Deep Space Mysteries

A comprehensive study of hundreds of galaxies observed by the Keck telescopes in Hawaii and NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has revealed a surprising pattern to galaxy evolution that extends back 8 billion years, or more than half the age of the universe.

High-end computer simulations offer a vivid look at the future of our Milky Way. Collisions and mergers are central to galaxy evolution, from the earliest dwarf galaxies that formed to the familiar galaxies we see today.

Supercomputer visualization shows small galaxies forming, interacting, and merging to form a Milky Way-type galaxy with spiral arms. A preview of what the new James Webb Telescope will see from NASA Astrophysics.

Deep historical background on the idea of building observatories in the southern hemisphere, to harvest the rich landscapes of the Milky Way and the universe beyond.

On clear nights we can look up at the stars and marvel at the vastness of the universe. To peer much deeper into the night sky astronomers need telescopes with enormous primary mirrors. How large does modern technology allow us to build telescopes?

A new study using observations from NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope reveals the first clear-cut evidence that the expanding debris of exploded stars produces some of the fastest-moving matter in the universe. This discovery is a major step toward meeting one of Fermi's primary mission goals.