Astronomy
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.
Discover more about astronomy
Explore Astronomy
Latest about Astronomy
'Ridiculously smooth': James Webb telescope spies unusual pancake-like disk around nearby star Vega — and scientists can't explain it
By Harry Baker published
The nearby bright star Vega is surrounded by a surprisingly smooth, 100 billion-mile-wide disk of cosmic dust, confirming that it is not surrounded by any exoplanets, JWST images reveal. And scientists cannot explain its lack of alien worlds.
James Webb telescope spots 'feasting' black hole eating 40 times faster than should be possible
By Brandon Specktor published
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have spotted a feeding black hole in the early universe that seems to be eating 40 times faster than is theoretically possible.
India targets 2028 for Chandrayaan-4 sample-return mission to moon's south pole
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
India is eyeing a 2028 launch for its Chandrayaan-4 moon sample-return mission, followed by an uncrewed lunar lander and rover in collaboration with Japan.
'Fireball' meteors possible over US tonight as South Taurid meteor shower peaks
By Jamie Carter published
The South Taurid and North Taurid meteor showers peak in early November. Here's everything you need to know about this month's doubleheader of shooting stars.
'God of chaos' asteroid may be transformed by tremors and landslides during 2029 flyby of Earth, study finds
By Deepa Jain published
When the 'God of chaos' asteroid Apophis makes an ultraclose flyby of Earth in 2029, our planet's gravity may trigger tremors and landslides that totally change the asteroid's surface.
Saturn's moon Titan may have a 6-mile-thick crust of methane ice — could life be under there?
By Robert Lea published
A 6-mile-think shell of methane ice on Saturn's moon Titan could assist in the hunt for life signs arising from this moon's vast subsurface ocean.
Strange green spots on Mars found by NASA's Perseverance rover
By Conor Feehly published
NASA's Perseverance rover found strange green spots in Martian rock, potentially indicating a past interaction with liquid water.
Space photo of the week: Hubble spies a 'cannonball galaxy' blasting through space
By Jamie Carter published
The Hubble Space Telescope has captured a spiral galaxy under the "ram pressure" inside a massive cluster of galaxies.
Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter now
Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.