Evidence of mysterious 'recurring nova' that could reappear in 2024 found in medieval manuscript from 1217 By Joanna Thompson published 20 September 23 The star T CrB flares up every 80 years. A document from 1217 could help confirm its regularity.
New Hubble telescope image reveals intergalactic bridge between two merging realms By Samantha Mathewson published 20 September 23 A faint "bridge" of gas connects two colliding galaxies in a new photo from the Hubble Space Telescope.
Supermassive black holes eat more quickly than expected, 3D simulations suggest By Robert Lea published 20 September 23 Supermassive black holes are even more fearsome eaters than scientists suspected, thanks to a "delivery system" that could help them feed over months rather than hundreds of years.
China's new wide-field survey telescope scopes out Andromeda galaxy By Andrew Jones published 19 September 23 A new high-resolution, wide-field telescope situated in China offers its first stunning view.
Heart of the 'Squid Galaxy' reveals how supermassive black holes dictate galactic chemistry By Robert Lea published 18 September 23 A study of the Squid Galaxy, Messier 77, has revealed how chemicals swirl around its central black hole, revealing supermassive black holes impact the chemical evolution of their galaxies.
Powerful observatories reveal 5 breathtaking corners of the universe hidden to human eyes (images) By Monisha Ravisetti published 18 September 23 NASA has highlighted a new set of vibrant cosmic images, each one painted by the observatories that help us see what our eyes cannot.
Stunning image of Andromeda galaxy takes top astronomy photography prize of 2023 (gallery) By Josh Dinner published 16 September 23 The Royal Observatory of Greenwich's annual contest draws more than 4,000 submissions, and the winning images from this year's categories are stunning.
Our universe holds more 'spectacular' polar ring galaxies than once thought, scientists say By Robert Lea published 14 September 23 Two previously discovered galaxies have been hiding strange perpendicular rings of stars and gas. These so-called polar ring galaxies may prove to be less rare in the universe than once thought.
Hubble Space Telescope discovers 11-billion-year-old galaxy hidden in a quasar's glare By Robert Lea published 14 September 23 Astronomers normally observe galaxies by observing light these objects emit, but some tricky galaxies require a different approach.
Einstein cross! Gravitationally lensed 'flower' spotted in deep space (photo) By Samantha Mathewson published 13 September 23 A new image from the European Southern Observatory captures a cosmic wildflower in space.
Globular cluster glitters in stunning new Hubble telescope photo By Samantha Mathewson published 10 September 23 A new photo from the Hubble Space Telescope captures a glittering globular cluster deep in our Milky Way galaxy.
See the Great Square of Pegasus trot through the night sky this month By Brett Tingley published 7 September 23 Look to the east in the evenings throughout September to find the Great Square of Pegasus, a group of four stars of roughly equal brightness, as it climbs higher in the night sky.
Bubble of galaxies spanning 1 billion light-years could be a fossil of the Big Bang By Robert Lea published 6 September 23 An immense bubble of galaxies, one billion light years wide and located 820 million light-years away, could be fossilized remains of the Big Bang.
Earliest magnetic galaxy ever detected offers clues about Milky Way history By Keith Cooper published 6 September 23 The magnetic field is a thousand times weaker than Earth’s, but is spread out across 16,000 light years.
Hundreds of supernova remnants remain hidden in our galaxy. These astronomers want to find them By Keith Cooper published 4 September 23 Finding more debris from stellar explosions will tell us about how heavy elements are distributed across the galaxy.
Star-studded stellar nursery shines in new Hubble Telescope photo By Samantha Mathewson published 1 September 23 The Hubble Space Telescope's Wide Field Camera 3 photographed a massive protostar lurking behind star-forming clouds of dust and gas in the constellation Ara.
Dead 'vampire' star is feeding on a companion and firing out cosmic cannonballs By Robert Lea published 30 August 23 A dead star feeding on a stellar companion seems to have two brightness modes. It's because, astronomers discovered, the system launches cosmic cannonballs.
'Failed star' with radiation belt could be a big deal for astronomy. Here's why By Monisha Ravisetti published 24 August 23 A brown dwarf just 18.5 light-years from Earth has been found to host a radiation belt. But why are scientists are so excited about this?
Tantrum-throwing young stars caught belting high-energy gamma rays for the 1st time By Robert Lea published 23 August 23 The discovery represents the first evidence that low-mass T.Tauri stars, which are less than 10 million years old, can emit gamma radiation.
Hubble Space Telescope captures 'ghostly' glow of distant galaxy (photo) By Samantha Mathewson published 22 August 23 A distant galaxy sparkles from the soft glow of its many tiny stars in a new photo from the Hubble Space Telescope.