Dark matter responsible for galactic violence

Dense pools of dark matter are yanking on galaxies deep in space. Astronomer Catherine Heymans talks about mysterious force of dark matter.

Milky Way to collide with giant gas clouds

In the far future, a giant cloud of hydrogen will collide with our Milky Way galaxy and help create thousands of new stars.

A long-ago hypernova identified from a star halo

Astronomers have identified the telltale sign of a possible hypernova - a huge stellar explosion - in one of our galaxy's oldest stars.

Habitable zones around distant worlds

Are we alone in the universe, or is there intelligent life out there? And if so, how would we find it? Read more about habitable zones on distant worlds.

Isolated dwarf galaxy found stripped of gas

A dwarf galaxy in the direction of the constellation Pegasus is being stripped of its gas, according to astronomers. A galaxy needs its gas to create new stars. So we might be seeing this galaxy near the end of its ability to form stars.

Tight orbit of 4 stars surprises astronomers

An astronomer has found four stars in a tight orbit that might help unlock secrets of how stars evolve. The system is BD -22°5866, and astronomers thought it was one star.

Moon’s gravity in new maps from satellites

GRAIL, set for launch in 2011, will measure gravity and map the moon's gravity. It consists of two satellites that'll orbit the moon for about 90 days, like a pair of mini-moons of the moon.

Rare double Einstein ring explained

This object called SDSSJ0946+1006 is the first-ever double 'Einstein ring.' It looks like a double ring around a bright center. There are thought to be three objects here - a distant galaxy that warps the light of two more galaxies exactly aligned behind it.

Do ring galaxies spread out as they evolve?

How does a ring-shaped galaxy form? It might result from an impact with another galaxy slamming into its center. Read more about ring galaxies.

Distant planet successfully predicted

HD 74156 is a distant planetary system that seemed to have a large gap between two known planets. Astronomer Rory Barnes predicted a planet there and thus become the first to find a planet outside our solar system by predicting its location in advance. That hasn't happened since astronomers found Neptune in our own solar system in the year 1846.