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A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>A stellar spire in the Eagle Nebula. One new theory which is gaining some traction suggests the Universe is actually 27 billion years old. That’s twice as old as we thought until recently. Picture: NASA/PA Wire</p>

outdoors

Sky Matters: The universe still challenges our understanding of it as we get to know it

We should not despair that we live in a universe which is beyond our understanding. We can in fact be confident that we do understand much about how the universe works

<p>Artemis II crew [NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen] in front of an Orion simulator on January 23 at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Picture: NASA/Robert Markowitz</p>

outdoors

Sky Matters: February's big space event is NASA’s Artemis II mission

<p>The Northern Lights at Crosshaven, Co Cork, on January 19, 2026. Pictures: Joleen Cronin</p>

comment-analysis

Patrick Holloway: Aurora borealis brought magic to an ordinary night

Northern lights: Cork gets to see spectacular aurora borealis

munster

Northern lights: Cork gets to see spectacular aurora borealis

Teenage girl observing the winter night sky with telescope

outdoors

January is the best month for astronomy — here's what to look out for

Merry Christmas Santa Claus flying in UFO spaceship flying saucer with gift boxes in space Earh night. Vector illustration isola

outdoors

Planets Santa might end up visiting... next year?

Sky Matters: rogue star wandering the galaxy since before the earth or sun was born gets a temporary comet tail

Sky Matters: rogue star wandering the galaxy since before the earth or sun was born gets a temporary comet tail

For most of its journey 3I/ATLAS has been frozen solid, but the warming rays of our Sun are enough to unfreeze some of its gases such as carbon dioxide, generating a faint cometary tail. For a period of a few weeks 3I/ATLAS comes alive, only to pass out of the solar system and spend perhaps the next billion years or more back in its frozen state

Sat, 01 Nov, 2025

A Beautiful Ireland milkyway pictures

Sky Matters: When to see this week's Orionid meteor shower — and how

While dark skies make it easiest to see the Orionids, don’t be put off by not having access to a pristine location

Mon, 20 Oct, 2025

Sky Matters: The best times and places to see the lunar eclipse on September 7

Sky Matters: The best times and places to see the lunar eclipse on September 7

And the Autumnal Equinox is on September 22 — this is the date when the length of day and night are equal for every one of Earth's 8.2 billion people

Mon, 01 Sep, 2025

Perseid meteor shower

Sky Matters: It's August so it's time to look out for Perseids

This month the most famous meteor shower — the Perseids — will peak on the evening of August 12

Sat, 02 Aug, 2025

Solar Eclipse 2024: Friends and family

Sky Matters: Two eclipses this month — how to see the blood moon lunar eclipse on Friday

There will be a lunar eclipse in the early hours of March 14 and a solar eclipse on March 29

Thu, 13 Mar, 2025

Milky way in Caldera De Taburiente Nature Park, La Palma Island, Canary Islands, Spain

Sky Matters: Find a dark site on a cloudless night — to change your sense of place in the universe

Human space travel won't always be the preserve of the elite but until then there are other ways to experience the dramatic beauty of space

Sun, 02 Feb, 2025