Galaxies, including the Milky Way, grow from thick, turbulent disks into layered structures. JWST’s images show this process ...

A probabilistic new map of the universe surrounding the Milky Way reveals that our galaxy is likely part of an even larger "basin of attraction" than we previously assumed.

In the vast expanse of the universe, the Milky Way Galaxy holds a special place in our hearts. It is our home, and after studying it for decades from our cosmic residence nestled within one of its ...

Astronomers taken on the role of cosmic archeologists, using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to excavate over 100 disk ...

The Milky Way’s disk is around 120,000 light-years across and has at least 100 billion and maybe 400 billion stars. Such ambiguity is normal for astronomy, but it’s also a symptom of galactic ...

How does the Milky Way’s star-making machine work? Glowing knots of gas provide an environment rich in star birth, decorating the arms of M74 (also known as NGC 628). The galaxy’s arms trail ...

Related: The Milky Way will be visible without a telescope this summer. Here are the key nights to watch for. But most astronomers agree that there should be many more, currently unknown ...

A collision between the Milky Way and neighboring galaxy Andromeda is far from a sure thing; in fact, it could hinge on the flip of a cosmic coin.

From the book Astronomy of To-Day, 1909. Curtis presented data supporting his view of a smaller Milky Way, citing various estimates of its diameter ranging from 10,000 light-years to 30,000 light ...

By the start of the 20th century, they concluded that the Milky Way had a spiral shape and measured about 100,000 light-years across and about 1,000 light-years thick at its center.

The team’s map reveals previously invisible details in a stretch of the central Milky Way 500 light-years wide. The colors represent different temperatures of interstellar dust: Green indicates ...

Summer is the best time to see the Milky Way in the Northern Hemisphere without a telescope. The key is to find clear, dark skies on moonless nights. When you purchase through links on our site ...