Astronomy
![Radio telescope dishes pointing towards the Milky Way galaxy](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5mHnxAoMeqsVbBPDnpefrC-320-80.jpg)
Staring up into the night sky, it's easy to be overwhelmed by the seemingly infinite expanse of space, with every pinprick of light in the vast canopy of darkness a star holding secrets forged by 13.8 billion years of the universe's existence. And yet, despite its great age and the unfathomable distance between us and even our nearest neighbor, through the study of astronomy we are able to understand more about the world beyond our atmosphere.
Join our expert writers and editors as we reveal the greatest mysteries in cosmology, such as how black holes form, and explore celestial bodies like exoplanets and nebulas, that are scattered throughout our universe. You will also discover how scientists are pushing the boundaries of space exploration using observatories like the James Webb Space Telescope with the latest astronomy news, features and articles.
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![Against a cloudy white and purple background, part of a bright blue-white star is visible at lower left. Emerging from the star and stretching diagonally across the frame is a narrow line, looking white nearest the star and becoming magenta farther away. At far right, the line — one of the dying star’s particle jets — forms a large, rounded blob.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yPMxSTyTUMHuARLCjH6fdX-320-80.jpg)
'It gave me goosebumps': Most powerful gamma ray burst ever detected hid a secret, scientists say
By Tia Ghose published
Scientists have found a mysterious signal in the brightest gamma ray burst ever detected, and now they know what caused it.
![An artist's impression of a black hole.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qVUeWWKUiuQebHfwJCA7id-320-80.jpg)
Ultra-rare black hole found hiding in the center of the Milky Way
By Ben Turner published
A potential intermediate-mass black hole is hiding right next to our galaxy's supermassive black hole.
![A Perseid meteor on a night sky captured by a camera](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iWhQ4gDqAC3C5Lb5mcaHPa-320-80.jpg)
'Double' meteor shower will light up the skies next week. Here's how to watch.
By Kristel Tjandra published
As Earth's orbit intersects with those of two comets this month, stargazers will have a chance to view spectacular double meteor showers.
![A meteor shoots across the starry sky against the silhouette of trees.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DkKhepBFs4potgQobWdv2Y-320-80.jpg)
The best meteor showers of 2024 are yet to come. Here are the key nights to watch for.
By Gretchen Rundorff published
Here's everything you need to know to see the best meteor showers of 2024.
![An image showing many sparkling stars and galaxies](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jQPG8ev2uxebtA3b6ufmTD-320-80.jpg)
Is the James Webb Space Telescope really 'breaking' cosmology?
By Paul Sutter published
While headlines around the world claimed that ancient galaxies discovered by the James Webb Space Telescope were "breaking" our understanding of the Big Bang, the truth is much more nuanced — and much more interesting.
![A photo of a moon lander flying over the moon, with Earth far in the background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7vTPJM4Cq7bTs97fmG5nNG-320-80.jpg)
Space photo of the week: 55 years ago, the 'world's loneliest man' snapped this iconic Apollo 11 image
By Jamie Carter published
Command module pilot Michael Collins took this iconic Apollo 11 photo 55 years ago today, after his historic trip around the far side of the moon made him "the world's loneliest man".
![Red, blue, and white specks of various sizes on a black background. In a black sqaure one of these dots is magnified to a red and blue line](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oqtbyRe8PnsEwPrMjvi5yk-320-80.jpg)
Can the James Webb Space Telescope see galaxies over the universe's horizon?
By Robert Lea published
The James Webb Space Telescope has revolutionized astronomy in just two years of operations, but how can it see a galaxy 33.8 billion light-years away in a universe that is only 13.8 billion years old?
![A photo showing a pile of rocks with yellow crystals inside](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kPcfQGFXtBuvXA624Zb4wa-320-80.jpg)
NASA's Curiosity rover accidentally reveals ultra-rare sulfur crystals after crushing a rock on Mars
By Harry Baker published
NASA's Curiosity rover revealed an 'oasis' of rare elemental sulfur on Mars after accidentally crushing a rock with its tires. The yellow crystals have never been spotted on the Red Planet before.
![A rendered photo of Mercury with rainbow colors across its surface](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ygDyXubaZeVyML3msWUUhK-320-80.jpg)
9 miles of solid diamonds may lurk beneath Mercury's surface, new study finds
By Deepa Jain published
New simulations suggest that a 9-mile-thick layer of diamonds may lurk deep below the surface of Mercury. The gems almost certainly can't be mined for bling — but they may help solve some of the planet's biggest mysteries.
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