SUNSET: 
Galaxies Don’t Die All at Once
State-of-the-art simulations shed light on how galaxies die — and how we can determine the cause of death.
A Nearby Dwarf Galaxy is Transforming Before Our Eyes
The Small Magellanic Cloud, a dwarf galaxy near the Milky Way, is undergoing a complete galactic transformation after a recent collision with its nearest neighbor.
Dwarf Galaxy Has "Too Many" Satellites
While small galaxies are expected to have even smaller satellite galaxies, astronomers have found a surprising number of tiny companions around one dwarf galaxy.
Infant Galaxy Clusters Grew Faster Than Expected
Astronomers have discovered three still-growing galaxy clusters in the early universe that point to a faster track of evolution than expected.
Starless Gas Cloud Might Be a Failed Galaxy
Astronomers discovered a cloud of hydrogen gas that’s devoid of stars. Held together by an invisible halo of dark matter, the starless cloud may elucidate its nature.
Not Every Galaxy Has a Central Black Hole
Many less massive galaxies appear to lack something astronomers thought was ubiquitous: a central, supermassive black hole.
Galaxies Spin on Vast Filament Like a Teacup Ride
Astronomers have discovered one of the largest structures in the universe — and the galaxies within it — spinning like a fairground teacup ride.
Early Galaxies Were Messy, New Study Finds
Astronomers have found that star-forming galaxies in the early universe were far messier than modern-day disk galaxies.
Astronomers Spot Rare Einstein Cross — and a Massive Clump of Dark Matter
The discovery of a rare Einstein Cross — five images of the same galaxy — reveals a trillion-solar-mass dark matter clump.
Early Galaxy Hosts Black Hole with the Mass of 50 Million Suns
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have confirmed that, just 800 million years after the Big Bang, there is a galaxy that contains a supermassive black hole — and not much else.
A Candidate Direct-Collapse Black Hole in the Infinity Galaxy
Researchers have discovered a rare ring-galaxy duo that appears to harbor a supermassive black hole formed through direct collapse
Jellyfish Galaxy Sheds Spiral Arms in “Bunny Ear” Tails
Astronomers have imaged a "jellyfish" galaxy in detail, revealing that its spiral arms now drag behind it as a pair of tails.
Milky Way’s Chances of Hitting Andromeda Galaxy May Be 50/50
A new analysis of Hubble and Gaia data suggests that our galaxy might survive an upcoming encounter with the Andromeda Galaxy unscathed.
Most Distant Galaxy Confirmed in New JWST Images
New James Webb Space Telescope data shows us what the earliest known galaxy in the universe looks like.
Barred Spiral Galaxy Discovered in the Early Universe
The discovery of a barred spiral galaxy in a universe just a couple billion years old suggests that galaxies formed and evolved much more quickly than current theories suggest.
The Twisted Path to Unconfounding "Double Star" Messier 40
The story of Messier object No. 40 not only makes for a great yarn, but it also demonstrates the haphazard nature of scientific progress.
Why Are Most of Andromeda's Dwarf Galaxies On Our Side?
A new look at the galaxies swarming around the Andromeda Galaxy shows that their asymmetric arrangement is rare — and difficult to explain.
Cosmic Fog Lifted Earlier Than Expected
New observations show that the universe's first light penetrated the fog of the cosmic dark ages just 330 million years after the Big Bang.
Hubble Investigates Dwarf Galaxies Aligned Around the Andromeda Galaxy
A new Hubble Space Telescope survey shows intriguing patterns of star formation in dwarf galaxies aligned in a plane around the Andromeda Galaxy.
Euclid Discovers Einstein Ring Around Nearby Galaxy
The Euclid space telescope has uncovered an "Einstein ring" in an unexpected place — a nondescript galaxy we've known for more than a century.
