Astronomy

November 22, 2024

JWST spots more light than expected in the early universe

The Epoch of Reionization — the universe’s last major transition — may have happened earlier than previously thought.

Astronomy

November 21, 2024

Uranus may not have a weird magnetic field after all

A blast of solar radiation just before Voyager 2’s arrival in 1986 may have misled researchers for decades.

Astronomy

November 20, 2024

Young, shrouded super-Neptune could help teach us how such worlds form

From 520 light-years away, astronomers have caught a glimpse of a nascent massive world still embedded within its star’s protoplanetary disk...

Astronomy

November 19, 2024

Scientists discover significant ‘missing matter’ in the gas between galaxy clusters

Our best view yet of the material linking clusters of galaxies may have pinpointed some 20 percent of the universe’s missing baryonic matter...

Astronomy

November 15, 2024

JWST just found a black hole starving its host galaxy to death

New research reveals how supermassive black holes halt star formation, shedding light on galaxy evolution in the early universe.

Astronomy

November 14, 2024

How some black holes maintain long-distance relationships

New research sheds light on how a pair of unusual black holes may have been able to keep their companion stars alive — and at a distance.

Astronomy

November 13, 2024

New Starlink satellites could be 32 times brighter in radio waves than before

A recent study found that SpaceX’s Starlink V2-mini satellites emit more radio waves, potentially interfering with radio astronomy.

Astronomy

November 13, 2024

Could black holes create dark energy?

Recent results suggest these exotic objects just might help us account for the mysterious force pushing the universe apart.

Astronomy

November 12, 2024

ESO captures Dark Wolf Nebula stalking across the Milky Way

This swath of dust, which blocks out light from the bright nebula Gum 55 behind it, is known as the Dark Wolf Nebula.

Astronomy

November 12, 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

November 12, 2024

New astronomy products to be thankful for

Check out the newest telescopes, accessories, books, and more from the top brands in the industry this November.

Astronomy

November 12, 2024

Deep-Sky Objects

Deep-sky objects are celestial objects that exist outside our solar system. Three major types of deep-sky objects are nebulae, star clusters...

Astronomy

November 12, 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

November 10, 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

November 8, 2024

How carbon dioxide glaciers gave Mars liquid water

Insulation provided by carbon dioxide ice above the martian polar caps could explain many of the Red Planet’s ancient river features.

Astronomy

November 8, 2024

How to see a Saturn ring mirage

Averting your gaze when viewing the ringed planet can cause an optical phenomenon that might make you think twice about what you're seeing.

Astronomy

November 7, 2024

Five 'shy,' lesser-known deep-sky gems to observe

Every constellation has something within its borders worth tracking down, if you just look hard enough. Here are five to start with.

Astronomy

November 6, 2024

We're entering the era of private space stations

As the ISS ages and is eventually decommissioned, private companies may operate the orbital platforms of the future.

Astronomy

November 6, 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

November 5, 2024

Starmus La Palma: The Island of Stars lineup revealed

Jane Goodall, Brian May, Nobel Laureates, astronauts, and many world-class eminences will gather on La Palma Island from April 25 to 29, 202...

Astronomy

November 5, 2024

Could a methane crust be keeping Titan warm?

A six-mile-thick crust of methane trapped in water ice could explain many of the saturnian moon's weird properties

Astronomy

November 5, 2024

This famous black hole system is actually a triple

A third, tenuously held companion to the known binary V404 Cygni may signal that at least some black holes form "gently."

Astronomy

November 5, 2024

Explore the science of rainbows

Rainbows may be a trick of the eye, but they’re also based in fascinating optical physics. Here's how they work and why we see them.

Astronomy

November 4, 2024

Here are the nine sites where Artemis 3 might land on the Moon

NASA has identified nine locations near the Moon’s south pole for the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17.

Astronomy

November 4, 2024

Exotic Objects

The universe is packed with exotic objects, including black holes, pulsars, gamma-ray bursts, magnetars, quasars, and more.

Astronomy

November 2, 2024

How Edwin Hubble won the Great Debate

A century ago this month, a brash astronomer leaked a discovery that opened our view to the cosmic distance scale and the nature of galaxies...

Astronomy

November 1, 2024

Chandra X-ray telescope, facing chopping block, gets reprieve from NASA

Scientists are relieved by the observatory’s stay of execution, but concerned that some budget cuts have gutted future research.

Astronomy

November 1, 2024

Where Harris and Trump stand on space policy

Neither candidate has talked much about space policy on the campaign trail, but both have records to consider.

Astronomy

November 1, 2024

Here’s how ISS astronauts will vote in the 2024 election

Astronauts have voted from the space station since 1997 and have cast ballots in nearly every U.S. presidential election since 2004.

Astronomy

November 1, 2024

Bringing the Sun to light

The closest star to Earth is also the best studied, but only recently have we truly begun to uncover its secrets.

Astronomy

November 1, 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

October 31, 2024

Arecibo telescope was doomed by hurricane damage and human failures, says report

Hurricane Maria triggered a sequence of events that led to the downfall of the storied radio observatory — but inspectors missed clear signa...

Astronomy

October 30, 2024

Tales of the Sun: From myth to modern science

Ancient stories about the Sun teach us how civilizations saw humanity in relation to the universe as a whole.

Astronomy

October 30, 2024

Watch a zombie star feed on its companion

The strange binary system R Aquarii spews material into the interstellar medium like a lawn sprinkler as its stars interact.

Astronomy

October 29, 2024

Astronomers find a mini black hole

Researchers have spotted a promising but puzzling candidate for one of the lightest black holes ever detected.

Astronomy

October 29, 2024

Telescopes and Equipment

Whether you're looking for a new telescope, eyepiece, binoculars, or anything else you need to up your observing game, we've got you covered...

Astronomy

October 28, 2024

For sale: One Boeing space program, says report

The company is reportedly looking for buyers for their space program, which includes the Starliner vehicle and operating parts of the ISS.

Astronomy

October 28, 2024

The first known brown dwarf is actually twins

Gliese 229 B, discovered in 1995, is a binary system of two brown dwarfs orbiting each other, in orbit around their parent red dwarf star.

Astronomy

October 28, 2024

How the Cluster II mission studied the Sun’s effects on Earth

Four identical satellites spent decades exploring how solar wind interacts with Earth’s magnetic field to create aurorae and other effects.

Astronomy

October 25, 2024

Is this black hole jet making stars explode?

More than twice the expected amount of novae have been found popping off along the jet from M87’s supermassive black hole.

Astronomy

October 25, 2024

Betelgeuse may have an invisible companion

The bright, naked-eye star Betelgeuse is well known for its variations — some of which may be caused by an unseen companion star.

Astronomy

October 24, 2024

What to watch: NASA Crew-8 astronauts set for early Friday splashdown

The crew spent nearly eight months aboard the International Space Station conducting more than 200 scientific experiments.

Astronomy

October 23, 2024

How the XRISM X-ray telescope is proving its extraordinary capabilities

The latest X-ray observatory found a warped black hole disk and a supernova spewing iron — and it’s just getting started

Astronomy

October 22, 2024

Crew-8 SpaceX capsule Endeavour sets new records

The SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour, now set to splash down this week, has racked up the most time spent in space by a crewed spacecraft.

Astronomy

October 21, 2024

Can you still see Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS?

The year’s best comet is fading from view, so see with your naked eye before it’s too late.

Astronomy

October 18, 2024

Finding your first astroimaging rig

Getting started in astrophotography can be daunting. Here's an expert guide to help you find the right telescope, mount, and more.

Astronomy

October 17, 2024

Here’s how to see Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS while you still can

The best comet of the year is starting to fade in brightness, but it’s still an easy naked-eye object in the evening sky.

Astronomy

October 17, 2024

The Milky Way may have swallowed a dwarf galaxy named Loki

Astronomers hypothesize that a long-ago dwarf galaxy dubbed Loki may have merged with the Milky Way when our galaxy was in its infancy.

Astronomy

October 17, 2024

Milky Way

The Milky Way is one of billions of galaxies in the universe and home to our own solar system. It appears as a hazy band in the sky when vie...

Astronomy

October 16, 2024

Most meteorites come from just three sources

Our planet’s surface is littered with debris from the skies — and researchers have found that most come from only a few asteroid families.