The Observatory

The Swift space observatory, which spent over a decade studying gamma-ray bursts far beyond its planned mission length, is expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere. The telescope leaves behind roughly 12 terabytes of data — equivalent to about 600 HD movies — from its years of observations. In Brazil, interest in the observatory's end is growing as coverage highlights its work running more than ten times its original schedule.

Observatory astronomers have identified a new dwarf planet candidate in the distant reaches of the solar system, beyond Neptune and Pluto. The discovery adds to the growing list of icy bodies in the outer solar system and fuels ongoing debate about whether a larger, unseen planet may be lurking even further out. Scientists say more observations are needed to confirm the object's size and orbit.

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has announced the discovery of a new candidate for dwarf planet status in our solar system, one of the first results from its ongoing sky survey. Astronomers say the object's distance and characteristics will need further observation before it can be officially classified, and the finding highlights the observatory's power to detect previously unseen bodies in the outer solar system.

Quanta Magazine has published an explainer on how astronomers photograph black holes, a feat achieved through the Event Horizon Telescope, a network of radio observatories that combines data into a planet-sized virtual telescope. The article walks through how scientists turn faint radio signals from around the black hole's event horizon into the now-familiar images, starting with the first picture of M87 in 2019. Readers are discussing the imaging techniques and the physics involved.

NASA's Swift space telescope, which has studied gamma-ray bursts since its 2004 launch, is expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere and burn up. The observatory has strong ties to Tucson, Arizona, where scientists and engineers played major roles in its design and operation. Coverage highlights its two decades of discoveries about cosmic explosions and the dramatic end of its mission.

NASA's Swift space telescope is expected to fall back to Earth on Friday, crashing somewhere on the planet after a failed rescue mission left it unable to stay in orbit. The observatory, launched to study gamma-ray bursts, is now on a decaying trajectory, and its exact re-entry point is not known, prompting attention to where debris may land.

Researchers with the Ocean Observatories Initiative have produced a global estimate of turbulent heat flux, the exchange of heat between the ocean and atmosphere driven by turbulence. The estimate matters for climate science because ocean-atmosphere heat transfer is a key uncertainty in models of global warming and weather patterns. Oceanographers are expected to use the dataset to refine climate projections.

The cosmic horror game Life & Shadow: Celestial Call, in which players manage an observatory by day and explore underground depths by night, has been released on Steam. To mark the launch, the game is being offered at a 20 percent discount in a limited-time sale, and Japanese gaming news outlets are covering the release.

NASA is soliciting proposals for reboosting the Hubble Space Telescope, whose orbit is slowly decaying and will eventually lead to uncontrolled reentry if nothing is done. The agency previously sought similar ideas four years ago, but that effort went nowhere. The new call is drawing attention from space enthusiasts wondering whether private spacecraft could raise the aging observatory's orbit and extend its scientific life.

The Vera Rubin Observatory has identified the first candidate for a new dwarf planet in our solar system. The finding marks an early scientific result for the newly operational telescope, which was built to survey the southern sky in unprecedented depth. Astronomers say further observations will be needed to confirm the object's status before it can officially be classed as a dwarf planet.

Astronomers have identified a complex, dual-ring structure orbiting the white dwarf J1328−1450, a finding that challenges established models of how debris discs evolve around dead stars. Using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope, researchers detected four distinct features within the system. The discovery is drawing attention as it suggests planetary debris around stellar remnants may be far more complicated than previously understood.

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's latest Volcano Watch column turns its attention to Ruby seamount, an underwater volcano near Hawaii, offering a look at the little-seen processes driving activity on submarine volcanoes. The feature highlights how scientists study seamounts that cannot be directly observed, shedding light on eruptions and growth hidden beneath the ocean surface.

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has identified its first dwarf planet candidate in our solar system, an early scientific result from the new facility in Chile. The finding, reported by science outlets, points to the observatory's ability to detect faint, distant objects as it begins its decade-long survey of the southern sky.

Scientists with the US Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory have shared new insights into a submarine volcano off Hawaii, offering the public a rare look at an underwater volcanic system that is difficult to study. The update comes as part of the regular Volcano Watch series, which reports on monitoring activity and research across the Hawaiian islands.

Astronomers at the Vera C. Rubin Observatory have announced the discovery of 2026 ED138, a large trans-Neptunian object that may qualify as a dwarf planet. The finding highlights the observatory's growing role in surveying the outer solar system, and space science observers are sharing the news as one of the notable recent discoveries from the facility.

Attention is turning to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and its potential relevance to the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics. Commentary highlights how the detector, buried in Antarctic ice at the South Pole, has advanced the study of neutrinos and high-energy astrophysics since detecting cosmic neutrinos. Observers are weighing whether such contributions could be recognised by the Nobel committee.

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has identified its first dwarf planet candidate in our solar system, an early scientific result from the new telescope that began surveying the southern sky this year. The finding is drawing attention in the UK, Australia and Canada, with astronomers and space enthusiasts discussing what the observatory's wide-field survey could reveal about distant, icy bodies beyond Neptune in the coming years.

A community group in Alamogordo, New Mexico, is campaigning against plans to demolish the Sunspot Solar Observatory, a historic research site in the Sacramento Mountains. The facility has long been a center for solar science and a local landmark, and residents are pressing officials to preserve it rather than tear it down.

NASA's Earth Observatory has released satellite imagery showing Tropical Storm Isaias dimming the Gulf Coast, with the storm's thick cloud cover blocking sunlight across the region. The images capture the scale of the weather system as it moved toward land, highlighting the storm's breadth and the threat it posed to coastal communities.

Thierry Henry is being searched alongside the Ballon d'Or as discussion grows over who should win the award. The CIES Football Observatory's statistical ranking again places Barcelona's Lamine Yamal at the top, fuelling debate among pundits and fans about whether the young Spaniard should beat established names such as Ousmane Dembele to football's top individual prize.