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Now far from the Sun in the outer solar system, the strange interstellar object known as ‘Oumuamua is depicted here as it’s approached by a questing spacecraft. Project Lyra is hoping to launch such a craft to explore our first known visitor from another solar system and provide the detailed study scientists desperately seek.

Exotic Objects, Space Exploration

‘Oumuamua: Can we catch an interstellar interloper?

Noctilucent clouds, or NLC, appear in the sky during the summer months in stunning displays. Credit: Stuart Atkinson

Observing, Upcoming events

How to see noctilucent clouds, a dazzling sight in summer skies

A portion of the video that highlights the areas of Sif Mons and Niobe Planitia on Venus, where ongoing lava flows have been detected. Credit: IRSPS - Università d'Annunzio.

Robotic Spaceflight, Science, Solar System

Venus likely has active volcanoes, flowing streams of lava

$Around a star in our Milky Way galaxy, astronomers have discovered an extremely low-density planet that is as light as cotton candy. The new planet, named WASP-193b, appears to dwarf Jupiter in size, yet it is a fraction of its density. Credit: K. Ivanov/MIT.$

Exoplanets, Science

‘This planet should not be there.’ Second lightest exoplanet known to date surprises astronomers

Picture of the Day

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An ancient planetary

Imaged by Eric Coles from Sierra Remote Observatories in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, processed by Bob Fera

Planetary nebulae are beautiful, ephemeral objects created as a dying star lets go of its outer layers, blowing them away in stellar winds. This gas usually cools and disperses within 20,000 years. But the Methuselah Nebula (MWP1), 4,500 light-years away in Cygnus, has defied expectations and appears to be 150,000 years old, based on its size (also large) and how fast the material is expanding. This image was taken with a 20-inch scope at f/7.7 in Hα/OIII/RGB filters with exposure times of 410, 270, 90, 90, and 90 minutes, respectively.