Space

Astronomy

Starry Data Support Revved-Up Cosmos

Astronomers have confirmed one of the weirdest properties of the universe: Some mysterious force is pushing galaxies apart at a faster and faster rate.

Astronomy

Some of galaxy’s dark matter comes to light

A new study adds to the evidence that astronomers have unveiled some of the dark matter in our galaxy and that it's pretty ordinary stuff—white dwarfs, the cold, compact embers of low-mass stars.

Astronomy

Creating a warmer, wetter Mars

A new study adds to the evidence that past volcanic activity could have temporarily created a warmer, wetter Mars, a place on which water once flowed freely.

Planetary Science

Debate over life in Mars rock rekindles

Two recent studies could inject new life into the argument that a 4-billion-year-old Martian meteorite contains fossils of bacteria from the Red Planet but several scientists say the reports fall short of resurrecting that notion.

Astronomy

Magnetic flip heralds solar max

Scientists have found another indicator that the sun has reached the maximum of its current activity cycle: The polarity of its magnetic field has reversed.

Astronomy

In moon race, Saturn is still champ

New discoveries have raised the retinue of Saturn's known moons to 30, making the ringed planet the solar system's champ.

Planetary Science

Images suggest icy eruptions on Ganymede

New stereo images of Ganymede, the solar system's largest satellite, suggest that eruptions of water or slushy ice a billion or more years ago gave parts of the moon a facelift, creating long, flat bands of nearly pure water-ice.

Astronomy

Mining the Sky

A proposed national virtual observatory, a mammoth computer database integrating spectra, images, and other information covering the entire sky, could usher in a new age of discovery in astronomy.

Astronomy

Cassini at Jupiter: Eyeing the Io torus

The Cassini spacecraft has captured the most detailed images ever taken of the Io torus, a doughnut-shaped ring of charged particles that surrounds Jupiter and is replenished by the planet's moon Io.

Astronomy

Ancient Mars water: A deep source?

A new analysis of a Mars meteorite that fell to Earth suggests that much of the water believed to have once flowed on the surface of the Red Planet came from eruptions of molten rock that originated deep within the planet.

Astronomy

Distant cluster suggests low-weight cosmos

Lured by the radio beacon of a faraway galaxy, astronomers have discovered the most distant cluster of galaxies known in the universe.

Planetary Science

Happy landing: Craft descends onto Eros

On Feb. 12, NEAR Shoemaker became the first spacecraft to land on an asteroid, the space rock 433 Eros.