The James Webb Space Telescope has a number of science goals. One of them is to help understand the evolution of galaxies and their formation within the first billion years after the Big Bang. Astronomers have completed an initial Webb telescope survey that discovered 1,700 galaxy groups. Many of these groups date back to when the Universe was less than 1 billion years old. The survey spans 12 billion years of cosmic history, from these ancient formations to the present day.
Space News & Blog Articles
JWST Sees How Methanol Evolves in the Outer Solar system
Understanding how life started on Earth means understanding the evolution of chemistry in the Solar System. It began in the protoplanetary disk of debris around the Sun and reached a critical point when life appeared on Earth billions of years ago. Close to the Sun, the chain of chemical evidence is broken by the Sun's radiation. But further out in the Solar System, billions of kilometres away, some of that ancient chemistry is preserved.
A Comprehensive Plan To Manufacture A Solar Power Satellite From Lunar Materials
Space-based solar power (SBSP) has long been the dream of many space enthusiasts and energy economists. However, the reality of economic constraints has long left any practice projects on the ground. There has been plenty of discussion about how to lower the cost of entry to build the kind of space-based solar power satellite described by John Mankins in his books and articles. However, even with the advent of lower costs to orbit thanks to reusable rockets, the economic case for SBSP is still not great simply due to the sheer amount of mass required to get into orbit. Unless we get that mass from somewhere else, with a smaller gravity well. Astrostrom, which means something like "Star current" in German, is an organization based in Switzerland that hopes to make space-based solar power a reality.
Cyclones on Jupiter and a moon with flowing magma: NASA Juno probe's latest discoveries are awesome
NASA's mission to Jupiter has revealed new findings about the giant planet and its volcanic moon.
The GEO600 Gravitational Wave Detector is Getting a Big Upgrade
Astronomy has entered the age of gravitational waves. While there are plenty of differences between gravitational wave astronomy and typical waves of the electromagnetic spectrum, they share one similar feature: frequency. While we have detectors for a wide range of electromagnetic frequencies, gravitational wave detectors only focus on a narrow band of relatively low-frequency signals. That will change with the upgrade of the GEO600 gravitational wave detector located at the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics.
U.S. Senate Commerce Committee advances Isaacman’s nomination for NASA administrator to full Senate
Jared Isaacman, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the next administrator of NASA, appears before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington. Photo Image: NASA/Bill Ingalls
President Donald Trump’s pick to lead NASA in his second term is one step closer to becoming the agency’s 15th administrator.
A thousand stars are fleeing home in a hurry, and scientists don't know why
Data from Europe's Gaia spacecraft have revealed that a cluster of 1,000 stars is breaking up much faster than is normal, stumping astronomers.
Petzl Tikka Core headlamp review
A reliable, no-nonsense, hybrid-powered headlamp from one of the best technical brands in the business.
New Horizons' new map of the galaxy | Space photo of the day for April 30, 2025
This spectrograph map, generated from data collected by NASA's New Horizons probe, depicts the relatively uniform brightness of the ultraviolet "Lyman-alpha" background surrounding our Sun and its area of influence.
NASA is looking to privatize astronaut rescue services
NASA is asking private industry and academia for ideas for new rescue services for its astronauts on Earth in the event of emergencies.
JWST May Have Found a Supermassive Black Hole in the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy
We know that our Milky Way galaxy hosts a supermassive black hole (SMBH) in its center. Astronomers think most spiral galaxies do, and that SMBHs coexist and co-evolve with their host galaxies. However, they haven't been able to find them in all spirals. M83, the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy, has always been puzzling because scientists haven't seen any evidence of an SMBH in its center. The JWST may have finally found some.
These are the sharpest images yet of planets being born around distant stars
Astronomers have captured the sharpest, most detailed images yet of young solar systems where planets are just beginning to take shape.
These ARE the Lego Star Wars deals you're looking for
Here's our roundup of the biggest savings and discounts you can make on the best Lego Star Wars sets as May 4th approaches.
You really need to check out 'Moonrise', Netflix's awesome new sci-fi anime from the director of 'Attack on Titan'
Earthlings take on a lunar revolution in this exhausting-but-ambitious sci-fi spectacle
Amateur astrophotographer captures gorgeous view of Bode's galaxy from Death Valley
Amateur astrophotographer Joel Martin captured this stunning view of Bode's galaxy in February this year during a stargazing festival in Death Valley, California.
Soviet-era Venus Mission to Reenter in May
It’s one straight out of the history books. After over 50 years in space, the late Soviet Union’s Kosmos-482 mission is set to reenter the Earth’s atmosphere, early next month. Stranded in Earth orbit, there are just a few weeks remaining to see this enigmatic relic of a bygone era.
John Lithgow to launch into life of Apollo 11 astronaut in new podcast 'BUZZ'
Having explored the 'third rock from the sun,' John Lithgow is heading for its moon. The actor is set to star in the new podcast "BUZZ" about the life of one of the first humans to land on the moon.
How to edit a solar eclipse photograph: A step-by-step guide
By compiling your images of a solar eclipse, you not only create stunning images but also tell a story.
How to see a celestial 'gazelle' cross the night sky close to the Big Dipper this week
Follow the gazelle's flight from the Lion of Leo.
Capture May's full moon and the Eta Aquarid meteor shower with the best DSLR for astrophotography, now $600 off
We think the D850 is an astro master and it comes designed for shooting in the dark, thanks to backlit buttons, excellent low light autofocus and good high ISO noise handling.
What can ripples in spacetime reveal about black holes? Quite a bit, it turns out
Cosmic echoes from some of the universe's most violent collisions are far more nuanced than scientists had realized, according to new research.

