Astronomy Now – Astronomy Now

Binoculars to boost your night-sky viewing

10 June 2025 Astronomy Now

These pocket-sized binoculars transport the observer into a sea of stars covering a wide expanse of space.

The extraordinary Ring Nebula (Messier 57), showing off its multilayered form. Image: Bob Fera.

Lyra’s stunning smoke ring – M57

10 June 2025 Astronomy Now

Messier 57, the Ring Nebula, graces the constellation Lyra as one of the finest planetary nebulae in the night sky. A true summer showpiece, it’s remarkably easy to locate and observe—even through modest instruments as small as 80mm (about three inches) in aperture.

Is the Hubble Tension Resolved?

9 June 2025 Astronomy Now

New measurements from Hubble and Webb suggest the Hubble tension may be resolved, with expansion rates aligning and the standard model of cosmology remaining intact—for now.

Universe’s end – sooner rather than later

16 May 2025 Astronomy Now

The universe may end far sooner than expected—within 10⁷⁸ years, not 10¹⁰⁰—according to Dutch researchers who reinterpreted Hawking radiation, suggesting all massive objects gradually decay over time.

Caught in the current of the wonderful Whirlpool

25 April 2025 Astronomy Now

Messier 51 (NGC 5194) in Canes Venatici is the archetypal face-on spiral galaxy. Aptly named and very well known as the Whirlpool Galaxy, this magnificent object has few rivals across the entire sky and, if the sheer volume of images received at Astronomy Now headquarters over recent years is any indicator, only mighty Messier 31 in Andromeda is as popular.

A faint star will reveal itself as it throws a hissy-fit

26 March 2025 Astronomy Now

A rare nova explosion, bright enough to see with the naked eye, may be imminent. Astronomers predict the binary star system could erupt as soon as Thursday, March 27.

Saturn’s Rings to “Disappear”

24 March 2025 Astronomy Now

Saturn’s iconic rings set to vanish this weekend as rare “ring plane crossing” aligns them edge-on with Earth for the first time since 2009.

The Lithium Problem

17 March 2025 Astronomy Now

One of the most significant challenges to the Big Bang hypothesis that emerged recently concerns the abundance of the element lithium.

Discover the many fascinating moons of our Solar System

17 March 2025 Astronomy Now

The Atlas of Moons makes space exploration accessible to everyone, bridging the gap between complex data and public curiosity. This interactive experience brings the solar system’s moons to life, inviting users to explore them up close.

A bigger and better helicopter to Mars

16 March 2025 Astronomy Now

Ingenuity, the plucky little helicopter, has proven that flight on another planet is possible. Over 72 remarkable flights, it captivated space enthusiasts worldwide. Yet, despite its achievements, Ingenuity’s limitations have driven NASA to envision something even more advanced.