Gallery: Space Photos of the Week: Nobody Knows How Old This Dang Star Is

  • Image may contain Universe Space Astronomy Outer Space and Nebula
    <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2016/nasa-team-probes-peculiar-age-defying-star">NASA</a>
    01

    SPOW-Sept2-05.jpg

    How old is this star? When it comes to the red object in the center of this photo, researchers are divided: some believe it’s an elderly red supergiant, others suggest it may be a protostar still in the making.
  • Image may contain Universe Space Moon Night Astronomy Outdoors Outer Space Nature and Planet
    <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/jupiter-s-north-pole-unlike-anything-encountered-in-solar-system">NASA</a>
    02

    SPOW-Sept2-08.gif

    Taken by NASA’s Juno spacecraft, this photo is one of the first images ever taken of Jupiter’s north pole. The pole has storms and weather unlike those seen so far on any other gas-giant planets in our solar system: Look closely to see possible cloud shadows, suggesting that the clouds are at a high altitude.
  • Image may contain Light and Flare
    <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/goddard/2016/hubbles-best-image-of-alpha-centauri-a-and-b">NASA</a>
    03

    SPOW-Sept2-07.gif

    This image shows Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B, two stars in the star system closest to Earth, only 4.3 light-years away. Because of their proximity, the two stars are top targets in the search for habitable exoplanets.
  • Image may contain Nature Outdoors Collage Advertisement Poster Astronomy Light Flare Universe and Space
    <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2016/images-from-sun-s-edge-reveal-origins-of-solar-wind">NASA</a>
    04

    SPOW-Sept2-06.gif

    The view on the left shows solar wind (a flow of charged particles issued from the sun), captured by NASA’s STEREO spacecraft; the image on the right shows the same view after computer processing that dims the stars, allowing scientists to better observe the wind.
  • Image may contain Universe Space Astronomy Outer Space Outdoors Nature and Nebula
    <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/chandra/record-breaking-galaxy-cluster-discovered.html">NASA</a>
    05

    SPOW-Sept2-02.jpg

    This photo shows the furthest away galaxy cluster yet seen. According to NASA, it may have captured the galaxy undergoing a growth spurt immediately after birth, a stage of galaxy evolution previously undocumented.
  • Image may contain Nature Mountain Outdoors Animal and Bird
    <a href="http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2016/08/Comet_on_17_August_2016_NavCam">ESA</a>
    06

    SPOW-Sept2-01.jpg

    ESA’s Rosetta space probe took this photo of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko when only 8.6 miles from the center of the comet’s nucleus.
Read More
Staunch Trump Supporters Are Now Asking if He’s the Antichrist
The Iran war and a series of social media posts, including one depicting Trump as Jesus Christ, have some conservative commentators and fans suspecting the president may be the antichrist.
Makena Kelly
The Best iRestore Deals on Hair Growth and Red Light Therapy
Today, iRestore is offering up to $900 off select devices and up to $1,550 off bundles.
Boutayna Chokrane
Meta Is Warned That Facial Recognition Glasses Will Arm Sexual Predators
More than 70 organizations, including the ACLU, EPIC, and Fight for the Future, say the AI smart glasses feature would endanger abuse victims, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ people.
Dell Cameron
The Best Fitness Trackers Check Your Sleep, Heart Rate, or Even Your Blood
With almost ten years of hands-on testing, WIRED knows what separates the best fitness trackers from the rest.
Adrienne So
You Should Be More Freaked Out by Shingles
The viral infection leaves millions with chronic pain, increased stroke risk, and lifelong nerve damage—yet vaccination rates remain dangerously low.
Rosie Taylor
BYD’s Fastest-Charging Car in the World Is Astonishing—in Good and Bad Ways
WIRED witnessed the game-changing Denza Z9 GT charge its battery in just 9 minutes. But the pricing for BYD's premium brand looks like a huge mistake.
Jeremy White
The Best Water Filter Pitchers for PFAS- and Lead-Free Living
Water filters promise the moon—but only some back up their claims. Here are the best filtered-water pitchers for those who prefer their water free of heavy metals and forever chemicals.
Matthew Korfhage
The Internet's Most Powerful Archiving Tool Is in Peril
As major news outlets cut off the Wayback Machine, journalists and advocacy groups are rallying to protect the Internet Archive’s vast collection of web pages.
Kate Knibbs
The Dumbest Hack of the Year Exposed a Very Real Problem
Last April, a hacker hijacked crosswalk announcements to mimic Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk. Records obtained by WIRED reveal how unprepared local authorities were.
Paresh Dave
AI Agents Are Coming for Your Dating Life
The developers of Pixel Societies are using AI agents to simulate social interactions. It's an attempt optimize the process of choosing new colleagues, friends, and even romantic partners.
Joel Khalili
The Audacity Is the Broligarchy Takedown You Were Waiting For
AMC’s new black comedy about a manchild tech titan spinning out of control is a skewering Silicon Valley’s billionaire class deserves.
Miles Klee
A Lot of Shops Won't Fix Electric Bikes. Here's Why
Bike shop mechanics have lost fingers and their shirts while repairing ebikes of dubious origins. Make sure yours is repairable and third-party certified.
Stephanie Pearson