Cosmic 'sandwich' theory could explain how smaller planets are formed By Robert Lea published 5 July 23 Do you want that toasted? A newly suggested planet formation process suggests smaller worlds could be created when a gas and dust filling is squeezed between two larger planets.
Alien's-eye view of the Milky Way: Our galaxy is unusual but not unique By Charles Q. Choi published 5 July 23 Astronomers have now deduced what alien scientists might see when they gaze at the Milky Way from afar. Our home galaxy is unusual but not unique, at least when it comes to chemistry.
James Webb Space Telescope spots the wreckage of a cosmic clash of the Titans (image) By Robert Lea published 4 July 23 The James Webb Space Telescope has spied a distant galaxy that represents the wreckage of a titanic collision between two galaxies 500 million years ago.
Hubble telescope checks on the Milky Way galaxy's lonely neighbor (photo) By Robert Lea published 4 July 23 The Hubble Space Telescope has spied on the Milky Way's galactic neighbor, irregular galaxy ESO 174-1, imaging it as a lonely hazy cloud.
Our infant solar system may have survived a nearby supernova explosion By Robert Lea published 4 July 23 A supernova that erupted when a massive star died could have destroyed our infant solar system — if it weren't protected by a cocoon of molecular gas.
Key ingredient for life found in star-birthing cloud just 1,000 light-years from Earth By Robert Lea published 3 July 23 Astronomers have discovered high amounts of tryptophan, an amino acid key in the formation of life, in a nearby star-forming region of space called the Perseus Molecular Complex.
We have never seen dark matter and dark energy. Why do we think they exist? By Tereza Pultarova published 1 July 23 We have never seen dark matter and dark energy, so why do we think they exist? And what would happen if Europe's new space telescope Euclid finds evidence that they don't exist after all?
Can you see the cosmic 'cat' grinning into one of the world's largest telescopes in this photo? (video) By Robert Lea published 30 June 23 Observations of a distant stellar nursery show it as a smiling cosmic cat with a head so massive it stretches for 150 light-years with a cluster of infants stars below its nose.
How will Europe's Euclid space telescope see into the dark universe? By Tereza Pultarova published 30 June 23 Europe's Euclid telescope is heading to space to prove whether hypothetical dark energy and dark matter really exist. The mission's findings may rewrite cosmology textbooks.
Scientists find 'ghost particles' spewing from our Milky Way galaxy in landmark discovery (video) By Charles Q. Choi published 29 June 23 Astronomers have detected high-energy neutrinos coming from within our Milky Way galaxy, potentially opening up an exciting new window of research.
Dark nebula dominates gorgeous new view of Orion constellation (photo) By Samantha Mathewson published 27 June 23 A telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona has captured a striking new view of a dark nebula called LDN 1622, located in the nearby Orion complex.
How human 'computers' Annie Jump Cannon and Henrietta Swan Leavitt revolutionized astronomy By Paul Sutter published 27 June 23 In the early 20th century, a team of women went far beyond their job descriptions, not to mention the societal norms of the time, to revolutionize astronomy.
See 1,900 galaxies light up the night in gorgeous deep-sky photo By Miguel Claro published 27 June 23 The Virgo Cluster and 1,900 galaxies shine in an incredible image captured from a dark sky preserve in Portugal, by photographer Miguel Claro.
Listen to the eerie sounds of distant galaxies in breathtaking NASA video By Sharmila Kuthunur published 27 June 23 NASA has produced sounds from telescope data on five galaxies in Stephan's Quintet, a binary star system called R Aquarii, and a giant galaxy known as Messier 104.
Bizarre object hotter than the sun is orbiting a distant star at breakneck speed By Joanna Thompson published 25 June 23 Scientists have discovered a weird celestial object that's blurring the line between planet and star.
Green comet soars in stunning 3D image of the Milky Way (photo) By Miguel Claro published 22 June 23 Astrophotographer Miguel Claro captured a panoramic view of the Milky Way, a comet and other night sky sights from a dark sky preserve in Portugal. Watch it in virtual reality.
Powerful cosmic explosion points to novel 'demolition derby' death for faraway stars By Mike Wall published 22 June 23 A gamma-ray burst spotted near the core of an ancient galaxy was likely created by an odd demolition-derby-style collision of two stars or stellar remnants, a new study suggests.
Fast-spinning white dwarf pulsar, the 2nd we've ever discovered, sheds light on how stars evolve By Robert Lea published 20 June 23 Astronomers have discovered a second example of a white dwarf pulsar, a rapidly spinning stellar remnant that could teach scientists more about stellar evolution.
Record breaker! New fastest star zooms through Milky Way at 5 million mph By Robert Lea published 16 June 23 Two of six newly discovered runaway stars launched by supernovas have broken the record for the fastest objects of this type ever discovered.
James Webb Space Telescope gets satellite sidekick to aid search for habitable planets By Elizabeth Howell published 16 June 23 A new small satellite will peer at distant stars to help NASA's James Webb Space Telescope search for potentially habitable exoplanets.