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an illustration showing the hypothetical Planet 9 with blue rings and a question mark over it, with stars and a galaxy in the background
Planet Nine: Is the search for this elusive world nearly over? Astronomers have been scouring the outer solar system for signs of a hypothetical ninth planet for almost a decade, without success. However, we may finally be on the cusp of finding it, experts say.
Each bright spot in this image, the first all-sky image by eRosita, is black hole or a neutron star.
5 space discoveries that scientists are struggling to explain From "runaway" black holes shooting across the cosmos to secret planets in our own backyard, space is overrun with mysterious objects that scientists are clamoring to explain. Here are five of the strangest sights in the universe, as well as their possible origins.
An illustration of a large, round asteroid having a close encounter with the blue Earth
NASA's most wanted: The 5 most dangerous asteroids to Earth What is the most dangerous asteroid, how probable is an impact, and how much destructive power would a collision with Earth have? Here are 5 big space rocks that NASA is watching closely.

Latest about Space

The bipolar star-forming region, called Sharpless 2-106, looks like a soaring, celestial snow angel.

Space photo of the week: Hubble captures a cosmic snow angel created by a bright, young star

By Shreejaya Karantha published

Created by a young star, the bipolar star-forming region Sharpless 2-106 in this Hubble image depicts how intense the star-formation process can get.

Space
A stunning, billowing cloud of purple and orange gas in space

Our favorite space stories of 2024 — from lost planets to human-caused meteor showers

By Brandon Specktor published

From the mysterious Planet Nine to the prospect of a "human-caused meteor shower," space and physics editor Brandon Specktor lists his favorite stories of 2024.

Astronomy
Two intertwined spiral galaxies with a red hue and eye-like shape

5 times the James Webb telescope rewrote physics in 2024

By Paul Sutter published

The James Webb space telescope had several stunning findings this year that changed how we understand the universe.

Space
Split image shows the inside layers of the Earth and an illustration of what scientists believe to be the largest 'sea monster' fossil ever found.

'Spiders on Mars' and ancient sea monsters: 5 of the biggest science stories you read in 2024

By Pandora Dewan published

It's been a big year for science news.

Space
The while Boeing Starliner crew capsule approaches a window on the International Space Station with Earth in the background

10 times space missions went very wrong in 2024

By Harry Baker published

From astronauts getting stranded on a leaking ISS and faceplanting moon landers to injured Mars robots and a tumbling solar sail, here are 10 of the biggest space exploration mishaps in 2024.

Space Exploration
An illustration of the Parker Solar Probe skimming the sun.

Parker Solar Probe survives historic closest-ever flyby of the sun, NASA confirms

By Sharmila Kuthunur last updated

On Christmas Eve, NASA's Parker Solar Probe flew closer to the sun than any human-made object ever — a stunning technological feat that scientists liken to the historic Apollo moon landing in 1969. Now, we know it survived.

Space Exploration
An image of the moon with the bottom half in shadow

Scientists still don't fully understand why some planets have hundreds of moons while others have none

By Nicole Granucci published

It's not a competition, but if it were, Saturn would be winning.

Space
An illustration of a large satellite with a rippling grid and galaxies superimposed on top

The fabric of the universe is 'lopsided', huge gravitational wave mapping study finds

By Matthew Miles, Rowina Nathan published

A new effort to map the rumblings in spacetime caused by enormous black hole collisions paints a surprisingly loud and lopsided picture of the universe.

Astronomy
Hubble Space Telescope image of galaxy NGC 5084’s core. A dark, vertical line near the center shows the curve of a dusty disk orbiting the core, whose presence suggests a supermassive black hole within. The disk and black hole share the same orientation, fully tipped over from the horizontal orientation of the galaxy.

NASA's Hubble and Chandra telescopes discover a strange 'sideways' black hole in a cosmic crime scene

By Robert Lea published

What knocked this black hole over onto its side? It's a cosmic "whodunnit" that NASA scientists using the Hubble and Chandra space telescopes are trying to solve.

Black Holes
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
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