Stuart Clark – Astronomy Now

Molten lava world points to new class of planet

16 March 2026 Stuart Clark

Observations of the nearby exoplanet L 98-59 d suggest it belongs to a previously unrecognised class of planet that features vast magma oceans and sulphur-rich atmospheres. The discovery hints that many more exotic planetary types may be waiting to be found.

Thank you from the editor

17 December 2025 Stuart Clark

As we head towards the end of 2025, it barely seems like five minutes ago that it was June and I was in the Royal Astronomical Society, signing the contract to take over the publication of Astronomy Now.

Hubble revisits a cosmic yardstick

25 October 2025 Stuart Clark

The latest ESA/Hubble image highlights the spiral galaxy NGC 3370, located nearly 90 million light-years away in the constellation Leo.

Europe’s planet hunting spacecraft complete and ready for final testing

21 October 2025 Stuart Clark

Engineers have completed the construction of ESA’s Plato spacecraft — the mission designed to search for Earth-like planets around Sun-like stars — marking a major milestone before its final round of testing.

Potentially habitable planet TRAPPIST-1e displays tentative evidence for an atmosphere

8 September 2025 Stuart Clark

Astronomers have seen tentative evidence for an atmosphere on TRAPPIST-1e, a rocky planet 40 light years away.

Lonely giant planets may form their own planetary systems

30 July 2025 Stuart Clark

Planets without stars may not be so lonely after all. New research led by astronomers at the University of St Andrews suggests that free-floating giant planets—those adrift in interstellar space—can host their own miniature planetary systems.

Congratulations Professor Michele Dougherty – our new Astronomer Royal

30 July 2025 Stuart Clark

His Majesty The King has approved Professor Michele Dougherty as the new Astronomer Royal. Professor Dougherty will be the sixteenth person and the first woman to hold this role since its creation 350 years ago.

Stuart Clark and Steven Young shake hands after signing the Astronomy Now contract.

Astronomy Now under new ownership

18 July 2025 Stuart Clark

We have some exciting company news we’d like to share with you… Today we’re starting a new chapter in the Astronomy Now story, as we relaunch under new management (plot twist ahead!).