universe articles

Are all galaxies moving apart?

Are all galaxies moving apart?

The simple answer to whether all galaxies are moving apart is a definitive no, although the vast majority are receding f...

What happens if the universe expands too fast?

What happens if the universe expands too fast?

The universe isn't just getting bigger; it’s stretching at an ever-increasing rate, a phenomenon that has left cosmologi...

Is every galaxy a spiral?

Is every galaxy a spiral?

The universe is populated by countless island universes, each containing billions of stars, and while the iconic, pinwhe...

Is the Milky Way a universe or galaxy?

Is the Milky Way a universe or galaxy?

The bright band we sometimes see arching across a truly dark night sky—the Milky Way—is one of the most recognizable cel...

What came before the stars?

What came before the stars?

The grand cosmic tapestry we observe today, peppered with countless galaxies, nebulae, and the familiar glow of establis...

What was before the stars?

What was before the stars?

The universe, in its infancy, was a place vastly different from the star-studded expanse we observe tonight. Before the ...

Why is hydrogen so important to the universe?

Why is hydrogen so important to the universe?

The initial appearance of hydrogen, the simplest of all elements, sets the stage for everything that has ever been obser...

How many galaxies are there in the cosmos universe?

How many galaxies are there in the cosmos universe?

Trying to pin down the exact number of galaxies scattered across the cosmos is one of astronomy’s most humbling exercise...

What is the largest structure in the hierarchy of the universe?

What is the largest structure in the hierarchy of the universe?

The grand architecture of the cosmos is arranged in a pattern far grander than any human-made city or nation; it is a va...

What are the biggest structured things in space called?

What are the biggest structured things in space called?

When we look up at the night sky, it seems like the stars and galaxies are scattered randomly, a beautiful, chaotic spra...

What is the large scale structure (LSS)?

What is the large scale structure (LSS)?

The universe on the largest observable scales is far from uniform; instead, matter is arranged in a distinct, interconne...

Are supernovas the brightest thing in the universe?

Are supernovas the brightest thing in the universe?

The sudden illumination of a dying star represents one of the most profound light shows the universe can produce. For a ...

What is inside of the Andromeda Galaxy?

What is inside of the Andromeda Galaxy?

The Andromeda Galaxy, known formally as Messier 31 (M31), is our nearest major galactic neighbor, a massive spiral struc...

Are most galaxies red or blue-shifted?

Are most galaxies red or blue-shifted?

The shift in the light emanating from distant cosmic objects tells a profound story about the structure and motion of th...

Is the universe red-shifted?

Is the universe red-shifted?

The light reaching us from distant galaxies carries an unmistakable signature written into its very fabric, a clue that ...

Is the universe experiencing red shift or blue shift?

Is the universe experiencing red shift or blue shift?

The light from the overwhelming majority of objects in the cosmos arrives stretched, meaning the universe, on its grande...

How did Galileo's discovery of the Galilean moons of Jupiter impact our understanding of the universe?

How did Galileo's discovery of the Galilean moons of Jupiter impact our understanding of the universe?

The initial flicker of light Galileo Galilei noticed in January of 1610, when pointing his newly improved telescope towa...