Featured Astrobites
Our latest posts
Guest – Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: Transgender Astrophysics in America
In today’s beyond post, an anonymous author reflects on why being transgender in astrophysics often feels like something best left unspoken, and what can be done.
What if Mars were a Stranger (Thing)?
If our familiar red neighbor were a stranger light-years away, would we even know what we were looking at?
Seeing Stars: Juicing up JWST with 5000x Magnification
We pointed JWST at a galaxy magnified 5000 times by the universe–what did we learn by seeing the unseeable?
Surfing the (Cosmic) Web
How astronomers used the largest JWST survey to build a new map of the Universe
So, Trump fired the National Science Board. But what is the National Science Board?
Trump fired all 24 members of the National Science Board at the end of April. In this bite we explore what this means for the NSF, science funding, and, more broadly, the American government, with a perspective from Dr. Keivan Stassun, an astrophysicist at Vanderbilt and a recent NSB member.
Little Red Dots and Shaq’s Huge Feet
Little Red Dots may just be the Shaqs of the galaxy world: extreme and impressive, but not a new kind of object.
Beyond astro-ph
Astronomy beyond the research
![[Beyond] Why Go Back to the Moon? Artemis II, Explained](https://astrobites.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Artemis_II_patch-320x260.png)
[Beyond] Why Go Back to the Moon? Artemis II, Explained
Artemis II successfully launched on April 1st, 2026! But, why are we going back over 53 years later?
![[Beyond] Undergraduate astronomy degrees vary widely. Here’s what could be done to fix that.](https://astrobites.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-17-at-16.40.06-320x260.png)
[Beyond] Undergraduate astronomy degrees vary widely. Here’s what could be done to fix that.
A survey of physics and astronomy departments across the country has shown that degrees in astronomy can be pretty different. Read more about the AAS SURGE committee’s findings and recommendations!
An introduction to Obsidian for the busy astronomer
Whether you’re looking for a new way to organize your thoughts or just want to experiment with a different workflow, Obsidian offers a refreshing, local-first approach to note-taking. Here is a quick, no-frills guide to getting started with Obsidian.
Navigating careers in astronomy
Career advice
Meet the AAS Keynote Speakers: Dr Meredith Hughes
Today, we interview Dr Meredith Hughes, associate professor of astronomy at Wesleyan University
Beyond: The Astronomy Community on Bluesky
Social media is a powerful opportunity to democratize access to academia. The community of astronomers on the Bluesky platform is rapidly growing, and invite you to join them.
Deepening Broader Impacts: Mentorship, DEI, and Career Advancement at AAS 245
From Tyler Smith: The National Osterbrock Leadership Program (NOLP) is an initiative that equips early-career astronomers with the tools to integrate mentorship, leadership, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into their professional practices. Catch their session at #AAS245.