Space science

Find space facts, learn about groundbreaking research and discover what the future holds for space exploration

Photograph of a spherical planet which is mainly cream white with a mottled and textured surface, but with a large patch of brown in the bottom left corner/

The dwarf planets: Pluto, Ceres, Haumea, Makemake and Eris

We’ve all heard of the planets, but what is a dwarf planet? And why isn’t Pluto a planet anymore?
Artist concept of a Martian base, with humans dressed in spacesuits visible in the foreground

How could humans live on Mars?

Astronomer and author Brendan Owens examines the challenges of sending humans to Mars - and what the future holds for our study of the Red Planet
Photograph of a sunrise taken from the International Space Station

How will the Universe end?

Life on Earth, our Sun and Solar System, the Milky Way – all good things must come to an end. But what about the fate of the Universe itself?

15 awe-inspiring astronomy discoveries

Discover 15 incredible astronomy facts that might just change how you see the Universe
Blue hued stars in the Pleiades Cluster

What are the Pleiades?

Take a closer look at the Pleiades, an extremely hot cluster of young stars. Also known as the 'Seven Sisters' or M45, this stellar family has been the subject of numerous myths in cultures worldwide
Image showing blue and black sky with slightly transparent golden and brown dust clouds, through which many stars are visible

The James Webb Space Telescope’s first year of images

Royal Observatory astronomer Julienne Hisole looks back on what we’ve learnt from the pioneering space telescope’s first 12 months of observing
A stylized photo of an astronaut against a black background. They are striding confidently dressed in orange space suit and helmet, and a blur effect makes it look like they are travelling at speed

The new space race: a high-stakes competition of politics and power

Competition between the USA, China and Russia will have consequences for all of us here on Earth. But how is this 21st century space race different to the last one?
An asteroid in space, passing Earth.

The Tunguska Event

Learn more about the Tunguska event in 1908, a highly destructive asteroid explosion that occurred in a remote area of Siberia
Artist's impression of Juice mission going past Jupiter

Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) Mission: All you need to know

How habitable are Jupiter's icy moons? Why is the Solar System's largest moon so unique? How did Jupiter, and other gas giant planets, form? Find out how the European Space Agency's groundbreaking JUICE mission will answer these questions and more.
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