Galaxies

To look to the heavens, the SOFIA observatory takes to the skies. Whereas telescope builders trying to give astronomers a clear look at the skies generally seek out arid mountaintops , where atmospheric distortion is minimal, a new telescope mounted on the side of a Boeing 747 does them one better.

A split-site solution could allow both Australia and South Africa to host parts of the Square Kilometer Array

A giant telescope will soon begin its search for the first stars and galaxies

Even without future launches, low Earth orbit will remain polluted

The low-cost NuSTAR mission is designed to tap into the unexplored upper regions of the X-ray spectrum

South Africa wins science panel's backing to host SKA telescope

Dark matter doesn't usually collide much with itself or with ordinary matter, but it appears to be uncharacteristically clumping in the galaxy cluster A520. John Matson reports

Some say its glory days are long gone, but the universe has life in it yet. Brand-new types of celestial phenomena will unfold over the coming billions and trillions of years

Resolving how the galaxy's halo of stars was assembled would provide important clues about galactic formation

The black hole at the center of Milky Way could be steadily feeding on a cloud of asteroids, producing frequent, small x-ray flares. John Matson reports

An excerpt from physicist Lawrence M. Krauss's new book explains why we are not the center of the universe

The ambitious Laser Interferometer Space Antenna, a casualty of tightening budgets, could rise again