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Stars
Stars are celestial bodies made up of hot gases. Stars radiate energy that comes form thermonuclear reactions. In this section you will learn all about stars and their importance in the universe.
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Twinkle, Twinkle: The Ultimate Stars Quiz
Stars are giant nuclear fusion reactors and we wouldn't exist without them. Find out how much you know about these twinkling lights with our quiz.
7 Eye-catching Facts About the Bright Star Vega
Even if you've never looked through a telescope, you've probably seen Vega, one of the brightest stars in our galaxy. In fact, thousands of years ago, Vega was our North Pole star, and will be again in the future.
How Long Does the Once-dimming Star Betelgeuse Have Left?
Star-gazers gasped when they saw how much Betelgeuse dimmed in 2019 and the reason wasn't clear. Even though it's back up to full strength, how long will it be before it explodes? We haven't seen a supernova in over 400 years.
How to See NEOWISE, the First Visible Comet in Decades
Comet NEOWISE comes by only once every 6,800 years. But it will be visible to anyone with binoculars or even to the naked eye. Here's how to spot this rare event.
Hubble Hubble: Telescope Provides Stunning New Images of Two Planetary Nebulas
Astronomers used Hubble's full range of imaging to dissect wild 'fireworks' happening in two nearby young planetary nebulas.
Why Is the North Star So Stellarly Important?
Polaris, also known as the North Star, is almost exactly over the celestial North Pole, making it extremely useful for navigation (and for making wishes on, as well).
White Dwarfs Can Shred Planets to Pieces
So what does that mean for good ol' Earth someday?
Our Milky Way Is Warped Like an Old Vinyl Record
It's tricky to see the true shape of the Milky Way when you're stuck inside it. So how did scientists figure it out?
Orion Nebula Is Scene of Epic Star Battle
In this stellar nursery, firstborn stars are ruthless.
How Much Starlight Has Been Emitted Since the Beginning of Time?
It is a mind-blowing amount.
The Milky Way Is a Cannibal
A stunning accusation has been made: About 10 billion years ago, a small galaxy strayed too close to ours, so our galaxy ate it.
Nuclear Pasta Is the Super-Macaroni of the Universe
This stellar noodle is the strongest material in the cosmos!
Why Do Stars Twinkle?
And while we're at it, why don't the other planets in our solar system seem to twinkle?
What Do You Get When Two Neutron Stars Collide?
A tiny black hole or a more monstrous neutron star? Astronomers are on the case.
Astronomers Determine When 'Cosmic Dawn' Happened
Plus, a bonus finding on dark matter!
Tiny Yet Mighty: Neutron Stars May Be Ravenous X-ray Dazzlers
Some neutron stars may have a pretty amazing party trick up their stellar sleeves.
The Monster Star That Refuses to Die: Could Antimatter Be Fueling Its Supernovas?
This isn't your run-of-the-mill supernova.
This Brown Dwarf Isn't a 'Failed Star' — It's a Magnetic Powerhouse
Neither massive planets nor tiny stars, brown dwarfs are entirely different substellar curiosities that possess qualities of both.
Kilonovas Are Some of the Biggest, Baddest Stellar Blasts in Space
Get ready for the most powerful electromagnetic explosion the universe has ever known.
Triple Star System Could Be a Stellar Cocktail Shaker for Life
Astronomers have discovered a life-giving chemical in a star system located 400 light-years away. Now we just have to wait and see what arises from the cosmic mix.
This Is How We'll Detect Life on Distant Exoplanets
We might be only a few years away from seeing whether potentially habitable worlds are inhabited. How cool is that?
Milky Way, How Do You Zip Through the Universe Like That?
Scientists have a new idea, and it has to do with gravitational attraction and repulsion.
Spotted: Early Planetary Formation Around a Binary Star System
And you thought it was tough deciding which family to visit during the holidays. We just identified two stars in the process of forming a planet – or a planetary system.
10 Superstitions About Stars
These days, we may take the stars for granted, but it's not hard to imagine the wonder early humans must have felt gazing up at those inexplicable points of light. Naturally, superstitions were bound to develop — some more fortuitous than others.
Could the power of a neutron star be harnessed?
Relying on a collapsed star to power our lives on Earth might seem like a good solution to our energy crisis, but there's just one tiny problem: The process might be lethal.
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