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Astronomy
Astronomy
September 19, 2024
View the full rainbow of stars
If you’re looking for color in the cosmos, try targeting stars. Their concentrated light allows us to see color — even with the naked eye!
Astronomy
September 18, 2024
Black hole caught blasting jets out into the cosmic void
The plumes stretch farther than any yet seen, reaching millions of light-years long and potentially influencing the cosmos nearby.
Astronomy
September 17, 2024
How ‘Starry Night’ captures the turbulent physics that makes stars twinkle
The impressionistic swirls of artist Vincent van Gogh reflect the real-life physics of turbulence, a new study finds.
Astronomy
September 17, 2024
2024 Full Moon calendar: When to see the Full Moon and phases
The next Full Moon in 2024 is at 10:34 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, Sept. 17, and is called the Corn Moon. Much of the world will also see a partial...
Astronomy
September 17, 2024
Solar System
Our solar system consists of the planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, as well as countless astroids an...
Astronomy
September 17, 2024
Exotic Objects
The universe is packed with exotic objects, including black holes, pulsars, gamma-ray bursts, magnetars, quasars, and more.
Astronomy
September 17, 2024
The Moon
The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. Whether enjoying a lunar eclipse or observing the Moon's surface, it has many fascinating featur...
Astronomy
September 17, 2024
The “Wow! Signal,” not surprisingly, was a dud
A famous radio signal from space long considered as a possible sign of another civilization, in the end, falls flat.
Astronomy
September 16, 2024
How to watch a partial lunar eclipse during Tuesday’s Super Moon
On Tuesday evening, the Full Harvest Moon — also a Super Moon — undergoes a partial lunar eclipse visible across the U.S.
Astronomy
September 16, 2024
Studying nature’s eclipse reactions
Astronomers have long investigated the effects of totality on animals, leaving one to wonder just what aspects trigger behavioral responses.
Astronomy
September 16, 2024
Alien Life
The search for evidence of life beyond Earth has fascinated scientists and science fiction writers alike for centuries.
Astronomy
September 16, 2024
Astrophotography
Photographing the night sky can be an intimidating task. But by following a few simple tips, you can start capturing your own stunning astro...
Astronomy
September 13, 2024
Could we experience the first-ever human-made meteor shower?
NASA’s DART mission may create a spectacle as seen from Mars and from Earth.
Astronomy
September 13, 2024
Robotic Spaceflight
From space probes to rovers — and even martian helicopters — dozens of robotic explorers are currently helping us investigate our solar syst...
Astronomy
September 12, 2024
SpaceX Polaris Dawn crew completes historic private spacewalk
Commander Jared Isaacman and mission specialist Sarah Gillis each spent a few minutes outside the Dragon capsule, performing tests on their...
Astronomy
September 12, 2024
Space Exploration
Get the latest news and updates on both human and robotic missions that are helping humanity explore our solar system and beyond.
Astronomy
September 12, 2024
Don Pettit, NASA’s oldest active astronaut, begins mission aboard ISS
Aged 69, the chemical engineer has already spent more than a year in space. And he’s far from the oldest person to fly beyond the bounds of...
Astronomy
September 12, 2024
Annular eclipse shot wins astronomy image of the year
The 16th annual Royal Observatory Greenwich’s Astronomy Photographer of the Year winners announced including nebulae, skyscapes, and more.
Astronomy
September 12, 2024
ALMA reveals a star’s surface in unprecedented detail
New observations show the bubbling surface of the red giant star R Doradus, a feat previously only achievable with the Sun.
Astronomy
September 12, 2024
Opinion: A former astronaut details what Starliner's uncrewed return means for NASA, Boeing, and the astronauts still up in space
Starliner has returned to Earth without a crew. A former astronaut details what it means for NASA, Boeing, and the astronauts still in space...
Astronomy
September 12, 2024
How to use an autoguider for the best astrophotos
The most beautiful celestial scenes can be marred by streaky stars. Here’s how to avoid this novice pitfall.
Astronomy
September 11, 2024
SpaceX takes aim at FAA after latest Starship launch delay
The gargantuan rocket’s fifth test flight will attempt a complex booster ‘catch’ maneuver, but not for at least a few months.
Astronomy
September 11, 2024
Small, untrackable pieces of space junk are cluttering low Earth orbit
Dead satellites still pose a threat to future space missions — and the problem is only getting worse. Here's what we might do about it.
Astronomy
September 11, 2024
Shortsighted, aging NASA faces uncertain future, says report to Congress
A National Academies committee says the space agency is prioritizing short-term wins and commercial arrangements over the personnel and tech...
Astronomy
September 11, 2024
Upcoming Polaris Dawn spacewalk will push the envelope
Space travel comes with risk − and SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission will push the envelope further than any private mission has before.
Astronomy
September 10, 2024
Why the SpaceX Starship launch pad matters
Lessons learned in building a rocket’s foundation will help new generations of spacecraft blast skyward.
Astronomy
September 9, 2024
Polaris Dawn could launch Tuesday morning: What to watch for
The mission will see private astronauts attempt a spacewalk for the first time in history, and spaceflight enthusiasts can watch it live.
Astronomy
September 9, 2024
Boeing’s Starliner returns to Earth safely
NASA hasn’t said whether it will sign off on regular operations for the craft after thruster malfunctions prompted the agency to keep its cr...
Astronomy
September 9, 2024
How to process JWST images like a pro
This quick-start guide will show you how to access the latest JWST data and use it to create your own stunning celestial images.
Astronomy
September 8, 2024
The Sun
The Sun seems unchanging, but solar flares, prominences, and sunspots often pop up and disappear. Safely observing the Sun can be both fun a...
Astronomy
September 7, 2024
As it happened: Boeing’s Starliner touches down, capping return flight to Earth
The craft is returning without its crew, who are staying on the International Space Station until February 2025.
Astronomy
September 6, 2024
Light pollution could be a factor in Alzheimer’s disease
When nighttime light disrupts the body’s natural rhythms, consequences may include a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease, a study suggests.
Astronomy
September 5, 2024
China’s Chang’e 5 finds evidence of recent volcanism on the Moon
Volcanoes may have been erupting on the Moon well into the age of the dinosaurs, new analysis of lunar samples suggests.
Astronomy
September 5, 2024
New Horizons measures how dark the universe can get
The results are in line with theory — but the key to an accurate measurement was understanding how dusty the galaxy is.
Astronomy
September 5, 2024
What we do — and don't — know about dark energy
This mysterious force controls the fate of the cosmos, but there's a whole lot we don't know about dark energy.
Astronomy
September 4, 2024
A look back: The Great North American Eclipse delivers
From Mazatlán to Newfoundland and 14 U.S. states in between, totality on April 8, 2024, graced millions with a view of the Sun’s corona.
Astronomy
September 2, 2024
Fall into new astronomy products this month
Find out what the latest and greatest books, telescopes, accessories, and other products in astronomy are this month.
Astronomy
September 1, 2024
Get to know the Andromeda Galaxy
Over decades of observations across a broad range of wavelengths, M31 has unlocked our understanding of the vastness of the universe.
Astronomy
September 1, 2024
September 2024: What's in the sky this month? Saturn and Neptune reach opposition, with Mercury at its best
Venus lingers after sunset, Saturn and Neptune reach opposition, and Mercury makes its best morning appearance in the Northern Hemisphere.
Astronomy
August 30, 2024
Scientists view Ganymede’s aurorae dancing during eclipse
New data is stirring a major question about the icy moon’s atmosphere.
Astronomy
August 29, 2024
Waves may be heating the solar wind — and two spacecraft caught them in action
Waves that ripple through the solar wind may be the key to solving a decadeslong mystery, according to an analysis of satellite observations...
Astronomy
August 28, 2024
Rogue worlds may give clues as to how stars form
Can planets form in the same way as stars? Yes, but only down to a point, suggests a new study using data from the James Webb Space Telescop...
Astronomy
August 27, 2024
Event Horizon Telescope captures highest-resolution images ever taken from the ground
A recent pilot experiment demonstrated new capabilities that can take even sharper images of black holes.
Astronomy
August 27, 2024
New study suggests we could give Mars a thicker atmosphere
A team of physicists has a scheme that could bring the Red Planet to a habitable temperature in decades. All we need is a lot of dust.
Astronomy
August 26, 2024
Why we aren’t alone in the universe — but might as well be
A new solution to the Fermi paradox argues that intelligent civilizations are common but learn to limit themselves.
Astronomy
August 23, 2024
How merging black holes could reveal the nature of dark matter
A long-standing conundrum in black hole physics, the last parsec problem may not be a problem at all if dark matter interacts with itself.
Astronomy
August 23, 2024
Five almost-famous stars worth gazing at
They may not be as well-known as the superstars of the sky, but these easy-to-observe suns are far from second-rate.
Astronomy
August 22, 2024
Astronomers are rallying to save NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory
The scientific community is mobilizing to keep the powerful X-ray telescope off the chopping block. Will it be enough?
Astronomy
August 22, 2024
Thinking small: Uncovering the secrets of micrometeorites
A new project is aiming to trace micrometeorites - tiny, melted remnants of space rocks that plummeted to Earth - back to their origin.
Astronomy
August 22, 2024