Astronomy News - Space Science - Articles and Images

A small white dwarf star pulls material off a companion star

This tiny space rock might be the 1st physical evidence of a rare supernova

By Stefanie Waldek published 20 May 22

Scientists who analyzed the chemical composition of a space rock called the Hypatia stone suspect they have discovered evidence of a rare type of supernova.

An artist's image of an alien starship as viewed from a planet's surface.

Why have aliens never visited Earth? Scientists have a disturbing answer

By Ben Turner published 20 May 22

Aliens could be forced to give up cosmic expansion to avoid catastrophe.

The Mars Curiosity rover's Mast camera snapped this intriguing image of the Red Planet, showing a "doorway" structure, on May 7, 2022, or Sol 3466 in Martian days.

The 'doorway' seen on Mars is not for aliens. Here's how it really formed.

By Tom Metcalfe published 20 May 22

The internet erupted after a photograph from the Mars Curiosity rover appeared to show an "alien door," experts are pretty sure it's just a natural feature.

Two pixelated images with a faintly visible object circled at the center

Wild Apophis asteroid spacecraft concept would loft tiny, laser-driven probes for 2029 flyby

By Elizabeth Howell published 20 May 22

An early-stage mission concept could see laser-driven light-sail probes visit a notorious asteroid.

An M-class solar flare that occurred on May 19, 2022.

Sun busts out trio of moderate solar flares that might herald more activity

By Elizabeth Howell published 19 May 22

A trio of moderate flares blasted off from the sun on Thursday, and there might be more in store.

The Hubble Space Telescope photographed the globular cluster known as NGC 6558, which lies 23,000 light-years from Earth, in the constellation Sagittarius.

Glimmering Hubble Space Telescope photo shows stunning starburst effect

By Samantha Mathewson published 19 May 22

The iconic Hubble Space Telescope has captured a glimmering new photo of a densely packed region of stars located in the constellation Sagittarius.

China will launch a big space telescope in 2023 to investigate distant galaxies

By Andrew Jones published 19 May 22

China plans to launch a space telescope to survey the skies and investigate distant galaxies, dark matter and dark energy.

Voyager 1 glitch? Strange signals from venerable probe has NASA baffled

By Meghan Bartels published 18 May 22

Spending 45 years traversing the solar system really does a number on a spacecraft.

New 'Asteroid Rush' doc looks at peril and promise of space rocks (exclusive sneak peek video)

By Scott Snowden published 18 May 22

A killer asteroid will line Earth up in its crosshairs eventually. Can be we ever be properly prepared?

A strange geyser of hot and cold gas emanating from sun's surface revealed in latest images from Solar Orbiter

Sun's mysterious pole and a 'solar hedgehog' revealed in closest-ever images of the sun

By Tereza Pultarova published 18 May 22

A new record-breaking set of images of the sun captured by the Solar Orbiter probe during its close pass of the star in March reveals a plethora of never-before-seen details.

An artist's impression of a white dwarf nova.

Scientists witness a white dwarf's massive X-ray explosion for the 1st time ever

By Stefanie Waldek published 18 May 22

European scientists used the eROSITA X-ray telescope to observe a white dwarf nova for the first time.

An unidentified aerial phenomenon, imaged by a U.S. Navy.

What's next for UFO studies after landmark congressional hearing?

By Leonard David published 18 May 22

Tuesday's (May 17) event was the first open congressional hearing about UFOs in more than 50 years.

Avoiding conflict is essential to maintaining space as a global commons, to be used by all.

Amid tensions on Earth, the United States claims that 'conflict in space is not inevitable'

By Kuan-Wei Chen published 18 May 22

The belief of the inevitability of space becoming the next major battlefield runs the risk of becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Rows of servers belonging to the Frontera supercomputer at the Texas Advanced Computing Center.

Building a better black hole with supercomputer simulations

By Keith Cooper published 18 May 22

Astronomers used a perhaps unlikely tool to understand what they saw in their historic first image of the Milky Way's supermassive black hole.

Photo of NASA's InSight Mars lander with dust-covered solar array on April 24, 2022.

NASA's Mars lander InSight has only a few months to live on the Red Planet

By Elizabeth Howell published 17 May 22

NASA's Mars lander InSight has only a few months of science life left as it faces dwindling power from Martian dust.

New astronauts have changes in their brains after their first long-duration mission

By Rebecca Sohn published 17 May 22

Astronauts who go on their first long-duration space mission have differences in their brains compared with the brains of more experienced astronauts and non-astronauts.

The 'twin paradox' shows us what it really means for time to be relative

By Paul Sutter published 17 May 22

What goes for moving clocks goes for everything else; physics, chemistry and biology all operate at a slower pace in moving frames of reference.

Artist's illustration of the sun firing out large fiery looking solar flares.

Solar flares: What are they and how do they affect Earth?

By Daisy Dobrijevic published 17 May 22

Reference There are five different types of solar flares. Discover what solar flares are, what causes them and the effects they have on Earth in our solar flare guide.

Reference

Noctilucent clouds are visible at astronomical twilight. The image shows light wispy clouds in dark blue sky with comet NEOWISE flying overhead with a long white tail.

What is astronomical twilight?

By Vicky Stein published 17 May 22

Reference Astronomical twilight is the darkest phase of twilight that a viewer sees before the last refracted sunlight leaves the horizon. It usually occurs twice a day.