Space

Astronomy

Exoplanet dangerously close to demise

Kepler-91b could be on the brink of death — at least on astronomical time scales.

Planetary Science

Exoplanet mass revealed in light

A new method could help identify habitable planets.

Astronomy

Gaia spacecraft launches to map Milky Way

The ESA spacecraft blasted off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, at 4:12 am EST.

Planetary Science

Sinkholes, tectonics may have shaped Titan’s lakes and seas

A map of Saturn’s largest moon reveals clues about the object's landscape.

Astronomy

Milky Way may indeed have four spiral arms

In 2008, the galaxy lost two of its spiral arms. But it may be getting them back.

Astronomy

China’s Chang’e-3 craft lands on the moon

The unmanned Chang’e-3 lunar lander and Yutu rover have made it to the moon's surface.

Planetary Science

Europa vents water, Hubble data suggest

Plumes from ice-covered oceans would increase likelihood of life-friendly conditions on one moon of Jupiter.

Cosmology

Cosmic inflation has its flaws, but so do its critics

Philosophical predispositions color efforts to debunk a popular theory about the evolution of the universe.

Astronomy

Comet ISON was punier than previously thought

The ice ball was probably no wider than New York’s Central Park.

Astronomy

Galaxy’s cloud catalog reveals hydrogen fog

Fifty percent of the molecular hydrogen exists in a gas layer that spreads throughout the Whirlpool galaxy and envelopes the giant clouds where stars form.

Planetary Science

Mars was habitable longer, more recently than thought

Warmer, wetter conditions lasted until 3.5 billion years ago on the Red Planet.

Astronomy

Saturn’s six-sided cloud pattern gets a close look

New images show particles in the planet’s hexagonally shaped jet stream.