Astronomy
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Astronomy
Telescope finds tiny moon of Jupiter
Astronomers reported the discovery of Jupiter's 17th known moon, the first Jovian moon discovered in 25 years and perhaps the tiniest known satellite of any planet.
By Ron Cowen -
Astronomy
Honors for Science News astronomy writer
Science News astronomy writer Ron Cowen is a recipient of the third David N. Schramm award for distinguished writing on high-energy astrophysics.
By Science News -
Astronomy
Cosmic Afterglow: Gamma-ray bursts may one-up themselves
New observations suggest that gamma-ray bursts may be even more energetic than scientists had estimated.
By Ron Cowen -
Astronomy
Planet’s Slim-Fast Plan: Extrasolar orb is too close for comfort
A new study of the atmosphere of a planet outside the solar system suggests that some orbs will vaporize if they orbit too close to their parent star.
By Ron Cowen -
Astronomy
Ordinary matter: Lost and found
Astronomers believe they have finally found the whereabouts of most of the ordinary matter in the universe.
By Ron Cowen -
Astronomy
Astronomers get radio protection
Astronomers studying the universe at millimeter-wave energies-the high-frequency portion of the radio spectrum-were given an official guarantee last month that commercial satellites and other communication devices won't interfere with the scientists' observations.
By Ron Cowen -
Astronomy
The smashup that rejuvenates
For some elderly stars, the fountain of youth may be only a collision away.
By Ron Cowen -
Astronomy
Death of a pioneer
Pioneer 10, the first spacecraft to reach the fringes of the solar system, appears to have sent its last feeble signal to Earth on Jan. 22.
By Ron Cowen -
Astronomy
Cosmic Doomsday Scenario: Phantom energy would trigger the Big Rip
According to a new model, the universe may end with a Big Rip—every galaxy, star, planet, molecule, and atom torn asunder and the cosmos ceasing to exist some 21 billion years from now.
By Ron Cowen -
Astronomy
Dead stars may masquerade as ingenues
A heavenly deception in which dead stars lie about their ages could throw into disarray theories describing some of the densest objects in the cosmos.
By Ron Cowen -
Astronomy
Mature Before Their Time
Some galaxies were in place and forming stars at a prolific rate when the universe, now 13.7 billion years old, was just an 800-million-year-old whippersnapper.
By Ron Cowen -
Astronomy
Gamma-ray craft plunges into Pacific
As planned, NASA's Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, which had detected some of the highest-energy radiation in the universe for 9 years, crashed into the Pacific Ocean on June 4.
By Ron Cowen