Astronomy

Astronomy

Cosmic lens exposes spin of supermassive black hole

A chance alignment of a bright, distant galaxy behind a much closer one has given astronomers a rare opportunity to determine the spin of a supermassive black hole 6 billion light-years from Earth.

Astronomy

Black holes may shut down stellar factories

Astronomers find dead galaxies loaded with the cold gas needed to make stars.

Astronomy

NASA releases 2015 budget with some mission cuts

NASA $17.5 billion budget for fiscal year 2015 supports big missions, such as the James Webb Space Telescope. But there are plans to put the SOFIA telescope in storage.

Astronomy

Exoplanet water seen in new light

Astronomers used a new technique to characterize the atmosphere of a gas giant exoplanet.

Astronomy

Star cluster hurtles through space with tremendous speed

A compact ball of hundreds of thousands of stars has just shot out of the galaxy M87 at millions of kilometers per hour, astronomers report. It is the first hypervelocity globular cluster detected to date.

Astronomy

Kepler space telescope data uncovers 715 new planets

Astronomers used a new tool to quickly confirm the detection of exoplanets.

Astronomy

Kepler data confirm 715 new exoplanets

The population of planets outside the solar system has grown by about 70 percent, thanks to discoveries culled from Kepler space telescope data. Researchers are announcing 715 new confirmed planets in a February 26 press conference.

Astronomy

China’s lunar rover alive, but still crippled

Mechanical issues are preventing the Yutu lunar rover from exploring the moon's surface as designed.

Astronomy

Pulsar pulverizes an asteroid

The steady beat of a pulsar may occasionally be interrupted by collisions with asteroids.

Astronomy

While exploding, supernovas not spherical

X-rays reveal uneven allotment of element made by blowup.

Astronomy

China’s lunar rover fails to connect with controllers (updated)

Yutu, or Jade Rabbit, could not be restored to full function, Chinese media report.

Astronomy

Oldest star provides hints about first supernovas

The chemical composition of star SMSS J031300.362670839.3 and four others suggests that the explosions of the early universe weren't big enough to seed galaxies with iron.