Space

  1. Astronomy

    Scoping out a stellar nursery

    Penetrating a veil of dust, a space-based infrared observatory has recorded the most complete portrait ever taken of a star-forming region in a nearby galaxy.

    By Ron Cowen
  2. Astronomy

    Stellar finding may outshine all others

    Astronomers have found what may be the heaviest, biggest, and brightest star ever observed.

    By Ron Cowen
  3. Planetary Science

    Spirit Gets Its Wheels Dirty: Mars rover begins scientific work

    Spirit, the rover that landed on Mars on Jan. 3, last week began studying the rocks and soil at its landing site.

    By Ron Cowen
  4. Astronomy

    Gang of four: Debut of a big telescope

    In the desert of northern Chile, a fourth 8.2-meter telescope opened for business, completing a quartet known as the Very Large Telescope.

    By Ron Cowen
  5. Astronomy

    Stellar motions provide hole-y data

    Measuring for the first time the acceleration of stars near the dense core of our galaxy, astronomers have obtained more precise information on the location and density of the black hole that lurks there.

    By Ron Cowen
  6. Astronomy

    New Images: They Might Be Planets

    Astronomers have for the first time obtained images of as many as 18 objects beyond our solar system that, based on their mass alone, could qualify as planets.

    By Ron Cowen
  7. Astronomy

    Astronomy: Man Bites Dog; Planet heats its star

    Observing a sunlike star 90 light-years from Earth, astronomers have found evidence of a closely orbiting planet heating its star.

    By Ron Cowen
  8. Planetary Science

    A Tale of Two Landers: NASA’s Spirit phones home, but Europe’s Beagle 2 remains mum on Mars

    NASA's Spirit rover sent its first signals home soon after it touched down on Mars Jan. 3, but European Space Agency scientists haven't yet heard from their Beagle 2 lander, which dropped to the surface of Mars on Dec. 24.

    By Sid Perkins
  9. Astronomy

    Taste of a Comet: Spacecraft samples and views Wild 2

    Pummeled by debris, a NASA spacecraft last week snatched up dust samples while taking the sharpest images ever of a comet's icy core.

    By Ron Cowen
  10. Astronomy

    X-ray images highlight galaxy collisions

    A new study provides graphic evidence that X-ray observations may be the best way to identify ancient collisions between galaxies.

    By Ron Cowen
  11. Planetary Science

    Journey to Mars

    The rugged Mars Exploration Rover (MER) is scheduled to land on Mars on Jan. 4, 2004. A variety of Web sites offer information about the exploration of Mars and Mars rovers. Check out the official MER Web site for background information and up-to-the-minute reports. San Francisco’s Exploratorium Web site highlights various Mars-related activities. Go to: […]

    By Science News
  12. Planetary Science

    Lunar finding doesn’t hold water

    A new radar study of craters at the moon's north and south poles reveals that neither region contains substantial amounts of frozen water.

    By Ron Cowen