SUNSET: 
White Dwarf’s Whirlwind Spin Drags Spacetime
Astronomers have used observations of a tight white dwarf-neutron star pair to confirm an aspect of Einstein's general theory of relativity.
Superluminous Supernova, Explained?
Some brilliant explosions at least 10 times more powerful than regular supernovae might come from a white dwarf merging with a massive companion star. But not everyone agrees on that explanation.
See Ancient “North Stars" Eclipse Each Other
The ancient pole star known as Thuban turns out to be an eclipsing binary. If you're up for a challenge, you can see the eclipses for yourself.
New Mysterious Radio Flash Pinned Down; Hundreds More Being Discovered
Recent observations have pinpointed the location of a fifth fast radio burst, shedding light on the environs that create these powerful sources.
Baby Stars Found in Ancient Part of Our Galaxy
Ground- and space-based observations have revealed a group of stars at the head of the giant stream of gas burrowing its way through the Milky Way.
Mark Your Calendar: Stellar Fireworks Predicted for 2083
According to Bradley Schaefer (Louisiana State University), the 11th-magnitude variable star, V Sagittae, will outshine Sirius and maybe even Venus — despite its distance of some 7,500 light-years.
Gravitational Waves from Second Neutron-star Collision Observed
Scientists with the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) and Virgo collaborations have announced the detection of a second pair of neutron stars that went bump in the night.
Heavyweight Black Hole Find Mystifies Astronomers
Observations of a star have found it orbiting an unexpectedly massive black hole. If the discovery pans out, it would change our understanding of how massive stars die.
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.
Are There More Stars Like Boyajian’s Star?
Remember KIC 8462852, better known as Boyajian’s star (or you may have seen it referred to as the “alien megastructure” star)? We still don’t have a definitive explanation for this source’s odd behavior — in part because we thought that Boyajian’s star was one-of-a-kind.
The Supernova That Destroyed Its Star
Astronomers have discovered a real and unprecedented example of a type of supernova that was until now largely theoretical — a stellar explosion that leaves nothing behind.
Century of Amateur Observations Shed Light on Star's Evolution
The amateurs of the AAVSO monitored the star T Ursae Minoris for a century. Now, astronomers think they can explain the star's recent change in behavior.
A Nearby Stellar Stream Gets Carded
The stellar stream Pisces–Eridanus may try to pass itself off as a billion years old, but scientists are calling its bluff.
Beta Pic's New Planet, Jupiter’s Fuzzy Core & An Ancient Star
Astronomers announce another planet around Beta Pictoris, simulations explain Jupiter's large and fuzzy core, and observations reveal an ancient star.
An “Impossible” White Dwarf Identified in Kepler Data
Meet the white dwarf that defies all expectations.
Astronomers Identify Host Galaxy of a Third Radio Flash
Astronomers have narrowed down the location of a third "fast radio burst" to a galaxy very like the Milky Way.
Astronomers Pinpoint New Fast Radio Burst
A next-gen Australian radio array has enabled astronomers to home in on the source of a mysterious fast radio burst — and the source is not what they expected.
A Link Between Fast Radio Bursts, Magnetars, and Supernovae?
What causes the bizarre, extragalactic fast radio bursts we’ve detected over the last decade? An unusually bright supernova may hold the answer.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
How Astronomers Used Asteroids to Measure Stars
Astronomers have used a unique method and an extraordinary telescope array to reveal the diameters of distant stars.
The Beginning of the End for the Hyades Star Cluster
New measurements from the European Space Agency’s Gaia satellite show that the young stars of the Hyades cluster are beginning to drift apart.
