Astronomy
Staring up into the night sky, it's easy to be overwhelmed by the seemingly infinite expanse of space, with every pinprick of light in the vast canopy of darkness a star holding secrets forged by 13.8 billion years of the universe's existence. And yet, despite its great age and the unfathomable distance between us and even our nearest neighbor, through the study of astronomy we are able to understand more about the world beyond our atmosphere.
Join our expert writers and editors as we reveal the greatest mysteries in cosmology, such as how black holes form, and explore celestial bodies like exoplanets and nebulas, that are scattered throughout our universe. You will also discover how scientists are pushing the boundaries of space exploration using observatories like the James Webb Space Telescope with the latest astronomy news, features and articles.
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China reveals secrets of 1st sample taken from the far side of the moon — and it contains a volcanic surprise
By Stephanie Pappas published
Active volcanoes were erupting on the far side of the moon 2.8 billion years ago, the first lunar samples returned from the far side reveal.
Scientists analyze largest map of the universe ever created — and it proves Einstein right yet again
By Ben Turner published
The largest survey of our universe ever conducted suggests that it closely matches the model most favored by cosmologists. It's unclear what this means for alternative theories attempting to explain bizarre discrepancies.
James Webb telescope uncovers 1st-ever 'Einstein zig-zag' hiding in plain sight — and it could help save cosmology
By Harry Baker published
A new JWST study has revealed the true origins of a luminous quasar that has been duplicated six times as its light "zig-zags" through space-time via a phenomenon first predicted by Albert Einstein. The unusual light show could help tackle one of cosmology's biggest problems, experts claim.
Space photo of the week: Stare into the 'bloodshot eyes' of a haunting galaxy pair
By Shreejaya Karantha published
The James Webb Space Telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope recently released a chilling view of two spiral galaxies, IC 2163 and NGC 2207, merging into one.
China's Mars rover Zhurong finds possible shoreline of ancient Red Planet ocean
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Data from China's Zhurong rover has revealed what appears to be an ancient shoreline streaking through Mars' northern hemisphere.
Meteorite found in a drawer at university contains 700-million-year-old evidence of water on Mars
By Stephanie Pappas published
The Lafayette meteorite was discovered in a drawer at Purdue University in 1931, with no clear indication of how it got there. A new analysis of the rock reveals evidence of liquid water on Mars 742 million years ago.
Where do fast radio bursts come from? Astronomers tie mysterious eruptions to massive galaxies.
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
Fast radio bursts — powerful and poorly understood cosmic eruptions — tend to occur in massive galaxies that host long-dead stars known as magnetars, a new study suggests.
'Unique and extreme': James Webb telescope detects possible alien world bubbling over with volcanoes
By Agnibha Banerjee published
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have detected possible signs of gases released by volcanic activity on a distant exoplanet.
'The bottom line is, I told you so': JWST observations upend standard model of how galaxies form, new study claims
By Ben Turner published
The James Webb Space Telescope's discovery of unusually bright and massive galaxies soon after the Big Bang has cast doubt on the standard model of galaxy evolution and bolstered a rival theory for how physics may work on large scales, according to a team of astronomers.
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