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Deep ALMA observations of 12CO emission from fifteen protoplanetary disks reveal a stunning range of structures in the gas morphology including gaps, rings and spirals.

Future planets revealed in unprecedented detail Future planets revealed in unprecedented detail

This is an artist’s impression of the exoplanet 2M1510 (AB) b’s unusual orbit around its host stars, a pair of brown dwarfs. The newly discovered planet has a polar orbit, which is perpendicular to the plane in which the two stars are travelling. Polar planets around single stars had been found before, as well as polar discs of gas and dust capable of forming planets around binary stars. But thanks to ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) this is the first time we have strong evidence that such a planet actually exists in a polar orbit around two stars. The two brown dwarfs appear as a single source in the sky, but astronomers know there are two of them because they periodically eclipse each other. Using the UVES spectrograph on the VLT they measured their orbital speed, and noticed that their orbits change over time. After carefully ruling out other explanations, they concluded that the gravitational tug of a planet in a polar orbit was the only way to explain the motion of the brown dwarfs.

Exoplanet with two ‘suns’ is even more unique than Tatooine Exoplanet with two ‘suns’ is even more unique than Tatooine

An artistic rendering of the newly discovered binary star system in the moment where the first white dwarf has just exploded, hurtling material towards its nearby companion which is on the cusp of explosion too. This event will occur in about 23 billion years, yet in only 4 seconds do both stars explode

Astronomers find spiraling stars heading towards a rare cosmic explosion Astronomers find spiraling stars heading towards a rare cosmic explosion

By Laura Baisas

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope observed Herbig-Haro 49/50, an outflow from a nearby still-forming star, in high-resolution near- and mid-infrared light.

JWST spots an energetic ‘Cosmic Tornado’ 625 light-years away JWST spots an energetic ‘Cosmic Tornado’ 625 light-years away

drone flying for aerial night photography

Drones can avoid GPS jammers by navigating with the stars Drones can avoid GPS jammers by navigating with the stars

an illustration of an orange dot orbiting a larger orangish body in space

Astronomers discover a new exoplanet orbiting the closest single star to the sun Astronomers discover a new exoplanet orbiting the closest single star to the sun

By Laura Baisas

A purplish spiral galaxy with red and yellow space objects.

JWST takes a jab at the mystery of the universe’s expansion rate JWST takes a jab at the mystery of the universe’s expansion rate

By Briley Lewis

Gold atom with nucleus and floating particles to depict what is matter

What is matter? It’s not as basic as you’d think. What is matter? It’s not as basic as you’d think.

Iridescent Running Chicken Nebula with glowing gases and stars

31 award-winning astronomy photos: From fiery horizons to whimsical auroras 31 award-winning astronomy photos: From fiery horizons to whimsical auroras

By Annie Colbert

M101, also known as the Pinwheel galaxy, captured by the Hubble Space Telescope.

An amateur astronomer spotted a new supernova remarkably close to Earth An amateur astronomer spotted a new supernova remarkably close to Earth

A total solar eclipse, a bright ring of sunlight around a dark moon on July 2, 2019.

April’s skies boast the full pink moon, Lyrid meteor shower, and a total solar eclipse April’s skies boast the full pink moon, Lyrid meteor shower, and a total solar eclipse

By Laura Baisas

Two people, silhouetted, looking up at a clear night sky.

Catch 5 planets (including Uranus) in an ultra-rare planetary alignment Catch 5 planets (including Uranus) in an ultra-rare planetary alignment

By Briley Lewis

Milky Way galaxy stars in infrared by NASA Spitzer Space Telescope

Our universe mastered the art of making galaxies while it was still young Our universe mastered the art of making galaxies while it was still young

By Briley Lewis

The constellation Orion, centered on the three bright stars of a belt.

Why we turn stars into constellations Why we turn stars into constellations

By Eva Botkin-Kowacki

a panoramic view of the milky way galaxy

What would happen if the Milky Way died? What would happen if the Milky Way died?

By Tatyana Woodall

Canada's CHIME telescope.

Two bizarre stars might have beamed a unique radio signal to Earth Two bizarre stars might have beamed a unique radio signal to Earth

a large sunflower-shaped shade that unfurled from a satellite in space

Exoplanet hunters want to block starlight with a giant orbiting shade Exoplanet hunters want to block starlight with a giant orbiting shade

By Tatyana Woodall

Rogue black hole in Milky Way galaxy in an artist's rendition

‘Rogue black holes’ might be neither ‘rogue’ nor ‘black holes’ ‘Rogue black holes’ might be neither ‘rogue’ nor ‘black holes’

By Eva Botkin-Kowacki

Venus next to a crescent moon during 2022 planet alignment

Look up at the sky to see a parade of perfectly aligned planets Look up at the sky to see a parade of perfectly aligned planets

By Purbita Saha

The Gaia space observatory traveling the Milky Way in an artist's rendition

See the stars from the Milky Way mapped as a dazzling rainbow See the stars from the Milky Way mapped as a dazzling rainbow

By Purbita Saha

	
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