Astronomy

  1. Astronomy

    Stellar Spectacular: Brightest supernova

    Astronomers have discovered the brightest stellar explosion ever observed, and it could be the first example of a rare type of supernova involving a freakishly massive star.

    By Ron Cowen
  2. Astronomy

    Back to (Near) the Beginning: Galactic springtime

    In their quest to capture ever-earlier moments of cosmic history, astronomers may have found some of the first galaxies.

    By Ron Cowen
  3. Astronomy

    Eclipsing a black hole

    A chance eclipse has enabled astronomers for the first time to measure the width of a disk of swirling, hot matter around a supermassive black hole.

    By Ron Cowen
  4. Astronomy

    Late Bloomer: Hubble studies once-dormant galaxy

    A wispy dwarf galaxy called Leo A has the potential to change the way astronomers build theoretical models of galaxy evolution.

    By Ron Cowen
  5. Astronomy

    Ticket to Ride?

    Astronomers are investigating how they might jump on NASA's lunar bandwagon, using the moon or its environs to study distant stars and galaxies.

    By Ron Cowen
  6. Astronomy

    First Family: Pluto-size body has siblings

    Astronomers have found the first family of objects in the Kuiper belt, a remote outpost of the solar system beyond the orbit of Neptune.

    By Ron Cowen
  7. Astronomy

    Dance of the dead

    Astronomers have found what appears to be the fastest-spinning stellar corpse known.

    By Ron Cowen
  8. Astronomy

    Alien Light: Taking the spectra of extrasolar planets

    Astronomers have for the first time recorded the spectra of light emitted by two extrasolar planets.

    By Ron Cowen
  9. Astronomy

    Studies of Light and Shadow

    Two new surveys of the night sky examine the two facets of galaxy formation: the glitter and the gloom.

    By Ron Cowen
  10. Astronomy

    On the Trail of Dead Planets: Dust ring around a white dwarf

    Infrared observations have depicted the dusty vestiges of a planetary system dancing around a dead star.

    By Ron Cowen
  11. Astronomy

    Tiny shutters for new observatory

    A recently developed device, known as a microshutter, will allow the proposed James Webb Space Telescope to simultaneously record the spectra of light from 100 galaxies.

    By Ron Cowen
  12. Astronomy

    Kaput: Hubble’s main camera stops working

    The sharpest, most sensitive camera on the aging Hubble Space Telescope has stopped working.

    By Ron Cowen