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Astronomers have spotted the largest known object in the universe
Artist’s illustration of the large-scale structure of the universe Science Photo Library/Alamy Astronomers have found the largest known structure in the universe. It is 1.4 billion light years across and contains nearly 70 galactic superclusters. It is also hundreds of thousands of times more massive than a single galaxy, such as the Milky Way. Hans…
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Stunning, rainbow-colored object spotted by James Webb telescope could be an alien solar system in the making
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has captured a stunning image of a young star firing energy into space, illuminating a protoplanetary disk from which a new solar system may form. The young star, called HH 30, is a Herbig-Haro object — a bright knot of gas formed when the gas streaming from young protostars…
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Elon Musk’s Telsa Roadster was mistaken for an asteroid. Here’s why
Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. CNN — Seven years after SpaceX launched Elon Musk’s cherry red sports car into orbit around our sun, astronomers unwittingly began paying attention to its movements once again. Observers spotted and correctly identified the vehicle as…
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As the night sky grows crowded, astronomers face a growing problem
For more than five years, astronomers have sounded alarms about the effect satellite megaconstellations would have on their observations. The launch in 2019 of the first Starlink satellites, initially bright enough to be seen by the naked eye, led astronomers to spring to action to both raise awareness about the threat and to work with…
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Tour the night sky LIVE
What is National Astronomy Week? National Astronomy Week 2025 runs from 1-9 February and is supported by the Royal Astronomical Society, British Astronomical Association, Federation of Astronomical Societies, and Society for Popular Astronomy. National Astronomy Week doesn’t occur at the same time each year; it’s instead held when there is a significant astronomical event that…
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‘Bull’s-eye!’ Hubble telescope spots record-shattering 9-ring galaxy — and the cosmic ‘dart’ that smashed through its center
Astronomers have spotted a “bull’s-eye” galaxy with a whopping nine rings, smashing the previous record by six rings. The discovery of the galaxy, known as LEDA 1313424, is helping researchers understand what happens when galaxies collide. Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope spotted LEDA 1313424 “serendipitously” while reviewing a sky survey completed in 2019. The…
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Pal-Mac astronomy students take part in NASA space research
PALMYRA, N.Y. — Some Palmyra-Macedon High School students had a chance to share their space research at the largest gathering of astronomers in the world. The NASA/IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program is all about connecting aspiring astronomy students to data collected by NASA and its space telescopes. Pal-Mac earth science teacher Joe Perry’s enthusiasm for…
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Space photo of the week: James Webb and Hubble telescopes unite to solve ‘impossible’ planet mystery
What it is: An open cluster of stars called NGC 346 Where it is: 210,000 light-years away, in the constellation Tucana When it was shared: Dec. 16, 2024 Why it’s so special: This James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) image has helped astronomers untangle a long-standing mystery about how planets form. The mystery arose more than…
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Top 10 space stories of 2024
The exoplanet K2-18 b may have an ocean of water beneath a hydrogen-rich atmosphere, as shown in this artist’s concept. Credit: Illustration: NASA, ESA, CSA, Joseph Olmsted (STScI). Science: Nikku Madhusudhan (IoA) This past year brought much of the world together through events both anticipated and unexpected. April’s highly awaited total solar eclipse delighted millions…
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Balloon-Borne Telescopes Take Off
Explore On a nearly cloudless day in 2023, a helium balloon the size of a United States football stadium lifted off from an airport in New Zealand. It quickly rose 110,000 feet above the Earth, ascending into the stratosphere, a layer of the atmosphere that is out of reach of clouds, rain, and storms. Beneath…
