astronomy-and-astrophysics

We've discovered large numbers of small rocky exoplanets, but they're at such great distances that habitability is extremely difficult to determine. New research suggests than since Mars is on the edge of being habitable, studying it in detail can shed light on rocky exoplanets. If we can understand things like tectonic activity and atmospheric escape on Mars, we can understand how they may play …

New research led by Penn State scientists suggests that some of the highest-energy cosmic rays may consist of atomic nuclei heavier than iron and could help narrow down the cosmic sources capable of accelerating these particles.

Tonight, the waxing moon and the brilliant blue-white star Spica create a stunning pairing visible across the southern sky.

NASA astronaut Chris Williams captured a sunset from the ISS, revealing Earth’s atmosphere in vibrant color and breathtaking detail.

_English_. 2026This paper proposes that physical reality is fundamentally local, with all observation, causality, and structure emerging through finite propagation within constrained communication domains. Rather than treating reality as globally instantaneous or universally synchronized, the framework argues that every observer exists within a locally updated region shaped by propagation limits,…

This monograph establishes the Observer-Catalyst Layer of the Justika Origin Theory, executing a total ontological inversion of modern astrophysics, evolutionary biology, and cosmology. Fundamentally redefining the material universe as a dynamic Projected Architecture, this doctrine proves that reality operates in a state of Quantum Semantic Latency until conscious intelligence sustains its highe…

A rewrite of quantum mechanics that includes the force of gravity could finally achieve one of physicists’ biggest goals and reveal the ultimate fuzziness of time

This week, Astronomy magazine Editor Emeritus Dave Eicher invites you to find the Ring Nebula in the constellation Lyra — a glowing shell of gas that offers a glimpse of our solar system’s distant future. When a Sun-like star exhausts its hydrogen, it blows off an illuminated cloud of gas that lingers for tens of Continue reading "Come full circle with the Ring Nebula" The post Come full circle w…

Lost on the Moon for nearly 40 years, this Soviet rover seemed destined to remain a relic of the space race until scientists made an unexpected discovery.

Multiverse theories are frequently invoked at points where single-universe explanations appear insufficient to account for fine-tuning, contingency, or cosmological variation. Yet discussions concerning the number, probability, or explanatory role of universes often proceed without first establishing whether the alleged multiplicity is conceptually well-formed. This paper argues that individuatio…

Nothing beats a beautiful sunset (from space) | Space photo of the day for May 26, 2026

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Sand Clouds Form Every Morning and Vanish by Dusk on Distant Gas Giant Artistic representation of WASP-94A b, a gas giant in the Microscopium constellation. Clouds build as air flows over the dark side of the planet, reaching a large swell by daybreak. The clouds dissipate on the dayside, leaving clear skies in the early evening.

NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray spacecraft has observed a super-bright, supercharged supernova explosion powered up by the creation of a highly magnetic dead star, or magnetar.

This webinar will provide an overview of the current landscape of space interferometry, spanning foundational concepts, enabling technologies, mission architectures, and key astrophysical science applications. 9:00am - 10:00am PT | 12:00pm - 1:00pm ET The post ASTRA Space Interferometry Webinar, 5 June 2026 appeared first on NASA Science .

NASA’s Psyche spacecraft just used Mars as a giant slingshot on its journey to a mysterious metal world that could reveal what’s hidden inside planets like Earth. NASA’s Psyche spacecraft successfully completed a close flyby of Mars on May 15, passing just 2,864 miles (4,609 kilometers) above the planet’s surface. The maneuver used Mars’ gravity [...]

Scientists are trying to understand Venus' bright surface formations, called coronae, using new 3D maps.

Ancient asteroid craters may have been safe havens for Earth’s earliest oxygen-producing life. Scientists in South Korea have uncovered evidence suggesting that asteroid impact craters may have played an important role in the rise of oxygen-producing life on early Earth. A research team from the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) discovered stromatolites [...]

The largest moon in the solar system — Jupiter’s Ganymede — has a unique and inexplicable magnetic field. New research could finally explain it: the moon is heating up.

NASA took advantage of the recent close approach of the Psyche probe to Mars to calibrate its observation instruments.