Astronomy

The Quadrantid meteor shower, as visible at twilight

How To See Tonight’s Meteor Shower

Take advantage of this rare chance to see the Quadrantid meteor shower

A budding star spits out jets of superheated gas and dust in the Carina Nebula

A Guided Tour of the Universe

A new exhibition at the Natural History Museum gives visitors a dazzling view of our evolving universe

A comparison of the two newly-discovered planets with Venus and Earth

What the Earth-Sized Planet Discovery Means

The lead scientist in the new planet discovery explains the significance of the find

Instruments developed at the Harvard- Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, such as this Solar Probe, will go to the Sun in 2018.

New Angles

Dr. Pierre Comizzoli, one of the two Smithsonian scientists to receive the Presidential Award, at work in the lab.

Two Smithsonian Scientists Receive Presidential Award

An astrophysicist and a conservation biologist each receive one of the highest honors in science

Kepler-16b, the first confirmed circumbinary planet

Inside the Double-Sun Planet Discovery

How Smithsonian and Harvard scientists discovered the planet that orbits two stars

The Greensboro lunch counter

Weekend Events: June 17-19: Sun Spots, Tom Hanks, and the Greensboro Lunch Counter

Visit the Smithsonian museums to look at some of the wonders of the universe and dive into the Portrait Gallery for a double feature

The center of our Milky Way galaxy is even more breathtaking when seen as a composite made of data from three space-based instruments sensitive to different wavelengths.

Brilliant Space Photos From Chandra and Spitzer

Two unsung space telescopes create eye-opening images of the universe from light we can't see

Astronomers like Rik Hill scan the heavens from Arizona looking for errant asteroids.

Asteroid Hunters

Astronomers are determined to protect human beings from inanimate outer space invaders

NASA is studying a mission, for launch in the 2020s, that would visit the only moon known to have an extensive atmosphere—Titan, a satellite of Saturn.

What's Next in Space?

Probes and landers sent into the final frontier will bring us closer to answering cosmic mysteries

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Wednesday Roundup: Protostars, Movie Stars, Maps of Stars and More

Harvey Tananbaum says Chandra has "offered us clues about ... the universe's ultimate destiny."

Far Sighted

The Chandra X-Ray Center at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Laboratory helps scientists observe a fantastic range of phenomena

Far from light and plunged into months-long darkness, Antarctica's South Pole Telescope is one of the best places on Earth for observing the universe.

Dark Energy: The Biggest Mystery in the Universe

At the South Pole, astronomers try to unravel a force greater than gravity that will determine the fate of the cosmos

The NASA mission, called Stardust, brought back the only material—other than moon rocks—taken directly from a extraterrestrial body.

The Secrets Within Cosmic Dust

Dust captured by a spacecraft from a comet's tail holds clues to the origin of the solar system

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Close Encounters at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

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The Mount Whitney Hut Turns 100

Galileo was the first to discover the moons of Jupiter.

Galileo's Revolutionary Vision Helped Usher In Modern Astronomy

The Italian scientist turned his telescope toward the stars and changed our view of the universe

Although the lander may appear “flimsy and gangly,” says NASM curator Allan Needell, the craft represents “a very pure design built for a very specific mission.”

Apollo 11's Giant Leap for Mankind

When the lunar module landed on the moon, it provided an unforgettable moment for the millions watching back on Earth

Galileo Galilei invented the geometric and military compass. It was his first commercial scientific instrument.

Galileo's Instruments of Discovery

With these various instruments, Galileo Galilei was able to look into space and change our view of the universe.

The team gathers at the top of the proposed Giant Magellan Telescope site on top of Las Campanas looking back toward the twin Magellan telescopes and homebase.

Day 4: Peak Conditions for a New Telescope

Secretary Clough scopes out the site for the Giant Magellan Telescope and bids goodbye to Las Campanas

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