Space Exploration News – Latest Headlines

Variations in the 'fogginess' of the universe identify a milestone in cosmic history

Large differences in the 'foggines' of the early universe were caused by islands of cold gas left behind when the universe heated up after the big bang, according to an international team of astronomers.

April 16, 2019 Read more

Asteroids help scientists to measure the diameters of far away stars

New technique doubles resolution of angular size measurements.

April 16, 2019 Read more

TESS discovers its first Earth-sized planet

Orbiting a nearby star, the new planet is the smallest identified so far by the TESS mission.

April 16, 2019 Read more

Researchers observe formation of a magnetar 6.5 billion light years away

X-ray data holds evidence of two neutron stars merging to form a celestial object with an extremely powerful magnetic field.

April 11, 2019 Read more

Astronomers capture first image of a black hole

The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) - a planet-scale array of eight ground-based radio telescopes forged through international collaboration - was set up to capture the first images of a black hole. Today, astronometrs reveal that they have succeeded, unveiling the first direct visual evidence of a black hole.

April 10, 2019 Read more

Are brown dwarfs failed stars or super-planets?

Astronomers find first signs they can also form like a planet.

April 9, 2019 Read more

Unexpected rain on sun links two solar mysteries

Researchers find rain on the sun in an unexpected place. The findings could create a new link between two of the biggest mysteries in solar physics.

April 5, 2019 Read more

Hubble captures rare active asteroid

Thanks to an impressive collaboration bringing together data from ground-based telescopes, all-sky surveys and space-based facilities -- including the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope -- a rare self-destructing asteroid called 6478 Gault has been observed.

March 28, 2019 Read more

GRAVITY instrument breaks new ground in exoplanet imaging

Cutting-edge VLTI instrument reveals details of a storm-wracked exoplanet using optical interferometry.

March 27, 2019 Read more

In hunt for life, astronomers identify most promising stars

NASA's new Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is designed to ferret out habitable exoplanets.

March 26, 2019 Read more

Race at the edge of the Sun: Ions are faster than atoms

Astrophysicists observe physics phenomena in gas streams.

March 25, 2019 Read more

Listening to the quantum vacuum

Researchers present the first broadband, off-resonance measurement of quantum radiation pressure noise in the audio band, at frequencies relevant to gravitational wave detectors.

March 25, 2019 Read more

Jupiter's unknown journey revealed

The giant planet Jupiter was formed four times further from the sun than its current orbit, and migrated inwards in the solar system over a period of 700000 years. Researchers found proof of this incredible journey thanks to a group of asteroids close to Jupiter.

March 22, 2019 Read more

Giant X-ray 'chimneys' are exhaust vents for vast energies produced at Milky Way's center

At the center of our galaxy, where an enormous black hole blasts out energy as it chows down on interstellar detritus while neighboring stars burst to life and explode. astronomers have discovered two exhaust channels -- dubbed the 'galactic center chimneys' -- that appear to funnel matter and energy away from the cosmic fireworks.

March 20, 2019 Read more

Spiraling giants: Witnessing the birth of a massive binary star system

Astronomers have made observations of a molecular cloud that is collapsing to form two massive protostars that will eventually become a binary star system.

March 18, 2019 Read more

Trembling aspen leaves could save future Mars rovers

Researchers have been inspired by the unique movement of trembling aspen leaves, to devise an energy harvesting mechanism that could power weather sensors in hostile environments and could even be a back-up energy supply that could save and extend the life of future Mars rovers.

March 18, 2019 Read more

How heavy elements come about in the universe

An experiment simulates how heavy elements capture protons.

March 18, 2019 Read more

Astronomers discover 83 supermassive black holes in the early universe

Subaru Telescope spots 13-billion-year-old quasars powered by black holes.

March 13, 2019 Read more