Astronomy

The cosmos wears a galactic sombrero | Space photo of the day for April 29, 2026

By Chelsea Gohd published 29 April 26

The Sombrero galaxy's name fits perfectly.

Help scientists find spacetime warps in these Euclid Space Telescope images

By Samantha Mathewson published 29 April 26

A new citizen science project invites the public to scan never-before-seen images from the Euclid Space Telescope in search of galaxies bending spacetime.

What is quantum gravity? Scientists think it could explain the beginning of our universe

By Robert Lea published 29 April 26

A new recipe of "quadratic gravity" could help to better define the picture of the Big Bang and the singularity that existed prior to the dawn of time.

Is Tatooine the norm? Planets may prefer living with two suns instead of one

By Sharmila Kuthunur published 29 April 26

New simulations suggest binary star systems may be ideal for planet formation, and may produce more gas giants than single-star systems.

Starbirth shuts down 40,000 light-years from the Milky Way's core — and astronomers don't know why

By Keith Cooper published 28 April 26

Astronomers have found the boundary of star formation in the Milky Way's spiral disk — and it's not as far out from the center of our galaxy as you might imagine.

NASA chief Jared Isaacman says he's fighting for Pluto: 'I am very much in the camp of 'make Pluto a planet again'

By Mike Wall published 28 April 26

Should Pluto be a bona fide planet again? NASA is working to "revisit the discussion" on Pluto's planethood status, according to agency chief Jared Isaacman.

Scientists learn how much baby stars in Orion weigh — by watching their dance moves

By Keith Cooper published 28 April 26

"These measurements vastly expand our understanding of how stellar neighborhoods like our own are built."

Could the moon ever be blockaded? Experts predict cislunar space could be the next Strait of Hormuz

By Leonard David published 28 April 26

The ongoing military conflict regarding Iran and the Strait of Hormuz may well mirror a future situation off-Earth — the use of cislunar space, the region between the moon and our planet.

Did decaying dark matter help create the universe's first supermassive black holes?

By Robert Lea published 27 April 26

"With the James Webb Space Telescope now revealing more supermassive black holes in the early universe, this mechanism may help bridge the gap between theory and observation."