10 Wild Things Astronomers Discovered While Chasing Something Else

More often than not, astronomers have a specific something they’re looking for when searching the cosmos. But the universe is achingly huge and mysterious, leading to discoveries no one ever set out to find.

These unexpected catches often end up being way cooler and more significant than what astronomers intended to explore. Here are ten of our favorite “accidental” cosmic discoveries—unintentional findings that nevertheless contributed greatly to our understanding of the universe.

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