China has made great strides in exploring space in recent years, rocketing astronauts to its own space station and bringing back rocks from the moon.

A NASA spacecraft has blasted off on a quest to explore Jupiter's moon Europa and reveal whether its hidden ocean might hold the keys to life.

A massive NASA spacecraft has set sail for Jupiter and its moon Europa.

NASA has given the go-ahead to next month’s launch to Jupiter’s moon Europa.

Mars and Jupiter are cozying up in the night sky for their closest rendezvous this decade.

Astronomers have directly observed a super Jupiter around a nearby star.

Comcast has blacked out 15 regional sports networks offered by Bally Sports, escalating a contract dispute with their distributor.

New research suggests there’s less oxygen on the icy surface of Jupiter’s moon Europa than thought.

The world of sports viewing just got even more complicated.

Authorities are seeking at least five people in an armed robbery of the St. Louis Cardinals complex in the Dominican Republic on Friday.

Astronomers have discovered what could be two planets sharing the same orbit around their star.

There's another chance to see five planets lined up in the sky.

The Detroit Tigers have acquired Miami Marlins minor-league infielder Joe Rizzo in exchange for cash.

A federal bankruptcy judge has ordered Diamond Sports to pay the full value of its media contracts to the Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Guardians, Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers.

A new work by U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón, written for an upcoming NASA mission, is a glance at outer space that returns back to Earth.

A crucial radar antenna on a spacecraft bound for Jupiter is no longer jammed.

A European spacecraft has blasted off on a quest to explore Jupiter and three of its ice-encrusted moons.

If you missed the three-planet cosmic kiss in early March, take note of an even bigger event this week.

José Abreu and Trea Turner are among a group of key players who could have a big impact on new teams this season.

There's a special chance this week to see five planets lined up in the night sky.

If you missed the three-planet cosmic kiss in early March, take note of a bigger event at the end of the month.

Look up into the night sky tonight in Metro Detroit -- you could catch a glimpse of two planets.

Astronomers have discovered 12 new moons around Jupiter, putting the total count at a record-breaking 92.

Former Wayne State University pitcher Hunter Brown is reportedly set to make his MLB debut with the Houston Astros.

A document considered to be the crown jewel of the University of Michigan library collection has been exposed as a fake.

The world's newest and most powerful space telescope is showing Jupiter as never before, auroras and all.

Welcome to Saturday, Motown.

Mother Nature is painting a masterpiece for today.

Many familiar faces with impressive resumes are in new places following one of major league baseball’s wildest free agent frenzies.

For all the vitriol, Major League Baseball owners and players have closed the gap in recent weeks and are negotiating on similar frameworks for a new collective bargaining agreement.

Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem and chief union negotiator Bruce Meyer met for 1 1/2 hours and discussed the major issues in the stalled talks to reach a deal that would end Major League Baseball’s lockout.

As Rob Manfred stood behind a podium in the left-field corner of Roger Dean Stadium, fans chanted at the baseball commissioner from outside the spring training home of the Miami Marlins and St_ Louis Cardinals: “We want baseball!”.

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred announced the first two series of the regular season have been canceled after ownership failed to reach a deal with players before Tuesday’s league-imposed deadline.

After a 16-hour bargaining session that dragged into the early hours of the morning, Major League Baseball players and owners have reportedly made progress toward a deal that would end the lockout and allow the regular season to start on time.

Major League Baseball extended its deadline for salvaging opening day and a 162-game season until Tuesday at 5 p.m. after a marathon of 13 bargaining sessions over 16 1/2 hours produced progress toward a deal but left the sides still far apart.

Representatives for the league and union paused exchanging formal proposals and instead held a series of smaller meetings with one day left until Major League Baseball's deadline to salvage an on-time start to the regular season.

Major League Baseball negotiations took several steps forward and overcame a possible breakdown, leaving less than two days until management’s deadline for an agreement to salvage opening day on March 31 and a 162-game schedule.

Baseball players and owners took a first step toward salvaging opening day, nearing agreement on an amateur draft lottery during lockout negotiations that included a surprise one-on-one meeting between Commissioner Rob Manfred and union head Tony Clark.

Another negotiating session produced only minor movement and no proposals on big-money issues, leaving Major League Baseball four days from management’s Monday night deadline for a deal to salvage opening day and a 162-game season.

Major League Baseball gave locked out players five days to salvage March 31 openers and a full season, telling the union that games would be canceled if a labor contract is not agreed to by the end of Monday.

Another day ran off the clock in talks to salvage opening day when locked-out baseball players proposed what they considered a small move forward in drawn-out labor negotiations and management termed it a third straight step backward.

Baseball negotiations have resumed with new intensity in an effort to salvage opening day.

Major League Baseball’s negotiations to salvage opening day resume at a new venue: Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida.

Justin Verlander has agreed to a $25 million, one-year contract with the Houston Astros that includes a conditional $25 million player option for a second season.

Justin Verlander reached a $25 million deal to remain with the Houston Astros as he comes back from Tommy John surgery, and Brandon Belt accepted an $18.4 million qualifying offer from the San Francisco Giants.

Jupiter's Great Red Spot, a storm so big it could swallow Earth, extends surprisingly deep beneath the planet's cloud tops.

Welcome to Sunday night, Motown.

Welcome to Sunday, Motown.

A NASA spacecraft named Lucy has rocketed into the sky with diamonds on a 12-year quest to explore a record-setting eight asteroids.

The weather remains wonderful through the dinner hour and overnight. It will be mild then cool under fair skies. More sunshine returns with warmer conditions Wednesday The last few days of summer will continue to be warmer than average, and many of them will have a better chance of sunshine than rain.

Wednesday night will be mainly clear and cool. Overnight lows will be in the 50s with some chilly 40s. This may be a good time to test the furnace to make sure it’s in good working order.

NASA's Juno spacecraft has provided the first close-ups of Jupiter's largest moon in two decades.

DETROIT – Welcome to Sunday evening and the first full 24 hour day of spring, Motown. Terrific weather continues to reign this evening with clear skies. The next chance of showers will be in the form of rain for the middle and second half of this work-week. Tuesday will be partly sunny and warm. Late afternoon and evening rain showers are possible.

Sunday afternoon will be sunny and warmer with highs in the 60s. This afternoon will be sunny and warmer; a gorgeous day by any measure. Sunday afternoon will be sunny and warmer. Tuesday will be partly sunny and warm. Jackets will be needed Saturday under partly sunny skies.

Get ready for more abundant sunshine even higher temperatures today. Afternoon temperatures will be in the low and middle 60s. Tuesday will be partly sunny and warm. Jackets will be needed Saturday under partly sunny skies. AdRemember to download the FREE Local4Casters weather app -- it’s easily one of the best in the nation.

Saturday morning will be clear and cold. AdHats, scarves, gloves and hats can be shed by the middle of the afternoon. This is the perfect weather for an afternoon drive. Highs near 60°F. Remember to download the FREE Local4Casters weather app -- it’s easily one of the best in the nation.

If you thought the northern lights were a rare sight for us earthlings, you may want to think again. Those beautiful colors most visible in the Arctic and Antarctic are not only found on Earth: Jupiter has northern lights, too. Northern lights here on Earth result from charged particles from the sun that interact with the earth’s magnetosphere to create that glow that we see. AdPrevious missions did not really provide a good look at the Jovian aurorae, but Juno is a polar-orbiting spacecraft, so these images are our first real deep dive into the planet’s northern lights. New revelations on Jupiter, combined with those recently discovered on Mars, have made for an interesting year of space exploration so far!

Still seasonably chilly with highs in the low 40s. Highs will be near 60 degrees each day with early-morning lows in the 40s or near 50 degrees. During the day temperatures will reach the upper 50s. Saturday and Sunday will be chillier with highs in the 40s to near 50°F each day. Remember to download the FREE Local4Casters weather app -- it’s easily one of the best in the nation.

Temperatures dip this evening, then nose dive overnight. Highs will be in the low 40s in the Motor City area and Southern Lower Michigan. Still seasonably chilly with highs in the low 40s. Highs will be near 60 degrees each day with early-morning lows in the 40s or near 50 degrees. Remember to download the FREE Local4Casters weather app -- it’s easily one of the best in the nation.

Highs will be in the low 40s in the Motor City area and Southern Lower Michigan. WATCH: Metro Detroit afternoon forecastSunset is at 6:29 p.m.Saturday evening will be fair and chilly. Still seasonably chilly with highs in the low 40s. Highs will be near 60 degrees each day with early-morning lows in the 40s or near 50 degrees. Remember to download the FREE Local4Casters weather app -- it’s easily one of the best in the nation.

DETROIT – Welcome to Saturday morning and the first full weekend of March and meteorological spring, Motown. Temperatures start in the upper teens and low 20s. Highs will be in the low 40s in the Motor City area and Southern Lower Michigan. Still seasonably chilly with highs in the low 40s. In men’s college basketball, Michigan takes on MSU in East Lansing at 4:30 p.m.Monday will be bright and milder.

In this Feb. 4, 2021, photo provided by the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, Arvy, a brown pelican rescued from the icy Connecticut River on Jan. 27, sits in a bathtub at the home of Busch Wildlife Sanctuary hospital director Stephanie Franczak in Florida after the bird was flown to the Jupiter, Fla., wildlife sanctuary. Apparently blown far off course, Arvy is recovering from pneumonia and frostbite at the wildlife center. (Stephanie Franczak/Busch Wildlife Sanctuary via AP)KILLINGWORTH, Conn. – A pelican that got blown off course and was rescued in chilly Connecticut has been flown to Florida, where he is recovering from pneumonia and frostbite. The brown pelican, nicknamed Arvy, was rescued from the icy Connecticut River on Jan. 27. “He is a Southern bird, he is not supposed to be north of the Carolinas and Virginia,” Carolina Young, spokesperson for the Florida sanctuary, told the Register.

Four games were postponed because of players testing positive or quarantining under the COVID-19 protocol. DePaul’s previously postponed game at St. John’s on Jan. 2 has been rescheduled for Feb. 20. Major League Baseball last week proposed a one-month delay in starting spring training due to the coronavirus pandemic. ___The Cleveland Indians will not be allowing fans to watch their spring training workouts in Arizona due to the COVID-19 pandemic. AdThere has not yet been a decision on whether fans will be able to attend spring training games.

DETROIT – Low clouds have once again overspread the area, and will be around through most of the daylight hours. Highs today will only reach the low to mid 30s (0 to 1 degree Celsius), with a southwest wind at 7 to 12 mph. Mostly cloudy Wednesday night, with lows in the low 30s (-1 to 0 degrees Celsius). Temperatures nearly steady in the low to mid 30s (0 to 1 degrees Celsius). Weekend outlookMostly cloudy skies persist through the weekend, with possible snow showers not out of the question.

Today’s sunset is at 5:21 p.m.Cloudy Sunday night, with lows in the mid 20s (-4 degrees Celsius). Clouds increase overnight Monday night, with lows in the mid 20s (-4 degrees Celsius). A light rain or snow shower is possible Thursday night, with lows in the low 30s (0 degrees Celsius). Highs in the low 30s (-1 to 0 degrees Celsius), with wind chills remaining in the teens (-9 degrees Celsius). Tracking the weather· Track the live Michigan Weather Radar here· Track severe weather alerts here· Submit storm photos here· Find more weather forecast articles at Weather Center

Highs should reach the middle 30s (2 degrees Celsius), with a light and variable wind. Mostly cloudy and becoming breezy on Wednesday, with highs warming into the upper 30s to near 40 degrees (4 degrees Celsius). A light rain or snow shower is possible Thursday night, with lows in the low 30s (0 degrees Celsius). Highs in the low 30s (-1 to 0 degrees Celsius), with wind chills remaining in the teens (-9 degrees Celsius). Tracking the weather· Track the live Michigan Weather Radar here· Track severe weather alerts here· Submit storm photos here· Find more weather forecast articles at Weather Center

After highs in the low 40s and sunshine all day, skies will be fair Saturday evening. An amazing three-planet conjunction has a good chance of being visible as it becomes chillier at night. Overnight lows return to the low and middle 20s, which is barely higher than the average low temperature of 19 degrees. Thursday and Friday will have cloudier skies with Thursday rain showers turning to snow showers Thursday night and Friday. Remember to download the FREE Local4Casters weather app -- it’s easily one of the best in the nation.

DETROIT – If the weather cooperates, something very special will be visible on the winter solstice this Monday night -- the “Star of Bethlehem,” also known as the “Christmas Star.”Despite the names, it’s actually not a star at all. Since Jupiter orbits the sun every 12 years and Saturn orbits the sun every 30 years, the two largest planets in the solar system don’t line up very often. The two gas giants will cross paths in the night sky on the winter solstice on Monday, Dec. 21. Though the planets are 450 million miles apart, to the naked eye, they will appear as one bright light in the sky. To view the Christmas Star, turn your gaze toward the southwest sky a little after sunset on Monday, Dec. 21.

With this year’s winter solstice comes more than just confirmation of our already-cold weather and ever-fleeting daylight: The rare “Christmas Star” will be visible for the first time in 800 years. Each year, Earth’s northern hemisphere enters the winter solstice on Dec. 21 -- the shortest day of the year -- officially marking the start of winter. This year, bright planets Jupiter and Saturn will align perfectly on Dec. 21 to create what is commonly called the Christmas Star or the “Star of Bethlehem.”According to NASA, Jupiter and Saturn align with one another every 20 years or so, but not nearly as close together as they will be in 2020. Experts say the Christmas Star can be seen by the unaided eye just after sunset on Dec. 21, 2020. You can see Saturn and Jupiter nearly align on Dec. 21, forming what appears to be a Christmas star.

(Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Jupiter and Saturn will merge in the night sky Monday, appearing closer to one another than they have since Galileo’s time in the 17th century. Jupiter passes its neighbor Saturn in their respective laps around the sun every 20 years. Saturn and Jupiter have been drawing closer in the south-southwest sky for weeks. Despite appearances, Jupiter and Saturn will actually be more than 450 million miles (730 million kilometers) apart. A telescope will not only capture Jupiter and Saturn in the same field of view, but even some of their brightest moons.

The Astros announced Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020, that Verlander needs Tommy John surgery and could miss the entire 2021 season. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)HOUSTON – Astros ace Justin Verlander had Tommy John surgery on Wednesday. That means the earliest Verlander could pitch for would be in the 2022 season and it might not be for the Astros. He attempted a comeback after he was injured, but announced on Sept. 19 that he would need Tommy John surgery. Verlander joined the Astros in a trade on Aug. 31, 2017 and his stellar performance helped them to their first World Series title that season.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Jupiter and its enticing moon Europa shine in a new photo by the Hubble Space Telescope. Hubble snapped the picture last month when the planet was 406 million miles (653 million kilometers) away, and the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore released it Thursday. Europa, which is smaller than our own moon, appears as a pale dot alongside its giant, color-streaked gas planet. NASA plans to launch a spacecraft, the Europa Clipper, later this decade to see if conditions there might be ripe for life. ___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education.

WASHINGTON President Donald Trump will highlight his environmental agenda as he campaigns in the battleground states of Florida and North Carolina on Tuesday. The White House says Trump will stop in Jupiter, Florida, on Tuesday to remind voters there of his conservation and environmental protection efforts in the Everglades region. For the federal budget year beginning Oct. 1, the White House said, Trump asked Congress for $250 million in annual funding to accelerate construction of infrastructure for the Everglades as part of the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration. The president will also hold a campaign rally Tuesday in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Trump narrowly won both states in the 2016 presidential election.

Cuddle alert: Check out these listings of pets looking for their fur-ever homes.

It now has 82 known moons; Jupiter has 79. It now has 82 known moons; Jupiter has 79. But 17 of the 20 have a retrograde orbit of Saturn, meaning they essentially orbit backwards from the planet and other moons. The retrograde moons were also likely part of a larger body, and their name are derived from Norse mythology. Gas, dust and collisions in outer spaceOne of the prograde moons has an angle of 36 degrees, similar to the other prograde moons close to Saturn named for Gallic mythology.

(CNN) - Loki, named for the Norse god of mischief, is about to unleash an eruption on Jupiter's moon Io, according to astronomers. And Loki is the most powerful volcano on Io. Rathbun presented a poster about predicting Loki's eruptions this week at the European Planetary Science Congress - Division for Planetary Sciences Joint Meeting 2019 in Geneva. Volcanoes are usually hard to predict because a variety of factors can lead to eruptions, Rathbun noted. "Loki is named after a trickster god, and the volcano has not been known to behave itself," Rathbun said.

(CNN) - Jupiter's turbulent beauty comes from its wild atmosphere full of storms, artfully swirling clouds and big bands of color wrapping around the gas giant. "ALMA enabled us to make a three-dimensional map of the distribution of ammonia gas below the clouds. They were able to track the storms inside Jupiter's colorful belts, much like we track them on Earth, and realized the storms create plumes above the ammonia ice clouds. When the storm clouds reach the coldest part of the atmosphere, they spread out like cumulonimbus clouds that cause lightning and thunder on Earth. The plumes bring up ammonia gas from deep in the atmosphere to high altitudes, well above the main ammonia cloud deck."

Venus and Mars are currently blocked from our view by the sun, but this week is a great chance to catch Jupiter and Saturn in conjunction with the moon. The nearly full moon will appear very close to Jupiter on the night of August 9. Like Jupiter, Saturn will also appear in the sky once night falls and be visible until dawn, east of Jupiter. On the evening of August 11, the moon will appear to the right of Saturn and then on its left on August 12. Other tribes also called it the "moon when all things ripen" the "blueberry moon" or the "wheat cut moon."

Temps are in teh upper 70s and low 80s. More beautiful weather, this evening and tonight. Campers can expect temps in the low and mid 80s in the afternoon. Local 4Casters weather app:Remember to download the FREE Local4Casters weather app. Weather radarKeep an eye out for severe weather alerts and the radar here:Copyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.