astronomy

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre's Friedman Observatory is welcoming visitors for a solar show, giving the public a chance to view the sun through specialized equipment. The event highlights the observatory's role in bringing astronomy to the local community, with staff guiding attendees through safe solar observation and answering questions about the sun and space science.

Video journalist Cleo Abram takes viewers inside the Sun in a new episode of her show "HUGE If True." Using animation, she traces a flight to the Suns core, speaking with NASA heliophysicists and astronomy professors about how solar probes survive extreme heat and radiation.

Solarballs has released part six of its 2026 size comparison series, this time ranking the largest known stars in the universe. The video draws heavy engagement, with fans of the animated space education channel discussing the staggering scale of the biggest stars compared to the Sun.

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.

Young women in India are working as astronomy guides, leading tourists through observations of the night sky. The BBC News feature highlights their role in a growing nature and science tourism sector, and the women carving out careers in a field traditionally dominated by men.

The Starry Time Podcast has released a new episode on the constellation Scutum, covering the astronomy and cosmic background of the small sky region whose name means 'the Shield'. The episode is available via the podcast's website and is aimed at space and astronomy enthusiasts following the show's constellation-by-constellation series.

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.

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 James Webb Space Telescope has released a new image of one of the most visually striking gravitational lenses observed to date. The photograph shows distant light warped into dramatic arcs by the gravity of a foreground galaxy, and the image is drawing attention from astronomy and photography enthusiasts alike.

NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for October 4, 2026 features an image of supernumerary rainbows over New Jersey. These faint, closely spaced extra bands appear inside a main rainbow and are caused by light wave interference, or diffraction, in water droplets of similar size. The picture explains the optics behind the phenomenon and why the pastel-colored fringes are sometimes spotted after showers.

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.