Astronomy
185 reportsPhotometry and astronomical surveys reveal where results converge and where they diverge. The comparison asks what spectra reveal and how observations are calibrated, showing how sparse measurements or incomplete records limit certainty.
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
NASA's 100th Astronaut Flight Tested Space Station Assembly in Orbit
NASA's space shuttle Endeavour launched the STS-69 mission on September 7, 1995, deploying and retrieving two satellites and conducting a spacewalk to test International Space Station assembly techniques
Simulations Reveal Moon May Have Formed in Hours After Giant Impact
New computer models suggest the Moon could have assembled rapidly from debris after a collision between early Earth and a Mars-sized body, with the timing and temperature of the impact playing a critical role
Crescent Moon to Occult Jupiter in Rare Daytime Event
A rare daytime occultation will see the Moon pass in front of Jupiter on September 8, with the best viewing opportunities for North America. Observers will need careful planning and optical aid to catch the event in daylight
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
NASA adds new Goldstone antenna to expand deep space communications
NASA has activated a new 34 meter antenna at Goldstone to increase the Deep Space Network's capacity as Artemis and other missions strain existing communication infrastructure
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
Meteorite dust reveals magnetic forces shaped the infant solar system
Analysis of ancient meteorite grains has uncovered evidence that strong magnetic fields influenced the earliest stages of the solar system's formation, challenging the long-held view that gravity alone sculpted the protoplanetary disk
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
Supernova Experiments Reveal New Clues to Element Formation in Stars
Two new studies use nuclear experiments and astrophysical modeling to clarify how supernovae forge and distribute elements like titanium and nickel, offering the most precise look yet at the processes that shape the chemical makeup of the universe
Comet McNaught Surges in Brightness After Solar Outbursts
Comet 220P/McNaught unexpectedly brightened by a factor of 20,000 during two recent outbursts near its closest approach to the Sun, offering a rare opportunity for telescopic observation before it fades from view
BepiColombo Prepares for Dual Mercury Orbit as Separation Nears
After nearly eight years in transit, ESA and JAXA's BepiColombo mission is set to split into two orbiters at Mercury, aiming to resolve key questions about the planet's surface, magnetic field, and formation using coordinated observations.
Hubble Reveals Giant 10-Sided Cloud Structure at Saturn's South Pole
Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have identified a vast, ten-sided atmospheric pattern encircling Saturn's south pole, challenging assumptions about the planet's unique polar weather and raising new questions about giant planet meteorology
Falcon Heavy Launches NASA's Roman Telescope Toward Deep Space Science
SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket has launched NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, sending the observatory on a million-mile journey to its operational orbit beyond Earth
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
BepiColombo Prepares for Critical Mercury Arrival Maneuver
ESA and JAXA's BepiColombo spacecraft will soon separate its orbiters for Mercury capture, marking a pivotal phase in the mission's multi-year journey to study the planet's surface and magnetic environment
Pioneer 11's Saturn Flyby Tested the Limits of Deep Space Navigation
NASA's Pioneer 11 spacecraft became the first probe to traverse Saturn's rings in 1979, gathering data on the planet's moons, rings, and magnetic field while clearing the way for later missions to the outer solar system
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
SpaceX Crew-13 Launch to ISS Delayed by Dragon Propulsion Leak
NASA and SpaceX have postponed the Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station after detecting an oxidizer leak in the Dragon spacecraft's propulsion system. The new launch date remains unconfirmed as teams investigate the issue
Roman Space Telescope Launch Draws Attention Amid Policy Reversal
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launched successfully, marking a milestone for infrared astronomy after years of budget uncertainty and political debate over its funding and future
Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Prepares for Launch and Legacy
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, named for the agency's first chief astronomer, is nearing launch. The mission aims to investigate dark matter, dark energy, and exoplanets with advanced infrared instruments
Nancy Grace Roman's Legacy: The Astronomer Who Shaped NASA's Vision
As NASA prepares to launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, the story of its namesake-pioneering astronomer and the agency's first chief of astronomy-offers insight into the evolution of space science and the people who shaped it
Gemini 5 Mission Sets New Space Endurance Record for NASA in 1965
NASA's Gemini 5 mission demonstrated that astronauts could survive eight days in orbit, providing crucial evidence for the feasibility of future lunar missions and marking a turning point in human spaceflight duration
Cloud 9 Galaxy May Be the Closest Starless Galaxy Candidate Yet
Astronomers using the Gran Telescopio Canarias and Hubble Space Telescope have identified Cloud 9, a galaxy near Messier 94, as a leading candidate for a starless galaxy dominated by dark matter and gas
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
NASA's Roman Space Telescope Nears Launch After Budget Uncertainty
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is set for launch after nearly two decades of development, overcoming a threatened cancellation and major funding cuts to become the agency's next flagship observatory for dark energy, exoplanets, and cosmic structure
Webb Telescope Reveals Planet Formation Depends on Rapid Disk Evolution
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have tracked how gas and dust escape from disks around 72 young sun-like stars, showing that planet formation must compete with the rapid dispersal of raw material
NASA Telescopes Reveal Unusual Extra Arms in Spiral Galaxy NGC 4258
A composite image from NASA's Chandra, Hubble, and James Webb telescopes reveals the spiral galaxy NGC 4258, highlighting two anomalous extra arms shaped by its central supermassive black hole
Ariane 6 Launches Final Meteosat Third Generation Weather Satellite
Europe's Ariane 6 rocket has launched the MTG-I2 satellite, completing the Meteosat Third Generation constellation for advanced weather monitoring from geostationary orbit
Citizen Scientists Capture Total Solar Eclipse in Spanish Village
A team of citizen scientists and astronomy enthusiasts gathered in Valoria la Buena, Spain, to observe and document the total solar eclipse on August 12, using telescopes and live data feeds to study the Sun's corona under rare atmospheric conditions
ALMA Reveals Persistent Hotspots on Betelgeuse's Turbulent Surface
Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array have mapped Betelgeuse's surface in unprecedented detail, revealing long-lived hotspots and complex plasma flows that challenge current models of red supergiant stars
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