News & Comment

Satellite mega-constellations operated by developed countries are affecting the pristine night skies of other nations, affecting astronomical observations and Indigenous practices. International regulation that includes the views of Indigenous peoples and appropriate compensation are called for.

Increasing limits are being placed on astronomy by external factors. We encourage astronomers to be equipped and active in the defence of their vocation.

The British philosopher Mary Midgley once remarked that philosophy is like plumbing: you don’t notice it until things start to smell funny. And astronomers are beginning to sniff the air. As AI transforms astronomical research, scientists are confronting foundational philosophical questions about the nature of discovery and understanding — questions that call for collaboration with philosophers of science.

From early particle calculations to today’s models, numerical simulations have reshaped the way physicists investigate the Universe. This overview examines how the next generation of high-performance computing systems — characterized by unprecedented scale and substantial technical complexity —will create opportunities for astronomical discovery, from plasma physics to cosmological structure formation.

Paul Dirac might have said, “it is more important to have beauty in one’s [cosmological models] than to have them fit [observations]”, but the Universe is turning out to be more complex than even he might have thought. While cosmological tensions may be ironed out with the help of more observational data, perhaps we will have to come to terms with leaving a wrinkle or two?

NASA’s Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) mission will provide a revolutionary view of Martian space weather, and a new paradigm for low-cost deep space missions.

The calendar for 2026 looks set to be busy for the scientific and human exploration of the Solar System, the Galaxy and the wider Universe. From long-awaited planetary rendez-vous to cutting-edge telescope launches, these events will define the frontiers of astronomy, this year and beyond.