Astronomers Find "Big Ring" 1.3 Billion Light-Years Across
Standard cosmological scenarios might not explain the breadth of a newly discovered cosmic structure.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, February 16 – 25
The Moon waxes from first quarter to full this week, traveling from the Pleiades past the not-quite-twin heads of Gemini to the Sickle of Leo. The Big Dipper and Cassiopeia stand in balance. Venus meets Mars low in the dawn.
Neutron Star "Glitches" Are Clue to Mysterious Radio Bursts
New observations of a neutron star in the Milky Way's center shed light on what makes mysterious fast radio bursts.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
The Nova-C Lander Launches for the Moon
The second Commercial Lunar Payload Services mission of 2024 IM-1 Nova-C heads Moonward.
Largest-ever Catalog of X-ray Sources Tests Cosmology
Results from a brand-new high-energy observatory are rocking the field of cosmology. In particular, a study of more than 5,000 galaxy clusters relieves tension in the standard cosmological model.
Southern Stargazing with Jonathan Nally
Get to Know the Carina Constellation
The southern constellation Carina contains arguably the best nebula in the sky, along with a host of other fascinating stars and clusters.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Winter's Finest Triple Stars
Double stars are wonderful, but triples are terrific! Here are 16 trios to enjoy the next clear night.
How to Do Eclipse Outreach On and Off the Path
One of the best parts about the eclipse coming up on April 8th will be the opportunity to share the joy and amazement with others!
Using Ancient Ultraviolet Light to Probe Theories of Cosmology
By studying the formation and evolution of galaxies in the early universe, researchers seek to test the predictions of our leading theory of cosmology.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, February 9 – 17
The first-quarter Moon passes the Pleiades, then Aldebaran. Cassiopeia stands on end. For the southern U.S., Canopus culminates far under Sirius.
How Venus Ended Up with a Mini-Moon Named Zoozve
A quasi-satellite of Venus has just received an unusual name.
Webb Telescope Unveils 19 Galaxies in a New Light
A James Webb Space Telescope survey known as PHANGS has revealed exquisite, just-published details in 19 nearby galaxies.
Does Saturn's "Death Star" Moon Harbor an Ocean?
New evidence, based off of NASA's Cassini measurements of Mimas's orbit, suggests the icy "Death Star" moon might have a subsurface ocean.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
NASA's Juno Mission Makes Closest Flyby Past Io
Juno has revealed Jupiter's volcanic moon Io as never before.
Hubble Reveals Possible Water-Vapor World
New Hubble Space Telescope observations reveal the warm sub-Neptune GJ 9827d might have a steamy atmosphere.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, February 2 – 11
Under Orion is the Hare, which you may know, and under the Hare is the Dove, which you may not. February the best month for both.
February Podcast: Orion and His Cosmic Critters
As told in this month’s Sky Tour astronomy podcast, Orion, the Hunter, dominates February’s evening sky, but he seems unaware of the cosmic prey that surrounds him.
Explore the Night with Bob King
The Best Comets to Look for in 2024
If you like chasing comets, here's a guide to the year's best and brightest.
NASA Ends Mars Ingenuity Helicopter Mission
NASA’s ground-breaking Ingenuity helicopter, part of the Perseverance mission, comes to a rest on the Red Planet.
Asteroid 2024 BX1: From a Light in the Sky to Rocks on the Ground
The asteroid 2024 BX1 went from a moving dot of light to rocks on the ground in mere hours — and amateur astronomers were critical to both discovery and recovery.