Space

Astronomy

Distance to quasars debated

Some astronomers thought quasars were buzzing around our galaxy; turns out these starlike objects live on the other side of the universe.

Planetary Science

To explain asteroid composition, scientists invoke nuts

Brazil nut effect may explain why only large boulders dot surfaces of asteroids.

Astronomy

Dust nabbed by spacecraft may be from outside the solar system

NASA’s Stardust mission captured seven particles that probably come from interstellar space, providing researchers with the first direct samples from beyond the solar system.

Planetary Science

Spacecraft films Pluto’s largest moon in orbit

New Horizons spacecraft, en route to Pluto, captures nearly one orbit of dwarf planet’s largest moon.

Cosmology

Cosmologist’s ‘Cosmic Cocktail’ is a refreshing read

Katherine Freese shares her insights as a scientist studying dark matter and other mysterious components of the universe.

Astronomy

The craziest NASA mission ever proposed

In this issue, Meghan Rosen provides an in-depth report on that mission, but without the erroneous conclusion that the Asteroid Redirect Mission has much to do with asteroid defense.

Planetary Science

NASA bets on asteroid mission as best path to Mars

NASA wants to bag an asteroid using robotic arms or an enormous sack and place the rock in the moon’s orbit for study. This may keep astronauts working but not, as NASA claims, get them Mars-ready.

Planetary Science

Rosetta spacecraft confabs with a comet

After a 10-year chase, ESA’s Rosetta spacecraft has met up with comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko.

Astronomy

Single black hole may be masquerading as a pair

New observations of a recently discovered binary black hole reveal that astronomers may have been seeing double.

Planetary Science

Three volcanic eruptions rock Jupiter’s moon Io

Over two weeks last year, the tiny moon Io blazed with three vigorous volcanic eruptions.

Planetary Science

Saturn moon’s geysers draw water from subsurface sea

More than six years of Cassini data indicate that the water jets on the surface of Saturn’s moon Enceladus connect to deep-ocean reservoirs via expanding cracks in surface ice.

Astronomy

Gamma rays streaming from stellar explosions stump astronomers

The Fermi satellite detected gamma rays coming from an unexpected source — and astronomers don’t understand what made that possible.