Astronomy

  1. Astronomy

    Enigmatic 17th century nova wasn’t a nova at all

    A nova observed in 1670 was actually two stars colliding, new evidence suggests.

    By
  2. Planetary Science

    NASA has a plan for putting rock from asteroid in moon’s orbit

    NASA selects concept for its Asteroid Redirect Mission, which will let astronauts train for future missions to Mars.

    By
  3. Astronomy

    What’s in a name? In science, a lot

    Classification systems are essential to science. But any classification system, however useful, is ultimately simplistic.

    By
  4. Astronomy

    Unlikely nursery for new planets is next to massive black hole

    Planet nurseries encircle young stars within a few light-years of the supermassive black hole in the center of the Milky Way, scientists claim.

    By
  5. Planetary Science

    Earth, neighbors weren’t the first rocky planets in the solar system

    Jupiter might have swept an earlier generation of rocky planets into the sun, leaving room for Earth and its neighbors to form.

    By
  6. Astronomy

    Solo planets may be surprisingly common

    Rogue planets may form as stars do, but on a smaller scale, or they may go forced out of orbit during planetary ping-pong. Researchers are scanning the skies for them.

    By
  7. Astronomy

    Space dust is tough enough to survive supernova aftermath

    Dust still lingers in the remnants of supernova that exploded 10,000 years ago, affirming that the explosions filled the early universe with dust.

    By
  8. Astronomy

    Fast-spinning young Earth pulled the moon into a yo-yo orbit

    The early moon’s orbit created a cycle between lunar phases unlike the one seen nowadays.

    By
  9. Astronomy

    Super-Earths may form in two ways

    Rocky planets much heavier than Earth may form in different ways.

    By
  10. Astronomy

    As many as nine new dwarf galaxies found outside Milky Way

    A bevy of newly discovered satellite galaxies around the Milky Way could help astronomers study how galaxies form and the nature of dark matter.

    By
  11. Computing

    Concerns about drones, how to hunt exoplanets and more reader feedback

    Readers discuss the potential impacts of human-made fliers and muse about the advantages a poker-playing computer program has over human opponents.

    By
  12. Astronomy

    Remote star clusters discovered on edge of Milky Way

    Two newly discovered star clusters are the first ever seen at the remote edges of the Milky Way.

    By