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an illustration of our solar system
A 'planetary parade' will dance across the sky on Jan. 21 — but that's not the best night to see it Worlds will align for a "planetary parade" in January, with four bright and easily visible to the naked eye. But an even better view arrives in February and March. Here's what you need to know.
An artistic image of the outline of the human body in front of a cosmic image
Most of the atoms in your body left the Milky Way on a 'cosmic conveyor belt' long before you were born, new study reveals New research suggests that most of the atoms within the human body likely spent part of their lives drifting beyond the Milky Way on a cosmic "conveyor belt," before eventually returning to our galaxy.
Around Earth, an invisible magnetic field traps electrons and other charged particles.
New NASA robot with X-ray vision will watch Earth 'breathing' from the moon NASA's LEXI instrument is set to land on the moon's surface sometime this month. Using X-ray sensors, the device will watch Earth's atmosphere "breathing out and breathing in" to uncover key space weather mysteries.

Latest about Space

The supermassive black hole (center) shown by the Event Horizon Telescope.

Astronomers spot an enormous explosion from the 1st black hole ever photographed

By Joanna Thompson published

A massive, energetic jet from Virgo A could help scientists understand how matter behaves around a black hole.

Astronomy
An illustration shows an overfeeding black hole in the early universe about to take a nap

James Webb Space Telescope catches monster black hole napping after 'overeating' in the early universe

By Robert Lea published

The James Webb Space Telescope has caught a napping monster black hole in the early universe. The cosmic giant is slumbering after a massive meal like a reveler on Christmas Day.

Space
Northern lights over snowy trees reflected in a lake

Auroras could light up the skies on Christmas, thanks to a powerful solar flare heading toward Earth

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

A display of auroras is expected to light up the skies on Christmas Day, thanks to a powerful M8.9 solar flare enroute to Earth.

The Sun
Artistic representation of an active centaur like Chiron. The different colors in the coma indicate varying compositions of gas, ice, and dust

'Like nothing we've seen before': James Webb telescope spies a mysterious asteroid-comet hybrid lurking past Jupiter

By Skyler Ware published

The James Webb telescope has focused its attention on an oddball space rock lurking between Jupiter and Neptune. The unusual "centaur," named 2060 Chiron, has features of both comets and asteroids.

Asteroids
Earth's shadow partially covers the moon as viewed from the ISS

Is the moon a planet?

By Briley Lewis published

The moon is a round, rocky body, but is it a planet? The answer, scientists say, is complicated.

The Moon
Abstract concept of string theory.

'There's no real competitor': Theoretical physicist Marika Taylor on how black holes could help us to find a theory of everything

By Ben Turner published

String theory remains our best candidate for a theory of everything, but where can it be tested? By studying black holes, says Marika Taylor.

Cosmology
A photo of the satellite fireball over Gulfport in Mississippi.

Watch Chinese satellite burn up over US in spectacular 'fireball'

By Patrick Pester published

The GaoJing 1-02 imaging satellite burned up over the U.S. in a mesmerizing 'fireball' that some skywatchers mistook for a meteor shower.

Space
A photo of the sun with an X-shaped flash on its surface

10 supercharged solar storms that blew us away in 2024

By Harry Baker published

The sun's most active phase, solar maximum, officially arrived in 2024, triggering some explosive solar storms and colorful auroras. Here are 10 of our favorite solar outbursts this year.

The Sun
A diagram showing the orbital geometry of star HD 110067

'Mathematically perfect' star system discovered 105 light-years from Earth may still be in its infancy. Could that change its prospects for life?

By Jenna Ahart published

Once thought to be 8 billion years old, the star HD 110067 — famous for its six synchronized exoplanets — may be only 2.5 billion years old, new research suggests.

Exoplanets
Artist’s concept of the Parker Solar Probe spacecraft approaching the sun. Launching in 2018, Parker Solar Probe will provide new data on solar activity and make critical contributions to our ability to forecast major space-weather events that impact life on Earth

NASA's Parker Solar Probe will reach its closest-ever point to the sun on Christmas Eve

By Harry Baker published

NASA's record-breaking Parker Solar Probe will smash its own personal bests for proximity to the sun and fastest speed by a human-made object when it whizzes past our star on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24). It is unlikely to get significantly closer to the sun before the end of its mission.

Space Exploration
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