Stars and Galaxies

A new image shows the exposed heart of a distant galaxy in stunning detail, demonstrating the promise of a recent addition to the Very Large Telescope.

Using data from the Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have created a stunning image of a cosmic fireworks display resulting from the explosion of a massive star.

A new image of the closest star-forming nebula to Earth shows the effect massive stars have in transforming the region.

A newly released photo from the Hubble Space Telescope captures a spectacular galaxy merger in progress.

A new interactive map of the cosmos allows users to journey from our galaxy to the most distant sources of light that existed just after the Big Bang.

Andromeda, the Milky Way's neighboring spiral galaxy, may be a cosmic cannibal that has been growing by chowing down on smaller galaxies.

A structure in the heart of the Perseus galaxy cluster can now be seen as an otherworldly display of reds and blues thanks to a new technique that involves merging X-ray and radio data.

ESO's Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy gives us a peek at the action inside the stellar nurseries.

A new Hubble photo shows a tidal tail crossing the span between galaxies like a celestial bridge of stars.

Astronomers have discovered the distant relatives of huge, highly organized magnetic filaments dangling in the center of the Milky Way.

Astronomers have traced mysterious short gamma-ray bursts back to active star-forming galaxies in the distant early universe.

A novel "lobster eye" telescope aboard a small Chinese satellite has delivered its first images, paving the way for more complex future missions using its technology.

An uneven distribution of stars in several nearby clusters may offer evidence of MOND — a controversial theory of gravity that disputes Newton and rejects the existence of dark matter.

New radio telescope images show the galactic cluster Abell 2255 in unprecedented detail and hint at the physical processes occurring in this region of space 1 billion light-years away.

The first data release from WALLABY reveals a 3D map of hundreds of galaxies, hinting at impressive observations to come.

Whether neutron stars have soft or hard cores and shells, like different types of cosmic chocolates, may depend on if they are heavy or light, new research indicates.

NASA's newest space telescope has left scientists seeing distant stars — and galaxies.

A new image captured by the Hubble Space Telescope shows a molecular cloud of gas and dust that harbors a compact object that will soon become an infant star.

The James Webb Space Telescope has spotted a blazing cosmic hourglass filled with vibrant colors and hiding a fledgling star, or protostar, at its heart.