Telescopes
Telescopes are optical devices that focus and magnify images, allowing us to see distant objects more clearly. The first documented telescope, was patented in 1608 by Hans Lippershey, a spectacle maker from the Netherlands. The following year, Galileo Galilei created his own version and made his own astronomical observations. Since then, telescopes have become far more sophisticated and can detect wavelengths invisible to us, enabling us to see celestial objects billions of light years away.
Satellite gridlock: How Earth’s orbital space could soon reach breaking point
What goes up, must come down.
Earthshine tonight: How to see May's otherworldly Moon event
All you need to know about the mesmerising lunar phenomenon.
Groundbreaking study could reveal secrets of how planets are born
The discovery could reveal in greater detail where another planet like Earth is forming.
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How is colour added to the JWST images? An astronomer explains
The James Webb Space Telescope collects images in greyscale as it operates mostly in the near- and mid-infrared spectrum. So how are we seeing colour images?
How to see James Webb Space Telescope's first images
NASA and ESA are due to release the very first images taken by JWST. Here's how you can see them as soon as they're released.
James Webb is about to take us to the "edge of time". Here's why that's even cooler than it sounds
NASA's newly launched space telescope is a spectacular upgrade, allowing us to see deeper into the past than ever before.
Inside the mission to spot an alien city by harnessing the Sun’s colossal gravity
Astronomers generally view the Sun as an obstacle to the objects they want to study. But it might just be the key that enables them to observe Earth-like exoplanets located many light-years away.
James Webb Space Telescope: How does it work and what will it see?
The tech behind the £7.2bn successor to Hubble, and what it will be used for.
James Webb Space Telescope | Inside the high-stakes testing of Hubble’s £7.2bn successor
As the James Webb Space Telescope readies for its launch later this year, we take a look at how this Hubble successor will eclipse its predecessor.
LSST: 7 photos of the camera that could change our view of the Universe
In a California lab, scientists and engineers are putting the finishing touches to a colossal camera that could change the way we view the cosmos.
ESA announces plans for space telescope to study exoplanet atmospheres
Ariel, which will launch in 2029, will focus on planets unlikely to host life as we know it.
Eye on the sky | The ground-based telescopes bringing the Universe down to Earth
Earth-bound telescopes are transforming our understanding of the cosmos. But we think they look pretty out-of-this-world too…
SETI begins search for 'technosignatures' in the hunt for alien life
Experts are developing state-of-the-art techniques to detect signatures that point to extraterrestrial existence.
NASA exoplanet hunter TESS finds its first habitable Earth-like world
Dubbed TOI 700d, the planet is the latest in a handful of potentially habitable Earth-sized worlds found throughout the galaxy.
NASA and the night sky celebrated in new book, Stargazing
A beautiful collection of images from the NASA archives shows the majesty of the cosmos.
Quindar tones, CAPCOM and Cassini | 10 NASA sounds that’ll whisk you off into space
Ever since the 1950s, NASA has been collecting sounds from its pioneering missions. The space agency uploaded over 60 audio clips to its SoundCloud page, so we've picked out some of our favourites. Put on your headphones and let us take you into space!
Libby Jackson, Tom Shakespeare and Danielle George | What happened at Bluedot festival 2019?
Now in its fourth year, Bluedot is a staple in our festival calendar. We chat to three speakers about science, their work and the Bluedot experience.
10 geeky places to visit around the UK
Looking for somewhere to to spend a sunny afternoon that tickles your technical side and scintillates your scientific self? We've gleamed a few travel tips from the book Geek's Guide To Britain for some inspiration.
First ever image of black hole revealed
The Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration unveils the first picture of a black hole 55 million light-years from Earth.
Planet-wide storm discovered on alien world
Astronomers have used a “super-telescope” to discover a violent storm raging on an alien planet some 129 light-years away from Earth.
Final farewells | Poignant last pictures from our most inspirational space missions
All good things must come to an end, and this collection of images and video captures some of our greatest space missions' final moments.
EHT black hole photo could be boom or bust for Einstein
Failing to find a black hole event horizon in an image taken by the Event Horizon Telescope could mean a re-think for General Relativity.
What is the biggest telescope on Earth?
Think FAST if you want to search in outer space.
FAST telescope ready to begin testing
China prepares to switch on the largest telescope in the world.