The Why Files » Origin and evolution of the universe

What we did on our summer vacation: Visit Mars!

schulte — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 22:36:00 +0000

It’s a boom time for studying Mars, and the perfect time for the be-all, end-all summer vacation. Ride a robot rover. Dune-buggy an unearthly dune field. Even meet-and-greet a real live Martian! All aboard for Mars!

Star-Burst Fills Empty Hole

schulte — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 21:21:36 +0000

Where did all the dust come from? You don’t care, unless you are interested in the origin of planets and human beings. New study shows a star explosion making mucho dust.

Astronomical Conundrum: Is this a Planet?

schulte — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 22:03:16 +0000

Now there are 10: New study finds object larger than Pluto in the distant solar system. Do we now have 10 planets or 8?

A Bar in the Galaxy! Milky Way’s secret spot

schulte — Fri, 19 Aug 2005 00:58:37 +0000

Think you know the Milky Way, our home galaxy? Think again. There’s a large bar at the center, and it’s open for business. It might even be feeding a black hole… Meet the newest galactic doo-dad…

Saturn’s Secret: Lightning

schulte — Wed, 22 Dec 2004 16:19:21 +0000

A new spaceship is orbiting Saturn, and the first results show massive lightning strikes, haze on moon Titan, and more ring details. Coming soon: Details on Saturn’s gas-bag structure.

Planet Formation

schulte — Wed, 24 Nov 2004 19:03:59 +0000

New view of crystals that form into planets in protoplanetary disks. Which came first, the planet or the crystals?

Amateur Astronomy: Big Contribution

schulte — Thu, 09 Sep 2004 14:51:47 +0000

Amateur astronomers watch variable stars, asteroids, comets -- helping create a better picture of the universe.

Ancient Universe Seen

schulte — Thu, 11 Mar 2004 15:52:46 +0000

Astronomers have just seen galaxies from the first billion years of the universe. They are also racing to understand dark energy, the force that's spreading the universe apart.

Saturn’s Ring Thing

schulte — Thu, 11 Dec 2003 19:05:56 +0000

Why don't the rings of Saturn just disappear over millions of years. It's the recycling, that's why!

X-Ray Astronomy #2: It’s Results Time!

schulte — Thu, 05 Sep 2002 18:17:52 +0000

Chandra, the X-ray astronomy telescope, is three years old. We ogle some of its greatest hits. Caution: These bangs are BIG!