Astronomy

The orbital debris created in the explosions is dangerous, long-lasting and a threat to the growing space economy

Kepler-1708 b-i appears to be a giant moon orbiting a Jupiter-sized planet thousands of light-years from Earth

The observatory has flawlessly unfurled its mirrors and sunshield—although more steps are needed before the science can begin

The successful unfurling of the five-layered, tennis court-sized assemblage is a major milestone for the new observatory

After years of delay, the most ambitious observatory ever built has at last left Earth. It now faces a high-stakes series of deployments in deep space

Prioritizing infrastructure, smarter regulations and better training will make digital technology more inclusive

The launch will now occur no earlier than Christmas Day

A communications glitch between the observatory and its launch vehicle forced the delay, NASA officials say

After some two decades of development, the orbital observatory is set to at last reach space on December 22

Solar superflares, emotion-detecting artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and more in our December issue

Interstellar xenia, or the welcoming of cosmic strangers, could solve this mystery