Spotlight Look up! You might see rare comet PanSTARRS passing Earth this week JANET LOEHRKE USA Today Apr 15, 2026 Apr 15, 2026 Updated Apr 18, 2026 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 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… Friday Five: Two new restaurants, Panda Fest, lawncare and acting broke As drought worsens Concord asks customers to conserve water Commissioners Notebook: Board discusses opioid settlement funds; revisions to Emergency Operations Plan Second arrest made in Rowan fentanyl trafficking investigation Buying a home in Concord costs far more than renting, a new study finds Cabarrus Scroll: Outstanding performances and athletes moving to the next level Concord beach music Hall of Fame singer dies in crash Andy Langford: One councilperson's response to outcry against ICE detention center NC facing 'wild west' crossroads with cannabis usage, regulations Cabarrus Brewing goes statewide in 10th year Concord named among nation’s best places to live in 2026 Cabarrus Center at 5: From idea to impact, downtown hub reshapes local business landscape Logan Community among two dozen added to Historic Places list Wonders win on scoreboard, but all winners in Jonathan Foundation game Friday Five: Fast food fun, beer, plants, running and poetry 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 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 Eight Children Killed In Louisiana Domestic Violence Shooting Japan: Earthquake Shakes Train In Tohoku. Japan: Earthquake Shakes Train In Tohoku. AP top stories April 19 AP AP top stories April 19 Trump: Iran ‘can’t blackmail us’ over Strait of Hormuz Trump: Iran ‘can’t blackmail us’ over Strait of Hormuz
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.