Space

Editor's Picks

an illustration showing the hypothetical Planet 9 with blue rings and a question mark over it, with stars and a galaxy in the background
Planet Nine: Is the search for this elusive world nearly over? Astronomers have been scouring the outer solar system for signs of a hypothetical ninth planet for almost a decade, without success. However, we may finally be on the cusp of finding it, experts say.
Each bright spot in this image, the first all-sky image by eRosita, is black hole or a neutron star.
5 space discoveries that scientists are struggling to explain From "runaway" black holes shooting across the cosmos to secret planets in our own backyard, space is overrun with mysterious objects that scientists are clamoring to explain. Here are five of the strangest sights in the universe, as well as their possible origins.
An illustration of a large, round asteroid having a close encounter with the blue Earth
NASA's most wanted: The 5 most dangerous asteroids to Earth What is the most dangerous asteroid, how probable is an impact, and how much destructive power would a collision with Earth have? Here are 5 big space rocks that NASA is watching closely.

Latest about Space

James webb telescope image of a galaxy merger, with spirals in glowing red light

Space photo of the week: Entangled galaxies form cosmic smiley face in new James Webb telescope image

By Jamie Carter published

A new image from the James Webb Space Telescope shows Arp 107, home to two merging galaxies, with two bright cores and a "bridge" of dust and gas forming a cosmic smiley face.

Astronomy
A close-up of streaks of fire erupting from the sun

Could we turn the sun into a gigantic telescope?

By Paul Sutter published

Using a phenomenon known as gravitational lensing, it might be possible to use the sun as a gigantic telescope to peer deep into space.

The Sun
an image of earth as seen from space. a silvery edge of a spacecraft can be seen along one side of the image

ESA's JUICE spacecraft confirmed Earth is habitable. Here's why

By Stefanie Waldek published

JUICE successfully identified water and the building blocks of life in Earth's atmosphere. In doing so, the probe headed for Jupiter's moons confirmed that its instruments are working properly.

Space Exploration
An orange sphere next to a large yellow sphere

Iron winds and molten metal rains ravage a hellish hot Jupiter exoplanet

By Robert Lea published

"Our observations indicate the presence of powerful iron winds, probably fuelled by a hot spot in the atmosphere."

Exoplanets
An artist's illustration of Porphyrion shows the gigantic jet stretching across the tendrils of the cosmic web.

Biggest black hole jets ever seen are as long as 140 Milky Ways

By Ben Turner published

The largest-ever black hole jets ever seen hint that these cosmic monsters may play an even more significant role in shaping galaxies than previously thought.

Black Holes
An artist's impression of Earth and its ancient asteroid ring.

Earth once wore a Saturn-like ring, study of ancient craters suggests

By Ben Turner published

The ring could be responsible for a prolonged drop in temperatures millions of years ago.

Asteroids
Pheobe moon.

A passing star may have kicked the solar system's weirdest moons into place

By Abha Jain published

A passing star may have kicked the weird moons of giant planets like Jupiter and Saturn into place, new research suggests.

Space
A three-paneled image showing a star at three different dates over the summer of 2023. The star shows bright yellow plasma bubbles all over its surface.

The bubbling surface of a distant star was captured on video for the 1st time ever

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

Astronomers have gotten the first-ever detailed views of turbulent activity on a star other than our own sun.

Astronomy
A rendering of Voyager 1

NASA's Voyager 1 probe swaps thrusters in tricky fix as it flies through interstellar space

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA's most distant spacecraft had a critical thruster problem far from home. Fixing it required a long-distance call to overcome extreme cold and dwindling power.

Space Exploration
An image of purple glittering stars

The James Webb telescope has brought cosmology to a tipping point. Will it soon reveal new physics?

By Andreea Font published

Right now, it looks like cosmology is at a tipping point. Will the James Webb telescope resolve the issue by revealing new physics?

Cosmology
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