Space

The latest discoveries from space agencies and astronomers as they explore galaxies, black holes, exoplanets, and more. Also learn about night sky watching events right here on the home planet.

Latest in Space

Image of dozens of galaxies taken by Hubble Space Telescope

NASA’s new space observatory is mapping the entire sky in 3D NASA’s new space observatory is mapping the entire sky in 3D

Nut’s cosmological vignette on the outer coffin of Nesitaudjatakhet in the collection of Odessa Archaeological Museum OAM 52976 (C107). Nut’s body is covered in stars as well as a thick, undulating black curve that runs from the soles of her feet to the tips of her fingers. This curve, surrounded by stars on both sides, is reminiscent of the Milky Way’s Great Rift. Credit: Mykola Tarasenko; Odessa Archaeological Museum, NASU

Tomb art suggests Egyptian sky goddess wore the Milky Way galaxy Tomb art suggests Egyptian sky goddess wore the Milky Way galaxy

Deep ALMA observations of 12CO emission from fifteen protoplanetary disks reveal a stunning range of structures in the gas morphology including gaps, rings and spirals.

Future planets revealed in unprecedented detail Future planets revealed in unprecedented detail

A flight-illuminated path and the Milky Way are appearing in the night sky during the Eta Aquarids meteor shower, peaking in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka, on May 5, 2024. The Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower is an annual event caused by Earth passing through debris left behind by Halley's Comet.

May skygazing: Meteors, a floral moon, and cosmic beehive May skygazing: Meteors, a floral moon, and cosmic beehive

Scientists working on space probe in lab

A dead Soviet space probe from 1972 is falling back to Earth A dead Soviet space probe from 1972 is falling back to Earth

a child's drawing of a rainbow with a girl in pigtails standing inder it

Kids draw what they love about Earth Kids draw what they love about Earth

By Popular Science Team

Black and white overhead shot of Mars rover and tracks on planet

NASA satellite spies Curiosity chugging along on Mars NASA satellite spies Curiosity chugging along on Mars

Photo of long barrel of NASA's gas gun in warehouse

Watch high-powered gas guns blast space habitat (for science) Watch high-powered gas guns blast space habitat (for science)

Close image of sun's surface depicting sunspot

World’s largest solar telescope shows off its full force with new image World’s largest solar telescope shows off its full force with new image

a blue, purple, and white galaxy whose clouds of dust and matter appear shaped like a butterfly

5 dazzling interstellar images to celebrate Hubble’s 35th birthday 5 dazzling interstellar images to celebrate Hubble’s 35th birthday

By Laura Baisas

Illustration of planet disintegrating during orbit around star

Astronomers discover hellscape world crumbling into its host sun Astronomers discover hellscape world crumbling into its host sun

a spiral galaxy with red, white, and yellow stars, swirling around a bright, yellow, star in the center

Is the universe really infinite? Astrophysicists explain. Is the universe really infinite? Astrophysicists explain.

By Lauren Leffer

close up of asteroid Donaldjohanson

NASA snaps detailed photos of ‘strikingly complicated’ asteroid NASA snaps detailed photos of ‘strikingly complicated’ asteroid

a green comet in the night sky

How the sun’s motion affects meteor showers How the sun’s motion affects meteor showers

Two planets and crescent moon form smiley face in night sky

Rare ‘smiley face’ will light up the night sky on April 25 Rare ‘smiley face’ will light up the night sky on April 25

A photomosaic taken by the Curiosity Rover on April 30, 2023 at the Ubajara drill site in Gale Crater, Mars. Rock powder samples drilled here contained substantial amounts of siderite (an iron carbonate mineral). The siderite played a role in ancient carbon cycling processes that impacted conditions at the planet’s surface. Rover tracks in the foreground are 40 cm wide. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS)

Curiosity rover finds key ingredient for past life on Mars Curiosity rover finds key ingredient for past life on Mars

Red tinged spiral galaxy made with infrared wavelengths

The universe isn’t just expanding—it may be spinning The universe isn’t just expanding—it may be spinning

An illustration of what the aurora might have looked like during a polar reversal about 41,000 years ago. The green glow of an aurora is much further south than we see it today.

Sunscreen may have kept ancient humans alive during a polar reversal Sunscreen may have kept ancient humans alive during a polar reversal

By Laura Baisas

This is an artist’s impression of the exoplanet 2M1510 (AB) b’s unusual orbit around its host stars, a pair of brown dwarfs. The newly discovered planet has a polar orbit, which is perpendicular to the plane in which the two stars are travelling. Polar planets around single stars had been found before, as well as polar discs of gas and dust capable of forming planets around binary stars. But thanks to ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) this is the first time we have strong evidence that such a planet actually exists in a polar orbit around two stars. The two brown dwarfs appear as a single source in the sky, but astronomers know there are two of them because they periodically eclipse each other. Using the UVES spectrograph on the VLT they measured their orbital speed, and noticed that their orbits change over time. After carefully ruling out other explanations, they concluded that the gravitational tug of a planet in a polar orbit was the only way to explain the motion of the brown dwarfs.

Exoplanet with two ‘suns’ is even more unique than Tatooine Exoplanet with two ‘suns’ is even more unique than Tatooine

Earth's oceans seen from space

How did water end up on Earth? New evidence upends long-held theory. How did water end up on Earth? New evidence upends long-held theory.