Astronomy
30 articles
SpaceX rocket stage to crash near moon's Einstein crater
A five-ton piece of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, traveling at 5,400 mph, is expected to collide with the Moon near the crater Einstein on Wednesday, August 5, according to ABCNews and Space.
Astronomers Find Sugar Molecule in Deep Space, Hinting at Life's Origins
In the desolate expanse near our galaxy's supermassive black hole, astronomers have, for the first time, detected erythrulose, a four-carbon sugar molecule crucial to the very origins of life.
Euclid Aids Discovery of 31 Early Quasars, Challenges Reionization
The European Space Agency's Euclid space-based telescope, launched in 2024, has already released images of two of the most ancient quasars ever located.
Young Stars Dramatically Shape Galaxy Evolution, Study Finds
In starburst galaxy NGC 3256, stellar feedback pressures measure approximately 100 times stronger than those found in typical Milky Way-like spiral galaxies, according to Universe Today .
This Week In Space podcast: Science meets commerce
On Episode 216 of 'This Week In Space', physicist Dr.
Astronomers Spot Possible Supernova Remnant Near Milky Way Black Hole
A three-light-year-long, cone-shaped cavity, expanding at 3.
CoRoT-2b's westward hotspot challenges exoplanet models
Thermal phase observations of the scorching hot Jupiter CoRoT-2b, conducted with the Spitzer Space Telescope's IRAC instrument, revealed a significant westward hotspot offset of 23 4 degrees in 2026 (
Physicists Detect First Signal From Black Hole Event Horizon
For centuries, the event horizon of a black hole was considered the ultimate cosmic barrier, a point of no return where even light could not escape.
What is Deuterium in Comets and Early Solar System Formation?
The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS carries water with a deuterium-to-hydrogen (D/H) ratio exceeding 6.
Euclid telescope maps 60 million stars in Milky Way's heart
The European Space Agency's Euclid telescope has just unveiled an image of the Milky Way's central bulge containing over 60 million stars, including 51 known planetary systems, a scale previously unse
NASA Swift Boost Mission Aims for June Launch to Extend Observatory Life
For the first time, a commercial robotic spacecraft is set to capture and reboost a government satellite not originally designed for servicing, extending the life of NASA's aging Swift Observatory.
Cigar Galaxy ignites millions of stars at an extreme rate
Over 16.5 million individual stars, previously obscured by cosmic dust, now blaze into view across the Cigar Galaxy's disk, a revelation made possible by the James Webb Space Telescope. This unprecede
NASA to detail Moon Base plans, discusses lunar challenges
Just 51 minutes into its flight, the Orion spacecraft, carrying four NASA astronauts on a journey around the Moon, experienced a communications issue.
NASA TESS mission discovers two new super-puff planets
Two newly discovered planets, TOI-791 b and TOI-791 c, are larger than Jupiter yet so light they have densities comparable to cotton candy, according to NASA's TESS mission .
Summer Solstice 2026 arrives June 21, marking longest day
On June 21, 2026, communities in Alaska and northern Canada will experience nearly 20 hours of daylight, with regions above the Arctic Circle observing the persistent midnight sun, according to Forbes
New study reveals surprising Phobos moon characteristics and formation
Within 50 million years, Mars' larger moon, Phobos, will either crash into the red planet or be torn apart to form a temporary ring.
How to Detect and Study Black Holes: A Complete Guide
In April 2019, scientists unveiled the first-ever image of a black hole, a feat accomplished by linking eight radio observatories across the planet.
Astronomers propose telescope swarm to detect alien life
On April 16, researchers announced a 'three sigma' detection of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) in the atmosphere of exoplanet K2-18b, using data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), implying a less tha
NASA mission uses twin satellites to probe space weather's atmospheric links
NASA has greenlit DAPHNE, a mission concept poised to deploy identical twin satellites.
NASA Adds 8 Companies to Satellite Data Acquisition Contract
NASA's Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition program has expanded to include eight new companies, bringing the total to 14 providers under a contract with a maximum value of $476 million, according to
FAST telescope discovers pulsar in tight, circular orbit
A neutron star spinning 220 times per second has been found locked in an orbit so perfectly circular, its eccentricity is a mere 0.
Scientists Map Galaxy's Spin; Gravitational Waves to Deepen View
Our galaxy's rotation curve now extends to an unprecedented 200 kiloparsecs, mapping its intricate dynamics far beyond the solar system.
Webb Telescope Spots Little Red Dots That Appear to Be Black Holes
Peering back 1.8 billion years after the Big Bang, the James Webb Space Telescope has revealed a seemingly innocuous 'little red dot' as a candidate for a 'black hole star', according to Universe Toda
Astrophotographer Captures 30-Day Venus Jupiter Conjunction Collage
Over 30 days, astrophotographer Soumyadeep Mukherjee captured Venus and Jupiter appearing to dance closer in the night sky.
Total solar eclipse August 2026 brings rare sunset phenomenon
On August 12, 2026, millions across Europe and Northwest Africa will witness the sun, up to 83% obscured, dip below the horizon in a rare partially eclipsed sunset, a spectacle distinct from the full
Theory: Exoplanets Could Form Near Supermassive Black Holes
Millions of Jupiter-mass planets, dubbed 'dust giants' and 'lava balls,' could emerge tens of parsecs from supermassive black holes, according to Space .
Models predict JWST will detect exoplanets with diesel smog
Imagine a world half the mass of Jupiter, orbiting a dim K-dwarf star, its atmosphere thick with the same sooty hydrocarbons found in diesel exhaust on Earth.
Six-Millimeter Component for Smallest Window on the Sun Observations
A six-millimeter optical component, smaller than a pencil eraser, has been deployed at a major solar telescope.
Black Eye Galaxy Messier 64 gas spins both ways
In the Black Eye Galaxy, Messier 64, gas in its outer reaches spins in the exact opposite direction to its inner core—a cosmic anomaly first observed in 2026.
New research confirms universe expansion rate and cosmic acceleration
Just months ago, a whisper of deceleration rippled through the cosmos.