National Science Foundation Will Not Rebuild Arecibo
While the NSF plans to establish an educational center at the Arecibo Observatory, the institution has stated it will not fund science there.
Winking Stars Help Map Asteroids — and Discover a New Moonlet
An innovative method enables astronomers to gauge the size and shape of a distant asteroid — and potentially any km-scale object in the solar system.
Dance of Giant Stars Creates Ripples of Dust
Every time two giant stars swing around each other, they enrich the cosmos with complex organic molecules.
Watch "Astronomy's Workhorse" in Action
Fly through Sloan Digital Sky Survey data, watch what the team has to do to produce these observations, and see an artistic interpretation of the process and science.
Neptune's Rings, Jupiter's “Frosted Cupcakes,” and 3D Views of Mars
Three solar system emissaries have returned beautiful and even interactive vistas of Neptune, Jupiter, and Mars.
Webb's Exoplanet Data Are Almost Too Good
A new study urges caution in interpreting the chemical fingerprints that Webb is collecting of alien worlds.
Perseverance Finds Ancient Habitable Conditions on Mars
The mission team has reported results from Perseverance's study of the rocks deposited by the river that once flowed into Jezero Crater.
Webb's Dazzling Views of the Orion Nebula
The James Webb Space Telescope has provided its first views of the Orion Nebula, revealing infant stars and the filaments that feed them.
Blazar's Outburst Hid Repeating Signal
Pulses originating almost a billion light-years away hint at extreme physics near a supermassive black hole.
Webb Captures an Exoplanet, a Brown Dwarf — and a Giant Tarantula
New Webb images reveal the space telescope's first exoplanet, first brown dwarf, and a stellar nursery teeming with activity.
Years of Tensions at Mauna Kea May End with Peaceful Negotiations
New stewardship of Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano that hosts some of the world's largest telescopes, could change the face of astronomy at the summit.
Webb Reveals Jupiter, Puffy Planet, and Galactic Maelstroms in a New Light
Round out your week with these stunning views of the universe from the James Webb Space telescope.
How Astronomers Are Rendering the Universe in Sound
Presenting data as sound can open new opportunities for accessibility, engagement, and discovery, but the technique still faces challenges.
Giant Black Holes Make Tiny, Ghost-like Particles
Blazars, the gas-guzzling black holes at the center of galaxies, could make most of the tiny particles known as neutrinos we catch on Earth.
What the James Webb Space Telescope's First Year Will Reveal
The James Webb Space Telescope's first year of observations promises to reveal exoplanet atmospheres and surfaces, infant galaxies, and maybe even the first black holes.
Where Did the First Quasars Come From?
New research shows how black holes with tens of thousands of Suns' worth of mass can form in the universe's early years.
Life and Death in Nearby Galaxies
New images of nearby galaxies and their surroundings reveal details in galactic formation and evolution — and puzzles that remain to be solved.
The Gaia Revolution: New Data and Strange Stars
Astronomers will use the newest data release from the Gaia mission to explore stellar tsunamis, Milky Way history, and more.
An Unusual Source Deepens Fast Radio Burst Mysteries
A new source of fast radio bursts raises questions about how much we really know about these mysterious flares.
The Sun Is Waking Up — Right On Schedule
The Sun is ramping up activity, but contrary to some reports, this solar cycle is still consistent with scientists' predictions.