SUNSET: 
Supernovae Swept Out Barnard's Loop in Orion
Astronomers have mapped Orion in 3D to understand the origin of the large arc of Barnard’s Loop — and you can interact with the 3D image!
Have We Found the First Rogue Black Hole in the Milky Way?
Hubble observations have revealed a stellar-mass compact object — a black hole or possibly a neutron star — wandering our galaxy.
Hundreds of Thousands of Stars Reveal the Milky Way’s “Teenage” Years
A census of hundreds of thousands of subgiant stars in our galaxy provides a window into the Milky Way's early history.
A Star Where It Shouldn't Be
There’s a massive star in our galaxy’s halo, far away from the usual star-forming haunts. How did it get there?
Astonishing Radio View of the Milky Way’s Heart
A new radio survey reveals a complex and chaotic galactic center teeming with supernova remnants, star-forming regions, and mysterious filaments.
1,000-light-year "Bubble" Is the Source of All Nearby Baby Stars
Supernovae that carved out the Local Bubble, a cavity around the Sun, have also triggered star formation at the bubble's edges.
Stellar Streams Are Revealing Their Secrets
A detailed study of 12 streams of stars swirling in and around the Milky Way will ultimately help shed light on our galaxy's dark matter halo.
Astronomers Discover Celestial Ruins on Our Galaxy’s Edge
A stream of stars scattered across 15 degrees of sky was once part of a globular cluster torn apart by our galaxy’s gravity. The stars represent some of the oldest in the Milky Way.
Tiny Galaxy’s Giant Black Hole Throws Astronomers for a Loop
A satellite galaxy dwarfed by the Milky Way has a black hole nearly as massive as the one at the center of our galaxy.
How Our Largest Dwarf Galaxy Keeps the Others In Line
New research may explain why satellite galaxies align themselves around the Milky Way
Astronomy in Pictures: Black Holes, Baby Stars, and Magnetic "Tunnels"
Astronomers witness the unfurling of a black hole-powered mushroom cloud, a baby super-Jupiter, and a magnetic "tunnel" around the solar system.
Take a Deep Look into the Milky Way Halo
New analysis shows the best view of the Milky Way halo to date, providing a window into our galaxy's future star formation.
In Heaven with M7, a Portal Into the Deep
M7 in Scorpius is one of the brightest, most beautiful open clusters in the sky. It's also "home" to a half-dozen other delectable deep-sky sights.
Dark Matter "Wake" in the Milky Way's Outer Reaches
Astronomers have discovered that a satellite of the Milky Way has left a "wake" in the dark matter halo that surrounds our galaxy.
Flares from the Milky Way’s Supermassive Black Hole
The supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way released an unusual number of strong flares in 2019. Now, astronomers are trying to figure out why.
Seeking the Origins of Galactic Stellar Streams
A recent study has identified the origins of many of the long streams of stars that encircle the Milky Way. These streams may contain hints about our galaxy's past.
Tibet Observatory Confirms Existence of Galactic PeVatrons
A Tibetan cosmic-ray observatory has discovered high-energy particle accelerators within our galaxy.
The Milky Way’s Local Arm Is Longer Than We Thought
New maps of the Milky Way suggest the Local Arm that we call home is longer than expected — now upgraded to a major spiral feature (but not quite an arm).
What — and Where — Is the North Polar Spur?
Astronomers make the case that a gigantic ridge of gas sticking out of the galactic plane was blown out by a cluster of nearby supernovae.
The Alignment of the Milky Way’s Entourage, Explained
Astronomers are starting to understand why the dwarf galaxies around the Milky Way are aligned along a plane.