News – Astronomy Now

16 March 2026

Latest News

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.

Dr Allan Chapman (1946-2026)

26 January 2026 Emily Baldwin-Fiebrich

We were profoundly saddened to be informed of Dr Allan Chapman’s passing last week. A few months shy of his 80th birthday, Allan was a towering intellect in the field of the history of astronomy. His knowledge of the subject was second to none, and his indomitable spirit captivated audiences far and wide.

Potentially bright ‘sungrazing’ comet discovered

16 January 2026 Emily Baldwin-Fiebrich

A potentially large member of the Kreutz family comets is speeding its way to a perihelion encounter during the first week of April this year. The object was discovered on 13 January 2026.

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.

Nova outburst in Centaurus

24 September 2025 Emily Baldwin-Fiebrich

There’s a ‘new’ star in the constellation of Centaurus. A nova dramatically appeared on 22 September, discovered by John Seach of Grafton, Australia.

Astronomy Now relaunches digital platform

12 September 2025 Emily Baldwin-Fiebrich

We are pleased to announce that our new Astronomy Now app is live! Since taking ownership of the magazine in July, creating an enhanced digital experience has been a high priority for our new Astronomy Now team.

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.

Ten-Year Lease Extension Confirmed at Herstmonceux Observatory

18 August 2025 Emily Baldwin-Fiebrich

The announcement, on 18 August, follows a year of uncertainty after Queen’s University Canada declared that the lease to the current operators of the science centre, Science Projects, would not be renewed after December 2026.

© 2019 Pole Star Publications Limited