Astronomers using the European Southern Observatorys Very Large Telescope (VLT) have captured the first direct images of two planets orbiting a Sun-like star, located just 300 light-years from Earth. While over 4,000 exoplanets have been discovered in more than 2,800 systems, most were detected indi

A new analysis of lunar craters reveals that the Earth-Moon system endured an intense asteroid bombardment around 800 million years ago. Research estimates that 40 to 50 trillion metric tons of meteorites impacted the Earth-Moon system 800 million years ago—30 to 60 times the material from the Chicx

Samples from asteroid Ryugu, collected by Japans Hayabusa2 spacecraft, are set to land in Australia on December 6, local time, as announced yesterday by officials from the space agencies of Japan and Australia.Landing on an asteroids surface has long been the stuff of science fiction, like in the fi

In just weeks, a 50-meter-wide asteroid named 2011 ES4 will pass within 72,000 kilometers of Earth—about one-fifth the average Earth-Moon distance. Experts at NASA assure no impact risk, but its size and proximity earn it potentially hazardous status for vigilant tracking.Skywatchers are still thril

In a recent discussion, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine spotlighted key initiatives like Mars 2020 and Artemis, while detailing preparations for humanitys first crewed journey to the Red Planet.As U.S. astronauts gear up for lunar returns via the Artemis program, NASA and partners like SpaceX are

A groundbreaking cosmological study has produced the largest 3D map of the Universe to date. Drawing from data on four million galaxies and quasars, this map offers a more continuous cosmic history and sharper understanding of the Universes expansion.A Two-Decade Global EffortAstrophysicists worldwi

Rare joysticks from the Apollo 11 command module, used to guide astronauts to the Moon, sold for more than $780,000 at auction—much to NASAs dismay.On July 18, coinciding with the 51st anniversary of humanitys first Moon landing, Juliens Auctions in Beverly Hills sold two attitude control sticks and

A German resident has uncovered the largest stony meteorite ever recorded in Germany, a monumental discovery celebrated by the German Aerospace Center (DLR). A Massive 30kg Meteorite Named Blaubeuren after its discovery site, this stony meteorite measures 28x25x20 cm and weighs 30 kg, making it the

NASA is set to launch a 150-meter-wide stratospheric balloon to observe stellar feedback processes in the infrared. The mission is slated for December 2023. NASAs ASTHROS mission (Astrophysics Stratospheric Telescope for High Spectral Resolution Observations at Submillimeter Wavelengths) will deploy

A Martian meteorite uncovered on Earth 20 years ago is embarking on a historic return journey via NASAs Mars 2020 Perseverance mission. Scientists at NASA will use it to precisely calibrate key instruments. The Natural History Museum in London has custodied this meteorite, named Sayh al Uhaymir 008

NASAs Perseverance rover touched down on Mars on February 18, 2021, guided autonomously to the optimal landing site by unprecedentedly accurate maps during its descent. NASA has successfully landed eight spacecraft on Mars to date, yet the feat remains challenging—roughly half of all attempts have f

Virgin Galactic has revealed the sophisticated interior of its SpaceShipTwo, designed for passengers to experience weightlessness during suborbital flights. Commercial tickets, however, remain on the horizon. Four years ago, Richard Bransons Virgin Galactic introduced SpaceShipTwo, a rocket plane bu

Stars, like all celestial bodies, have finite lives. They eventually exhaust their fuel, paving the way for new generations. Yet their ends vary dramatically by mass—from serene declines to cataclysmic blasts. Astrophysicists classify stars by mass, effective temperature, and luminosity on the Her

Intelligent civilizations across the universe, despite their differences, share one universal need: energy. On Nikolai Kardashevs scale, a Type III society could harness an entire galaxys power—including its central supermassive black hole. By scanning for signs of this exploitation, astronomers m

In February 2021, Mars welcomed three spacecraft from Earth in quick succession: the UAEs Hope probe, which entered orbit on February 9; Chinas Tianwen-1 orbiter (with lander), which followed on February 10; and NASAs Perseverance rover, due on February 18. Why did space agencies from multiple natio

At the heart of the standard cosmological model lies Einsteins general relativity, which describes the universes parameters and evolution. Initially, Einstein resisted the idea of a dynamic universe. Just two years after publishing his theory in 1917, he introduced the cosmological constant to ach

The solar wind is a continuous stream of charged particles—primarily protons and electrons—emitted by the Sun, permeating the entire Solar System. First theorized in the 1950s by University of Chicago physicist Eugene Parker, its observable as the Suns halo during eclipses or in auroras like the Nor

Communicating with extraterrestrial civilizations has long captivated science fiction writers, but over the past few decades, scientists have actively pursued this goal. While no evidence of intelligent alien life exists yet, astrophysicists continue transmitting signals into space, hoping for a re

Billions of years ago, Mars resembled a younger Earth, with a thick atmosphere, flowing rivers, and a protective magnetic field generated by its molten core. But today, its atmosphere is razor-thin, eroded by solar winds—largely due to the loss of that magnetic shield. Recent research from the Unive

Among the universes most extraordinary objects, neutron stars stand out for their bizarre nature. Formed from the collapse of massive stars, their precise internal composition remains one of astrophysics enduring mysteries. Pulsars—a special class of neutron stars—fascinate scientists with their pre