Space & Physics
Jupiter, Destroyer of Worlds, May Have Paved the Way for Earth
Careening toward the sun, Jupiter cleared the way for Earth to form—with help from Saturn, too
Astrophysics1357 articles archived since 1845
Space & Physics
Catch This Century's Shortest Total Lunar Eclipse on Saturday
The darkest part of Earth's shadow will fall across the lunar surface, producing a "blood moon"
Technology
Asteroid Data Hunter
Protecting the Earth from the threat of asteroid impacts means first knowing where they are
Space & Physics
Images of the Massive, March 11 Solar Flare
We live a mere 93 million miles from an enormous fusion reactor. It’s easy to overlook this, after all the Sun is only about halfway through its long slog of converting protons into helium nuclei deep inside its core...
The Grand Texture of Planets
In an idle moment, while staring at a set of solar system data, it occurred to me that it might be interesting to display a set of planetary surfaces on an equal footing, where the overall texture of these worlds was visible (although topography is probably a more [...]..
Space & Physics
NASA Assures Skeptical Congress That the James Webb Telescope Is on Track
The program will not repeat past mistakes, officials vow, and will launch as planned in 2018
Space & Physics
What Are Black Hole Firewalls? [VIDEO]
Black holes break theories. These sites of extremely large masses in extremely small spaces invoke both of the behemoths of modern physics—general relativity (which rules over large masses) and quantum mechanics (which reigns in small spaces)...
After a Martian Marathon, NASA's Opportunity Rover Faces Uncertain Future
It's been a long time coming, but this week NASA's Mars Opportunity rover completed the first-ever Martian marathon. After landing on the Red Planet in January 2004 on a mission originally planned to only last 90 days, Opportunity has instead endured for more than a decade, and has taken eleven years and two months to [...]..
Space & Physics
Fact or Fiction?: Dark Matter Killed the Dinosaurs
A new out-of-this-world theory links mass extinctions with exotic astrophysics and galactic architecture
Space & Physics
How to Watch the Total Solar Eclipse on Friday
Unless you live in the North Atlantic or Arctic region, the Internet is the best place to watch this event
Space & Physics
That's What Ya Call a 4-Star Planet
Astronomers report the discovery of only the second quadruple-star system known to host at least one planet. But they suspect there are a lot more such systems out there. Lee Billings reports
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Space & Physics
Launch Tomorrow for Satellites Set to Solve Earth's Magnetic Mysteries
The Magnetospheric Multiscale mission's four satellites are designed to study the phenomenon responsible for powerful bursts of powerful magnetic particles
The Sciences
Hopped-Up Particle Accelerator Poised to Venture into the Realm of Exotic Physics
When the upgraded Large Hadron Collider restarts it will be capable of energies never before achieved, potentially unveiling novel particles and opening a window on the inner workings of the universe
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Space & Physics
Dawn Spacecraft Arrives at Ceres, Becomes First to Orbit a Dwarf Planet
Shortly after 7:30 am Eastern time this morning, a seven-year space voyage at last reached its final destination: NASA's Dawn mission entered orbit around Ceres, a small, icy world orbiting the sun between Mars and Jupiter...
Space & Physics
Speediest Star's Origins Revealed
The Milky Way's fastest "hypervelocity" star probably picked up speed from a supernova
Space & Physics
Scientists See Same Star Explode 4 Times
A galaxy-scale cosmic lens brings a faraway supernova into focus
Space & Physics
Why Space Stinks [VIDEO]
Parts of this supposed vast emptiness smell like rotten eggs or gunpowder.
Space & Physics
Saturn: A History [Slide Show]
Our understanding of this planet has evolved in step with scientific progress
Space & Physics
Young Black Hole Had Monstrous Growth Spurt
Supermassive object found in the early universe tests theories of cosmic evolution
Hunting Black Holes at the South Pole
Each of the telescopes that the astronomers of the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) are currently working to bring into their black-hole-observing, planet-size array is a special case.
