Astronomy

  1. Astronomy

    Neutron star collision showers the universe with a wealth of discoveries

    A collision of neutron stars was spotted with gravitational waves for the first time. Telescopes captured gamma rays, visible light and more from the smashup.

    By
  2. Astronomy

    Measured distance within the Milky Way gives clues to what our galaxy looks like

    Astronomers used an old but challenging technique to directly measure the distance to a star on the opposite side of the galaxy for the first time.

    By
  3. Astronomy

    Measured distance within the Milky Way gives clues to what our galaxy looks like

    Astronomers used an old but challenging technique to directly measure the distance to a star on the opposite side of the galaxy for the first time.

    By
  4. Astronomy

    Oddball dwarf planet Haumea has a ring

    The dwarf planet Haumea is now the most distant ringed object spotted in the solar system.

    By
  5. Astronomy

    How to make the cosmic web give up the matter it’s hiding

    Half the ordinary matter in the universe is unaccounted for. Astronomers may now have a new way to see it spanning the space between galaxies.

    By
  6. Astronomy

    50 years ago, a spacecraft discovered oxygen in moon rocks

    In 1967, scientists dreamed of lunar processing plants to turn moon rocks into oxygen.

    By
  7. Astronomy

    David Kipping seeks new and unexpected worlds

    Astronomer David Kipping became “the moon guy” by deciding no idea is too crazy.

    By
  8. Astronomy

    Why it’s good news that Pluto doesn’t have rings

    The New Horizons team searched for rings around Pluto, and found nothing. That suggests the spacecraft’s next destination might be ring-free too.

    By
  9. Physics

    Trio wins physics Nobel Prize for gravitational wave detection

    Pioneers of LIGO collaboration win for finding spacetime ripples from two spiraling black holes.

    By
  10. Astronomy

    How a meteor shower helped solve the case of the vanishing comet

    A missing comet has been linked to a long-lost meteor shower, helping astronomers recover both.

    By
  11. Astronomy

    New questions about Arecibo’s future swirl in the wake of Hurricane Maria

    The iconic Arecibo Observatory was damaged in Hurricane Maria, but not as much as originally thought. But its funding is still in doubt.

    By
  12. Astronomy

    Ice in space might flow like honey and bubble like champagne

    Zapping simulated space ice with imitation starlight makes the ice act more like a liquid than a solid, meaning similar ices in space might be good places for organic chemistry.

    By