Dust: it’s the source of planets, and so it matters to our understanding of the history and future of the universe. A new study finds More
Seeing fresh dust at a young supernova: Source of the planets?
Origin and evolution of the universe
Dunewatching, Martian style
New pix from Mars show sand dunes on the move. Mars has been dry for 1.5 billion years; could massive erosion be due to wind? Yes, says More
What we did on our summer vacation: Visit Mars!
It’s a boom time for studying Mars, and the perfect time for the be-all, end-all summer vacation. Ride a robot rover. More
Star-Burst Fills Empty Hole
Where did all the dust come from? New study shows a star explosion making mucho dust. More
Astronomical Conundrum: Is this a Planet?
Losing count: New study finds object larger than Pluto in the distant solar system. Do we now have 10 planets — or 8? More
A Bar in the Galaxy! Milky Way’s secret spot
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. More
Saturn’s Secret: Lightning
Cassini finds lightning strikes on Saturn, haze on moon Titan, dust between the rings, and new rotation rate. More
Planet Formation
New view of crystals that form into planets in protoplanetary disks. Which came first, the planet or the crystals? More
Amateur Astronomy: Big Contribution
Amateur astronomers watch variable stars, asteroids, comets — helping create a better picture of the universe. More
Ancient Universe Seen
Astronomers have just seen galaxies from the first billion years of the universe. They are also racing to understand dark energy. More
Saturn’s Ring Thing
Why don’t the rings of Saturn just disappear over millions of years. It’s the recycling, that’s why! More
X-Ray Astronomy #2: It’s Results Time!
Chandra, the X-ray astronomy telescope, is three years old. We ogle some of its greatest hits. Caution: These bangs are BIG! More
Mars Has Big Ice!
Scientists have found ice on Mars. The frozen water, whose quantity may equal Lake Michigan, is within a meter of the surface. More
Sun’s Story: Meet our Star!
New techniques give a better view of the sun, help predict flares, aurora and destruction from the sun. Like staying warm? Like radio? More
Killer Asteroids: Ultimate Impact
New searches are finding lots of asteroids. None of them are aimed at us — yet. How much damage have asteroids done in the past? More