Celestial Objects
Astronomers study stars, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, nebulae, galaxies and many other cosmic objects.
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The Universe
Look beyond planets and explore the science of stars, nebulae, galaxies, black holes, exoplanets, cosmic evolution and the expanding universe.
01 — THE SCIENCE OF THE UNIVERSE
What Is Astronomy?
Astronomy is the scientific study of objects and phenomena beyond Earth. It examines how stars, planets, galaxies and the universe itself form, evolve and interact.
Cosmic Evolution
Astronomy investigates how objects and structures change over enormous spans of cosmic time.
Cosmic Signals
Scientists gather information through electromagnetic radiation and other measurable signals from the universe.
Scientific Discovery
Observations, physics, mathematics, computer models and spacecraft data work together to reveal cosmic processes.
A COSMIC PERSPECTIVE
Astronomy turns distant light into knowledge.
When astronomers observe distant objects, they are also observing light that has travelled through space for a finite amount of time. The universe therefore provides a record of its own history.
02 — THE COSMIC MESSENGER
Reading the Light
Light carries information about the temperature, composition, motion and physical conditions of distant objects.
Visible Light
The portion of electromagnetic radiation detectable by human eyes is only a small part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays provide different views of the universe.
Distance & Redshift
Astronomers can use changes in observed light to investigate the motion and large-scale expansion of the universe.
03 — STELLAR ENGINES
Stars
Stars are enormous, self-gravitating objects whose energy is generated primarily through nuclear processes in their interiors.
STELLAR LIFE CYCLE
From clouds of gas to stellar remnants
Stars form within dense regions of interstellar gas and dust. Gravity brings material together until conditions in the central region become suitable for sustained nuclear fusion.
01
Molecular Cloud
02
Protostar
03
Main Sequence
04
Stellar Remnant
04 — COSMIC CLOUDS
Nebulae
Nebulae are vast regions of gas and dust. Some are places where stars form, while others are produced by dying stars.
Stellar Nurseries
Cold molecular clouds can collapse under gravity and create dense regions where new stars begin to form.
Supernova Remnants
Material expelled during stellar explosions can spread through space and interact with surrounding gas.
Planetary Nebulae
Some aging stars shed their outer layers, creating expanding shells of gas around the remaining stellar core.
05 — COSMIC CITIES
Galaxies
Galaxies are enormous gravitationally bound systems containing stars, gas, dust, dark matter and other structures.
Spiral Galaxies
Spiral galaxies contain a flattened disk, central region and prominent spiral structures.
Elliptical Galaxies
These galaxies have smoother, rounded structures and can contain very large populations of older stars.
Irregular Galaxies
Irregular galaxies lack the simple overall shapes associated with spiral and elliptical galaxies.
06 — EXTREME GRAVITY
Black Holes
Black holes are regions of spacetime where gravity is so strong that, beyond the event horizon, light cannot escape.
A boundary in spacetime
The event horizon marks a boundary beyond which signals cannot reach a distant observer.
Matter falling inward
Gas and other material surrounding a black hole can form a rapidly rotating accretion disk and become extremely hot.
Extreme spacetime
Black holes provide important environments for testing theories of gravity under extreme conditions.
07 — WORLDS BEYOND OUR SYSTEM
Exoplanets
Exoplanets are planets orbiting stars beyond our Sun. Their discovery has shown that planetary systems are common throughout the galaxy.
Rocky Worlds
Some exoplanets are predominantly rocky and may resemble the terrestrial planets of our Solar System.
Gas Giants
Large planets dominated by hydrogen, helium and other atmospheric components are found around many stars.
Finding Exoplanets
Astronomers use techniques including transit observations and measurements of a star's motion to detect distant worlds.
Habitability
Scientists investigate whether some planetary environments could provide conditions suitable for life.
08 — ULTRA-DENSE STARS
Neutron Stars
Neutron stars are extremely dense stellar remnants formed from the collapsed cores of certain massive stars.
STELLAR REMNANTS
Matter compressed to extraordinary density
Neutron stars can rotate rapidly and possess powerful magnetic fields. Some are observed as pulsars because their radiation beams sweep across Earth.
Pulsars
Highly regular cosmic signals
Magnetars
Extremely strong magnetic fields
09 — STELLAR EXPLOSIONS
Supernovae
A supernova is a powerful stellar explosion or explosive stellar event. These events can dramatically alter their surroundings and distribute newly formed elements into space.
01
Massive-Star Collapse
Some massive stars end their lives when their cores collapse after nuclear fuel can no longer support the star against gravity.
02
Stellar Explosion
The resulting event can release enormous amounts of energy and eject material into surrounding space.
03
Cosmic Recycling
Material returned to space can later become part of new stars, planets and other cosmic structures.
10 — OUR GALACTIC HOME
The Milky Way
Our Solar System is located inside the Milky Way, a large barred spiral galaxy containing vast populations of stars, gas and dust.
GALACTIC STRUCTURE
A galaxy containing our cosmic neighborhood
The Milky Way contains a central bulge, a disk with spiral structure and an extended halo. Our Solar System lies in the galaxy's disk, far from its center.
Galactic Center
A region containing a supermassive
black hole
Solar Neighborhood
Our Solar System resides within
the Milky Way's disk
Galactic Motion
Stars orbit the center of the galaxy
11 — THE UNIVERSE ITSELF
Cosmology
Cosmology studies the origin, structure, evolution and large-scale behavior of the universe.
01
Early Universe
The observable universe has evolved from an extremely hot and dense early state.
02
First Structures
Matter gradually formed increasingly complex structures under the influence of gravity.
03
Stars & Galaxies
Stars formed inside galaxies and transformed the chemical composition of the universe.
04
Expanding Universe
Observations show that the universe is expanding, with distant galaxies generally receding from one another on large scales.
An unseen component inferred from gravitational effects on visible matter and large-scale cosmic structures.
A term used to describe the unknown component associated with the observed accelerated expansion of the universe.
12 — THE BIG QUESTION
The Search for Life
One of astronomy's most profound questions is whether life exists beyond Earth.
Water
Scientists search for environments where liquid water or evidence of past water could exist.
Habitable Worlds
Researchers study planets and moons whose physical and chemical conditions may support environments favorable to life.
Robotic Exploration
Spacecraft investigate planets and moons directly, searching for geological and chemical clues.
Technosignatures
Scientists can also investigate whether distant observations contain evidence of technological activity.
KEEP EXPLORING
From cosmic knowledge to human exploration.
Astronomy tells us what exists beyond Earth. Space missions allow us to investigate those worlds directly.