AI transforms astronomy, helping uncover rare cosmic events and making telescopes data-smart

A breakthrough discovery in July 2023 — the explosion of a star being torn apart by a black hole — underscores how artificial intelligence (AI) is dramatically shifting the landscape of astronomy.

Astronomers identified SN 2023zkd, located 730 million light-years away, using an AI-powered tool that instantly flags unusual cosmic phenomena. The star’s protracted brightening and unexpected re-brightening marked it as a unique supernova — potentially a new class altogether.

This case exemplifies AI’s growing prowess in sifting through massive astronomical datasets and isolating rare events. Astronomers now rely on AI to process terabytes of telescope data — far beyond human capacity — masking noise, enhancing images, and classifying objects at an unprecedented scale.

Sharper images of celestial structures. April 2023 saw an AI-assisted improvement of the now-iconic image of the supermassive black hole at the centre of galaxy M87.

Using machine learning–based image enhancement techniques, scientists clarified features crucial for accurate mass estimation.

Supercharged exoplanet detection. AI tools like ExoMiner have transformed the identification of planets outside our solar system. ExoMiner analyzes light curve data from missions like Kepler and TESS with close to 94% accuracy, outperforming traditional manual methods.

Automating galaxy classification and transient event detection. Machine learning now categorizes galaxies based on morphology with up to 98% accuracy and identifies fleeting phenomena like supernovae or fast radio bursts in vast cosmic surveys.

Exploring dark matter, dark energy, and gravitational waves. AI-driven models analyze wide-field surveys from initiatives like the Dark Energy Survey or the Vera Rubin Observatory to identify subtle patterns tied to these elusive cosmic components.

It also plays a vital role in gravitational-wave detection—helping LIGO sift through noise and improve event identification in real time.

Autonomous detection of cosmic rays. A 2025 study unveiled an AI-powered self-triggering system for radio antenna arrays that detects cosmic-ray air showers autonomously—eliminating false positives and enabling near-instantaneous event response.

Real-time monitoring via robotic observatories. Global networks like BOOTES leverage automation and AI control to rapidly observe and track transient cosmic events—such as gamma-ray bursts—across different continents.

All these advancements illustrate the rise of Astroinformatics, a dynamic interdisciplinary field blending astronomy with data science, machine learning, and big data analytics to deepen cosmic exploration.

The AI system that caught SN 2023zkd detected glaring anomalies, such as its four-year sustained brightness and a rare double flash pattern.

The star was in a decaying orbit around a small black hole, resulting in dislodged gases and an explosive event unlike any previously recorded. This full, detailed observation opens new windows into star-black hole dynamics and declares AI as the new frontier in transient astronomy detection.