Astronomy

Astronomy

New images reveal how an ancient monster galaxy fueled furious star formation

Scientists were able to see the abundance of star-forming gas and dust in a giant galaxy from when the universe was less than 2 billion years old.

Astronomy

Strange gamma rays from the sun may help decipher its magnetic fields

The sun spits out more and weirder gamma rays than anyone expected, which could give a new view of the sun’s magnetic fields.

Astronomy

Five things we learned from last year’s Great American Eclipse

A year after the total solar eclipse of 2017, scientists are still pondering the mysteries of the sun.

Astronomy

A galaxy 11.3 billion light-years away appears filled with dark matter

The “Cosmic Seagull,” a distant galaxy magnified by a gravitational lens, seems chock-full of dark matter, in contrast with other galaxies almost as far away.

Astronomy

The Parker Solar Probe has launched and is on its way to explore the sun

The Parker Solar Probe just took off to become the first spacecraft to visit the sun.

Astronomy

With launch looming, the Parker Solar Probe is ready for its star turn

The Parker Solar Probe is scheduled to launch on August 11 to become the first spacecraft to touch the sun.

Astronomy

A faint glow found between galaxies could be a beacon for dark matter

Intracluster light may help reveal where dark matter resides within galaxy clusters.

Astronomy

New Horizons may have seen a glow at the solar system’s edge

New Horizons may have seen a hydrogen wall just past the edge of the solar system, where the solar wind meets the stuff of interstellar space.

Astronomy

Astronomers saw the first mass eruption from a star that’s not the sun

The first coronal mass ejection observed fleeing another star was as massive as scientists expected, but carried less energy.

Astronomy

Hopes dim that gamma rays can reveal dark matter

A mysterious glow of gamma rays coming from the center of the Milky Way probably isn’t a sign of dark matter.

Astronomy

Next to its solar twins, the sun stands out

Our sun has subtly different chemistry from its peers, which may help pinpoint stars with systems like our own.

Astronomy

How the Parker probe was built to survive close encounters with the sun

Scientists had to get creative in testing the technology for the Parker Solar Probe, using huge mirrors, dust tunnels and even reams of paper.