Astronomy

  1. Astronomy

    Cosmic superlens gives telescopes a boost

    A map of galaxy cluster Abell 2744 unveils how gravity magnifies and smears images of far more distant galaxies.

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  2. Astronomy

    In another universe, free-range planets could host life

    If other universes exist, then those with denser galaxies might harbor a larger fraction of habitable worlds.

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  3. Astronomy

    Brightest galaxy discovered

    The brightest known galaxy is about 350 trillion times as bright as the sun, and a supermassive black hole is to blame.

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  4. Astronomy

    Peeks into early life of supernovas show how to blow up a star

    Multiple supernovas show off some of the ways a star can explode.

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  5. Astronomy

    First quasar quartet discovered

    A quartet of quasars seen in the early universe may mark where a massive galaxy cluster is starting to form.

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  6. Astronomy

    Andromeda reaches out to touch Milky Way

    The Andromeda galaxy is enveloped in a wispy halo of gas that extends halfway to the Milky Way.

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  7. Astronomy

    Japanese satellite stalls in space and won’t reach its asteroids

    Because of an engine failure, the Japanese Space Agency’s PROCYON spacecraft won’t make it to its target binary asteroid.

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  8. Astronomy

    Erupting volcanoes may cause exoplanet’s temperature extremes

    Temperatures fluctuate wildly on a nearby exoplanet, and volcanoes might be the culprit.

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  9. Astronomy

    Amorphous space blob takes title for most distant galaxy

    The new record holder for the most distant galaxy is a blob of 8 billion stars whose light took more than 13 billion years to reach Earth.

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  10. Astronomy

    ‘Black Hole’ traces 100 years of a transformative idea

    Implied by general relativity and proven by astronomical discoveries, black holes’ existence took decades for physicists to accept.

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  11. Astronomy

    Wandering planets, the smell of rain and more reader feedback

    Readers consider how hard it would be to fashion Paleolithic tools, discuss what to call free-floating worlds and more.

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  12. Planetary Science

    How did Earth get its water?

    Earth is a wet planet that formed in a dry part of the solar system. How our planet’s water arrived may be a story of big, bullying planets and ice-filled asteroids.

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