News – Page 12 – Astronomy Now

20 August 2026

Webb mirror segments repositioned as alignment proceeds

24 February 2022 Astronomy Now

Engineers are making steady progress aligning the 18 segments making up the Webb space telescope’s 6.5-metre primary mirror.

M77 sheds light on differences between active galactic nuclei

22 February 2022 Astronomy Now

New observations support the idea that active galactic nuclei, despite their different appearances, share the same basic structure.

NASA pleased with initial Webb images as mirror alignment begins

13 February 2022 Astronomy Now

In another major milestone, the James Webb Space Telescope has captured first-light images of a star to help engineers align the 18 segments making up its primary mirror.

A third planet found orbiting nearest star to Sun

11 February 2022 Astronomy Now

Astronomers have found the gravitational signature of a third planet orbiting Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to the Sun.

IAU “deeply concerned” about satellite mega-constellations

8 February 2022 Astronomy Now

Amid increasing concern about the impact of satellite mega-constellations, the IAU selects hosts to coordinate public and government awareness.

MeerKAT paints a mesmerising portrait of the Milky Way

26 January 2022 Astronomy Now

The MeerKAT radio telescope has produced a stunning mosaic of the Milky Way’s central regions, providing a new view of known and newly-discovered phenomena.

Webb reaches Lagrange Point 2, setting stage for mirror alignment

25 January 2022 Astronomy Now

The James Webb Space Telescope slips into orbit around Lagrange Point 2, setting the stage for the next critical step in its commissioning: mirror alignment.

Astronomers mining an increasingly rich trove of TESS exoplanet data

24 January 2022 Astronomy Now

NASA’s TESS spacecraft has now found more than 5,000 exoplanet candidates, including three newly-confirmed worlds that face uncertain futures.

Black hole contains nearly all the mass at the heart of the Milky Way

17 January 2022 Astronomy Now

New observations indicate the supermassive black hole at the heart of the Milky Way contains almost all the mass at the very center of the galaxy.

Webb mirrors fully deployed, clearing the way for alignment

10 January 2022 Astronomy Now

Two weeks after its Christmas Day launch, engineers completed the James Webb Space Telescope’s mirror deployment, clearing the way for alignment and focusing.