Space

Astronomy

Universal Truths: Distant quasars reveal content, age of universe

Using quasars as searchlights on the distant universe, astronomers have mapped the distribution of gas between galaxies with unprecedented precision, allowing precise determinations of the age of the universe.

Astronomy

Cassini eyes Iapetus

Only a few days after it entered orbit around Saturn, the Cassini spacecraft captured an image of Saturn's split- personality moon Iapetus.

Astronomy

Two newly found space molecules

Researchers have detected two new organic chemicals in a large interstellar cloud.

Astronomy

End of the Line for Hubble?

With a space shuttle mission to repair and upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope now canceled, astronomers are pondering how to best use the flying observatory during its final years.

Planetary Science

Titanic Images, Groovy Shots: Cassini arrives at Saturn

After a 7-year, 3.5-billion-mile journey, the Cassini spacecraft last week slipped through a gap between two of the icy rings circling Saturn and became the first spacecraft to orbit the distant planet.

Astronomy

Controlling the speed of solar eruptions

The billion-ton blobs of magnetized gas that the sun sporadically hurls into space can't reach Earth in less than half a day.

Astronomy

Heavenly Passage

On June 8, the black dot of Venus passed across the face of the sun, the first time it did so in 122 years.

Astronomy

Powerhouse Astronomy: Blazing black hole from the early universe

A jet of matter and radiation emanating from a newly discovered black hole could provide a new probe of the first stars and the radiation left over from the Big Bang.

Planetary Science

Cometary encounter

Planetary scientists are feasting on close-up images of Comet Wild 2 as well as on the first information about its composition.

Planetary Science

NASA postpones plans for Mars samples

Still reeling from the failure of its two most recent missions to Mars, NASA announced late last month that it would delay by nearly a decade plans to bring back samples from the Red Planet.

Planetary Science

When storms collide on Jupiter

Astronomers have for the first time witnessed two giant storms merging on Jupiter.

Astronomy

Variable quasar may help measure the cosmos

A flickering cosmic mirage, recorded for the first time in X rays, promises to provide a new estimate of how rapidly the universe is expanding.