SUNSET: 
Catching the Earliest Stars in the Universe
New observations from the James Webb Space Telescope might have caught the signature of the universe's first stars.
New Astro Images: Saturn, the Crab Nebula, and a Newborn Planet
Striking images from Hubble, Webb, and the Very Large Telescope dive into Saturn's atmosphere, capture the Crab Nebula's expansion, and reveal a newborn planet.
White Dwarf Discovered Gobbling Material from Gamma Cassiopeiae
Powerful X-rays from the nearby naked-eye star Gamma Cas mystified astronomers for decades. Now, a new observatory reveals that they come from its white dwarf companion.
Super-Bright Supernovae Are Birth Cries of Magnetars
The disk of gas that spirals onto a newborn magnetar wobbles, creating "bumps" in the brightness of the supernova that accompanied this object's birth.
The Solar Cycle Leaves Its Fingerprint on the Sun’s Interior
Astronomers have used 40 years’ worth of data to peer inside the Sun, revealing that the solar cycle can leave a distinct fingerprint beneath the visible surface.
Astronomers Witness Transformation of One of the Largest Stars
One of the largest known stars — a red supergiant — suddenly shrank and heated up, transforming into a different kind of star.
Astronomers Discover Second Failed Supernova Candidate
Astronomers might have spotted a star in the Andromeda Galaxy collapsing directly into a black hole, without the accompanying fanfare of a supernova.
The Ring Nebula Has an “Iron Bar”
New observations reveal a strange structure in the iconic nebula that has evaded astronomers for centuries.
What the Helix Nebula Has in Common with a Supernova Remnant
Sculpted gases in the Helix Nebula, revealed in a new Webb image, look like the firework-like tendrils in a distant amateur-discovered supernova remnant — here's why.
Watch Stellar Explosions Near and Far (Videos)
New videos from the Solar Orbiter and the Chandra X-ray Observatory capture magnetic avalanches on the Sun and the exploding remnants of a star 17,000 light-years away.
Nights with Mira, a Most Wonderful Star
Mira the Wonderful is back! Of course, it's always been there, but now it's near maximum brightness and easily visible with the unaided eye.
Betelgeuse’s Elusive Companion Might Be Making Waves
In new observations, astronomers detect a moving wake of gas in the outer layers of the red supergiant Betelgeuse, offering fresh evidence for a long-suspected secondary star.
Did Asteroids Collide Near Fomalhaut – Again?
The young, nearby star may be experiencing an episode of repeated, violent collisions within its forming planetary system.
Passing Baby Stars Lock Arms in Rare Astronomical Find
Astronomers have discovered a bridge of gas and dust between two protostars, the signature of a close encounter 15,000 years ago.
Did Astronomers See a Star Explode Twice?
Astronomers are trying to determine if they've witnessed a complex stellar explosion or a relatively ordinary supernova.
Two Stars Swept by the Solar System 4.5 Million Years Ago
Two winter stars left their mark long ago on wispy gas clouds near the solar system. Their passage might even have influenced life on Earth.
Lure of the Obscure — Andromeda's Parachute and Dracula's Chivito
Observers can't resist the challenge of seeking faint objects with curious names. We go deep and visit two — Andromeda's Parachute and Dracula's Chivito.
Meet the Seven Sisters’ 3,000 Lost Siblings
The Pleiades star cluster is part of a much larger complex that stretches across the entire sky, a new study shows.
The Sun Left Home in a Hurry
By exploring the edge of the solar system, astronomers have estimated how long our star stuck around its siblings after birth.
Have Astronomers Discovered the First Generation of Stars?
With the help of an intervening galaxy cluster, astronomers have found what might be the first generation of stars — but the jury's still out.
