SUNSET: 
How Jupiter’s Moon Ganymede Melted Its Core
A new model explains how Ganymede got its molten core — which in turn has given Jupiter's largest moon its magnetic field.
SMILE: European Space Weather Mission Launches
An innovative new mission will probe the mystery of how the Earth’s magnetosphere interacts with the solar wind.
What's Feeding Our Supermassive Black Hole?
Astronomers have identified the likely source of gas that flows into the maw of the Milky Way’s central black hole, Sagittarius A*.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, May 15 – 24
The Moon, Venus, and Jupiter — the three brightest celestial objects after the Sun — will form up beautifully in twilight this Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
How Did This Peculiar Planet Pair Form?
A planetary odd couple — a mini-Neptune and a hot Jupiter — probably formed much farther away from their star before migrating closer in.
Webb Telescope Reveals Brown Dwarfs Masquerading as Early Galaxies
Two objects that appeared to be galaxies residing in a universe about 150 million years old turn out to be brown dwarfs in the Milky Way.
Moon and Planets to Gather in Twilight Spectacle on May 18–20
Watch the crescent Moon dance with the planets when it returns next week.
A Black Hole’s Puzzling X-Ray Bursts
In 2019, a supermassive black hole in a galaxy 300 million light-years away woke up. Now, it’s puzzling astronomers with an unexpected slowdown in its X-ray bursts.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, May 8 – 17
Jupiter, shining high the western dusk, inches down day toward brighter Venus. Venus, meanwhile, creeps toward the horntip stars of Taurus and stands between them on May 13th.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
SpaceX Booster Will Hit the Moon This August
The imminent lunar impact of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket booster highlights the growing amount of space debris near the Moon.
Astronomers Spot Possible Missing Link to Webb’s Little Red Dots
Astronomers may have found the missing link required to understand one of the James Webb Space Telescope’s most puzzling discoveries.
Nearby Super-Earth Has No Atmosphere and a Dark, Moon-like Surface
The James Webb Space Telescope has observed the surface of a bare rocky exoplanet, revealing old, dark rock akin to that on our Moon.
Questar Ceases Operations
The manufacturer of the highly coveted Questar telescope has closed its shutters after 76 years of serving the astronomy community.
Meet the Constellations: Leo, the Lion
Leo, the Lion, is one of the most recognizable of the spring constellations, with its large size, distinctive shape, and plentiful bright stars.
Astronomers Find Atmosphere Around a Pluto-like World
Observations — including from an amateur astronomer — show that the Plutino 2002 XV93 has a thin wisp of air around it.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, May 1 – 9
Venus hangs in place in the western twilight while Aldebaran and the Pleiades continue their downward slide behind it. And if Venus is the Evening Star, then bright Jupiter, high to its upper left, counts as the False Evening Star.
Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Has Cold, Ancient Origins
The most recent interstellar visitor was crisscrossing our galaxy for some 10 to 12 billion years before it came near the Sun.
May Podcast: The Delightful Dippers
This month’s episode showcases the Big and Little Dippers, now placed high in the northern evening sky. We'll also track down all five bright planets and watch for meteors from Halley's Comet. So grab your curiosity, and come along on this month’s Sky Tour.
Satellite or Meteor? Dissecting Light Trails in Your Sky Photos
Here's a quick guide to tell meteors from machines in your wide-field images of the night sky.
Curiosity Team Hits Jackpot: A Sample Full of Complex Organic Molecules
Scientists have identified at least seven carbon-rich molecules that NASA's Curiosity rover detected on Mars, and they're more complex than any found before.
