Observatories and Telescopes

106 reports
Observatories and Telescopes research uses observation and physical models to explain a defined class of objects, signals, or cosmic processes. Evidence comes from interferometry, survey design, and detector systems, and competing models remain viable when observations are sparse or indirect.

To 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.

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

Read the analysis

Seventeen Spacecraft Reveal Asymmetric Structure in Solar Ejection

A coronal mass ejection observed in December 2024 was tracked by 17 spacecraft across the solar system, revealing an unexpected double-lobed structure with significant speed differences between its components

Read the analysis

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

Read the analysis

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

Read the analysis

Mars Express Reveals Detailed 3D View of Schiaparelli Crater

ESA's Mars Express orbiter has produced a new high-resolution 3D visualization of Schiaparelli Crater and the Southern Highlands, offering fresh insight into ancient Martian water activity and surface evolution

Read the analysis

Satellite Data Guides Eclipse Cruise to Clear Skies in 2026

A Mediterranean eclipse cruise relied on real-time satellite weather data to avoid clouds and secure a clear view of the 2026 total solar eclipse, demonstrating the critical role of geostationary satellites in astronomical observation planning

Read the analysis

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

Read the analysis

Webb Telescope Spots Candidate Black Hole Star in Early Universe

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have identified a luminous, solar-system-sized object from 660 million years after the Big Bang, offering the strongest evidence yet for a hypothesized 'black hole star' class.

Read the analysis

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

Read the analysis

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

Read the analysis

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

Read the analysis

Discovery of GJ 523b Challenges Theories of Rocky Planet Formation

Astronomers have identified GJ 523b, a rocky exoplanet over 23 times Earth's mass, using TESS and ground-based spectroscopy, raising new questions about how such dense worlds form and retain-or lose-their atmospheres

Read the analysis

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

Read the analysis

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

Read the analysis

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

Read the analysis

NASA Telescopes Map Energy Loss in Tarantula Nebula

A composite image from Chandra, Webb, and Hubble reveals how the Tarantula Nebula in the Large Magellanic Cloud is shaped by young stars and energetic gas, offering new insight into star formation and nebular evolution

Read the analysis

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

Read the analysis

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

Read the analysis

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

Read the analysis

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.

Read the analysis

SpaceX Rocket Impact on Moon Raises Safety Questions for Lunar Missions

A SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage collided with the lunar surface near Einstein Crater, prompting new scrutiny of debris risks as lunar exploration and infrastructure expand

Read the analysis

Celestron Moon Mission Travel Scope 70 Offers Accessible Stargazing

A review of the Celestron Moon Mission Travel Scope 70 examines its optical performance, ease of use, and limitations for beginners and young astronomers, highlighting what this portable refractor can and cannot reveal in the night sky

Read the analysis

Black Hole Winds Drive Turbulence Far Beyond Host Galaxy

Observations with Japan's XRISM X-ray satellite reveal that outflows from a supermassive black hole in a distant quasar are far more powerful than previously estimated, stirring hot gas across intergalactic space

Read the analysis

Webb Telescope Resolves Closest Black Hole Pair in Early Universe

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope and ALMA have identified two supermassive black holes just 4,900 light-years apart in a galaxy merger 1.3 billion years after the Big Bang, offering new insight into rapid black hole growth

Read the analysis

Astranis Unveils Perceptor Satellites to Track Activity in Geostationary Orbit

Astranis has announced the development of Perceptor satellites designed to monitor and analyze spacecraft movements in geostationary orbit, a region increasingly important for communications and national security

Read the analysis

Two Major Solar Eclipses Will Cross Three Continents in 2027

Astronomers are preparing for two rare solar eclipses in 2027, including a 'ring of fire' annular eclipse in February and an unusually long total solar eclipse in August, both visible across parts of South America, Africa, and Europe

Read the analysis

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

Read the analysis

Comet 220P/McNaught Imaged in Unusual Bright Outburst Over Namibia

Astrophotographers in Namibia have captured a rare, vivid image of comet 220P/McNaught during a dramatic brightening event, using a 12-inch telescope and advanced camera equipment

Read the analysis

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

Read the analysis

NASA's Roman Space Telescope Targets Dark Energy and Exoplanets

NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, set for launch in 2026, will use infrared instruments to investigate dark energy, dark matter, and exoplanets from a stable orbit 1.5 million kilometers from Earth

Read the analysis

Part 1 of 4