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NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
March 16, 2026
NGC 1566: The Spanish Dancer Galaxy
If not perfect, then this spiral galaxy is at least one of the most photogenic. An island universe containing billions of stars and situated about 40 million light-years away toward the constellation of the Dolphinfish (Dorado), NGC 1566 presents a gorgeous face-on view. Classified as a grand design spiral, NGC 1566 shows two prominent and graceful spiral arms that are traced by bright blue star clusters, red emission nebulas, and dark cosmic dust lanes. Numerous Hubble Space Telescope images of NGC 1566 have been taken to study star formation, supernovas, and the spiral's unusually active center. NGC 1566's flaring center makes the spiral one of the closest and brightest Seyfert galaxies, likely housing a central supermassive black hole wreaking havoc on surrounding stars and gas.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OruCBl21wZY
Auroral Outburst, Solar Stroke Risk, Mars Problem | S0 News and frens
Mar.16.2026
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r31koVItH3A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aewKo7ij4vY (Suspicious 0bservers: Observer Origins - Two Major Hurdles)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHCGR20y5uY (Ray's Astro: Is the Sun Resetting on a 12,000 Year Cycle? The Truth About Miyake Events)
https://phys.org/news/2026-03-volunteers-oddly-high-solar-flare.html
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/CryoSat/How_does_an_ice_satellite_detect_a_geomagnetic_storm
https://x.com/MrMBB333/status/2033295479744954564
https://x.com/cessi_iiserkol/status/2033545183506444752
https://x.com/schumannbot/status/2033543847708332326
https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/earthquakes-volcanoes/news/297732/Volcano-earthquake-report-for-Monday-16-Mar-2026.html
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/aurora-viewline-tonight-and-tomorrow-night-experimental
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/
https://spaceweather.com/
Comet C/2026 A1 gets closer to the Sun: a record-breaking approach is expected
March 16, 2026
In early April 2026, astronomy enthusiasts and scientists will be holding their breath.
The recently discovered MAPS comet (C/2026 A1) is preparing for a rendezvous with our star. On April 4, it will reach perihelion—the point of closest approach to the Sun.
How the “stranger” was found
The object was detected very recently—on January 13, 2026. The discovery was made in Chile’s Atacama Desert using the AMACS1 observatory.
There’s a whole story behind the name: the acronym MAPS is formed from the first letters of the surnames of four asteroid hunters: Alain Maury, Georges Attard, Daniel Parrott, and Florian Signoret.
At the time of its discovery, the comet was located in the constellation Cygnus, more than 300 million kilometers from the Sun.
At that time, it was extremely faint. However, within a matter of weeks, its brightness increased a thousandfold. It is now visible through small amateur telescopes.
The Kreutz Family
Astronomers have classified MAPS as a member of the Kreutz comet family. This is a special class of objects that pass extremely close to the Sun.
Scientists believe that they are all fragments of a single giant primordial comet that broke apart many centuries ago.
The fate of such “solar travelers” is usually tragic. For example, in October 2024, comet C/2024 S1 (ATLAS) could not withstand the close approach and disintegrated before it even reached its peak brightness.
However, there are exceptions: in 2011, the famous comet C/2011 W3 Lovejoy survived its passage through the solar corona, treating Earthlings to an unforgettable blue-green glow.
Chances of a spectacular show: when and where to watch?
Does MAPS have a chance of surviving? Astronomers are cautiously optimistic. This comet’s main advantage is its size. With a diameter of about 2.4 km, it is larger than most typical Kreutz comets.
If the nucleus can withstand gravitational tides and extreme temperatures, the comet could reach a magnitude of -4, which is as bright as Venus.
Tips for observers:
Where to look: near the horizon, immediately after sunset.
When: The best time is about 30 minutes after sunset.
What to expect: The comet will most likely form a long, striking dust tail pointing east-southeast.
Residents of the Northern Hemisphere will find it difficult to observe the object due to its low position above the horizon and its proximity to the sun.
However, if the comet “celebrates” its survival with a powerful outburst of material, its tail could grace the evening sky for several days in April.
We previously reported on the discovery of large amounts of alcohol on the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS.
https://universemagazine.com/en/comet-c-2026-a1-gets-closer-to-the-sun-a-record-breaking-approach-is-expected/
https://www.planetary.org/articles/messengers-of-ice-and-time
https://avi-loeb.medium.com/3i-atlas-is-fading-away-leaving-us-to-ponder-over-its-22-mysterious-anomalies-8d1318565f13
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Teji2TXIvc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkjyBa76pwU (John Lenard Walson: March 2026 RAF Fairford)
https://x.com/forallcurious/status/2033257036578984383
https://x.com/forallcurious/status/2033310876636475467
https://x.com/Space_PHD/status/2033393786311921745
>Endangered Species Act
WATCH: Artemis II crew gives Lara Trump a tour of the Orion spacecraft
Mar 15, 2026
Fox News host Lara Trump gets an exclusive tour of the Orion spacecraft that will be departing on a Moon mission on ‘My View
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty82DCo7FKA
https://x.com/LaraLeaTrump
Progress 92 Cargo Spacecraft Undocks, Crew Preps for Upcoming Spacewalk
March 16, 2026 10:49AM
Spacewalk preparations and the undocking of a cargo spacecraft kicked off the week for the Expedition 74 crew aboard the International Space Station.
The unpiloted Progress 92 cargo spacecraft undocked from the Poisk module at 9:24 a.m. EDT today.
The spacecraft backed away from the station for a deorbit maneuver and a planned destructive re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere to dispose of trash loaded by the crew.
Aboard the orbital outpost, NASA astronauts Chris Williams and Jessica Meir spent most of their day gearing up for this week’s planned spacewalk.
The duo collected vital signs, replaced spacesuit batteries, and worked together in the Quest airlock to continue the configuration of tools they’ll use while in the vacuum of space.
Williams and Meir will exit the Quest airlock around 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 18, to install a modification kit and route cables on the port side of the station.
Their work readies for the next roll-out solar array to be installed during a later spacewalk.
NASA will preview the upcoming spacewalks during a news conference today at 2:00 p.m. Stream on the agency’s YouTube.
In the Tranquility module, NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway spent most of the day conducting maintenance on the station’s water recovery system.
He later swapped out some spacesuit helmet lights before moving into the Destiny laboratory module to change out cassettes in ADSEP-2, or the Advanced Space Experiment Processor.
The multipurpose facility uses cassettes to house and process various samples for biological and physical science experiments, such as cell and tissue culturing, protein crystal growth, microorganism and bacteria studies, and more.
European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot measured her cardiovascular health on Monday.
Ahead of a cycle session on the orbital complex’s bicycle, CEVIS, she donned the Bio-Monitor, which includes an instrumented garment and headband to track an array of vital signs, including heart activity, blood pressure, physical activity levels, and more.
She later logged the data then stowed the hardware for future use before joining Hathaway to assist with maintenance.
The station’s three cosmonauts kept busy Monday with a variety of activities. Commander Sergey Kud-Sverchkov started the day photographing payload equipment for documentation and inspected voltage converters.
He was later joined by flight engineer Sergei Mikaev to log daily work activities and test communications software.
Mikaev also teamed up with flight engineer Andrey Fedyaev to conduct physical fitness assessments, wearing sensors that track their blood pressure and electrical activity in their hearts.
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2026/03/16/progress-92-cargo-spacecraft-undocks-crew-preps-for-upcoming-spacewalk/
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcB43W_SZfk
Mars Perseverance Sol 1798: SuperCam Camera
March 16, 2026
NASA's Mars Perseverance rover acquired this image using the SuperCam Remote Micro-Imager, located at the top of the rover's mast.
This image was acquired on March 12, 2026 (Sol 1798) at the local mean solar time of 11:46:28.
https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/multimedia/raw-images/index.cfm?mission=mars2020&urlpath=LRF_1798_0826554356_264EBY_N0870000SCAM02798_0100I6J&utm_source=flipboard&utm_content=topic%2Fnasa
Cañon Fiord’s Whirling Waters
Mar 16, 2026
For most of the year, ice blankets the waterways of the northern Canadian Arctic Archipelago. But during the brief summer melt season, the stark white and gray landscape transforms into a colorful, dynamic environment.
On a particularly striking day in 2022, sediment plumes and fractured sea ice traced swirling eddies in a branch of the Nansen Sound fjord system.
These satellite images show a section of Cañon Fiord, located about 115 kilometers (70 miles) southeast of the Eureka research station on west-central Ellesmere Island.
Waters from the fjord flow into Greely Fiord, which connects to Nansen Sound and ultimately the Arctic Ocean. The images were acquired by the OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 8 on August 9, 2022.
Igor Dmitrenko, a physical oceanographer at the Centre for Earth Observation Science at the University of Manitoba, has studied eddies in the fjord system and notes that the water’s turbidity, a measure of its cloudiness, remains low during the ice-covered season.
Freshwater runoff—and the sediment it carries—drops sharply this time of year, and the formation of 2-meter-thick sea ice shields the surface from wind, suppressing mixing that would otherwise resuspend particles.
Summer presents a contrasting scenario. The detailed image below (top) shows that the sea ice in this part of the fjord has broken up, free to drift with the currents and wind.
Note that some of the pieces are likely icebergs that have broken off from nearby outlet glaciers. The second detailed image shows a similar scenario; however, in this case, it is sediment suspended in the water that is tracing the flow.
Alex Gardner and Chad Greene, glaciologists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, pointed out that the sediment plume is mostly glacial flour—rock that has been pulverized by a glacier.
Surface meltwater that gets under the glacier ultimately flushes the glacial flour into the fjord, making the water appear turquoise. Glacial flour is a critical source of nutrients, specifically iron.
Soluble iron is a vital nutrient in marine ecosystems because most phytoplankton—the foundation of marine food webs—depend on it to grow.
The glacial ice visible in these scenes comes from the Agassiz Ice Cap, one of five major ice caps on Ellesmere Island.
Using data from NASA’s ICESat and the DLR-NASA GRACE missions, scientists have shown that glaciers in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago began shrinking rapidly in the mid-2000s and that the trend has persisted.
https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/canon-fiords-whirling-waters/
Mysterious 'Shiny' Geometric Object Spotted On Mars, Harvard Astronomer Asks NASA To Investigate
Mar 16, 2026 09:08 am IST
The cone-like object, about 20 centimetres long with a flat base, was first photographed in 2022 by the Curiosity Rover while exploring Gale Crater on
A party hat-shaped object spotted on Mars has sparked fresh debate among scientists, with some suggesting it could hint at something unusual, while others say there may be a far simpler explanation.
The cone-like object, about 20 centimetres long with a flat base, was first photographed in 2022 by the Curiosity Rover while exploring Gale Crater on Mars.
Interest in the mysterious object resurfaced on March 8 after Avi Loeb highlighted it in a post on Medium.
"Should we just assume that the mysterious cylinder is human-made debris and move on or turn back the rover to figure out whether its origin is different?" Loeb asked in the post.
Loeb urged NASA to send the rover to examine the object more closely. At the time the image was captured, the SUV-sized rover was operating on the slopes of Mount Sharp, roughly five miles from the object's location.
"The most likely explanation is that it corresponds to man-made debris," Loeb wrote.
Speaking further about the discovery, Loeb said NASA should consider directing the rover to study the cylinder rather than continuing with routine operations. In his view, investigating the mysterious object could provide valuable insight into its origin.
"NASA is funded by taxpayers, and if we asked them, they would likely agree that understanding the origin of the mysterious cylinder should be the top priority of Curiosity," he said.
The object was first spotted in the vast archive of Mars images by amateur researcher Rami Bar Ilan. It was later brought to Loeb's attention by Jan Spacek of the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution.
NASA has not yet provided an official identification of the object. However, Loeb himself acknowledged a more mundane possibility that the cone could simply be debris from the Curiosity mission.
The rover may have shed a piece of equipment during its long journey across the Martian surface.
The Curiosity rover has been exploring the region since 2012, travelling across the landscape of Gale Crater in search of clues about the planet's ancient environment and whether it once supported microbial life.
https://www.ndtv.com/science/mysterious-shiny-geometric-object-spotted-on-mars-harvard-astronomer-asks-nasa-to-investigate-11220741
https://avi-loeb.medium.com/is-the-mysterious-cylinder-on-mars-photographed-in-2022-by-the-curiosity-rover-a-human-made-6fcd8e242fea
Solar panels on Moon? Japan’s 6,800-mile Lunar Ring project could power Earth
March 16, 2026 / 13:29 IST
The future Earth will have robots to do all the work. From picking up a pencil to building up a big satellite, robots will take over the planet.
In a futuristic vision, a Japanese company has proposed building a massive solar power ring around the Moon.
The ambitious concept is known as the Luna Ring. It could generate enormous amounts of clean energy and beam it back to Earth.
This could potentially transform the global energy system. This concept has amazed scientists and they are considering it seriously!
What Is the Luna Ring Project?
The idea comes from the Japanese engineering company Shimizu Corporation. This company proposed constructing a gigantic belt of solar panels around the Moon’s equator.
The ring would stretch about 6,800 miles (11,000 km) around the Moon roughly 250 miles (400 km) wide. The structure would be covered by solar panels.
This will collect sunlight in space where clouds do not exist. There will be no atmosphere or night cycles to interfere with production of solar power.
Why Build Solar Panels on the Moon?
Solar power on Earth faces several limitations such as nightfall, weather conditions, and seasonal changes. However, the Moon has much more reliable sun rays.
A solar power system in space could produce much more energy than solar farms on Earth.
According to the plan, the lunar ring could possibly produce 13,000 terawatts of electricity, which is much more than the present energy demand of the world.
How Would the Energy Reach Earth?
The energy produced by the solar panels on the Moon would not remain there. Instead, the energy would be converted into microwaves or laser beams and transmitted to Earth.
The energy would be received at receiving stations on Earth. The energy would then be converted back into electricity and connected to the world power grid.
If this plan succeeds, it could provide a constant supply of renewable energy and decrease the use of fossil fuels.
Will Humans make these Lunar Rings?
The proposed Luna Ring by the company will not be build by humans. Autonomous construction robots will be operating on the Moon, instead.
These robots would be designed to mine lunar soil, process it into building materials and assemble solar panels along the Moon’s equator.
Heavy robotic machines could dig, transport materials and install huge solar arrays across thousands of kilometers.
Future lunar missions of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and NASA could help develop the advanced robotics needed for this project.
A Glimpse into the Future of Energy
Even though the concept is science fiction today, still it demonstrates that scientists and engineers are thinking on how to address energy crisis faced by the earth today.
Should more technological advances such as robotic building on the moon and wireless supplying of power, then such a thing as the Luna Ring might become feasible.
https://www.moneycontrol.com/science/solar-panels-on-moon-japan-s-6-800-mile-lunar-ring-project-could-power-earth-article-13861489.html
https://twitter.com/AngryCitizen247/status/2033445453547917653
Shenzhou-21 crew reported harvest of ‘space tomatoes’
Mar 15, 2026 11:12 PM
The Shenzhou-21 crew aboard the Tiangong space station has recently reported updates on their work, with "space tomatoes" yielding a bumper harvest, the China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Sunday.
Inside the space station, cherry tomatoes grown using an aeroponic cultivation device are thriving. The astronauts photographed and harvested the ripe fruits, and separately sealed and stored the plants and tomatoes, according to a video published by the CCTV.
In the next stage, the crew will also carry out aeroponic cultivation experiments on wheat, carrots and medicinal-edible plants as planned, to verify key technologies and expand the range of crops and technical capabilities for space cultivation.
In a video reported by China Media Group (CMG) in February, astronaut Zhang Hongzhang gave people on Earth a tour of what he calls a "healing corner" of the Tiangong to show the tomato plants exhibiting vigorous growth, per Xinhua.
The device nurturing these plants is called an aeroponic cultivation system, developed by a research team from the China Astronaut Research and Training Center. It works by vaporizing water into a fine mist.
This method can significantly improve the efficiency of water usage, Zhang explained.
The data gathered will inform future long-duration space missions where bioregenerative life support systems may prove essential.
In the video released by the CCTV, the crew also conducted other experiments such as microgravity physical science experiments.
Focusing on experimental projects in the field of space materials science, the crew completed a series of tasks including cleaning sample residues from the experimental chamber of the containerless experiment rack, replacing experimental samples, maintaining the electrodes of the axial mechanism, and cleaning the lens of the axial mechanism's viewport cover.
Inside the space station, the crew conducts inspections and maintenance of equipment related to the regenerative life support system.
They also regularly monitor microorganisms in the station's environment and assess their growth to support on-orbit microbial control.
The astronauts have also carried out medical emergency training to familiarize themselves with rescue procedures and force application in microgravity.
In addition, they performed blood tests using fingertip blood sampling, with the data helping ground teams monitor the crew's health, according to CCTV.
The Shenzhou-21 manned spacecraft was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on October 31, 2025.
The Shenzhou-21 crew completed their mission's first series of extravehicular activities on December 9, per Xinhua.
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202603/1357010.shtml
Egyptian Space Agency launches Egyptian Space Academy
March 16, 2026
The academy operates as a year-round learning platform, delivering advanced educational and training programs across a wide range of scientific and technological fields.
Egyptian Space Agency (EgSA) has announced the launch of the Egyptian Space Academy, a specialised training institution designed to strengthen human capacity in space science and technology while supporting the localisation of Egypt’s space industry.
The new academy represents a strategic step in expanding the agency’s long-term efforts to develop national expertise in advanced technologies.
Over recent years, EgSA has implemented several initiatives aimed at building human capital, including specialised training programmes, support for university graduation projects, and regional training activities that have helped enhance cooperation and capacity development at both the national and African levels.
With the establishment of the Egyptian Space Academy, the agency is entering a new phase focused on professional training and knowledge development.
The academy will function as a year-round learning platform offering advanced education and training programmes across a range of scientific and technological disciplines.
These programmes will be delivered through partnerships with technology companies, industry experts and academic institutions.
The academy’s curriculum will focus on practical skill development and advanced knowledge in areas such as space science and applications, professional and management training, as well as emerging technologies and cybersecurity.
The initiative is intended to prepare professionals capable of adapting to rapid technological changes and meeting the evolving demands of modern industries.
EgSA said the academy will serve a broad audience that includes university students, professionals, technical specialists and institutions.
In addition to strengthening national capabilities, the initiative is also expected to support regional cooperation by encouraging knowledge exchange and capacity development across the wider region.
Operating within a collaborative ecosystem that includes the Egyptian Space Agency, academic partners and industry stakeholders, the academy aims to create a modern training environment centred on applied learning and knowledge transfer.
Officials said that the initiative will contribute to Egypt’s broader efforts to build a knowledge-based economy while fostering innovation and advanced technology development.
The Egyptian Space Agency has encouraged individuals and organisations interested in the academy’s programmes to follow the official social media platforms of the Egyptian Space Academy for updates on upcoming training initiatives and opportunities expected to be announced in the near future.
https://satelliteprome.com/news/egyptian-space-agency-launches-egyptian-space-academy/
https://phys.org/news/2026-03-microscope-sharper-view-momentum-space.html
https://pubs.aip.org/aip/apl/article/128/1/010503/3377132/Momentum-microscopy-and-its-applications
New microscope offers sharper view into momentum space
March 15, 2026
Electrons are tiny and constantly in motion. How they behave in a crystal lattice determines key material properties: electrical conductivity, magnetism, or novel quantum effects.
Anyone aiming to develop the information technologies of tomorrow must understand what electrons do. At Forschungszentrum Jülich, a new tool is now available for this purpose: a momentum microscope that was fully developed and built on site.
"Internationally, we are currently seeing rapidly growing interest in this method," explains Dr. Christian Tusche from Forschungszentrum Jülich.
A pioneer of momentum microscopy
Dr. Christian Tusche already played a key role in advancing momentum microscopy during his time at the Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics in Halle. Since moving to Jülich in 2015, he has continued to drive its development forward.
His work has been recognized with several awards, including the Kai Siegbahn Prize in 2018 and the Innovation Award on Synchrotron Radiation in 2016. Most recently, he published a review article on the method in the journal Applied Physics Letters.
In recent years, numerous instruments have been commissioned at synchrotron facilities and X-ray lasers around the world. "The new device we built together with the Mechanical Workshop is a real innovation.
There is currently nothing like it available from any specialist company," says Dr. Tusche.
From large facilities to a UV laser
Until now, momentum microscopes typically required large-scale research facilities as radiation sources, such as electron accelerators or X-ray lasers. The Jülich system, by contrast, operates with a powerful tabletop UV laser.
This is made possible by a newly developed electron-optics design that is far more efficient than previous systems while delivering even sharper images of electron states.
From the photoelectric effect to the complete picture
Momentum microscopy is based on the photoelectric effect: when light strikes a material, electrons are emitted while retaining their momentum and often also their spin direction.
From this information, it is possible to reconstruct the quantum state in which they previously existed. On this basis, photoemission spectroscopy and microscopy have become established techniques in solid-state physics.
"However, these methods reach their limits when it comes to capturing spin and momentum over wider energy ranges," explains Dr. Tusche.
Momentum microscopy combines both approaches in a single instrument. "With just one or a few measurements, you can obtain the complete picture."
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A map of electron motion
A momentum microscope not only shows where electrons are located, but also how they move. The measurements provide a kind of map of electron movement—with information on momentum, spin, orbitals, and spatial and temporal changes in a single experiment.
A simple analogy helps illustrate the concept: while a conventional microscope shows where people are standing in a marketplace, a momentum microscope reveals where they are heading and how fast they are moving—and in the case of electrons, also their spin orientation.
Electronic fingerprint
One of the key results is the so-called Fermi surface. It describes the momentum distribution of electrons and is crucial for determining the fundamental physical properties of a material.
Researchers use it like a fingerprint: the Fermi surface reveals whether the material is a metal or a semiconductor, or a quantum material with exotic effects such as superconductivity or complex magnetism.
A key to new discoveries
In the short time since its inception, momentum microscopy has already enabled numerous breakthroughs.
Among other things, Dr. Tusche's team succeeded in producing a two-dimensional semimetal that only conducts electrons with a specific spin direction—a promising approach for spintronics.
In addition, the researchers observed a new effect for controlling the orbital angular momentum of electrons, which opens up prospects for future "orbitronics."
One device for many materials
The new Jülich microscope is suitable for a wide range of modern materials, including metals, ferromagnets, oxides, organic thin films, and topological quantum materials.
Its electron lenses can be virtually shifted using variable electrical voltages. This allows researchers to zoom in on specific parts of the momentum images.
The use of a laser to excite the electrons in the sample also enables time-resolved experiments to be carried out, allowing ultra-fast processes to be investigated—for example, during the switching process of electronic devices.
A new window into the quantum world
And expectations go even further: "Above all, we hope to encounter unknown effects that have not yet been seen," says Dr. Tusche.
The Jülich momentum microscope is currently still in testing phase. A gold crystal serves as a reference for calibration. Soon, however, other materials will follow—opening up a new window into the quantum world.
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Around 250 Ukrainian drones downed on approach to Moscow in two days – mayor
Updated 16 Mar, 2026 10:50
Approximately 250 Ukrainian drones have been downed while targeting Moscow over the past two days, Mayor Sergey Sobyanin has said. The raids forced temporary flight halts at the Russian capital’s international airports.
Sobyanin posted the tally on Telegram on Monday, writing that air defense forces had eliminated the drones “directly on the approach to Moscow and at the second line of defense toward Moscow,” while thanking the military for its “professional and selfless work.”
There have been no reports of casualties or major damage on the ground.
Russia’s Defense Ministry reported separately that 145 Ukrainian drones had been intercepted between Sunday night and Monday morning.
Of those, 53 were brought down over Moscow Region, including 46 heading directly for the capital. Another 38 were destroyed over Bryansk Region, and 11 over Yaroslavl Region, northeast of Moscow.
Russia’s federal air transport agency, Rosaviatsiya, said Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, and Zhukovsky airports all imposed temporary restrictions on arrivals and departures, citing flight safety grounds. All the airports had lifted the curbs by Monday morning.
Residents across Moscow Region reported hearing explosions during the overnight raids, with blasts audible in Odintsovo and Domodedovo districts, west and south of the capital.
People in the cities of Istra and Dubna outside Moscow also reported the sound of drones flying overhead, the SHOT Telegram channel reported.
Ukraine has been routinely carrying out drone raids deep into Russia, with many targeting residential buildings and civilian infrastructure.
Russia designates such strikes as terrorism and has retaliated by striking Ukrainian defense-linked infrastructure, including power grid facilities. Moscow maintains that it never targets civilians.
https://www.rt.com/russia/635202-250-ukrainian-drones-downed-moscow/
extra RT
https://www.rt.com/news/635109-budapest-rally-not-ukrainian-colony/
https://www.rt.com/news/635145-brussels-wants-hungarians-die-ukraine/
https://www.rt.com/russia/635096-europe-ukraine-peace-process-kremlin/
https://www.rt.com/russia/635214-moscow-warning-trump-golden-dome/
Explosions rock Kyiv as Russian drones target capital during morning rush hour
March 16, 2026 9:11 am
A series of explosions were heard in Kyiv on March 16 as Russia launched a rush hour drone attack on Ukraine's capital.
Air raid sirens sounded at 8:26 a.m. Explosions and air defenses were heard around 20 minutes later, according to Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground.
According to Telegram monitoring channels, up to 30 Shahed-type drones are targeting energy infrastructure. Reports suggested Russian missiles were also targeting Kyiv though this has not been confirmed.
Yurii Ihnat, head of the Air Force's communications department, later told the Kyiv Independent no missiles were used in the attack.
"Debris from a drone has fallen in the very centre of the capital. There are no fires or casualties," Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in a post on Telegram. "The enemy attack on Kyiv is ongoing. Stay in shelters," he added.
Klitschko later said debris from downed drones had also fallen in the Solomianskyi and Svyatoshynskyi districts in the west of the city.
The attack caught many Kyiv residents during the morning commute and at the start of the work and school day.
"I was waiting for my first class when the air raid siren started," said Oliana Pavlyshyn, an 18-year-old first-year philology student at Taras Shevchenko National University. "We went down to the basement and stayed there for almost the entire air raid."
Pavlyshyn said the morning strike was unusual compared with the more frequent nighttime attacks.
"Usually they attack at night, but this time it was in the morning when we were already at university," she said, adding that several classes were cancelled. "You could hear the explosions clearly. It was very loud."
Speaking about the broader impact of the war, she added: "I'm only 18 years old. I want to live. But many Ukrainians right now are not living. We are surviving."
https://kyivindependent.com/explosions-rock-kyiv-as-russian-drones-target-capital-during-morning-rush-hour/
https://www.the-independent.com/bulletin/news/kyiv-drone-attack-russian-kyiv-b2939514.html
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/71981
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/71975
other Russia and Ukraine
https://united24media.com/latest-news/russian-drone-strike-on-zaporizhzhia-residential-area-kills-one-injures-three-16895
https://unn.ua/en/news/enemy-drone-attacked-a-bakery-in-sumy-production-facilities-damaged
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/03/16/8025755/
https://voennoedelo.com/en/posts/id14083-ukrainian-drone-raids-toward-moscow-launch-points-named
https://united24media.com/latest-news/ukrainian-drone-maker-wins-pentagon-contract-in-drone-dominance-program-16898
https://united24media.com/latest-news/uk-may-deploy-ukraine-linked-octopus-drones-to-protect-strait-of-hormuz-16896
https://united24media.com/latest-news/ukrainian-drone-strikes-cost-russian-oil-industry-over-12-billion-16889
https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/zelensky-trump-iran-drones-ukraine-russia-peace-b2939105.html