Milky Way
53 reportsThe account of Milky Way moves between distance measurements and galactic dynamics, with separate attention to stellar populations. The analysis checks questions about stellar populations against model comparison and multiwavelength observations; interpretation remains cautious because limited viewing geometry and indirect measurements can leave competing explanations.
Hubble captures a superbubble shaping star formation in the Large Magellanic Cloud
A new Hubble Space Telescope image reveals a vast cavity in nebula LHA 120-N44, showing how massive stars reshape their surroundings and spark new star birth in a neighboring galaxy.
September sky offers rare view of five planets and the Harvest Moon
Astronomers in the Northern Hemisphere can observe all five naked-eye planets and the Harvest Moon this September as earlier sunsets and mild weather create optimal conditions for stargazing
ALMA reveals chaotic birth of massive binary stars in real time
Astronomers using ALMA have reconstructed the formation of a massive binary star system just 5,300 light-years away, finding evidence that the two stars joined forces only decades ago rather than forming together
Zodiacal Light to Illuminate September Skies Before Sunrise
A faint pyramid of zodiacal light will become visible in the eastern sky before dawn this September, offering a rare opportunity for observers to witness sunlight scattered by interplanetary dust using only the naked eye under dark conditions
High Energy Photon From Distant Gamma Ray Burst Challenges Physics Limits
A photon with record-breaking energy from the gamma ray burst GRB 221009A reached Earth despite theoretical barriers. New analysis suggests a possible explanation involving axion-like particles and Lorentz invariance violation
Gemini North Telescope Captures Spiral Galaxies in Active Merger
A new image from the Gemini North telescope on Maunakea reveals two spiral galaxies, NGC 7253, in the process of merging. The observation, led by local students, highlights the dynamic interactions that drive galaxy evolution
Webb Telescope Reveals Rare O-Type Star Cluster in Carina Nebula
A new James Webb Space Telescope image exposes a dense cluster of newborn stars, including a rare O-type giant, inside the Treasure Chest globule in the Carina Nebula, offering a detailed look at early stellar evolution in one of the Milky Way's most active star-forming regions
Venus Reveals Its Crescent Phase as It Approaches Inferior Conjunction
Venus is now visible as a striking crescent through small telescopes as it draws closer to Earth and prepares to pass between our planet and the Sun, offering a rare chance to observe its changing phases and orbital motion
MeerKAT Telescope Maps Ancient Hydrogen Across Billions of Light Years
Researchers using South Africa's MeerKAT radio telescope have detected faint hydrogen signals from galaxies 4 to 5 billion light-years away, offering a new approach to mapping the universe's large-scale structure through radio intensity mapping
Hubble Reveals Giant Superbubble Structure in Large Magellanic Cloud
A new Hubble Space Telescope image captures the nebula N44 in the Large Magellanic Cloud, highlighting a vast superbubble at its center and offering fresh insight into the impact of massive stars on their galactic environment
Early Universe Black Holes May Be Smaller Than JWST First Suggested
New analysis of James Webb Space Telescope data indicates that supermassive black holes in young galaxies may be far less massive than previously estimated, challenging earlier assumptions about their rapid growth and the evolution of early cosmic structures
Fermi Explorer Mission Targets 2029 Launch Toward Alpha Centauri
A nonprofit group aims to send a low-cost probe to Alpha Centauri by 2029, marking the first directed interstellar mission. The journey would last 80,000 years, raising new questions about the feasibility and purpose of such long-term exploration.
Stellar Spin Explains Dimming Flares from Black Hole Encounters
Astronomers have modeled why repeated flares from stars grazing supermassive black holes fade over time, revealing that a star's rotation and binary history play a key role in the observed dimming
NASA's Roman Space Telescope Set for Launch to Map Distant Cosmos
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is scheduled to launch from Florida, aiming to investigate exoplanets, dark matter, and distant galaxies with a wide-field infrared observatory. Its first science images are not expected until 2027
Milky Way's Oldest Known Merger Leaves Lasting Mark at Galactic Center
Astronomers have identified evidence of the Milky Way's earliest known galactic merger, using Hubble Space Telescope data to trace ancient globular clusters and reveal a collision that shaped the galaxy's core nearly 12 billion years ago
Dark Energy Camera Reveals Ancient Stars and Stellar Birth in Corona Australis
A new image from the Dark Energy Camera on the Blanco 4-meter Telescope captures the Corona Australis Molecular Cloud, highlighting both newborn stars and one of the oldest star clusters in the Milky Way
Fading Radio Galaxies Reveal What Happens When Black Holes Go Quiet
A new study using MeerKAT, LOFAR, and the Jansky Very Large Array has identified a population of galaxies with fading radio lobes, offering insight into the late stages of supermassive black hole activity
Webb Telescope Reveals Early Galaxies Are Richer in Small Stars
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have detected a higher proportion of faint, low-mass stars in ancient galaxies, suggesting these early systems are more massive than previously estimated
Fastest Known Star Orbits Milky Way's Black Hole in Under 9 Years
Astronomers using the Very Large Telescope Interferometer have identified S301, a star orbiting Sagittarius A* at record speed, offering a new opportunity to test general relativity near the Milky Way's supermassive black hole
Hubble Data Reveals Ancient Milky Way Merger with Dwarf Galaxy
Astronomers have identified evidence that the Milky Way merged with a dwarf galaxy called LKH about 12 billion years ago, using globular cluster data from the Hubble Space Telescope and extending the timeline of our galaxy's early evolution
Five Essential Night Sky Targets for Binocular Astronomy
Astronomers highlight five celestial objects and regions that reveal striking detail through binoculars, from the Moon's shifting shadows to the Andromeda Galaxy's faint glow, offering accessible entry points for skywatchers of all experience levels
Helix Nebula Reveals How Dead Stars Return Material to the Galaxy
Astronomers using the MOTHRA instrument have observed the Helix Nebula dispersing its outer layers into the interstellar medium, providing direct evidence of stellar material recycling that will enrich future generations of stars
Deneb and Cygnus: Tracing Stellar Remnants and a Nearby Black Hole
Astronomers use optical and X-ray observations to study Deneb, the Cygnus Loop supernova remnant, and the black hole Cygnus X-1, revealing the complex structure of the Cygnus constellation and its hidden extremes
Hubble Reveals Ancient Dwarf Galaxy Merger in Milky Way's Early History
Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have identified evidence of a major merger between the young Milky Way and a dwarf galaxy nearly 12 billion years ago, pushing the timeline of our galaxy's assembly further into the past
Trillion-Mile Gas Streamer Tilts Planet-Forming Disk in GW Orionis
Astronomers using ALMA have observed a massive gas streamer disrupting the planet-forming disk around the young triple-star system GW Orionis, offering new insight into the origins of misaligned planetary orbits
Webb Telescope Reveals Three Supermassive Black Holes in Distant Galaxy
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have identified three supermassive black holes within a single galaxy seen as it was 12.5 billion years ago, offering new evidence for rapid black hole growth through mergers in the early universe
Asteroid Samples Reveal DNA and Protein Building Blocks in Space
Laboratory analysis of asteroid material returned to Earth has identified all five nucleobases of DNA and RNA, as well as multiple amino acids, suggesting the chemical ingredients for life are common in the solar system and beyond
Webb Telescope Detects Water and Dust Near Milky Way's Black Hole
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have identified water and silicate dust around a dying star less than 0.6 light-years from Sagittarius A*, challenging assumptions about molecule survival near supermassive black holes
How to Observe a Shadow Cast by Venus in the Night Sky
Venus is nearing its peak brightness, offering a rare chance to observe whether the planet can cast a visible shadow. Astronomers explain the conditions and techniques needed to detect this subtle phenomenon.
Partial Solar Eclipse and Perseid Meteors Offer Rare Double Event
On August 12, observers across North America and Europe will witness a partial solar eclipse by day and the Perseid meteor shower by night, with optimal viewing conditions expected due to the new moon and clear skies in many regions
eROSITA X-ray Survey Nearly Doubles Known High-Energy Cosmic Sources
The eROSITA X-ray telescope's latest data release catalogs nearly 2 million X-ray sources, offering an unprecedented view of black holes, galaxy clusters, and stellar remnants across the universe
Hubble Data Links Andromeda's Star Formation Slowdown to Nearby Galaxy
Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have mapped a sharp decline in star formation across the Andromeda galaxy, with evidence pointing to gravitational influence from its smaller neighbor, M32
Partial Solar Eclipse and Perseid Meteor Shower Align on August 12
On August 12, skywatchers in North America and Europe will witness a partial solar eclipse by day and the peak of the Perseid meteor shower by night, offering a rare opportunity for coordinated solar and meteor observations under optimal conditions
Radio Surveys Reveal Millions More Milky Way Stars Searched for SETI
A new analysis using the Besançon Galactic Model suggests that radio telescopes have surveyed over 6 million stars for extraterrestrial signals, far exceeding previous estimates based on star catalogues
Aug. 12, 2026, brings an unusually complete night of skywatching
On Aug. 12, 2026, observers can follow a solar eclipse by day, then watch Venus, the Perseid meteor shower and the Milky Way under a nearly moonless sky
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