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ASTRONOMY NEWS

Uranus (left) and Neptune (right) are different shades of blue despite the many similarities they share in terms of mass, size and composition. (Image: NASA)

Uranus and Neptune may not be true ‘ice giants,’ new research suggests

May 15, 2026 9:11 am

A new study may redefine how we classify Uranus and Neptune, suggesting that they may no longer be referred to as ice giants due to their rocky atmosphere, indicating a different composition.

Lonar crater nightscape; (Right) Shweta Kulkarni.

Maharashtra to launch first stargazing fest at Lonar Crater, Harihareshwar to promote astrotourism

April 23, 2026 3:31 pm

AstronEra founder Shweta Kulkarni, 30, who has been hosting stargazing events has conceptualised the sessions in collaboration with MTDC from April 24 to 26

Astronauts report flashes of light caused by galactic cosmic rays passing through their eyes. (Representational Image Generated via ChatGPT)

Galactic cosmic rays: Invisible rain that never stops falling

March 25, 2026 4:39 pm

Galactic cosmic rays from distant corners of the galaxy streak through your body -- as though you barely exist -- at nearly the speed of light.

A massive asteroid looms near Earth in this illustration, underscoring how a small, well-timed nudge could prevent a global catastrophe.

If an asteroid heads for Earth, can we stop it?

March 01, 2026 10:25 am

The next asteroid won’t come with a warning siren. What happens after it’s discovered could determine everything.

Super-Earths: An AI-generated image of a Super-Earth placed next to an image of Earth

The universe is full of Super-Earths. What makes them special

February 19, 2026 6:44 pm

Super-Earths are the most common planets in our galaxy, reshaping ideas about planet formation and the search for life beyond Earth.

Indian students love astronomy but lack basic tools and concepts, survey finds

February 11, 2026 3:20 pm

Only about one third of students could correctly identify basic astronomical distance scales, with many unaware that stars lie far beyond objects within the solar system.

The petition also raises concerns about the structural behaviour of the Bhakra Dam.

First Indian Astronomy Communicators' meeting starts at IUCAA

January 23, 2026 1:59 am

This Symposium is dedicated to the memory of Prof. Jayant V. Narlikar, who was a pioneering advocate for astronomy and science communication, and scientific temper, in India.

If we could view our galaxy from the outside, it would appear to have a thin disc with some distinct spiral “arms” that are brightened by stars.

We thought we understood how a galaxy forms — and the universe just proved us wrong

December 05, 2025 4:29 pm

‘Alaknanda’ is the latest galaxy discovered by the James Webb telescope that challenges popular theories amongst astronomers

Every day, thousands of dead satellites and rocket fragments turn Earth's orbit into a high-speed junkyard. (AI-generated Image: DALLE)

Space junk menace: How it could crash into our future tech

November 07, 2025 4:31 pm

Thousands of dead satellites and rocket fragments now orbit Earth at high speeds threatening the very technology we rely on every day.

About 600 participants, including students, faculty members, will compete with 36 teams in the CANSAT category and 35 teams in IN-SPACe's Model Rocketry

IN-SPACe, ISRO & Astronautical Society to host rocketry competition from Oct 27

October 21, 2025 9:52 am

The competition is aimed at providing students with practical exposure to the fundamentals of rocketry and satellite systems. Each team is required to design, develop, and launch a model rocket capable of deploying a CANSAT (7U SAT) weighing one kilogram at an altitude of one kilometre.