A compilation of recent astronomical discoveries and space science updates, covering black holes, the James Webb Telescope, exomoons, neutrinos, solar storms, and space debris.
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have discovered a bizarre 'black hole star' — a million-solar-mass object composed of a central black hole shrouded in pristine gas, potentially explaining mysterious early universe 'little red dots'.
JWST observations reveal perplexing "little red dots," impossibly large black holes, and unexpectedly bright galaxies in the early universe, challenging existing astrophysics. Scientists are developing new theories, including black hole stars and super-Eddington accretion, to explain these cosmic enigmas.
A new study suggests that some of the coldest objects in the Milky Way, currently classified as stars, might be alien megastructures. Astrophysicist Amirnezam Amiri proposes these could be Dyson swarms, engineered systems harvesting stellar energy and releasing infrared heat, offering a new method to detect them.
Lego is releasing a new 1,252-piece Lego Icons set that allows fans to build their own replica of the Hubble Space Telescope. The set, available August 1 for $140, features detailed interior components and an astronaut minifigure.
Scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope have detected gases, including dimethyl sulfide (DMS), on exoplanet K2-18b that are linked to biological activity on Earth. While the signal is strong, it's not yet confirmed as life, with researchers awaiting further data to rule out non-biological explanations.
NASA has launched a $30 million robotic mission to rescue the aging Swift space telescope, which is falling towards Earth. The unprecedented operation, if successful, could enable other satellites to be given a second life. The robot was launched Friday from the Pacific Ocean.
NASA plans an unprecedented mission to boost its aging Swift Observatory back into orbit using a robotic spacecraft named LINK, launched from an airplane. The $30m mission aims to extend Swift's scientific operations beyond 2030, saving significant costs compared to building a new telescope.
NASA is launching an emergency mission to boost the orbit of its 20-year-old Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, which is falling out of orbit. The mission, costing $30 million, involves a robotic spacecraft named LINK launched from an airplane via a Pegasus XL rocket, aiming to save the telescope for continued scientific research.
The ESA's Euclid space telescope has captured the largest and most detailed visible-light image of the Milky Way's galactic bulge, containing over 60 million stars, to aid in exoplanet detection and mass measurement via microlensing.
NASA's TESS satellite has identified two exoplanets, TOI-791 b and TOI-791 c, described as the "puffiest" ever found, with densities similar to cotton candy despite their Jupiter-like size. Discovered in the same star system, these rare finds offer new insights into planetary formation.
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has arrived at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, for final preparations before its launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. Targeting an August 30, 2026 launch, the $4.3 billion observatory will investigate dark energy, dark matter, and search for exoplanets.
NASA's Swift Boost mission, launching June 27, aims to rescue the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory by using a robotic spacecraft named LINK to boost its orbit. The observatory's orbit is decaying faster than expected due to increased solar activity.
NASA moves up the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope to August 30, 2026, eight months ahead of schedule, to study dark energy and solar system formation with its 100x larger field of view than Hubble.
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope and Chandra X-ray Observatory have identified 'little red dots' in the early universe, which may be dense gas clouds containing rapidly growing supermassive black holes.
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, built using surplus spy satellite hardware from the National Reconnaissance Office, is set for September launch. The wide-field infrared observatory will capture 1.4 terabytes of data daily, survey dark energy and dark matter through baryon acoustic oscillations, and detect tens of thousands of exoplanets via microlensing. The mission is eight months ahead of schedule and under budget.
NASA has completed final assembly of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope at Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. The observatory, featuring a 2.4-meter primary mirror similar to Hubble but with a field of view 100 times larger, will launch in 2026 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket to study dark energy, dark matter, and search for exoplanets from Lagrange Point 2.
NASA has completed final assembly of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. The observatory, featuring a 2.4-meter primary mirror similar to Hubble but with 100 times wider field of view, is preparing for a 2026 launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. The telescope will travel to Lagrange Point 2 and conduct wide-area surveys to study dark energy, dark matter, galaxy formation, and search for exoplanets using its specialized coronagraph.
