a galaxy. Seventy‑two years later William Parsons identified its whirlpool shape, mistaking it for a spiral nebula, and Edwin Hubble later confirmed its true nature as an external galaxy. Located roughly 31 million light‑years away in the constellation Venatici, M 51 shines at magnitude 8.4 and is visible with modest telescopes. Modern observations show its striking arms result from a gravitational interaction with the nearby galaxy NGC 5195, which likely spurred a burst of star formation.

💡 Why It Matters

· The galaxy’s discovery illustrates how early cataloguing efforts unintentionally paved the way for recognizing galaxies beyond the Milky Way, reshaping our cosmic perspective.

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SpaceX rocket launch creates incredible ‘space jellyfish’ visible throughout US East Coast…

On October 13, SpaceX launched its 35th commercial resupply mission (CRS‑35) to the International Space Station from Cape Canaveral. A Falcon 9 lifted off at 6:35 a.m. EDT, carrying a Dragon cargo capsule with 6,300 pounds of scientific equipment. The rocket’s plume, illuminated at dawn, produced a bright “space jellyfish” visible along the U.S. East Coast, captured by observers in Georgia and North Carolina. The second stage placed the Dragon into orbit, where it will dock with the ISS on October 15.

💡 The vivid “space jellyfish” demonstrates how rocket launches can become accessible, real‑time spectacles for the public, potentially boosting interest in spaceflight and STEM engagement.

space.com · Oct 13

NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover breaks interplanetary driving record — and it’s far…

NASA’s Perseverance rover set a new interplanetary driving record on October 11, reaching 28.10 miles (45.22 km) on Mars, surpassing Opportunity’s 28.06‑mile mark. The rover has been on the planet for 5.5 years, compared to Opportunity’s 14, and mission planners anticipate it could eventually travel over 100 km. Engineers credit advanced wheels, autonomous navigation, and a collaborative team for Perseverance’s endurance and ongoing scientific exploration of Jezero Crater’s ancient geology.

💡 The record underscores how iterative design and teamwork can dramatically extend robotic mission lifespans, enabling deeper planetary investigations.

space.com · Oct 13

2 spacecraft in orbit and 8 more coming soon: Varda has big…

Varda Space Industries, a Los Angeles‑based reentry and orbital‑manufacturing startup, now has two spacecraft operating in orbit after a successful SpaceX Transporter‑18 rideshare launch on Oct. 1. The company says this marks the first launch of multiple commercial reentry vehicles. Payloads include pharmaceuticals, navigation demos and thermal‑protection material experiments, intended to be manufactured in space and returned to Earth. A third vehicle is slated for launch later this month, with all three expected to land in Australia’s Koonibba Test Range before Christmas. Varda plans seven additional missions in 2027, shifting from one‑off flights to a fleet‑based cadence. $251 million Series D funding will support a hiring surge to 386 staff and upgrades aimed at capability, as the industry anticipates a launch‑capacity shortfall around 2029.

💡 Varda’s move to a repeatable fleet model could make on‑orbit production a routine supply chain, reshaping how high‑value goods reach Earth.

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Q&A: Mars Perseverance Rover Distance Record

On Oct. 11, NASA’s Perseverance rover logged a total of 28.10 miles (45.22 km) traveled on Mars, setting a new distance record for the planet’s rovers. The achievement stems from Perseverance’s advanced autonomy software, which now handles about 90% of driving, compared with 5% for Opportunity and Curiosity. Mark Maimone, JPL’s Perseverance Robotic Operations Deputy Team Chief, explained that successive upgrades—including a second processor and FPGA‑accelerated image analysis—allow the rover to navigate at up to 120 m per hour without human intervention. The record surpasses Opportunity’s 45.16 km record, which stood for 15 years, and highlights the shift from solar‑powered to radioisotope‑powered platforms that support longer, faster missions. Its autonomous drives also generate detailed 3‑D terrain maps that aid science targets and planning.

💡 The milestone shows that near‑full autonomy can multiply a rover’s scientific return without extra launches.

space.com · Oct 13

A faint glow from the early universe could help solve the mystery…

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💡 Direct hydrogen mapping offers an unprecedented, independent probe of the large‑scale structure that drives dark‑energy measurements, potentially tightening constraints on its nature.

space.com · Oct 13

SpaceX launches Falcon 9 Starlink mission for 1st time in more than…

SpaceX launched 27 Starlink satellites on a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Oct. 12, ending a more than three‑week pause in Falcon 9 Starlink missions. The launch, the 112th Falcon 9 flight of 2026 and the 82nd for Starlink, deployed the satellites 62 minutes after liftoff. Booster B1088 returned to the drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You,” marking its 20th landing. The event follows a recent Starship flight that also deployed 26 next‑generation Starlink V3 craft.

💡 The return to Falcon 9 launches signals a transitional phase as SpaceX shifts toward Starship‑based deployments, reshaping the commercial launch landscape.