Astronomy

Astronomy

‘Space beads’ push back origins of iron working

Ancient Egyptians used advanced techniques to make beads out of 'metal from the sky.'

Astronomy

To determine stars’ physical traits, Kepler sees the light

Measuring stellar brightness can yield useful estimates of stars' size and evolutionary stage, and help in the hunt for planets.

Astronomy

Pictures of young star show unusual outbursts

Ejections from stellar newborn move faster and in different directions than astronomers thought.

Space

Belief in multiverse requires exceptional vision

If you can’t see it, it doesn’t exist. That’s an old philosophy, one that many scientists swallowed whole. But as Ziva David of NCIS would say, it’s total salami. After all, you can’t see bacteria and viruses, but they can still kill you. Yet some scientists still invoke that philosophy to deny the scientific status […]

Astronomy

Magnetic field of black hole measured

Pulsar near Milky Way’s center makes first assessment of this type possible.

Astronomy

Milky Way’s black hole pulling in gas cloud

Galaxy's maw begins to tear apart and change the velocity of an approaching object.

Astronomy

The solar system has a tail

Clover-shaped clumps of charged particles extend billions of kilometers in our wake.

Astronomy

Clouds may keep exoplanets cool

Even when close to their stars, other worlds could harbor liquid water.

Astronomy

Postcards from Voyager

Suzanne Dodd is project manager for NASA’s twin Voyager probes.

Astronomy

Cradled galaxies betray violent past

Hubble snaps ‘the Penguin’ and its egg-shaped companion.

Astronomy

Hubble finds hints of a planet oddly far-flung from its star

If confirmed, the dark gap in space debris will challenge astronomers' theories.

Planetary Science

Gone perhaps, but Kepler won’t soon be forgotten

Astronomers look forward to building on the planet-hunting telescope's discoveries.