Astronomy (Space)

A moon lander has reached lunar orbit, heading for an attempt at the first US touchdown on Earth's nearest celestial neighbour in more than 50 years.

The quasar is powered by the fastest-growing supermassive black hole ever observed – 17 billion times the mass of the sun.

Australian National University researchers discover a black hole whose mass is roughly 17 billion times that of our Sun, and exists within the brightest currently known thing being continually powered in the universe.

A Queensland-built rocket will strive to reach orbit from the northern town of Bowen in what company bosses say is the first locally made craft to lift-off from Australian soil.

The launch further enhances the country's space credentials, following the historic "pinpoint" moon landing of Japan's SLIM spacecraft last month.

Japan's space agency has launched a second test model of its new rocket H3, a year after the first failed test. 

Only five countries have scored a successful lunar landing and no private business has done it yet. 

New cameras are being installed in WA towns to help monitor and map meteors that pose potential threats to satellites and astronauts.

Western Australia's role in an international network studying meteors expands with amateur astronomers and community groups hosting new camera equipment in regional towns.

It's 2,000 times smaller than Earth's Moon, but astronomers say Mimas is one of five moons in our solar system which might be able to support life.

Oleg Kononenko is expected to reach a total of 1,000 days in space on June 5, and by late September he will have clocked 1,110 days.

From colourful smidges to striking streaks and captivating swirls, the latest gallery of interstellar snapshots has it all.

One month into the new year and the James Webb Space Telescope is offering scientists fresh insights on star formation, galactic structure and evolution through a series of images. 

The official space weather alert wording was careful and contained no guarantees, but veteran aurora australis hunter Margaret Sonneman said that would not stop those keen for a chance to photograph a cosmic light show. 

Japan's space agency says it hopes a shift in the sunlight's angle will hit the solar panels of its 'Moon sniper' in a way that can restore its functions.

Emily McLaren needs $12,000 to go to an American space camp. Recycling about 60,000 containers will help her save for half of it and ease the burden on her parents.

Japan is planning to land a car-sized spacecraft on the Moon this week. If SLIM succeeds, it will make history and pave the way for building landers that can explore the Solar System's  planets and moons.

Broken Hill's wettest January day on record leaves a clear view of the cosmos in its wake, exciting tourists and locals keen to catch a glimpse.

Astronomers have discovered a surprising "signal" from outside of our galaxy after analysing 13 years of data from NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope.

A space company with plans to launch 50 rockets a year from the remote NT has dismissed fears about missiles being launched from the site, but still has ambitions to work with defence.

The US space agency pushes back Moon flights due to safety and technical issues, after the Peregrine lander suffered a major blow.

A high school art teacher from Wollongong is among 30,000 creators from around the world whose art has been digitised for a commercial mission to the moon. 

A private company's Peregrine lander appears unlikely to complete its original mission after running into issues on its way to the Moon.

Australian artworks are featured among thousands of others that have been digitised and included in a time capsule sent to the moon.

Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Technology aims to be the first private company to successfully land on the Moon, something only four countries have accomplished.