OUR UNIVERSE

A faraway star's mysterous dimming was most likely caused by comets, a new study suggests — though it doesn't rule out the much-ballyhooed possibility of an "alien megastructure" in the system. Observations by NASA's planet-hunting Kepler space telescope revealed that the star KIC 8462852, which lies about 1,500 light-years from Earth, dipped in brightness dramatically in 2011 and 2013, dimming by up to 22 percent. Such deep brightness dips puzzle astronomers, who have advanced a number of possible explanations, from a gigantic asteroid collision to a cloud of broken-apart comets to an enormous energy-collecting structure built by an advanced alien civilization. (The alien-megastructure hypothesis is unlikely but nonetheless warrants consideration, many astronomers have said.) Artist's illustration showing a star behind a shattered comet. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech ...

A photon leaps off the sun and, about 500 seconds later, bounces off our Earth. Light has been dancing and rebounding from faraway and nearby celestial objects for more than 13 billion years. It's time you caught some of it for your very own. That's what telescopes do; they gather light. But which telescope you choose to collect that radiance will vary according to your needs and budget. Our editors have selected a few of the best options in four categories. Click on each to read a review of the telescopes in these groups: Best Hobbyist Telescopes for Serious Sky watchers Best Small, Portable Telescopes for Travelers and City-Dwellers Easiest Telescopes for Beginners (Easy to Use) Best Inexpensive Telescopes (A Great Gift Idea) Space.com Editors have selected 12 Great Telescopes in 4 Categories. Are you a traveler? Student of the sky? On a budget? Live in a small home? Do you like digital tech? Or prefer an analog approach? ...