Astronomy

Astronomy

Transit of Venus

On June 8, Venus will pass across the face of the sun (as viewed from Earth). Such a transit occurs rarely; the last one was in 1882. A variety of Web sites feature information about these transits and offer advice for observing and timing the 2004 event. Go to: http://www.venustransit.ie/ and http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/sunearthday/2004/index_vthome.htm

Astronomy

Young World: NASA telescope reveals clues to newborn planet

Astronomers have found signs of what may be the youngest planet known, plus the first signs ever of organic compounds in a region of dust that could evolve into a planet-forming region.

Astronomy

Huge solar flares hit far-flung craft

Spacecraft throughout the solar system have detected material spewed into space by a group of huge solar flares late last year.

Astronomy

Oddball asteroid

Astronomers have discovered an asteroid that takes only 6 months to go around the sun.

Astronomy

Cosmic Push: X-ray study confirms universe’s dark side

Culling clues from X rays emitted by distant clusters of galaxies, astronomers report new evidence that some mysterious force overcame gravity's tug about 6 billion years ago and ever since has been pushing galaxies apart at an accelerating rate.

Astronomy

Live! Venus’ transit on the Web

On June 8, astronomers in Europe plan to Webcast observations of the transit of Venus, the first time the planet has passed across the face of the sun as seen from Earth in 122 years.

Astronomy

Old Stars Even Older: Determining a new age for the universe

Using particles accelerators to mimic the conditions inside stars, two independent research groups have found evidence that the most-ancient known stars are about a billion years older than astronomers had estimated.

Astronomy

Before the big one hits

The next time you hear about an asteroid or comet about to hit Earth, you can go to a new Internet site to find out where the collision will be and how much damage will occur.

Astronomy

Windy endeavor

In early April, an Earth-orbiting satellite closed its doors after more than 2 years of collecting ions from the solar wind.

Astronomy

Dark Doings

A slew of new and proposed experiments, ranging from the cosmic to the subatomic scale, may shed light on why the expansion of the universe is speeding up.

Astronomy

Back to the Beginning: Hubble’s infrared camera goes the distance

Using the Hubble Space Telescope, researchers have identified 26 galaxies that may be the youngest and most distant known.

Astronomy

Closing In on a Monster: A black hole’s dusty environs show themselves

The first clear picture of the immediate surroundings of a supermassive black hole confirms that these gravitational monsters hide behind thick belts of dust.