Science

Black holes, dark matter, gravitational waves and exoplanets: find out how astronomy is unlocking the secrets of the Universe.

Why is Mars known as the Red Planet?

Why is Mars red?

Dave Scott emerges from Apollo 9 capsule during a space walk

The Overview Effect and Apollo

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The Cat's Eye Nebula, as seen by the Hubble Space Telescope. Credit: NASA, ESA, HEIC, and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

Cat’s Eye Nebula

Artist's illustration of exoplanet VHS 1256 b, a young gas giant that orbits two stars. © Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, Joseph Olmsted (STScI)

Hot sand clouds, water, methane and CO2 found at planet orbiting two stars

Artist's impression of the JUICE mission exploring Jupiter's moons. Credit: ESA/ATG Medialab, Getty Images

JUICE mission prepares for lift-off to explore Jupiter and its icy moons

An illustration conceptualising the edge of the observable Universe. Credit: Mark Garlic / Science Photo Library / Getty Images

Does the Universe have an edge?

Globular cluster Terzan 4. Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, R. Cohen

Not all stars are white! Exploring stars’ true colour in the night sky

The Moon’s limb, imaged by the Apollo 10 astronauts in 1969. The largest crater in the picture, upper right, is called Keeler. From features like its terraced walls, scientists have deduced a violent history of meteorite impacts. Credit: NASA/ISC

A scientific look at volcanoes on the Moon

Artemis spacecraft appears against the Blue Earth. Behind the crescent moon is in the middle of a starfield.

How long does it take to get to the Moon?

Artist's impression of a black hole.

Dark matter could be made of black holes

Some exoplanets have one side permanently facing their star while the other side is in perpetual darkness. Could life take hold in these terminator zones? Credit: Ana Lobo / UCI

Life could take hold between day and night zones on distant planets

This breathtaking photo of Ireland was captured by former NASA astronaut Terry Virts on 13 March 2015 from the International Space Station. The clouds seem to have parted to enable Virts to get the shot, just 4 days ahead of St Patrick's Day. Easily discernible in the northeast of the island is Lough Neagh, located in Northern Ireland and the largest freshwater lake on the whole island. Also visible in the image are the curvature of the Earth and solar panels providing solar energy to the ISS. Credit: NASA/ESA/Terry Virts

Ireland from space

Supernova close to Earth. Credit: Artist’s impression of a supernova. Credit: Vit_Mar / Getty Images

What would happen if a supernova detonated close to Earth?

Illustration of the planets of the Solar System. Credit: Steve Allen / Getty Images

4 mistakes astronomers made about our Solar System

An ultraviolet image of the Sun captured by NASA's SOHO spacecraft, showing filaments lifting off the solar surface. Credit: NASA/JPL

How long does it take for light from the Sun to reach Earth?