Observatories and Telescopes
136 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.
Webb spots puzzling changes in Chariklo's rings between Saturn and Uranus
The James Webb Space Telescope has recorded unexpected changes in the rings of Chariklo, a small centaur object between Saturn and Uranus, challenging assumptions about the stability of minor ring systems in the outer solar system.
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.
AI reconstructs black hole jet motion from decades of radio data
A new AI-driven analysis of 27 years of radio telescope data has produced the sharpest reconstruction yet of a black hole jet, revealing unexpected details about plasma motion in the blazar 3C 345
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
Landsat 8 Captures Anak Krakatau Eruption from Orbit
NASA and USGS's Landsat 8 satellite recorded Anak Krakatau's eruption as volcanic gas and ash reached the atmosphere, grounding flights and halting local activity while the volcano remains active
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Part 1 of 4