SUNSET: 
SOFIA Airborne Observatory Has Taken Its Final Flight
The flying observatory has been grounded due to its lofty price-tag and questionable productivity, causing an outcry among astronomers
Could There Be Life Under a Hydrogen Sky?
Scientists have discovered that life could survive within a hydrogen-dominated atmosphere. The finding is not necessarily a surprise but could have implications for the search for life.
New Astro Camera Spots Thousands of Celestial Flare-ups
A vision from 70 years ago, the Zwicky Transient Facility has produced a wave of discoveries — but it’s only a hint of what’s to come.
Bevy of Mysterious Radio Bursts Finds Second Repeating Source
A new radio telescope has spotted scores of mysterious fast radio bursts — including the second known repeating one.
Top 10 Astronomy News Stories of 2018
Astronomers have made great strides this year in their quest to observe the universe. Here’s a recap.
Seen at Last: A Superfast Jet Streams Away from Neutron-star Smashup
A new finding suggests that LIGO’s neutron-star merger was a typical gamma-ray burst after all.
The Storm Begins: Canadian Telescope Spots Its First Radio Burst
The first "fast radio burst" detected by the Canadian CHIME radio telescope is a tantalizing hint of what’s to come.
Known Close Stellar Encounters Surge in Number
A new analysis of our stellar neighborhood reveals 7 times as much nearby stellar traffic as previously known.
Early Star Formation Presents New Cosmic Mystery
New observations suggest that stars were forming just 250 million years after the Big Bang — a record-breaker that will likely open a new line of cosmological inquiry.
A New Definition for the Biggest Planets?
Scientists now understand where large planets stop and small brown dwarfs begin — a discovery that redefines the word “planet.”
Mysterious Cosmic Bursts Traced to Extreme Environment
A repeating fast radio burst first detected in 2012 likely formed within a potent magnetic field — opening up the ambiguity of what caused the mysterious burst.
Sun Might Have Formed in Giant Star's Bubble
A new theory of the solar system’s formation suggests that it formed within the shell of a wind-blown bubble surrounding a dead star.
Neutron-star Smashup Might Have Choked Its Own Jet
LIGO’s neutron-star smashup might not have been a typical short gamma-ray burst. If true, the detection points toward a new class of gamma-ray bursts — but the jury is still out.
Nearby Stellar Traffic Twice as Heavy as Previously Thought
A new analysis shows that nearly 100 stars buzz our solar system every million years — an effect that can hurl regular cosmic hailstorms of comets toward Earth.
Kepler Team Releases Final Exoplanet Catalog
The most comprehensive and detailed exoplanet catalog released yet marks the end of an era for Kepler, the planet-hunting telescope.
Mini-Flares Might Threaten Life Around Red Dwarf Stars
A new study of data archived from the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) spacecraft is revealing just how hard life might be on planets like those in the TRAPPIST-1 system.
Best Evidence Yet for an Intermediate-Mass Black Hole
An intermediate-mass black hole might be lurking within a dense stellar cluster — a discovery that could point toward how these oddities form.
Fast Radio Burst has a Surprising Source
For the first time, a team of astronomers has placed a fast radio burst on the cosmic map, allowing them to better pinpoint its mysterious origin.
Top 12 Astronomy News Stories of 2016
From the discovery of gravitational waves to the building evidence that a massive planet could exist beyond Pluto, it has been a thrilling year for astronomy research. We recap.
Vera Rubin, "Mother of Dark Matter" (1928–2016)
Astronomer Vera Rubin, known for her revolutionary work confirming the existence of dark matter, died on December 25th. She was 88.
