Astronomy

Latest about Astronomy

An illustration shows a planet being disintergrated "spilling its guts" into space

Planet-eating stars hint at Earth's ultimate fate

By Matthew R. Francis published

A sampling of aging Sun-like stars demonstrates that they likely eat their closest planets.

Stars

What is the moon phase today? Lunar phases 2025

By Tariq Malik, Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference See what moon phase it is tonight and find out when you can see the rest of the moon phases for 2025.

Reference
(Main) This composite image features X-ray, ultraviolet, optical, and near-infrared data of the luminous fast blue optical transient (LFBOT) named AT 2024wpp. The transient is the bright spot at the upper right edge of its host galaxy, which is 1.1 billion light-years from Earth. (Inset) An illustration of a Tidal Disruption Event

Mysterious bright blue cosmic blasts triggered by black holes shredding stars, scientists say. 'It's definitely not just an exploding star.'

By Robert Lea published

"The sheer amount of radiated energy from these bursts is so large that you can't power them with a core collapse stellar explosion — or any other type of normal stellar explosion."

Black Holes
Illustration of a hypothesized event known as a superkilonova. A massive star explodes in a supernova (left), which generates elements like carbon and iron. In the aftermath, two neutron stars are born (middle), at least one of which is believed to be less massive than our Sun. The neutron stars spiral together, sending gravitational waves rippling through the cosmos, before merging in a dramatic kilonova (right). Kilonovae seed the universe with the heaviest elements, such as gold at platinum, which glow with red light.

Astronomers may have spotted the 1st known 'superkilonova' double star explosion

By Robert Lea published

"We do not know with certainty that we found a superkilonova, but the event nevertheless is eye-opening."

Stars
A monster in plain sight. The galaxy Virgil changed before the eyes of stunning astronomers

James Webb Space Telescope watches 'Jekyll and Hyde' galaxy shapeshift into a cosmic monster

By Robert Lea published

"Virgil has two personalities, its 'good' side – a typical young galaxy quietly forming stars. But Virgil transforms into the host of a heavily obscured supermassive black hole, pouring out immense quantities of energy."

Galaxies
A white light of the comet 3I/ATLAS is surrounded by a blue glow against a black background

Latest Comet 3I/ATLAS news: Comet close approach today

By Tariq Malik, Daisy Dobrijevic, Anthony Wood last updated

Friday, Dec. 19, 2025: Your daily feed for the holiday flyby of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS by Earth.

Comets

Farewell, comet 3I/ATLAS! Interstellar visitor heads for the outer solar system after its closest approach to Earth

By Robert Lea published

3I/ATLAS has now made its closest approach to the sun and Earth and is now heading back out toward the outer solar system.

Comets
A series of four photos, one large one on the right and three stacked on the left showing various dots of comet 3I/ATLAS

How did interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS capture our imagination in 2025?

By Brett Tingley published

For one, it came down to timing.

Comets

What time will interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS be closest to Earth today?

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

NASA JPL pinpoints the moment the interstellar visitor passes closest to our planet.

Comets
graphic showing comet 3I/ATLAS on a laptop screen against a background of stars

Watch interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS make its closest approach to Earth in free livestream on Dec. 19 after rain delay

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

The livestream will now begin Friday at 11 p.m. EST, Dec. 19 (0400 GMT on Dec. 20), weather permitting, after rain prevented a broadcast on Thursday night.

Comets
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