Astronomy

Catalonia evaluates weather prospects for August 12 total solar eclipse

Catalonia faces its first total solar eclipse in over a century on August 12, 2026, as forecasters analyze how late-afternoon thermal instability might impact viewing conditions in the zone of totality.

Science · 707 words

August 12 solar eclipse set to boost tourism in rural Spain

The 2026 total solar eclipse is driving a strategic surge in travel to Spain's rural inland regions, helping officials shift tourism away from crowded hotspots.

Science · 602 words

Astronomers detect first atmosphere on rocky exoplanet LHS 1140b

Researchers led by Collin Cherubim identified a helium-rich atmosphere on the rocky exoplanet LHS 1140b, marking a milestone in the study of terrestrial worlds.

Science · 756 words

Barnard’s Star planets found to be uninhabitable and mineral-rich

Scientific analysis has ruled out habitability for the four exoplanets orbiting Barnard's Star due to extreme heat, volatile geology, and atmosphere loss.

Science · 567 words

Beta Pictoris hosts a newly discovered faint planet after decade-long search

Researchers identified the dimmest planet ever directly imaged, uncovering a cold gas giant within the Beta Pictoris system after it remained hidden for 11 years.

Science · 523 words

Rubin Observatory begins decade-long cosmic survey in Chile

Equipped with the world's largest digital camera, the observatory is beginning a massive cinematic survey of the southern sky to track transient events. The project aims to study the universe by mapping billions of stars and galaxies over the next decade.

Science · 593 words

Beta Pictoris d discovered as the faintest exoplanet imaged from Earth

Researchers have confirmed the discovery of Beta Pictoris d, a gas giant 63 light-years away, while a separate study revealed four previously obscured stellar remnants.

Science · 693 words

James Webb telescope reveals origin of infrared light near black hole

New observations from the James Webb Space Telescope are challenging established timelines of galactic evolution by revealing how supermassive black holes grow.

Science · 571 words

NASA's Roman Telescope Will Spot Distant Black Holes That Shred Stars

A new study suggests the Roman Space Telescope will track star-shredding events to help researchers determine how supermassive black holes formed in the early universe.

Science · 590 words

FCC approves Reflect Orbital space mirror test despite safety concerns

Regulators have cleared an experimental space mirror test despite warnings from astronomers that the technology could disrupt research and ecosystems. The mission is the first step toward the company's proposed goal of providing sunlight on demand.

Science · 593 words

Archaeologists identify ancient Maya astronomer Sak Tahn Waax in Xultun

Archaeologists in Xultun, Guatemala, have identified Sak Tahn Waax, a Classic Maya mathematician-astronomer, through hieroglyphs found in a workshop. This discovery provides a rare link between individual intellectual labor and the broader traditions of ancient Maya astronomy.

Science · 674 words

The 25 Best James Webb Space Telescope Photos - PetaPixel

Marking four years of operations, the James Webb Space Telescope has used its infrared capabilities to transform our understanding of the universe.

Science · 504 words

FCC approves Reflect Orbital satellite to test sunlight reflection tech

The FCC authorized Reflect Orbital to launch a mirror-equipped satellite designed to beam sunlight to Earth. The mission faces scrutiny from the astronomy community regarding potential environmental impacts and the future of the night sky.

Science · 633 words

Earth reaches annual aphelion as farthest point from the Sun

Earth has reached its annual farthest point from the Sun, highlighting the role of axial tilt over orbital distance in creating seasons.

Science · 663 words

James Webb telescope discovers 14 dormant galaxies in the early universe

Observations reveal that 14 galaxies in the early universe prematurely ceased star formation, suggesting a complex, bursty cycle of stellar evolution. These findings challenge standard cosmological models that predicted early galaxies would be defined by constant growth.

Science · 645 words

NASA's Hubble Captures a Stunning Red, White, and Blue Stellar Nursery

Hubble has captured images of the LH 95 stellar nursery, revealing how massive blue stars and crimson gas shape the ongoing processes of star formation.

Science · 631 words

Hubble captures stellar nursery LH 95 in Large Magellanic Cloud

New high-resolution imagery of LH 95 provides a rare, unobstructed view of star formation, showing how massive blue giants shape their cosmic environment.

Science · 673 words

HKU Astronomer Joins Study Weighing Ancient Black Hole

Astronomers have successfully measured the mass of a dormant supermassive black hole in the early universe by leveraging gravitational lensing.

Science · 679 words

Astronomers oppose SpaceX and Reflect Orbital satellite plans over sky risks

Scientific organizations are opposing proposed orbital expansion projects, warning that the influx of satellites threatens to compromise astronomical research.

Science · 597 words

Astronomers discover two Jupiter-sized super-puff planets

Researchers have identified a pair of low-density exoplanets, TOI-791 b and c, that challenge existing theories on how planetary systems form and evolve.

Science · 626 words

NASA releases red, white and blue space images for America’s 250th birthday

NASA has unveiled a collection of space imagery and audio sonifications rendered in red, white, and blue to mark the United States' 250th anniversary. The project features four celestial objects captured by the Chandra X-ray Observatory and other space and ground-based telescopes.

Science · 604 words

Webb Telescope captures star formation in FS Tau region

New infrared imagery from the James Webb Space Telescope offers a look at the birth of stars within the dust-shrouded FS Tau region. These findings provide evidence that protostars accumulate mass through discrete, energetic episodes rather than steady growth.

Science · 574 words

NASA's Hubble Spots Star-Spangled Cosmic Scene

To commemorate the U.S. 250th anniversary, NASA has released a high-resolution image of the massive Messier 3 globular cluster containing 500,000 stars.

Science · 523 words

GJ 3378b identified as potentially habitable super-Earth 25 light-years away

New research indicates that GJ 3378b is a rocky super-Earth rather than a gas giant, making it a key candidate for future studies of habitability.

Science · 613 words

ESO Study Warns 1.7 Million Satellites Threaten Future of Astronomy

An ESO study warns that the proposed launch of over 1.7 million satellites poses an existential threat to astronomy by causing severe light pollution. Researchers are advocating for a strict orbital limit of 100,000 satellites to preserve the viability of ground-based observations.

Science · 692 words

Vera C. Rubin Observatory begins decade-long cosmic survey of the sky

Equipped with the world's largest digital camera, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile has begun a decade-long project to create a time-lapse of the sky. The survey aims to capture vast amounts of data to help researchers study dark energy, dark matter, and other celestial phenomena.

Science · 661 words

ESO study warns massive satellite constellations threaten space observation

New research from the European Southern Observatory indicates that massive satellite constellations could damage astronomical research by creating light trails and elevating background sky brightness. Scientists are calling for an orbital cap to protect the ability to observe the cosmos.

Science · 641 words

Planned 1.7 million satellites 'devastating' for astronomy: Study

A study by the European Southern Observatory warns that the rapid expansion of satellite constellations could render critical ground-based research impossible. Scientists are urging the FCC to implement strict regulatory limits to protect the night sky.

Science · 575 words

1.7 million planned satellites pose existential threat to astronomy

A new European Southern Observatory study warns that proposed satellite constellations could render ground-based astronomy impossible through massive light pollution and data interference.

Science · 617 words

Hubble telescope captures images of two merging galaxy clusters

New Hubble imagery confirms that the galaxy cluster CL0016+1609 is a site of active cosmic interaction, allowing researchers to map dark matter distribution.

Science · 545 words