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What if there are intelligent lifeforms elsewhere in the universe? And what if all we need to do to find them is to listen to the right radio frequency at the right time?

In its operation for over 25 years, NASA’s Chandra X-Ray Observatory has changed our understanding of the universe. 

When the Chandra X-Ray Observatory launched 25 years ago, it showed us our universe in a whole new light (literally). 

A preview of the U.S. National Science Foundation Discovering Our Universe gallery.

Using some of the world’s largest radio telescopes to scan the stars for signals astronomers have been listening for signs of extraterrestrial life.

Astronomer Phil Plait recently published Under Alien Skies. We caught up with him in this interview.

What’s new in aviation and space.

Instruments in the Smithsonian collection trace the story of how humans have explored the universe for thousands of years. Join us in taking a look at just a few examples! 

When you look up you can see the stars, the Moon, and sometimes even other planets! We know what these otherworldly objects are because of centuries of research carried out by curious stargazers before us.  

We’ve all seen the breathtaking Hubble and JWST images of our universe, but have you ever wondered how these pictures are made?