Where are the smallest galaxies? A recent study suggests that there may not be as nearly as many of them in the early universe as there should be, which has big implications for the story of how our universe grew up.
For years, astronomers have looked back into the deep history of the cosmos and assumed that if they just looked hard enough, they would find a nearly infinite supply of tiny, dim…
We may be witnessing the messy death of a star in real time
January 14, 2026
Could a star have its own heartbeat? It sounds more like poetry than physics, but in the case of a red giant named R Leonis, the answer is a resounding, if slightly erratic, yes.
For over two centuries, we have watched this star. R Leonis is a Mira variable, a type of aging…
ISS astronauts spy airglow and dwarf galaxy | Space photo of the day for Jan. 13, 2026
January 14, 2026
From the ground, the night sky can feel limitless, but it’s also filtered through a blanket of air that softens and scatters starlight. From orbit, that veil drops away, as astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) saw firsthand on Nov 28, 2025. They were…
Get a huge 25% off these Canon image-stabilized binoculars — one of our favorites for stargazing under the new moon
January 14, 2026
Ever had trouble with a wobbly view from your high-magnification binoculars? Image-stabilized (IS) binoculars are the solution to this problem and the Canon 12×36 IS III binoculars are now 25% off on Amazon. With 12x magnification and image stabilization, they are perfect for watching the night sky in detail and close-up terrestrial viewing.
You can get the Canon 12×36 IS III binoculars on sale…
Satellite sees 40-year-old iceberg melt, turn blue | Space photo of the day for January 12, 2025
January 13, 2026
A colossal Antarctic iceberg that first broke free in the 1980s is now soaking up the summer warmth, and from orbit seems to be turning a shade of aquamarine. In this recent image from NASA’s Earth Observatory, iceberg A-23A is streaked with blue meltwater ponds and…
If you’ve ever discovered something completely unexpected in your hamburger, it was likely that neither delight nor intrigue were your first reaction. However, that isn’t the case for a team of astronomers who have recently discovered something they didn’t predict in a…
Astronomers baffled by 'mysterious disruptor' with a mass of 1 million suns and a black hole for a heart
January 13, 2026
A completely dark and mysterious body with the mass of 1 million suns and a possible black hole heart continues to baffle and intrigue astronomers despite further investigation.
This “mysterious disruptor” is located around 11 billion light-years away and was discovered in 2025 thanks to its gravitational influence. It is now the most distant body ever detected due to its gravitational effects…
Jupiter is at its best and brightest of 2026 tonight! Here's what to expect as the gas giant reaches opposition
January 12, 2026
Jupiter will be at its most spectacular in 2026 in the early hours of Jan. 10, as it shines above the eastern horizon among the stars of the constellation Gemini. Here’s where to look and what to expect as the gas giant draws closest to Earth around opposition.
The…
Skywatchers in the Southern Hemisphere were in for a rare treat as two planets formed a recent conjunction in the night sky. Mars (seen in the upper track) and Venus (lower track) appear to “cross” the open star cluster Messier 44 — better known as Praesepe or the…
Is dark matter made of mysterious 'ghost particles?' Galaxy clusters could hold the answer
January 12, 2026
If dark matter particles decay, then scientists could hunt for signs of this process, including X-ray or gamma-ray radiation or even emitted “ghost particle” neutrinos, in vast clusters of galaxies.
Not only could this finally reveal what particles comprise mysterious dark matter, but it could also help astronomers understand the universe’s structure like never before. And new research…
