astronomy

Astronomers have long struggled to explain the unusual chemical composition of an ancient star, with no theory matching observations. A new laboratory experiment reproducing extreme stellar conditions has now provided an explanation for the star's chemistry, resolving a long-standing astrophysics puzzle. The findings connect lab physics directly to stellar observation and are drawing attention in the astronomy community.

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has observed an exotic spiral galaxy that appears to be rotating in two opposite directions at the same time. The rare finding, reported by NASA and covered by outlets including Mashable, offers astronomers an unusual case study in galactic dynamics and may prompt further research into how such counter-rotating structures form.

The James Webb Space Telescope, operated by NASA, ESA and CSA, has released one of its largest panoramic images to date: the IC 348 star-forming region, filled with hundreds of young stars and brown dwarfs. Astronomy enthusiasts say the observation offers a valuable window into the earliest stages of star and planet formation.

Astronomers have picked up radio waves from an exoplanet for the first time, a signal that could indicate auroras similar to those seen on Earth and the solar system's giant planets. The detection opens a new way to study magnetic fields and atmospheres of planets orbiting other stars, and scientists say future observations could reveal more about potentially habitable worlds far beyond our solar system.

Astronomers have picked up radio signals from Beta Pictoris b, a giant exoplanet about 63 light-years away orbiting the young star Beta Pictoris. The detection, reported by BBC Sky at Night Magazine, is a rare feat for a planet beyond our Solar System and could open a new way to study exoplanets' magnetic fields and interiors. Interest is rising across several countries.

Students representing 66 countries have arrived in Hanoi for the International Astronomy Olympiad, a competition testing knowledge of astronomy and astrophysics among young scientists. Vietnamese media report the event brings together some of the world's brightest high school students, highlighting Hanoi's role as host of a major international science contest and drawing attention to astronomy education worldwide.

Astronomers report the first detection of radio signals coming from Beta Pictoris b, a giant exoplanet about 63 light-years away orbiting the star Beta Pictoris. The detection, made with radio telescopes, is being described as a breakthrough because radio emissions from planets outside our Solar System are extremely faint and rarely captured, opening a new way to study distant worlds.

Astronomy watchers in the United States are looking ahead to a busy October sky. According to Travel + Leisure, the month will bring three separate meteor showers, Saturn at its brightest, possible northern lights displays, and a final chance to view the Milky Way before the season shifts. Stargazers are sharing viewing tips and calendars for the events.

An amateur astrophotographer has shared a new image of the Pelican Nebula, also known as IC 5070, captured over the weekend. The emission nebula, located in the constellation Cygnus, is a popular target for backyard astronomers because of its distinctive shape. The photo has drawn engagement from the astronomy and space community, where weekend deep-sky imaging results are regularly exchanged.

Oman has inaugurated its first robotic observatory, located at Jabal Shams, the highest peak in the Arabian Peninsula. The facility can operate without on-site staff, taking advantage of the mountain's clear skies and high altitude for astronomical observation. The opening marks a step forward for Omani scientific infrastructure and its ambitions in space and astronomy research.

The European Southern Observatory will open its doors to the public on 3 October as part of the Open House Day at the Garching research campus near Munich. Visitors can meet astronomers and engineers and ask questions about the cosmos, with a full programme of activities available. It is a chance to see behind the scenes of a major astronomy institute.

NASA's long-running Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) has been moved to a new address, https://science.nasa.gov/apod/, with an updated design and layout. Astronomy fans are spreading word of the change so readers can update their bookmarks, with many welcoming the refreshed look for a site that has served daily space imagery since 1995.

A roundup of solar system findings from recent months is drawing large audiences, highlighting new discoveries about planets, moons and other bodies in Earth's cosmic neighbourhood. Viewers are engaging heavily with the compilation, reflecting strong public interest in space science and fresh observations from astronomers studying the solar system.

SolarBalls has released part 6 of its 2026 size comparison series, focusing on the largest known stars in the universe. The animation compares star sizes against planets and the Sun, drawing strong engagement from space fans and educators who share the striking scale visualisations online.

American astronomer Henry Draper captured the first photograph of the Orion Nebula on September 30, 1880, a landmark moment in the history of astrophotography. Working with an 11-inch Alvan Clark refractor telescope and the then-new dry-plate photographic process, Draper succeeded in imaging the nebula from Earth for the first time. The anniversary is being noted in science and astronomy circles.

ESA's JUICE spacecraft carried out its second Earth flyby on Monday as part of its eight-year journey to Jupiter. New images from the spacecraft show Earth and the Moon captured during the pass. The milestone is being shared by astronomy commentators, who highlight the mission's successful navigation en route to the Jupiter system.

The European Southern Observatory has released a new image of the spiral galaxy NGC 3981, also catalogued as Arp 289, taken with the Very Large Telescope in Chile. The picture was made under the Cosmic Gems Program, which photographs visually beautiful southern-sky objects during nights when conditions are unsuitable for scientific observations. The image is being shared and admired by astronomy enthusiasts online.

Astronomy enthusiasts are sharing images of the night sky rendered through stereographic projection, a technique popularly known as the little planet transformation. By mapping a full spherical panorama onto a flat plane, the method produces a distinctive 360-degree view of the stars from a single terrestrial vantage point, blending mathematics and photography.

The James Webb Space Telescope has captured a striking image of the Pillars of Creation, towering columns of gas and dust in the Eagle Nebula that stretch light-years across. The observation shows dense structures where new stars are actively forming, and astronomy enthusiasts are sharing the image widely, marveling at the detail of star birth revealed by the telescope.

NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for October 3 features a selfie taken at Vera Rubin Ridge on Mars, a rocky ridge previously explored by the Curiosity rover. The image highlights the rover's work on Mount Sharp and continues NASA's daily series showcasing notable space and astronomy imagery to the public.

Video journalist Cleo Abram has released a new episode of her show "HUGE If True" in which she boards an animated spaceship bound for the core of the Sun. Speaking with NASA heliophysicists and astronomy professors, she explains how solar probes survive the extreme heat and radiation of close approaches to our star, packing the episode with detailed science explanation.

NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for October 1, 2026 features a photograph titled "Harvest Moon with Erupting Mount Etna." The stacked images capture the full moon rising behind eruption clouds from Mount Etna in Sicily, with the volcano's glow backlighting the scene. Space enthusiasts are sharing the striking image, praising the progression shot of the moon against the active volcano.

The student newspaper at SUNY Geneseo has profiled the campus Physics and Astronomy Club, describing the group in upbeat terms and highlighting its role in student life. The feature frames the club as an active, welcoming community for students interested in physics and astronomy. Beyond the profile itself, no further details about specific events or announcements are given.

An amateur astrophotographer took advantage of a clear weekend to photograph M33, the Triangulum Galaxy, and shared the images with astronomy enthusiasts online. The post drew small but appreciative attention from the science and astrophotography community, where members routinely swap images of deep-sky objects taken from their own backyards.