From the stars that light our night sky to enormous galaxies across the observable Universe, space is filled with structures on almost unimaginable scales. Explore how stars are born, live and die, discover the nebulae and star clusters around them, journey through the Milky Way and beyond to other galaxies, and learn about some of the most extreme objects in the Universe.
Explore the Stars
Stars are the building blocks of galaxies and among the most important objects in the Universe. They come in an enormous range of sizes, temperatures, and colors, and they change dramatically during their lifetimes. Start by exploring the different types of stars, then follow the stellar life cycle from the formation of a new star to its eventual fate.
→ Different Types of Stars
Discover the main types of stars, how astronomers classify them and examples you can find in the night sky.
→ Life Cycle of a Star
Follow how stars form, evolve and die, from stellar nurseries to white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes.
→ The 10 Brightest Stars in the Night Sky
Discover the brightest stars visible from Earth, how they compare and where to find them in the night sky.
Nebulae & Star Clusters
Stars do not exist in isolation. Many are born within cold, dense regions of vast clouds of gas and dust, while others are found together in star clusters containing hundreds, thousands, or even millions of stars. Nebulae and star clusters reveal different parts of the story of stellar birth, evolution, and the structure of our galaxy.
→ Nebulae
Discover what nebulae are, how they form and the different types found throughout our galaxy.
→ Star Clusters
Explore how star clusters form and the differences between open clusters and ancient globular clusters.
Our Galaxy — The Milky Way
The Sun is just one of the vast number of stars that make up the Milky Way. Our galaxy is an enormous system of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter, with the Solar System located about 26,000 light-years from the galactic center in a region known as the Local, or Orion, Arm. Explore the structure of the Milky Way, where we are within it, and how our galaxy fits into the wider Universe.
→ The Milky Way
Explore the structure and scale of our home galaxy, from its spiral arms and central region to the location of our Solar System.
Beyond the Milky Way
The Milky Way is only one galaxy among the vast population found throughout the observable Universe. Galaxies come in many shapes and sizes, from spirals like our own to enormous elliptical galaxies and smaller irregular systems. They can gather into groups and clusters and change over billions of years through star formation, interactions, and mergers.
→ Galaxies
Discover what galaxies are, how they form and evolve, the main galaxy types, and how the Milky Way fits into the larger cosmic picture.
Black Holes & Stellar Remnants
What remains after a star reaches the end of its life depends largely on its initial mass. Stars like the Sun eventually leave behind dense white dwarfs, while much more massive stars can end as neutron stars or black holes. These stellar remnants contain matter in some of its most extreme forms and provide astronomers with remarkable laboratories for studying gravity, matter, and the final stages of stellar evolution.
Black Holes
Explore how black holes form, what happens around them and why their immense gravity makes them some of the most extraordinary objects in the Universe.
Neutron Stars
Discover the incredibly dense remnants left behind by some massive stars after they explode as supernovae.
White Dwarfs
Learn about the compact stellar remnants left behind when stars like the Sun reach the end of their lives.
Explore More About Stars & Space
There is always more to discover. Explore fascinating facts, unusual objects and some of the stranger phenomena found among the stars and across the wider Universe.
10 Fun Facts About Outer Space
Discover surprising facts about the strange, extreme and sometimes unexpected nature of space.
10 Interesting Facts About the Milky Way Galaxy
Explore fascinating facts about our galaxy, its enormous scale and our place within it.
Top 10 Facts About Black Holes
Discover some of the most remarkable properties of black holes, from their immense gravity to what happens near an event horizon.