Quasars acting as strong gravitational lenses are among the rarest finds in astronomy. Out of nearly 300,000 quasars catalogued in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, only twelve candidates were identified, and just three confirmed. These systems are exceptionally valuable because they allow astronomers to precisely measure the mass of a quasar's host galaxy, something that is normally impossible given that the overwhelming brightness of the quasar itself drowns out its surroundings.
Space News & Blog Articles
Tune into the SpaceZE News Network to stay updated on industry news from around the world.
China's 900 Metre Impact Crater Rewrites Recent History
Nestled on a hillside in Guangdong Province near Zhaoqing City, the Jinlin crater managed to hide in plain sight until researchers identified it as an impact structure. Only about 200 confirmed impact craters exist worldwide, making each discovery scientifically valuable. But this one stands out for its exceptional size and youth.
The Standard Cosmological Model Is The Simplest Model Of The Universe, But Not The Only One
So if the standard model of cosmology is wrong, what alternative is there?
Maryland lawmakers demand answers for NASA changes at Goddard Space Flight Center
Lawmakers are demanding answers from NASA about unexplained building closures and workforce losses at the Goddard Space Flight Center during the government shutdown.
What's the deal with the deep space transmission and alien 'happy' virus in Apple TV's 'Pluribus'?
Puzzled about Apple TV's new sci-fi series from Vince Gilligan? We just want to help!
Have Astronomers Discovered the First Generation of Stars?
With the help of an intervening galaxy cluster, astronomers have found what might be the first generation of stars — but the jury's still out.
A solar prominence hovers over the Sun
Video: 00:00:22
The Sun is always mesmerising to watch, but Solar Orbiter captured a special treat on camera: a dark ‘prominence’ sticking out from the side of the Sun.
Viltrox AF 27mm f/ 1.2 Pro lens review
The Viltrox AF 27mm f/ 1.2 Pro lens is extremely well made, like all lenses in Viltrox’s PRO and LAB series. It’s also compact and lightweight for a lens offering an f/1.2 maximum aperture.
Deep 'scratches' and craters on Mars tell the tale of a Red Planet ice age
New images from the Mars Express orbiter reveal evidence of a past ice age at Mars's mid-latitudes and shine light on the planet's dynamic climate history.
Miniature Binary Star System Hosts Three Earth-sized Exoplanets
A trio of exoplanets may challenge what we know about planetary formation.
NOAA satellite sees glowing auroras from orbit | Space photo of the day for Nov. 14, 2025
A powerful geomagnetic storm created a series of brilliant auroras recently for observers across North America.
Demand for JWST's Observational Time Hits A New Peak
Getting time on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is the dream of many astronomers. The most powerful space telescope currently in our arsenal, the JWST has been in operation for almost four years at this point, after a long and tumultuous development time. Now, going into its fifth year of operation, the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), the organization that operates the science and mission operations centers for the JWST has received its highest number ever of submission for observational programs. Now a team of volunteer judges and the institute's scientists just have to pick which ones will actually get telescope time.
Sun fires off 2nd-strongest flare of 2025, sparking radio blackouts across Africa
The eruption was accompanied by a CME, which is currently under analysis to assess whether any part of it is headed for Earth.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, November 14 – 23
Saturn's rings are turning as edge-on as we will see them for another 15 years. The planet awaits your scope high in the evening sky. Low in the dawn, the thin Moon approaches Venus.
ESA pinpoints 3I/ATLAS’s path with data from Mars
Since comet 3I/ATLAS, the third known interstellar object, was discovered on 1 July 2025, astronomers worldwide have worked to predict its trajectory. ESA has now improved the comet’s predicted location by a factor of 10, thanks to the innovative use of observation data from our ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) spacecraft orbiting Mars.
Earth from Space: Prague
Image: This very high-resolution image captures the beautiful medieval core of the Czech capital, Prague.
ESCAPADE Mission Launches for a Long Trip to Mars
A small but unique mission to Mars is taking an innovative path to reach the Red Planet in late 2027.
New Research Helps Narrow the Search for Elusive Neutrino Sources
While the Universe may appear serene and inspiring at first glance, it is actually filled with particles traveling at nearly the speed of light that possess immense energy. These consist primarily of atomic nuclei and subatomic particles, such as protons, electrons, and neutrinos, which constantly bombard Earth. The origin of these particles remains one of the longest-standing mysteries in modern astrophysics. A leading theory is that they are created by extreme events, such as supernovae and tidal disruption events (TDEs), which occur when stars are ripped apart by black holes.
Blue Origin launches twin Mars probes for NASA as New Glenn makes first landing
New Glenn lifts off from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral, carrying twin Mars probes for NASA. Image: Michael Cain/Spaceflight Now.
Blue Origin launched its second heavy-lift New Glenn rocket Thursday, putting two small NASA satellites onto a long, looping course to Mars to learn more about how the sun has slowly blown away the red planet’s once thick atmosphere.
Key Space Agencies and Organizations
This document provides a brief overview of major space agencies and organizations involved in space exploration, research, and development.
