Stories From A Space Journalist

A bizarre star system 1,300 light-years away might contain evidence for the first known ‘circumtriple planet’ – a world orbiting three suns. Plus, two researchers have a wild idea to hunt for dark matter, by looking for evidence of black holes tearing through the Moon.

Newly discovered solar superflares could pose havoc to our modern way of life, potentially taking the internet offline and erasing digital records. How worried should we be? Plus, mega constellations like SpaceX’s Starlink are launching thick and fast, and if they aren’t regulated soon our night sky might never look the same.

Last week, SpaceX sent a crew of non-astronauts to space on the Inspiration4 mission. Is it the dawn of a new era of commercial space travel? Also, NASA plans to practice saving Earth from an asteroid – with some unexpectedly chaotic results.

Two strange asteroids found in the asteroid belt might hint at a grand planetary dance in the early Solar System. Also this week, we’ve finally peered under the surface of Mars. What did we see, and what can it tell us?

A strange brown dwarf called “The Accident” has astronomers wondering exactly what the difference is between a planet and a star. Also this week, is NASA’s Curiosity rover sitting right on top of a methane source on Mars, and is it linked to life?

A strange cosmic explosion in 2018 nicknamed "the Cow" baffled astronomers, but now they might have solved the case – by catching a glimpse of the black hole responsible. Also this week, we long thought Apollo 11’s Eagle spacecraft crashed back into the Moon's surface after being left in lunar orbit in July 1969. But did it? Join space journalist Jonathan O’Callaghan as he finds out. Follow him on Twitter @Astro_Jonny