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A prism splitting white light into the color spectrum (rainbow).

What is visible light?

By Jim Lucas published

Reference Visible light is a type of electromagnetic radiation between the infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths, and it can be detected by cells in the human eye.

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Asteroid 7335 (1989 JA), measuring four times as wide as the Empire State Building is high, will make a close approach to Earth on May 27, 2022.

Asteroid four times the size of the Empire State Building barreling toward Earth on May 27

By Brandon Specktor published

The near-Earth asteroid 7335 (1989 JA) will make a close approach to our planet on May 27, 2022, flying within about 2.5 million miles of Earth.

An illustration of the Voyager 1 spacecraft, which is traveling through interstellar space.

Voyager 1 sends strange signals from beyond the solar system. Scientists are confused.

By Meghan Bartels published

NASA's Voyager 1 space probe sent a confusing signal back to Earth, suggesting the craft doesn't know where it's located.

A 0.1-ounce (3-gram) sample of the Hypatia stone.

Alien stone in Egyptian desert came from rare supernova, scientists say

By Ben Turner published

The rock likely formed from the merging of dust with the remnants of the two stars involved in the explosion.

Artist concept of an alien planet. In this image is feels like you're standing on a mountain, looking over the top of the clouds as the sun sets in the background. There are several stars and planets just visible in the sky. There are also two sphere-shaped buildings to the right.

Humans could become a truly interplanetary species within 200 years, physicists claim

By Paul Sutter published

Harness renewable energy to explore the cosmos or risk planetary doom, new physics study argues

"Wow!" signal printout

Famous 'alien' Wow! signal may have come from distant, sunlike star

By Adam Mann published

An astronomer proposes that the sun-like star 2MASS 19281982-2640123 is the origin of the Wow! Signal

The LCLS-II accelerator, where temperatures 2 K above absolute zero have been achieved.

Temperatures colder than space achieved here on Earth using superconducting X-ray laser

By Robert Lea published

Using a superconducting X-ray laser, researchers at SLAC achieved a temperature 4 degrees Fahrenheit above absolute zero.

The Super Flower Blood Moon over Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on May 15, 2022.

See these amazing images of the Blood Moon lunar eclipse from around the world

By Elizabeth Howell published

Billions of people saw the sky show Sunday (May 15) to Monday (May 16).

This NASA graphic shows the major stages of the Super Flower Blood Moon of May 2022 and their times.

What time is the Blood Moon lunar eclipse?

By Samantha Mathewson published

A Blood Moon total lunar eclipse will occur this weekend, and here's when to watch it.

This composite image shows the moon during a lunar eclipse in Tokyo on Jan. 31, 2018.

Here's how to watch the Flower Moon lunar eclipse today and tomorrow

By Elizabeth Howell published

We'll help you get set up outdoors or online, depending on your location or your preference.

Mercury in space surrounded by stars. Image elements furnished by NASA.

Mercury: Facts about the smallest planet

By Patrick Pester published

Mercury is the closest planet to the sun, the fastest planet orbiting the sun and the smallest planet in our solar system.

Hubble’s observation of Jupiter in 2021. NASA, ESA, A. Simon (Goddard Space Flight Center), and M.H. Wong (University of California, Berkeley) and the OPAL team.

Jupiter: Facts about the king of the planets

By Adam Mann published

Reference Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system, with moons, rings and beautiful clouds.

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The Mars Curiosity rover’s Mast camera snapped this intriguing image of the Red Planet, showing a “doorway” structure, on May 7, 2022, or Sol 3466 in Martian days.

The 'doorway' seen on Mars is not for aliens. Here's how it really formed.

By Tom Metcalfe published

The internet erupted after a photograph from the Mars Curiosity rover appeared to show an "alien door," experts are pretty sure it's just a natural feature.

This is an image of the planet Uranus taken by the spacecraft Voyager 2 in 1986. NASA & JPL-Caltech.

Uranus: Facts about the sideways ice giant

By Adam Mann published

Reference Uranus is a strange world in the solar system that spins on its side. A new probe that will visit Uranus in the coming decades could unlock even more secrets about this peculiar planet.

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The Milky Way and the location of its central black hole as viewed from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array.

1st image of our galaxy's 'black hole heart' unveiled

By Ben Turner published

The enormous black hole is four million times the mass of our sun

Mosaic of Saturn taken by NASA's Cassini spacecraft on November 20, 2017. Source -NASA & JPL-Caltech & Space Science Institute

Saturn: Facts about the ringed planet

By Adam Mann published

Reference Saturn is one of the most beautiful worlds in the solar system, with spectacular rings and moons that could host life.

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Artist’s impression of newly discovered extra-galactic pulsar, PSR J0523-7125, within the Large Magellanic Cloud.

Distant 'galaxy' isn't a galaxy at all — but one of the brightest pulsars ever detected

By Brandon Specktor published

The pulsar PSR J0523−7125 is so bright that astronomers thought it was a distant galaxy.

An artist's image of an alien starship as viewed from a planet's surface.

Why have aliens never visited Earth? Scientists have a disturbing answer

By Ben Turner published

Aliens could be forced to give up cosmic expansion to avoid catastrophe.

Venus - Computer Simulated Global View Centered at 90 Degrees East Longitude. September 23, 1996. NASA & JPL.

Venus: Facts about the hellish planet next door

By Adam Mann published

Reference Venus is Earth's next-door neighbor and could be Earth's twin, if not for the sulfuric acid clouds and hellish surface temperatures.

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The moon turns red during a lunar eclipse, such as this one seen in Thailand one Jan. 31 2018.

Why does the moon turn red during a total lunar eclipse?

By Jeanna Bryner published

When a lunar eclipse occurs and our lone satellite inches into Earth's shadow, the moon's face becomes painted red. Here's why.