Space Telescope(Page 2)

From Hubble to the James Webb Space Telescope, this is the latest on the groundbreaking images our greatest observatories capture each day.

Latest in Space Telescope

Ancient star, but not one of the first: One of the oldest known stars ever observed is a subgiant star in the Milky Way, just 190 light-years from Earth. The star, known as HD 140283 or the Methuselah star, appears to be almost as old as the universe. However, we know it is not one of the first stars because of it contains metals that must have formed in the core or during the explosion of even earlier stars.

The hunt for the first stars in the universe The hunt for the first stars in the universe

By Briley Lewis

The central region of a spiral galaxy. Its core is a small bright point radiating bright, bluish-white light over the scene. The white light is diffuse and many point-like stars in the galaxy (and even background galaxies) can be seen through it. The galaxy’s arms can be seen as broad, swirling streaks of glowing gas and dust, coloured red and orange. Two additional arms are revealed in green

You’ve never seen a prettier radiation-spewing supermassive black hole You’ve never seen a prettier radiation-spewing supermassive black hole

By Laura Baisas

In the foreground to the left is a sphere half illuminated on the right side, almost filling the image vertically. The surface consists of several parallel, pale-coloured bands aligned horizontally. To the top right is a much smaller orange, circular light source, illuminating the large sphere in the foreground. The background is black with numerous tiny white dots.

JWST detects a new exoplanet six times larger than Jupiter JWST detects a new exoplanet six times larger than Jupiter

25 images of space

NASA drops 25 dazzling images to celebrate Chandra X-ray space telescope NASA drops 25 dazzling images to celebrate Chandra X-ray space telescope

By Popular Science Team

Astronomy: a 40-foot telescope constructed by William Herschel, in use outdoors. Coloured etching, 18--. Wellcome Collection. Public Domain Mark.

400 years of telescopes: A window into our study of the cosmos 400 years of telescopes: A window into our study of the cosmos

By Bill Gourgey

a flat map of the planet jupiter, showing reddish-orange lines and the planet's great red spot

Jupiter’s Great Red Spot keeps shrinking Jupiter’s Great Red Spot keeps shrinking

By Laura Baisas

the tall and straight pillars of creation as seen with two space telescopes. these celestial bodies are finger-like figures of gas and dust

Ethereal Pillars of Creation come to life in new 3D visualization Ethereal Pillars of Creation come to life in new 3D visualization

By Laura Baisas

Image of June 3, 2024, solar flare

Watch a wild ‘failed eruption’ solar flare Watch a wild ‘failed eruption’ solar flare

JWST discovers earliest galaxy ever observed

JWST discovers earliest galaxy ever observed JWST discovers earliest galaxy ever observed

$A spherical collection of stars which fills the whole view. The cluster is dominated by a concentrated group of bright white stars at the center, with several large yellow stars scattered throughout the image. Many of the stars have visible diffraction spikes. The background is black$

The 8 most extraordinary JWST images of 2024, so far The 8 most extraordinary JWST images of 2024, so far

By Popular Science Team

a pink and red galaxy (left). an illustration of the cylindrical euclid space telescope (right)

See 5 dazzling new images from Euclid, the ‘dark universe detective’ See 5 dazzling new images from Euclid, the ‘dark universe detective’

By Laura Baisas

How ‘safe mode’ protects space telescopes like Hubble and TESS

How ‘safe mode’ protects space telescopes like Hubble and TESS How ‘safe mode’ protects space telescopes like Hubble and TESS

By Briley Lewis

Artist rendering of exoplanet WASP-43b

JWST measures ‘Hot Jupiter,’ a distant exoplanet hot enough to forge iron JWST measures ‘Hot Jupiter,’ a distant exoplanet hot enough to forge iron

Astronomers fight to save a major X-ray space telescope

Astronomers fight to save a major X-ray space telescope Astronomers fight to save a major X-ray space telescope

By Briley Lewis

Where do all those colors in space telescope images come from?

Where do all those colors in space telescope images come from? Where do all those colors in space telescope images come from?

By Briley Lewis

a galaxy that looks like an hourglass pinched at the center with a shining protostar

Plunge into an immersive IMAX movie featuring the James Webb Space Telescope Plunge into an immersive IMAX movie featuring the James Webb Space Telescope

By Laura Baisas

LSST Camera Deputy Project Manager Travis Lange shines a flashlight into the LSST Camera.

A 3,200-megapixel digital camera is ready for its cosmic photoshoot A 3,200-megapixel digital camera is ready for its cosmic photoshoot

M74 aka the Phantom Galaxy shown in a combined optical/mid-infrared image, featuring data from both the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope. It is one of the celestial objects featured

Listen to three breathtaking NASA images Listen to three breathtaking NASA images

By Laura Baisas

A combination of a Hubble Space Telescope image of SN 1987A and the compact argon source. The faint blue source in the center is the emission from the compact source detected with the James Webb Space Telescope. Outside this is the stellar debris, which contains most of the mass. The inner bright “string of pearls” is the gas from the outer layers of the star that was expelled about 20,000 years before the final explosion. The fast debris is now colliding with the ring, explaining the bright spots. Outside of the inner ring are two outer rings, presumably produced by the same process as forming the inner ring. The bright stars to the left and right of the inner ring are unrelated to the supernova.

JWST detects evidence of a neutron star in fiery supernova remains JWST detects evidence of a neutron star in fiery supernova remains

By Laura Baisas

Galaxy AM 1054-325 has been distorted into an S-shape from a normal pancake-like spiral shape by the gravitational pull of a neighboring galaxy, seen in this NASA Hubble Space Telescope image. A consequence of this is that newborn clusters of stars form along a stretched-out tidal tail for thousands of light-years, resembling a string of pearls. They form when knots of gas gravitationally collapse to create about one million newborn stars per cluster.

NASA’s Hubble space telescope reveals a galactic ‘string of pearls’ NASA’s Hubble space telescope reveals a galactic ‘string of pearls’

By Laura Baisas

Two different versions of the eROSITA map. Extended X-ray emissions (left) and point-like X-ray sources (right).

New map of half the known universe shines with cosmic energy New map of half the known universe shines with cosmic energy

By Laura Baisas

Face-on spiral galaxy, NGC 628, is split diagonally in this image: The James Webb Space Telescope’s observations appear at top left, and the Hubble Space Telescope’s on bottom right. JWST’s observations combine near- and mid-infrared light and Hubble’s showcase visible light. Dust absorbs ultraviolet and visible light, and then re-emits it in the infrared. In JWST’s images, we see dust glowing in infrared light. In Hubble’s images, dark regions are where starlight is absorbed by dust.

JWST images show off the swirling arms of 19 spiral galaxies JWST images show off the swirling arms of 19 spiral galaxies

By Laura Baisas

A bright young star within a colorful nebula. The star is identifiable as the brightest spot in the image, surrounded by six large spokes of light that cross the image. A number of other bright spots can also be seen in the clouds, which are shown in great detail as layers of colorful wisps.

Check out JWST’s new image of a star factory Check out JWST’s new image of a star factory

By Laura Baisas

This image from the Near-Infrared Camera instrument on the James Webb Space Telescope shows the central portion of the star cluster IC 348. The wispy curtains filling the image are interstellar material reflecting the light from the cluster’s stars. The bright star closest to the center of the frame is actually a pair of type B stars in a binary system, which are the most massive stars in the cluster. Winds from these stars may help sculpt the large loop seen on the right side of the field of view.

Record-breaking ‘failed star’ spotted by JWST Record-breaking ‘failed star’ spotted by JWST

By Laura Baisas

A new high-definition image from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRCam unveils intricate details of supernova remnant Cassiopeia A and shows the expanding shell of material slamming into the gas shed by the star before it exploded.

JWST releases new image of famous supernova remnant—with a twist JWST releases new image of famous supernova remnant—with a twist

By Laura Baisas

International Liquid Mirror Telescope

Looking at the stars through a puddle of mercury Looking at the stars through a puddle of mercury

By Briley Lewis

Scientists want to use the sun’s gravity to communicate between stars Scientists want to use the sun’s gravity to communicate between stars

By Briley Lewis

The full view of the James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) instrument reveals a 50 light-years-wide portion of the Milky Way’s dense center. An estimated 500,000 stars shine in this image of the Sagittarius C region, along with some as-yet unidentified features. A vast region of ionized hydrogen, shown in cyan, wraps around an infrared-dark cloud, which is so dense that it blocks the light from distant stars behind it. Intriguing needle-like structures in the ionized hydrogen emission lack any uniform orientation. Researchers note the surprising extent of the ionized region, covering about 25 light-years.

Chaotic region shines bright with 500,000 stars in new JWST image Chaotic region shines bright with 500,000 stars in new JWST image

By Laura Baisas

UNCOVER z-13 and UNCOVER z-12 are the second and fourth most distant galaxy ever observed. The James Webb Space Telescope’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) helped confirm their existence within Pandora’s Cluster (Abell 2744). They are shown here as near-infrared wavelengths of light that have been translated to visible-light colors.

JWST spots two of the most distant galaxies astronomers have ever seen JWST spots two of the most distant galaxies astronomers have ever seen

By Laura Baisas

Space Telescope with visible-light data from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. The resulting wavelength coverage, from 0.4 to 5 microns, reveals a vivid landscape of galaxies whose colors give clues to galaxy distances: The bluest galaxies are relatively nearby and often show intense star formation, as best detected by Hubble, while the redder galaxies tend to be more distant, or else contain copious amount of dust, as detected by JWST.

‘Christmas tree’ galaxy shines in new image from Hubble and JWST ‘Christmas tree’ galaxy shines in new image from Hubble and JWST

By Laura Baisas

This square astronomical image is divided horizontally by a waving line between a white-orange cloudscape forming a nebula along the bottom portion and a comparatively blue-purple-pink upper portion. From the nebula in the bottom half of the image, an orange cloud shaped like a horsehead sticks out. In the bottom left of the image, a white round glow is visible. The clouds from the bottom half of the image shine purple/blue light into the upper half. The top of the image shows the black expanse of space. Speckled across both portions is a starfield, showing stars of varying sizes and colors. Blue stars are younger and red stars are older.

Euclid telescope spies shimmering stars and galaxies in its first look at the ‘dark’ universe Euclid telescope spies shimmering stars and galaxies in its first look at the ‘dark’ universe

By Laura Baisas

Astronomers found the most distant black hole ever detected in X-rays (in a galaxy dubbed UHZ1) using the Chandra X-Ray Observatory and the James Webb Space Telescope. X-ray emission is a telltale signature of a growing supermassive black hole. This result may explain how some of the first supermassive black holes in the universe formed. These images show the galaxy cluster Abell 2744 that UHZ1 is located behind, in X-rays from Chandra and infrared data from JWST, as well as close-ups of the black hole host galaxy UHZ1.

Farthest black hole ever recorded by astronomers is nearly as old as our universe Farthest black hole ever recorded by astronomers is nearly as old as our universe

By Laura Baisas

The gold mirrors of JSWT sit in front of an extremely large, circular door in a vast room with scientists working.

This NASA photographer documented the 30-year journey to build the James Webb Space Telescope This NASA photographer documented the 30-year journey to build the James Webb Space Telescope

By Abby Ferguson

An image of Jupiter taken with the James Webb Space Telescope’s NIR Cam in July 2022. Researchers recently discovered a narrow jet stream traveling 320 miles per hour sitting over Jupiter’s equator above the main cloud decks. The numerous bright white "spots" and "streaks" are likely very high-altitude cloud tops of condensed convective storms. Auroras, appearing in red in this image, extend to higher altitudes above both the northern and southern poles of the planet.

Why a 3,000-mile-long jet stream on Jupiter surprised NASA scientists Why a 3,000-mile-long jet stream on Jupiter surprised NASA scientists

By Laura Baisas

This new infrared image of NGC 346 from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) traces emission from cool gas and dust. In this image blue represents silicates and sooty chemical molecules known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs. More diffuse red emission shines from warm dust heated by the brightest and most massive stars in the heart of the region. Bright patches and filaments mark areas with abundant numbers of protostars.

Star-making hot spot looks like a glowing raven in new JWST image Star-making hot spot looks like a glowing raven in new JWST image

By Laura Baisas

Artist conception of early starbursting galaxies. The image is rendered from FIRE simulation data used for this research that can explain recent JWST results. Stars and galaxies are shown in the bright white points of light, while the more diffuse dark matter and gas are shown in purples and reds.

Bursting stars could explain why it was so bright after the big bang Bursting stars could explain why it was so bright after the big bang

By Laura Baisas

Rendering of Firefly Space's Blue Ghost lunar lander on moon surface

Why astronomers want to put a telescope on the dark side of the moon Why astronomers want to put a telescope on the dark side of the moon

An artistic representation of the TRAPPIST-1 red dwarf star, featuring its very active nature. Exoplanet TRAPPIST-1 b is the closest planet to the system’s central star and is featured in the foreground with no apparent atmosphere. The exoplanet TRAPPIST-1 g is in the background to the right of the star.

JWST just scanned the skies of potentially habitable exoplanet TRAPPIST-1 b JWST just scanned the skies of potentially habitable exoplanet TRAPPIST-1 b

By Laura Baisas

Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) captured this detailed image of SN 1987A (Supernova 1987A). At the center, material ejected from the supernova forms a keyhole shape.

See the stunning Supernova 1987A in a whole new light See the stunning Supernova 1987A in a whole new light

By Laura Baisas

A large spiral galaxy takes up the entirety of the image. The core is mostly bright white, but there are also swirling, detailed structures that resemble water circling a drain. There is white and pale blue light that emanates from stars and dust at the core’s center, but it is tightly limited to the core. The rings feature colors of deep red and orange and highlight filaments of dust around cavernous black bubbles.

The Whirlpool Galaxy’s buff, spiral arms grab JWST’s attention The Whirlpool Galaxy’s buff, spiral arms grab JWST’s attention

By Laura Baisas

JWST/NIRcam composite image of the Ring Nebula. The image clearly shows the main ring, surrounded by a faint halo and with many delicate structures. The interior of the ring is filled with hot gas. The star which ejected all this material is visible at the very center.

The Ring Nebula is a glowing gas-filled donut in the latest JWST snap The Ring Nebula is a glowing gas-filled donut in the latest JWST snap

By Laura Baisas

SPT2215 relaxed galaxy cluster in composite image by Chandra, Hubble, and other space instruments

Secrets of the early universe are hidden in this chill galaxy cluster Secrets of the early universe are hidden in this chill galaxy cluster

This Hubble Space Telescope image of the asteroid Dimorphos was taken on December 19, 2022, about four months after the asteroid was impacted by NASA's DART mission (Double Asteroid Redirection Test). Hubble’s sensitivity reveals a few dozen boulders knocked off the asteroid by the force of the collision. These are among the faintest objects Hubble has ever photographed inside the solar system.

Smashed asteroid surrounded by a ‘cloud’ of boulders Smashed asteroid surrounded by a ‘cloud’ of boulders

By Laura Baisas

Orange, fire-like clouds extend from a central star.

Astronomers spy cosmic dust, with a twist, from the very early universe Astronomers spy cosmic dust, with a twist, from the very early universe

Hubble space telescope deep field view of ancient galaxies that helps answer the question: How old is the universe?

How old is the universe? Our answer keeps getting more precise. How old is the universe? Our answer keeps getting more precise.

By Charlie Wood

large dish on earth sends waves out to the moon in illustration

An enormous radio telescope may soon be a powerful tool for planetary defense An enormous radio telescope may soon be a powerful tool for planetary defense

By Sarah Scoles

JWST composite image of barred spiral galaxy NGC 5068, showing its core and part of a spiral arm. Clumps and filaments of dust, represented in a mossy green color, form an almost skeletal structure that follow the twist of the galaxy and its spiral arm.

15 remarkable JWST images that reveal the wonders of our vast universe 15 remarkable JWST images that reveal the wonders of our vast universe

The ringed planet Saturn imaged for the first time using near-infrared observations. The planet itself appears quite dark and the rings are bright.

Saturn’s rings get a glow up in new near-infrared telescope images Saturn’s rings get a glow up in new near-infrared telescope images

By Laura Baisas

Euclid Space Telescope mounted on SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in a holding facility before dark energy and dark matter mission launch

Euclid space telescope begins its search through billions of galaxies for dark matter and energy Euclid space telescope begins its search through billions of galaxies for dark matter and energy

R Aquarii binary star system

NASA turns spectacular space telescope images into vibey ‘cosmic sonifications’ NASA turns spectacular space telescope images into vibey ‘cosmic sonifications’

SuperBIT high-altitude balloon with space telescope in the skies after its launch

A super pressure balloon built by students is cruising Earth’s skies to find dark matter A super pressure balloon built by students is cruising Earth’s skies to find dark matter

Magnetic arches and solar flares emerging from the upper half of the sun's corona

How hundreds of college students are helping solve a centuries-old mystery about the sun How hundreds of college students are helping solve a centuries-old mystery about the sun

By Briley Lewis

Fomalhaut, a star system 25-light-years away, showing a dust cloud and rocky belts.

Asteroid belt circling star 25 light-years away hints at a hidden planet Asteroid belt circling star 25 light-years away hints at a hidden planet

By Briley Lewis

Closeup of vent horizon around M87, a supermassive black hole and the first black hole image

This supermassive black hole sucks big time This supermassive black hole sucks big time

The seven galaxies highlighted in this James Webb Space Telescope image have been confirmed to be at a distance that astronomers refer to as redshift 7.9, which correlates to 650 million years after the Big Bang.

JWST captures an unprecedented ‘prequel’ to a galaxy JWST captures an unprecedented ‘prequel’ to a galaxy

By Laura Baisas

Exoplanet KMT-2021-BLG-1898L b is a gas giant that looks like Jupiter but orbits a separate star. Illustration.

An Einstein-backed method could help us find smaller exoplanets than ever before An Einstein-backed method could help us find smaller exoplanets than ever before

By Briley Lewis

M87 black hole Event Horizon Telescope image sharpened by AI with PRIMO algorithm. The glowing event horizon is now clearer and thinner and the black hole at the center darker.

You saw the first image of a black hole. Now see it better with AI. You saw the first image of a black hole. Now see it better with AI.

By Purbita Saha

Magnetic field around sun's corona with NASA's Parker Solar Probe touching the edge. Illustrated.

Why is the sun’s corona 200 times hotter than its surface? Why is the sun’s corona 200 times hotter than its surface?

By Briley Lewis

Illustration of space telescope array using mirror membranes above Earth

Super-thin ‘mirror membranes’ could lead the way to bigger space telescopes Super-thin ‘mirror membranes’ could lead the way to bigger space telescopes

Pale blue Uranus with clearly detailed rings captured by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope

Ice giant Uranus shows off its many rings in new JWST image Ice giant Uranus shows off its many rings in new JWST image

By Laura Baisas

Circled is the infrared afterglow of the BOAT gamma-ray burst and its host galaxy. Taken by NASA space telescopes.

A powerful explosion rocked space so hard, NASA called it the ‘brightest of all time’ A powerful explosion rocked space so hard, NASA called it the ‘brightest of all time’

By Briley Lewis

Comparison images of galaxy gaining better resolution via AI program

How AI can make galactic telescope images ‘sharper’ How AI can make galactic telescope images ‘sharper’

Colorful M19 star cluster in NASA Hubble Space Telescope image

How the Hubble telescope is keeping a 265-year-old stargazing project alive How the Hubble telescope is keeping a 265-year-old stargazing project alive

This illustration conceptualizes the swirling clouds identified by the James Webb Space Telescope in the atmosphere of exoplanet VHS 1256 b. The planet is about 40 light-years away and orbits two stars that are locked in their own tight rotation.

Gritty, swirling clouds of silica surround exoplanet VHS 1256 b Gritty, swirling clouds of silica surround exoplanet VHS 1256 b

By Laura Baisas