The detection of exoplanets, or planets outside our solar system, has revolutionized astronomy. Over 5,000 exoplanets have been confirmed, many in the habitable zone, raising questions about potential extraterrestrial life.
Discovered in 1965 by Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson, cosmic microwave background radiation is the afterglow of the Big Bang. It provides critical evidence for the Big Bang theory and helps us understand the universe's early state.
In the late 1920s, Edwin Hubble observed that distant galaxies are moving away from us, leading to the conclusion that the universe is expanding. This discovery laid the foundation for modern cosmology.
The existence of black holes was theorized in the early 20th century, but direct evidence came from the observation of gravitational waves and the Event Horizon Telescope capturing the first image of a black hole in 2019.
Observations of galaxy rotation and the universe's expansion suggested the existence of dark matter and dark energy, which together comprise about 95% of the universe. Their exact nature remains one of the greatest mysteries in cosmology.
The discovery of water in various forms on Mars, including polar ice caps and evidence of past rivers and lakes, has significant implications for the possibility of past life and future human colonization.
Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 have provided invaluable data about the outer planets and now continue to send back information from interstellar space, expanding our understanding of the solar system and beyond.
First detected in 2015 by LIGO, gravitational waves confirm a key prediction of Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity. These ripples in spacetime, caused by colliding black holes or neutron stars, open a new era in astrophysics, allowing us to observe cosmic events previously undetectable.