Created by astrophysicist Richard Powell, An Atlas of the Universe is a Web site that allows visitors to see nine main maps of the universe, ranging from 12.5 light years to 15 billion light years from the sun. Each map then contains several other corresponding maps as well as descriptions of what is being shown. The maps give perspective to the vastness that lies beyond earth and explains,...

Ricky Leon Murphy decided to create this website when he was working towards a master’s degree in astronomy, and he still keeps it updated regularly, along with the assistance of his wife, Chanthirar. The site has been the recipient of several awards over the past few years, and visitors looking for basic and accessible information about the world of astronomy will not be disappointed. Near the...

The Australian Centre for Astrobiology performs research in physics, astronomy, and cosmology, as well as investigates the possibility of life beyond Earth. After learning about the Centre's latest news and events, users can find summaries of the many current research projects including studies of ancient hydrothermal systems, remote sensing of the atmosphere of Venus, and varying constants. The...

Understanding the universe and space in all its complexity has consumed the passions of many people over the millennia. With an interest in bringing material from the world of scientific cosmology to the web-browsing public, the American Institute of Physics and the Center for History of Physics have created this website. The site is divided into two primary areas, titled “Ideas” and “Tools”. In...

Astronomy buffs, stargazers, and students of all ages will want to check out CosmoQuest, an online community space where citizen scientists can participate in expanding our knowledge of the universe through collaboration with scientists from NASA, OSIRIS-REx, Dawn, and other organizations. While the citizen science aspects of CosmoQuest are on hold (as of this writing), visitors can still find...

The European Southern Observatory (ESO) is an intergovernmental organization comprised of 14 member countries. Its headquarters are in Germany, but they have three observatories in Chile as well. Their website is loaded with information and visitors shouldn't miss going on the "Virtual Tours", on the far right side of the homepage. The tours are of the three observatories in Chile, and offer...

The first reading from a cosmic "uranium clock" using The European Southern Observatory (ESO) Very-large Telescope (VLT) UV-Visual Echelle Spectrograph came out this month. The Chilean-based VLT is the world's largest optical telescope array. It holds a visual spectograph that was used to measure the amount of the radioactive isotope Uranium-238 in a star named CS 31082-001 that was born when our...

The Hubble Telescope's "deepest-ever view of the universe" is available for viewing. "Several hundred never before seen galaxies are visible in this 'deepest-ever' view of the universe, called the Hubble Deep Field (HDF), made with NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. Besides the classical spiral and elliptical shaped galaxies, there is a bewildering variety of other galaxy shapes and colors that are...

The University of Oxford's Bodleian Library is home to a rare manuscript entitled (through a rough English translation) Book of Curiosities of the Sciences and Marvels for the Eyes. This manuscript, which was authored sometime in the eleventh century, features diagrams, maps, and text that highlight the work of Muslim astronomers, scholars, and historians, "most of which are unparalleled in any...

NOVA's Runaway Universe site is the companion Web site to the television program of the same name, which followed the efforts of two rival teams of astronomers as they search for exploding stars, map out gigantic cosmic patterns of galaxies, and grapple with the ultimate question: What is the fate of the universe? Visitors of the site will find an interactive timeline of the universe, learn what...