Missions to small celestial bodies rely heavily on optical feature tracking for characterization of and relative navigation around the target body. While deep learning has led to great advancements in feature detection and description, training and validating data-driven models for space applications is challenging due to the limited availability of large-scale, annotated datasets. This paper introduces AstroVision, a large-scale dataset comprised of 115,970 densely annotated, real images of 16 different small bodies captured during past and ongoing missions. We leverage AstroVision to develop a set of standardized benchmarks and conduct an exhaustive evaluation of both handcrafted and data-driven feature detection and description methods. Next, we employ AstroVision for end-to-end training of a state-of-the-art, deep feature detection and description network and demonstrate improved performance on multiple benchmarks. The full benchmarking pipeline and the dataset will be made publicly available to facilitate the advancement of computer vision algorithms for space applications.

This illustration shows NASA's Cassini above Saturn's northern hemisphere before making one of its "Grand Finale" dives. This illustration shows NASA's Cassini above Saturn's northern hemisphere before making one of its "Grand Finale" dives. When Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon 50 years ago, it was an inspiring moment for people around the world. But another kind of explorer is responsible for much of the modern enthusiasm for space exploration. "Since the days of Apollo, the greatest adventures in space have been these robots that have gone all over the solar system," says Emily Lakdawalla, a self-described planetary evangelist at the Planetary Society.

A week after its dramatic'death dive' into Saturn's atmosphere, NASA has released Cassini's final images, revealing stunning last looks at the ringed planet and its mysterious moons. From a view of Enceladus setting behind Saturn, to the site where Cassini would make its impact, the new images show just what the spacecraft observed leading up to its demise. Cassini circled the planet for 13 years, helping to transform our understanding of the gas giant – and, thanks to its observations, scientists now know two of its moons have potential to host simple life. From a view of Enceladus setting behind Saturn, to the site where Cassini would make its impact, the new images show just what the spacecraft observed leading up to its demise. Its last image, pictured, is a monochrome look toward Saturn's night side, light by sunlight reflected from the planet's rings In the breathtaking series of photos, NASA shows some of Cassini's final observations.

The Cassini spacecraft has circled Saturn for nearly 13 years, gathering unprecedented insight on the ringed planet and its many moons. A dramatic new video shared by NASA looks back at some of the early highlights of the Cassini mission, compiling clips from several flybys and set to eerie music. The result is a breathtaking new perspective reminiscent of science fiction, showing some of Cassini's most remarkable observations as never seen before. The Cassini spacecraft has circled Saturn for nearly 13 years, gathering unprecedented insight on the ringed planet and its many moons. When it comes to space, it isn't always easy to understand how big objects really are.

Nasa's Cassini spacecraft has sent back stunning images from its descent down a mysterious gap between Saturn and its rings. The images provide'our closest look ever at Saturn's atmosphere and giant hurricane,' Nasa said. The spacecraft executed the daredevil plunge yesterday in the build up to its final'death dive' in September. Communications with the spacecraft went dark during the dive, but Nasa announced today that it has picked up radio signals from Cassini. Nasa's 70m-wide Deep Space Network (DSN) antenna at Goldstone, California, managed to re-establish communications just after 08:00 BST (03:00 EST) today, and stunning images are already flooding in. Communications with the spacecraft went dark during the dive, but Nasa has today announced that it has picked up radio signals from Cassini.

NASA's Cassini spacecraft is currently plunging into the gap between Saturn and its rings, a pioneering journey that could offer an unprecedented view of the planet. The first of the spaceship's 22 deep dives between Saturn and its innermost ring begun today at 10am BST (5am ET). Communications with the spacecraft have gone dark during the dive and will remain so for about a day afterwards while it makes scientific observations of the planet. Today Cassini has begun the first of 22 'Grand Finale Orbits' through an unexplored gap before taking its final plunge into the planet. This graphic shows these orbits alongside the Ring-Grazing orbits the craft has undergone over the past 13 years.

Cassini, the spacecraft that has been orbiting Saturn for 13 years, is running out of fuel and nearing the end of its mission. Over the next few months, Cassini will dive into the space between Saturn and its rings, moving closer and closer to the planet until it eventually disintegrates in its atmosphere in September. This week, NASA released a short animation showing these final moments, set to a majestic, brassy overture. "On its final orbit, Cassini will plunge into Saturn, fighting to keep its antenna pointed at Earth as it transmits its farewell," a comforting voice narrates as the music swells. "In the skies of Saturn, the journey ends, as Cassini becomes part of the planet itself."

Cassini, the spacecraft that has been orbiting Saturn for 13 years, is running out of fuel and nearing the end of its mission. Over the next few months, Cassini will dive into the space between Saturn and its rings, moving closer and closer to the planet until it eventually disintegrates in its atmosphere in September. This week, NASA released a short animation showing these final moments, set to a majestic, brassy overture.

Photos of space are everywhere online. Their beauty is dazzling, showing a universe awash in color and light. But if you're a skeptic, you've likely wondered whether it all truly looks like that in real life. Michael Benson tries his best to show you in his exhibition Otherworlds: Visions of Our Solar System. The artist took data from NASA and ESA missions to make 77 images of everything from Pluto to Europa that approximate true color as much as humanly possible. The work spans five decades of space exploration, and presents a realistic, flyby tour of the universe.