Space & Physics
An Elemental Problem with the Sun
A decades-long dispute over how much carbon, nitrogen and oxygen lie within our closest star has implications for the entire universe
Stories by Ken Croswell
Space & Physics
The Mighty Milky Way
Our galaxy is far bigger, brighter and more massive than most others
Space & Physics
The Mystery of Phantom Galaxies May Soon Be Solved
A new theory says these mysterious “ultradiffuse” oddball galaxies are dwarfs born in a whirl
Space & Physics
Astronomers Discover How Tentacled "Space Jellyfish" Form
And epic collisions are involved
The Sciences
Super Spiral Galaxies Amaze Astronomers
A new breed of giants raises questions about how the biggest galaxies arise
The Sciences
Little Galaxy Keeps Churning Out Stars
The recently discovered small galaxy Leo P contains only about a hundred-thousandth as many stars as the Milky Way, but it's bucking the small galaxy trend by continuing to make new ones ...
The Sciences
The Milky Way's Missing Mass: Partially Found
A galactic satellite reveals where some of our galaxy's elusive material is hiding
Space & Physics
Sun Accused of Stealing Planetary Objects from Another Star
New study shows the sun may have snatched Sedna, Biden and other objects away from a neighbor
Space & Physics
Ghostly Galaxies Appear in the Coma Cluster
Thinly spread galaxies caught on camera
Space & Physics
Alien Life Prefers Circles
Solar systems with many planets are more likely to feature the circular orbits that could foster intelligent life
Space & Physics
Massive Orion Nebula’s Origins Uncovered?
A vast ring of dust may explain the star-generating nebula’s birth
Space & Physics
Tau Ceti’s Dust Belt is Huge
New image shows the star’s system shares features with our own
Space & Physics
A Spectacular Spiral May Encircle the Milky Way
One of our galaxy’s arms may do a full 360, upping the chances that our galactic home is a rare cosmic beauty
Space & Physics
Half-Century Anniversary of a Mars Mishap
November 5th marks the 50th anniversary of the launch of Mariner 3, America’s first mission to Mars, which was lost in space. Steve Mirsky reports
Space & Physics
Ancient Halo Stars Cast the Milky Way’s First Light
Hubble spots a star in our galaxy’s halo that likely predates its oldest star clusters
Space & Physics
Neptune Visit Hits 25th Anniversary
On August 24th, 1989, the Voyager 2 spacecraft rendezvoused with Neptune, making it the farthest planet to pose for a close-up, a record it still holds today.
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Space & Physics
Far Out: The Most Distant Star in the Milky Way
A star 890,000 light-years away patrols our galactic frontier
Space & Physics
Saturn’s Rings Birth a New Moon
The discovery could help us understand how planets and solar systems form
Space & Physics
Jellyfish Galaxies Get Guts Ripped Out
Recently discovered galaxies shaped like jellyfish leave a long trail of hot gas and dust, victims of even hotter gas from their surrounding cluster of galaxies
Space & Physics
Meteor Storm Went from Sizzle to Fizzle
The May Camelopardalids meteor outburst turned out to be a dud, because meteor storm prediction is not a sure thing, unlike, for example, calculating the next eclipse
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