Ron Cowen

All Stories by Ron Cowen

  1. Astronomy

    Red Team, Blue Team: Galaxy survey shows that color matters

    Using the largest survey of galaxies ever compiled, astronomers have found that the cosmos divides sharply along color lines.

  2. Planetary Science

    Springtime on Neptune: Images hint at seasonal changes on distant planet

    Belying its location in the deep freeze of the outer solar system, Neptune may undergo a change of seasons.

  3. Astronomy

    Gorgeous Gas

    Beyond their undeniable beauty, images of nearby, starlit clouds of gas and dust, known as HeII nebulae, may reveal properties of the very first stars in the universe.

  4. Tech

    Columbia Disaster Working Hypothesis: Wing hit by debris

    The independent board investigating the breakup of the space shuttle presented its first detailed account of what might have caused the Feb. 1 disaster.

  5. Astronomy

    A black hole that goes the distance

    Astronomers have measured the mass of the most distant black hole known.

  6. Astronomy

    Supernovas, gamma-ray bursts: Two of a kind?

    Astronomers have uncovered direct evidence that gamma-ray bursts are linked to supernovas.

  7. Astronomy

    Starry View: Image reveals galaxy’s violent past

    The most detailed visible-light picture ever taken of the heavens reveals that the nearby Andromeda galaxy has had a much more violent history than our own Milky Way has.

  8. Astronomy

    Fast-track planet

    Astronomers have found a planet that's the closest yet known to its parent star, whipping around the star every 28.5 hours.

  9. Astronomy

    Chemistry of the Cosmos: Quasars illuminate the young universe

    Measuring the composition of some of the earliest structures in the universe, two teams of astronomers have unveiled new findings about star formation in the young cosmos.

  10. Planetary Science

    Roving on the Red Planet

    NASA last month selected the landing sites for rovers scheduled to begin exploring the Martian surface next January.

  11. Astronomy

    Echoes of a stellar outburst

    Light from the outburst of a star has revealed its dusty surroundings.

  12. Astronomy

    Once Upon a Time in the Cosmos: Using distant galaxies to study the early universe

    Peering far back in time, two teams of astronomers report that they have found some of the universe's earliest galaxies.