Interstellar Comet Was Pristine Sample of Planet Formation
New analysis shows that Comet 2I/Borisov, which zipped nearest the Sun in late 2019, was unlike any comet we’ve seen before.
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).
A Supermassive Black Hole on the Move
This supermassive black hole is restless, and astronomers want to know why.
Astronomy in Pictures: Jupiter's Aurora, Cosmic Threads & Newborn Stars
This week in pictures: Astronomers have watched auroral storms at Jupiter, imaged strands of the cosmic web, and seen stellar fireworks off the sword of Orion.
Is an Ocean of Mars Water Trapped in the Planet’s Crust?
A new study suggests that by 3 billion years ago, most of the Red Planet’s water was locked away in minerals, and it has stayed there ever since.
See the Latest Stunning Images from Mars
NASA's Perseverance rover, China's Tianwen 1, and the United Arab Emirates' Hope orbiter share their latest photos from Mars.
Arecibo's To-be-determined Future
As cleanup operations are underway at Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, some scientists are proposing a replacement for the esteemed radio dish.
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.
60-second Astro News: Venus Close-up and Supernova 1987A
Now, there's more evidence that astronomers have found the pulsar at the heart of Supernova 1987A. Plus, a new stunning image of Venus.
Amateur Astronomers Reveal Long-Ago Galaxy Mergers
The images from five Brazilian amateur astronomers have captured Hubble-level details in galaxies, laying the ground for future work in understanding their histories. Want to join the fun?
Watch Online: NASA's Perseverance Landing on Mars
One week from today, NASA's Perseverance rover will land on Mars. Find resources here — including broadcast of the landing itself.
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.
Planet-eating White Dwarfs, A Black Hole Cluster & The "Farfarout" Object
This week in astronomy news, astronomers found planet-eating white dwarfs, a cluster of black holes, and a "farfarout" object that's now the most distant known in the solar system.
What New Horizons Found in Deep Space — And Why It Matters
NASA’s mission to the outer solar system has found more light than expected. That could mean more galaxies in the visible universe than we thought— or less, depending on who you talk to.
Beyond Starlink: The Satellite Saga Continues
SpaceX has placed more than 1,000 Starlinks in orbit, and other companies are following suit. Here's the latest on what's being done to protect astronomy.
What the Most Distant Quasar Tells Us About Black Hole Birth
The existence of a quasar when the universe was only 670 million years old is helping astronomers understand how black holes are born.
Rocky Planet Found Around 10 Billion-Year-Old Star
Astronomers have found an Earth-size (but not at all Earth-like) planet around an ancient star that has a nice high view of our galaxy.
Pulsars Show Hint of Gravitational-wave Background
Duos of supermassive black holes tangoing throughout the universe make their own music, and astronomers may have picked up a hint of the tune.
Top Astronomy News Stories of 2020
This has been a year rocked by a global pandemic that has left its mark on nearly every aspect of society. Wildfires, social unrest, and loss have only added to our sense of struggle. Yet it has also been a year of celestial wonders, astronomical discoveries, and space successes. We…
Will the Next Solar Cycle Surprise Us?
The coming months will test a new prediction that — contrary to most expectations — forecasts one of the strongest sunspot cycles on record.