For much of the 20th century, Pluto held a secure place in our solar system as the ninth planet. Discovered in 1930 by American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh, Pluto was celebrated as a distant, mysterious world orbiting far beyond Neptune. Generations of students memorized its name alongside Mercury, Venus, Earth, and the other classical planets. However, in recent decades, Pluto’s planetary status has become one of the most hotly debated topics in modern astronomy. The controver

When people hear about space exploration, they often wonder, “Why does it matter to me?” After all, most of us won’t travel to space, and...

When we think about space missions, we usually imagine astronauts, rockets, and engineers. But there’s another important role behind the...

In a time when spaceflight was still new and the world was watching every rocket launch with awe and wonder, one woman made history by...

Kalpana Chawla’s story is one of inspiration, determination, and a deep love for the skies. As the first woman of Indian origin in space,...

When Guion “Guy” Bluford Jr. soared into space aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger on August 30, 1983, he became the first African...

As space agencies like NASA and SpaceX prepare for longer missions (to the Moon, Mars, and beyond), one crucial question comes up: how do...

For decades, the idea of turning Mars into a livable planet has captured the imagination of scientists, authors, and space fans alike....

Mae Jemison made history as the first Black woman to travel to space when she launched into space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in...

As space agencies prepare for missions beyond low Earth orbit, such as journeys to Mars, astronauts will spend extended periods in...

Astronomy has played a significant role in shaping pop culture, having an effect in literature, film, television, and technology. As...

The Space Race of the 20th century is often remembered for the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, which resulted in...

Beneath the icy surfaces of distant moons and planets, vast oceans may hold the key to one of humanity’s most profound questions: Are we...

As artificial intelligence (AI) increases in popularity in multiple sectors around the globe, AI is also playing an increasingly vital...

Launched in 1977, the twin Voyager spacecraft—Voyager 1 and Voyager 2—represent some of humanity’s most remarkable achievements in space...

The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are typically associated with regions near the Earth’s magnetic poles, such as Alaska,...

The Fermi Paradox addresses the puzzling contradiction between the high likelihood of extraterrestrial civilizations and the absence of...

The Fermi Paradox is a concept that arises from the contradiction between the high probability of extraterrestrial civilizations existing...

As we welcome the new year, many of us reflect on time—celebrating the end of one year and the start of another. But why exactly does a...

The Fermi Paradox is one of the most intriguing questions in the field of astronomy and the search for extraterrestrial life. It arises...