Some planets, such as Saturn, have more than a hundred moons, while others, such as Venus, have none.
NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute via AP
It’s not a competition, but if it were, Saturn would be winning.
An “E-Group” construction at the ancient Maya site of Caracol, in present-day Belize.
Gerardo Aldana
Structures aligned with solar events served various purposes: science, farming, religion and even politics.
The Hubble Space Telescope is nearing its 35th birthday.
NASA via AP
Hubble’s technical issues continue. But through some clever engineering, the telescope can continue operations with just 1 gyroscope.
James Webb Space Telescope, NASA
Astronomers Vicent Martínez and Bernard Jones explain the mystery of the Hubble tension, and why it matters so much for our understanding of the universe, on The Conversation Weekly podcast.
A mosaic of the Andromeda Galaxy, compiled from 7,398 exposures taken by the Hubble telescope.
(NASA/ESA)
One hundred years ago, one star changed our view of the universe, proving that the Andromeda “nebula” was a galaxy like our Milky Way.
An artist’s depiction of the heliosphere, the Sun’s region of influence in space. Little is known of the actual shape of the heliosphere.
NASA
An interstellar probe could help scientists answer fundamental questions about how the Sun influences Earth, space and other planets in the solar system.
Hunting for life on other worlds isn’t easy.
Victor Habbick Visions/Science Photo Library via Getty Images
It’s hard to look for something you’ve never seen before – and that might not even exist. But you have to start somewhere.
Nasa/Swift/Cruz deWilde
Analysis of two major cosmic blasts deepens the mystery of where the universe’s ‘heavy’ elements come from.
A lunar base on the Moon would include solar panels for power generation, and equipment for keeping astronauts alive on the surface.
ESA - P. Carril
The best spots on the Moon for lunar bases are the same spots where scientists want to build telescopes − can these two interests coexist?
NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory detects X-ray emissions from astronomical events.
NASA/CXC & J. Vaughan
2024 marks 25 years since NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory started detecting X-rays from energetic astronomical events.
An illustration of a supermassive black hole.
NASA/JPL
Studying theoretical, fast-spinning black holes is helping physicists understand more about the elusive black holes out in the universe.
WASP-69b closely orbits its sun.
W. M. Keck Observatory/Adam Makarenko
Research on one exoplanet that’s rapidly losing its atmosphere is hinting to scientists why exoplanets tend to look a certain way.
Drawing of sky-goddess Nut, held by Shu, arched over her brother, the earth-god Geb. The rising Sun sails up her legs in the east before setting down her arms in the west.
Chronicle/Alamy Stock Photo
A new study shines light on the link between the Milky Way and the ancient Egyptian sky goddess Nut
The equipment planned to help bring samples back from Mars.
NASA/JPL
It’s not easy to collect rocks on a budget when the rocks are 140 million miles away.
Some of the satellite dishes that make up the MeerKAT.
South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO)
MeerKAT has made remarkable contributions to South African and international science.
ESO/A. Watts et al.
When astronomers focused on the galaxy NGC 4383, they didn’t expect the data to be so spectacular. This is the first detailed map of gas flowing from this galaxy as stars burst within.
Pons–Brooks visible from Utah, March 9 2024.
James Peirce/Flickr
If you look carefully at the night sky, you may spot this fuzzy visitor with the naked eye – but binoculars will help.
Scientists could one day find traces of life on Enceladus, an ocean-covered moon orbiting Saturn.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
Saturn’s moon Enceladus has geysers shooting tiny grains of ice into space. These grains could hold traces of life − but researchers need the right tools to tell.
Wikipedia
When scientists observed planets revolved around the Sun, they posited we were now like other planets. And if other planets were like Earth, then they most likely also had inhabitants.
Gamma-ray bursts, as shown in this illustration, come from powerful astronomical events.
NASA, ESA and M. Kornmesser
Where specialized algorithms fail to classify star-borne pulses, human volunteers with just a little training can step in.