VLT sees surface of dim Betelgeuse

The European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope is in northern Chile. Astronomers used it to capture the unprecedented dimming of Betelgeuse, a red supergiant star in the constellation of Orion. The new images show how the apparent shape of this star is changing.

Mysterious fast radio burst repeats in 16-day rhythm

For the first time, a fast radio burst has been found to be repeating, in a regular 16-day cycle. The baffling detection from the CHIME radio telescope deepens the mystery of these bizarre intergalactic objects.

New clues in the search for the universe’s oldest galaxies

An astronomer reports on a very old galaxy cluster - labeled XLSSC 122 - whose light has taken 10.4 billion years to travel across the universe to us.

Liftoff! Solar Orbiter launches successfully

ESA's sun-exploring Solar Orbiter will be the first spacecraft ever to fly over the sun's poles. It'll study the origin of the solar wind, which has the potential to affect earthly technologies.

Pluto’s icy heart makes winds blow

A “beating heart” of frozen nitrogen controls Pluto’s winds and may give rise to features on its surface, according to a new study.

Why Neptune and Uranus are different

We think of Uranus and Neptune almost as twins. In some ways, they are very similar. But a new study by researchers at PlanetS explains why, in some aspects, they are also radically different.

NASA to broadcast Sunday’s Solar Orbiter launch

Solar Orbiter - aka SolO - will take the first direct images of the sun’s poles. Following Sunday's launch, the spacecraft will take a loopy path through the inner solar system, borrowing thrust from the powerful gravitational fields of Earth and Venus.

In the US East? Look up for Sunday’s resupply mission launch

A Cygnus resupply spacecraft headed for the International Space Station is scheduled to launch on Sunday, February 9, from Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. How and when to watch live in the sky, or on NASA TV.

Congratulations, Christina Koch!

Astronaut Christina Koch has returned to Earth after a record-breaking stay of 328 days aboard the International Space Station. She now holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman.

Beautiful outcome of a fight between sibling stars

In a cosmic 'stellar fight,' a red giant star engulfed its smaller binary companion star. The chaos, however, created a beautiful space image.