ASTRONOMY

Why Are There Shooting Stars?

Have you ever seen a flash of bright light streaking through the night sky? People around the world have different ways of explaining these so-called shooting stars.

How to Watch the Chinese Space Lab Tiangong-1 Plummet to Earth

The remains could land pretty much anywhere.

Gemini Observatory/NSF/AURA/Keck/Jen Miller

A Newly Discovered Galaxy Has a Shocking Feature—No Dark Matter

"The galaxy is a complete mystery, as everything about it is strange."

What Is a Scientific Theory?

A theory in science is very different from a theory in everyday conversation.

Hubble Telescope Image Shows Two Galaxies Colliding 350 Million Light-Years Away

The process will play out over millions of years.

10 Facts About the Dwarf Planet Makemake

The entire planet is only three times as long as the Grand Canyon.

Look Up! Residents of Maine and Michigan Might Catch a Glimpse of the Northern Lights Tonight

The celestial treat is usually reserved for Arctic audiences.

10 Facts About the Dwarf Planet Haumea

It's named for a Hawaiian goddess.

Winter Meteors, Valentine's Day Star, and a Black Moon: A Guide to the February Night Sky

There are a few wonders in the winter sky worth making time for.

The Secret Cold War History of the Missile That Launched America's First Satellite

Sixty years ago today, on January 31, 1958, the United States became a space-faring nation with Explorer-1.

Here’s Where to Watch NASA's Livestream of the Super Blue Blood Moon

The next one won't be until 2037.

Don’t Miss Next Week’s Incredibly Rare 'Super Blue Blood Moon Eclipse'

It's three lunar events rolled into one.

10 Astonishing Things You Should Know About the Milky Way

Here are a few things you might not know about our spiraling home in the universe.

Mysterious 'Hypatia Stone' Is Like Nothing Else in Our Solar System

"These latest results are opening up even bigger questions about its origins."

9 Compelling Facts About Neptune

Neptune is like a celestial paint swatch: a stunning royal blue that demands attention.

Space Dust, Not an Alien Megastructure, Is to Blame for Star's Bizarre Behavior

A new study sheds light on the cause of the famous dimming of "Tabby's star."

The Fastest Way to Sync the Biggest Space Events of 2018 to Your Calendar

New year, new celestial events to get excited about.

In a composite photo, the International Space Station passes in front of the Sun during the total eclipse on August 21, 2017.

What We Learned So Far From The Total Solar Eclipse of 2017—And Why There's Much More to Come

"From a NASA perspective, there is no other single event that has informed so many scientific disciplines."

The Top 10 Science Stories of 2017

Science can't stop, won't stop.

Neutron Star Collision Sheds Light on the Strange Matter That Weighs a Billion Tons Per Teaspoon

The bizarre material just got a little less mysterious.

'Super-Earth' Exoplanet Could Potentially Support Life (And It Also Has a Neighbor)

K2-18b orbits a red-dwarf star in the constellation Leo, and it's situated in the perfect zone to have liquid surface water.

7 Surprising Facts About Pluto

Its atmosphere is electric blue.

Voyager 1's Back Thrusters Just Fired Up for the First Time in 37 Years

Imagine trying to start a car that's been sitting in a garage for decades—and the car is 13 billion miles away.

If You Don't See the Northern Lights on This Cruise, Your Next Trip is Free

Hurtigruten Cruises is confident you'll get a view of the show.

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