Until the dawn of spaceflight, astronomers were limited in their ability to observe objects beyond the solar system to those portions of the electromagnetic spectrum that can penetrate Earth’s atmosphere. These portions include the visible region, parts of the ultraviolet region, and most of the radio-frequency region. The ability to place instruments on a spacecraft…

Valentina Tereshkova (born March 6, 1937, Maslennikovo, Russia, U.S.S.R.) is a Soviet cosmonaut and the first woman to travel into space. On June 16, 1963, she was launched in the spacecraft Vostok 6, which completed 48 orbits in 71 hours. In space at the same time was Valery F. Bykovsky, who had been launched two…

Astronomers have discovered an enormous black hole the size of 36 billion suns lurking within the “Cosmic Horseshoe.” The behemoth object is one of the largest black holes ever detected. First discovered in 2007, the Cosmic Horseshoe is a system of two galaxies located in the constellation Leo. Images of the system show a halo…

Astronomy Daily | Space News: S04E52In this episode of Astronomy Daily, host Anna delves into the latest challenges and exciting developments in space exploration. From NASA’s lunar missions facing technical difficulties to the thrilling prospects of new commercial space stations, this episode is packed with insights that will keep you informed and engaged with the…

In super-Earth For example, on snowball planets heavier than Earth that are completely frozen, the higher gravity would lead to high pressures at the bottom of the frozen oceans that would melt the ice and thus lead to layers of liquid water. One type of super-Earth, the Hycean world, is… Read More

A stunning photo has captured all seven of our neighboring planets in Earth’s sky at the same time, possibly for the first time ever. The composite image, captured by astrophotographer Josh Dury, shows Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn, Venus, Neptune and Mercury in alignment thanks to a rare “planetary parade” taking place this weekend for the…

This is a complete guide to the night sky in March 2025 for both hemispheres. Use the free astronomy app Sky Tonight for detailed information on sky objects for your exact location. Contents All celestial events in March 2025 The event dates given further are in GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), and the exact dates vary…

Astronomers have directly observed two worlds beyond our solar system shedding their outer layers into space for the first time. The new observations offer an unprecedented glimpse into the interiors of planets — a view that has long remained elusive, even for Earth. The first “disintegrating” exoplanet is a Neptune-size rocky world called K2-22b, which…

Astronomers have been forced to reassess the origins of mysterious, rapid radio wave blasts called “fast radio bursts” (FRBs). This rethink was brought about by an FRB first detected last year, which has been traced back to the “cosmic graveyard” of a massive “dead” galaxy filled with ancient stars located 2 billion light-years from Earth.…

The odds that the space rock, 2024 YR4, will smash into our planet in 2032 have dropped to nearly zero, leading astronomers to conclude that we are no longer in danger. A NASA video showing the shifting odds that Asteroid 2024 YR4 would crash into Earth.Graphics by Nasa Jpl/cneos Astronomers have been carefully watching 2024…