astronomy

Bray Falls and Chester Hall-Fernandez discover new nebula

How Two Astrophotographers Discovered a New Nebula

"It is a very common misconception amongst people that the night sky has been explored in its entirety by the great professional space observatories like James Webb, Hubble, NASA, and ESA. People think there is nothing left for the average person to go out and discover in space. But this couldn't be further from the truth," says astrophotographer Bray Falls.

Webb El Gordo

Webb Unveils Strange Distant Galaxies in Incredible New Detail

Webb's new infrared image of the galaxy cluster "El Gordo" ("the Fat One") showcases hundreds of galaxies, some of which have never been seen before in such detail. Using its Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), Webb has used the gravitational lensing created by El Gordo to see distant background galaxies more clearly, offering scientists a unique look at the distant universe.

Webb Herbig-Haro 46/47

Webb Photographs Newly Forming Stars in Incredible, Colorful Detail

The James Webb Space Telescope has captured an amazing image of Herbig-Haro 46/47 using its near-infrared instrument, NIRCam. The image, processed by Joe DePasquale of the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), showcases a "tightly bound pair of actively forming stars" in brilliant detail and color.

James Webb Space Telescope interview with Joe DePasquale and Alyssa Pagan

How Editors Blend Art and Science to Bring NASA’s Space Photos to Life

Since it began its full scientific operations at the second Lagrange point (L2), about one million miles (1.5 million kilometers) from Earth last year, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has enchanted people around the world. Webb's photos have inspired many people to learn more about space and look at the night sky with unprecedented wonder and curiosity.

Webb finds carbon molecule, methyl cation, for the first time.

Webb Spots Crucial Carbon Molecule in Space for the First Time

An international team of scientists has used the James Webb Space Telescope's incredible imaging instruments to detect a new carbon compound in space for the first time. The compound, known as methyl cation (CH3+), is a vital molecule for more complex carbon-based molecules.

Researchers explain Jupiter's shifting stripes

Researchers Can Now Explain Jupiter’s Mysterious Shifting ‘Stripes’

Much to the chagrin of tigers everywhere, Jupiter can change its stripes, although an explanation of how the gas giant changes its colors and famous "stripes" has long evaded scientists. Researchers at the University of Leeds in England believe they've found the answer and can explain why the bands on Jupiter move and change.

James Webb Space Telescope Comet Read

Webb Finds Water in Rare Main-Belt Comet, Spurring New Mysteries

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has helped scientists achieve another breakthrough. Solar system scientists working to understand the origins of Earth's abundant water have used Webb's Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) instrument to confirm water vapor around a comet in the main asteroid belt for the first time.

How One Astrophotographer Made a New Scientific Discovery

Astrophotographer Bray Falls recently posted a series of striking images on Instagram that instantly caught PetaPixel's eye. Falls' photos aren't just visually stunning; they represent a brand-new discovery, a significant accomplishment for any astrophotographer.

Mars Map Emirates Mars Mission, UAE and NYUAD

Researchers Have Created an Incredibly Detailed Global Map of Mars

A team of scientists led by New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Center for Space Science has created a high-resolution map of Mars that holds great potential for researchers aiming to understand the red planet's history, and how its arid, barren landscape came to be.

NASA Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

NASA’s Roman Telescope Prepares to Solve the Mysteries of the Universe

NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (NGRST or Roman) will feature two primary instruments, a 300.8-megapixel infrared Wide Field Instrument (WFI) and a Coronagraph designed for studying faint objects, when it launches in 2027. The NASA Goddard team recently installed a vital subsystem for the space telescope's Wide Field Instrument.