Observatories and Telescopes
59 reportsTo assess how observing time is assigned, reports compare science data archives, wavelength coverage, and interferometry. They also ask how telescopes collect light, comparing competing models without treating agreement as proof of mechanism.
NASA's PUNCH Mission Narrows Solar Storm Arrival Forecasts
NASA's PUNCH mission has enabled scientists to predict the arrival of a solar eruption near Earth with a margin of just 30 minutes, using continuous 3D imaging of coronal mass ejections as they travel through the inner solar system
NASA Tracks Falcon 9 Rocket Stage Ahead of Planned Lunar Impact
NASA and SpaceX are monitoring a spent Falcon 9 upper stage expected to strike the Moon near Einstein and Bell craters, using ground and space-based telescopes to gather data and refine tracking methods
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
Neptune's Inner Moons May Preserve Debris From Ancient Ice Worlds
Infrared observations from the James Webb Space Telescope reveal unexpected clay minerals on two small Neptunian moons, supporting a debris-origin scenario while leaving the fate of their original ice unresolved
Hubble Finds Andromeda's Star Formation Is Winding Down
A Hubble analysis of about 200 million stars shows Andromeda has sharply reduced its star-making rate over the past 500 million years, while NASA's Roman telescope prepares to map the galaxy more completely
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
NASA's Roman Telescope Will Carry 1.35 Million Names to L2
A memory card carrying 1,350,144 names has been mounted on NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope ahead of its planned launch to an orbit about one million miles from Earth
Mercury and Jupiter Meet as Venus Rules August Skies
Venus reaches its widest evening separation from the Sun on Aug. 15, while Mercury and Jupiter pass within 0.6 degrees before dawn in a difficult but rewarding conjunction
Triple-Lobed Asteroid 44 Nysa Imaged With Orbiting Moon in Asteroid Belt
Astronomers have resolved asteroid 44 Nysa as the first known triple-lobed body in the main belt, using adaptive optics on major ground-based telescopes. The object also hosts a small moon, raising new questions about asteroid formation and evolution.
Astronomers Link Two Supernova Remnants to a Single Binary Star System
A faint supernova remnant near the Jellyfish Nebula has been identified as the likely companion explosion from a binary star system, based on 16 years of gamma-ray data and multiwavelength observations
Galileo's 1610 Observation of Saturn's Rings Changed Planetary Science
In July 1610, Galileo Galilei used a newly invented telescope to observe Saturn, recording features that would later be identified as the planet's rings-a finding that reshaped our understanding of planetary systems
Webb Telescope Maps Dusty Structures in Active Galaxy Centaurus A
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has captured a detailed mid-infrared image of Centaurus A, revealing complex dust lanes and energetic activity in this nearby galaxy using its MIRI instrument
SpaceX Rocket Stage to Impact Moon, Raising New Scientific Questions
A spent SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage is set to collide with the lunar surface on August 5, offering researchers a rare opportunity to observe the effects of artificial impacts on the Moon using telescopes and orbital instruments
NASA Prepares Roman Space Telescope for Early Launch to L2 Orbit
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is set for launch on August 30, aiming to deliver wide-field infrared surveys and exoplanet imaging from a stable orbit beyond the Moon
NASA's Swift Boost Mission Faces Setback After Spacecraft Malfunction
NASA's Swift Boost mission, launched to extend the life of the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, has encountered a critical control issue with its LINK spacecraft, raising uncertainty about the planned orbital rescue operation
Webb Telescope Study Links Little Red Dots to Black Hole Activity
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have traced the origins of mysterious 'little red dots' in deep space, suggesting these compact sources are linked to phases of intense supermassive black hole activity
July's Buck Moon Aligns with Venus, Saturn, Mars, and Mercury
The full Buck Moon rises on July 29, accompanied by a rare alignment of Venus, Saturn, Mars, and Mercury. Observers can witness this planetary parade with the naked eye or optical instruments as twilight fades
Chandra X-ray Observatory reveals hot gas from early quasar
NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has detected extremely hot gas surrounding a distant, radio-quiet quasar, offering new insight into the formation of galactic cluster atmospheres in the early universe
Dwarf Galaxy DF9 Found Without Dark Matter After Cosmic Collision
Astronomers using the Keck Cosmic Web Imager have identified a faint dwarf galaxy, DF9, that appears to lack dark matter, supporting the idea that galactic collisions can separate dark and visible matter
NASA Prepares Roman Space Telescope for 2026 Launch to L2 Orbit
NASA has fueled the Roman Space Telescope, a next-generation infrared observatory scheduled for launch in August 2026, aiming to collect hundreds of terabytes of cosmic data annually and expand studies of dark matter, dark energy, and exoplanets
Astrophotographer Captures ISS Passing Venus in Daylight Sky
A rare daylight image shows the International Space Station appearing close to Venus, recorded by AJ Smadi using a specialized telescope and camera setup in Washington state
Radio Telescopes Track Space Debris in Geostationary Orbit
Engineers have demonstrated that radio telescopes can detect and monitor space debris in geostationary orbit, using radar signals reflected from distant objects beyond the reach of conventional tracking methods
VLT Reveals Strongest Evidence Yet for Betelgeuse's Companion Star
Astronomers using the Very Large Telescope have obtained the clearest direct image to date of a faint companion star near Betelgeuse, advancing a century-long search for evidence that the red supergiant is part of a binary system
Africa's BALLS Radio Array to Ride Chang'e 8 to Lunar South Pole
A trio of spherical radio astronomy probes from Africa is set to launch aboard China's Chang'e 8 lander in 2029, aiming to deploy at the moon's south pole and test low-frequency radio observations beyond Earth's atmospheric limits
Swift Observatory Detects Black Hole Consuming Star Far From Galaxy Core
NASA's Swift Observatory has observed a rare tidal disruption event caused by a supermassive black hole devouring a star on the outskirts of a distant galaxy, challenging assumptions about where such events occur
Chandra X-ray Data Reveal Black Hole Jet Disrupting Early Galaxy
Astronomers using the Chandra X-ray Observatory have detected a jet from a supermassive black hole disturbing gas in a distant galaxy known as the 'red potato,' offering new insight into how black holes can suppress star formation in the early universe
Deep Partial Lunar Eclipse to Create 'Almost Blood Moon' in August 2026
A rare deep partial lunar eclipse will occur on August 28, 2026, with up to 96% of the Moon passing through Earth's umbra. The event will be visible across the Americas, Europe, and Africa, offering a striking copper-red lunar display.
Bright Moonlight Limits Meteor Shower Viewing as Delta Aquariids Peak
The Southern Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids meteor showers reach their peak on July 30-31, but a nearly full moon will significantly reduce visibility of fainter meteors for observers across North America
Thermal Cameras Could Sharpen LIGO's View of Distant Black Holes
Researchers have demonstrated that commercial thermal imaging cameras, combined with computer modeling, can correct heat-induced distortions in LIGO's mirrors, potentially expanding the observatory's reach by tens of millions of light-years
Seestar S30 Pro Smart Telescope Expands Urban Astrophotography Access
The Seestar S30 Pro integrates a high-resolution sensor, dual cameras, and automated image processing in a compact, smartphone-controlled telescope, enabling deep-sky imaging even from light-polluted locations
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