Space

  1. Planetary Science

    Howdy, Neighbors: Long-term study finds a batch of red dwarfs

    Astronomers have found 20 previously unknown star systems that lie within 33 light-years of Earth.

    By Ron Cowen
  2. Astronomy

    What’s a Planet?

    Recent observations have blurred distinctions among stars, brown dwarfs, and planets.

    By Ron Cowen
  3. Astronomy

    Cosmic Pops: Nearby galaxy is hotbed of supernova formation

    Large galaxies usually have no more than three supernovas blow up in a century, but the nearby galaxy NGC 1316 has had two such explosions within the past 5 months and four in the past 26 years.

    By Ron Cowen
  4. Astronomy

    Dark Fingerprints: Hubble sheds light on cosmic expansion

    The mysterious cosmic push that's tearing up the universe began revving up about 5 billion years ago.

    By Ron Cowen
  5. Astronomy

    Nearest extrasolar planet

    Astronomers have confirmed the existence of the nearest known planet beyond the solar system.

    By Ron Cowen
  6. Astronomy

    Black hole survey

    Scanning the sky for high-energy X rays, a NASA satellite found more than 200 supermassive black holes within 400 million light-years of Earth.

    By Ron Cowen
  7. Astronomy

    New eye on the sun

    The recently launched Hinode spacecraft captured an X-ray portrait of several-million-degree gas in the sun's outer atmosphere.

    By Ron Cowen
  8. Astronomy

    Rejuvenating Observatory: Green light given for space telescope repairs

    NASA this week gave the go-ahead for a shuttle crew to refurbish the Hubble Space Telescope and to install new detectors that would vastly improve its capabilities.

    By Ron Cowen
  9. Astronomy

    A Swarm of Umbrellas vs. Global Warming: Astronomer thinks small to save Earth

    A trillion miniature spacecraft could provide a giant sunshade for Earth, significantly reducing global warming.

    By Ron Cowen
  10. Astronomy

    Web Special: Hubble Repair Mission Is a Go

    After several years of uncertainty following the Columbia shuttle disaster, NASA this week gave the go-ahead for a shuttle crew to replace and repair parts on the 16-year-old Hubble Space Telescope.

    By Ron Cowen
  11. Astronomy

    Galactic spider

    A Hubble Space Telescope image reveals a large galaxy in the early universe assembling from the merger of smaller ones.

    By Ron Cowen
  12. Planetary Science

    Jovian storm grows stormier

    Jupiter's Little Red Spot has become as strong as its big brother.

    By Ron Cowen