2021–2040 of 6,731 results
NGC 6240 and its three black holes

Black Holes

Three Black Holes May Merge in Nearby Galaxy

New observations of a galactic crash site show that there are not just two but three supermassive black holes on the verge of union. Two of them are only 650 light-years apart, the closest pair known.

Celestial News & Events

Meteor Shower Was a Dud, But Showing Up Was Half the Fun

The Alpha Monocerotids happened as predicted, even if not quite as we expected.

Gamma-ray burst illustration

Stellar Science

Astronomers See Extreme Photons from Collapsing Massive Stars

Astronomers have detected a long-sought signal from gamma-ray bursts — the highest-energy photons ever seen from these events.

People, Places, and Events

Report from the 2019 Advanced Imaging Conference

S&T Associate Editor Sean Walker gives a rundown of last week's astro-imaging conference.

People, Places, and Events

Remembering Dr. Michael D. Reynolds, 1954 – 2019

Mike Reynolds, passionate astronomy educator and former executive director of the Association of Lunar & Planetary Observers (ALPO), passed away suddenly on October 15th.

Altair skyscape

Night Sky Sights

Meet Altair, the Eagle’s Eye

Altair, centerpiece of Aqulia, the Eagle, is the twelfth-brightest star in the night sky and one of the closest stars to Earth.

Global map of Titan's geological features

Solar System

First Global Geological Map of Saturn’s Moon Titan Released

Working with data from NASA’s Cassini mission, scientists have produced the first global map of Titan’s geological features.

Color composite of 2014 MU69

Astronomy and Society

New Horizons Flyby Target Receives Official Name: Arrokoth

When NASA's New Horizons flew by a distant Kuiper Belt Object on New Year's Day, they nicknamed it "Ultima Thule." Now, the object has received an official moniker: Arrokoth.

Hayabusa 2

Solar System

Hayabusa 2 Leaves Asteroid Ryugu and Heads Home

The Hayabusa 2 spacecraft has completed its mission at asteroid Ryugu — including collecting samples — and is now journeying back to Earth.

Pro-Am Collaboration

Do You Take Spectra? Here's Where to Store Your Data — and Contribute to Science

A new database from the American Association of Variable Star Observers enables astronomers (amateur and professional alike) to store data from any variable object in the sky.

Astronomy and Society

The (Almost) Re-Opening of the Yerkes Observatory

Yerkes Observatory, a historic, castle-like building built to house a gigantic telescope, may soon reopen if all goes according to plan.

Alpha Monocerotid Radiants

Celestial News & Events

Intense Meteor Storm Expected from the Alpha Monocerotids

Circle the date November 21st on your calendar, when a brief but potentially spectacular meteor storm might light up the night.

Transit of Mercury 2019 (composite)

Celestial News & Events

Capturing the Transit of Mercury

Though clouds blocked the sky for many yesterday, those with a clear view had the chance to see tiny Mercury cross the face of the Sun.

SpaceX Starlink

Space Missions

SpaceX Launches Latest Batch of Starlink Satellites

A second set of 60 Starlink satellites take to space, amid promise and controversy.

Celestial News & Events

Don't Miss Monday's Rare Transit of Mercury

On Monday, November 11th, Mercury will pass directly in front of the Sun and look a tiny black dot silhouetted against the brilliant solar disk. The event, called a transit, occurs approximately 13 times a century.

microlensing diagram

Exoplanets

Observations Confirm Lensing Planet Discovered by Amateur

Follow-up observations of an amateur-discovered exoplanet show that the planet orbits its star at the snow line, where ice giants may form.

Makani Galaxy

Astronomy & Observing News

Astronomers Image Winds from Faraway Galaxy

Astronomers have directly observed a supernova-driven wind as it's rushing out of a galaxy and far into intergalactic space.

Illustration showing position of Voyager 1 and Voyager 2

Solar System

Interstellar Space: The View from Voyager 2

Voyager 2 crossed into interstellar space a year ago. Now, five teams of astronomers have analyzed the data it returned to paint a picture of the outer boundary of the solar system.

Planets and Moon Nov 28-29

Sky Tour Astronomy Podcast

November 2019: Changing Scenery

Download this month's Sky Tour for a guided tour of the evening sky's changing planetary scene and some constellations that might be new to you.

VIPER

Space Missions

NASA Announces VIPER Lunar Rover

A new NASA rover named VIPER may soon investigate the shadowed poles of the Moon, in preparation for the return of human explorers.