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The Milky Way will be visible without a telescope this summer. Here are the key nights to watch for.
By Jamie Carter published
Summer is the best time to see the Milky Way in the Northern Hemisphere without a telescope. The key is to find clear, dark skies on moonless nights.
China opens Chang'e 6 return capsule containing samples from moon's far side
By Andrew Jones published
China's Chang'e 6 mission return capsule has been transferred to Beijing and opened to access its precious cargo — samples from the moon's mysterious far side.
Space photo of the week: James Webb telescope gives the 'Pillars of Creation' a stunning 3D makeover
By Jamie Carter published
A new multiwavelength 3D visualization of the iconic "Pillars of Creation" showcases the differences between Hubble and James Webb Space Telescope data.
Why is mystery object Cygnus X-3 so bright? Astronomers may now have the answer
By Keith Cooper published
The X-ray-emitting binary system Cygnus X-3 features a massive star donating matter to a compact object, probably a black hole. That may explain its perplexing brightness.
How many moons are in the solar system?
By Harry Baker published
The solar system has many more moons than the one we can see in the sky. But how many do we actually know about? And how many more are waiting to be discovered?
Newly discovered asteroid larger than the Great Pyramid of Giza will zoom between Earth and the moon on Saturday
By Brandon Specktor published
On Saturday (June 29), an asteroid larger than the Great Pyramid of Giza will fly past Earth at about three-quarters the distance from Earth to the moon. The asteroid, named 2024 MK, poses no risk to our planet.
James Webb Space Telescope spies strange shapes above Jupiter's Great Red Spot
By Robert Lea published
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have spotted a previously unseen structure in the atmosphere above Jupiter's famous Great Red Spot.
This impossibly massive black hole wasn't very hungry during the dawn of time
By Robert Lea published
Using the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have discovered an improbably huge black hole near the dawn of time, which doesn't seem to be eating near as much as it should.
Milky Way's black hole 'exhaust vent' discovered in eerie X-ray observations
By Brandon Specktor published
A gargantuan "exhaust vent" may be channeling hot gas away from the Milky Way's supermassive black hole at millions of miles per hour — and filling up two enormous bubbles that tower over the galaxy.
Mountain-size 'planet killer' asteroid will make a close approach to Earth today — and you can watch it live
By Harry Baker last updated
Shorty after 4 p.m. ET today (June 27), the mountain-size asteroid 2011 UL21 will come within 5 million miles of Earth, making it one of the largest space rocks to come that close to our planet for 125 years. Here's how to watch the close encounter live, or see it with a telescope.
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