Saturn’s moon Enceladus has geysers shooting tiny grains of ice into space. These grains could hold traces of life − but researchers need the right tools to tell.
When scientists observed planets revolved around the Sun, they posited we were now like other planets. And if other planets were like Earth, then they most likely also had inhabitants.
Gamma-ray bursts, as shown in this illustration, come from powerful astronomical events.
NASA, ESA and M. Kornmesser
Where specialized algorithms fail to classify star-borne pulses, human volunteers with just a little training can step in.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from a launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center on Jan. 18, 2024 in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Four private astronauts make their way to the International Space Station.
(AP Photo/John Raoux)
Space exploration is not a waste of resources, but a source of technological and medical advances, a tool for climate monitoring and a source of educational inspiration for youth.
Eye safety is paramount when observing eclipses.
Aaron Bunch / EPA Images
To protect their kings, ancient Mesopotamians discovered how to predict eclipses, which were associated with the deaths of rulers. This eventually led to the birth of astronomy.
Eclipses have long fascinated and intrigued people, and anticipation of the total solar eclipse on April 8 is no exception. The beauty, history, mythology and science of eclipses justify the hype.
Witnessing an eclipse requires taking safety precautions.
(Shutterstock)
The sky is becoming more cluttered with satellites and space junk. This is affecting astronomical study, but will only have a minor effect — if any — on the viewing of the solar eclipse.
An image of GAL-CLUS-022058s — the largest and one of the most complete Einstein rings ever discovered.
(ESA/Hubble & NASA, S. Jha)
Your phone can’t take a perfectly clear picture of a solar eclipse like a professional camera can, but there are lots of other creative directions you can take to capture the rare moment.
Massive dying stars emit large amounts of radiation.
NASA/ESA/Hubble SM4 ERO Team via AP
Some ancient texts record what were likely dying stars, faintly visible from Earth. If close enough, these events can disturb telescopes and even damage the ozone layer.
An illustration of the Europa Clipper spacecraft, which will head to Jupiter’s moon Europa.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
Douglas Vakoch, California Institute of Integral Studies
Europa Clipper will contain a plaque that celebrates humanity’s relationship with water and a decades-old tradition of searching for life outside Earth.
Nuclear explosions on a neutron star feed its jets.
Danielle Futselaar and Nathalie Degenaar, Anton Pannekoek Institute, University of Amsterdam
Powerful jets are launched from the most massive objects in our universe, but we don’t fully understand how. This measurement gets us a step closer to solving the mystery.
The corona of the sun can be clearly seen in this image taken in 2007.
(NASA/JPL-Caltech/NRL/GSFC)
The solar corona can be seen during the solar eclipse on April 8. Astronomers are still trying to figure out the mysteries of the corona, including why it’s so hot.