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Peering to the Milky Way’s far side
Astronomers use parallax to directly measure the distance to a star-forming region on the opposite side of our Milky Way galaxy, nearly doubling the previous distance record.
October 14, 2017
Asteroid to sweep close October 11-12
Asteroid 2012 TC4 is being used as a test of Earth's global asteroid defense system. How to see it online.
October 11, 2017
This region on Mars may hold clues to earthly life
Evidence for deep-sea hydrothermal vents in the Eridania basin of southern Mars. Even if Mars never had life, this region may tell us about the type of environment where life on Earth may have begun.
October 10, 2017
Forecast for Mercury: Morning micro-meteor showers
Mercury - with only the thinnest of atmospheres - has a continuous rain of micro-meteors wherever on the planet dawn is breaking.
October 9, 2017
Did the moon once have air?
We know that ancient lunar volcanos spewed lava. Gases rising from the lava might have accumulated around the moon to form a temporary atmosphere, 3 to 4 billion years ago.
October 8, 2017
5 new pairs of merging supermassive black holes
Merging black holes are the sorts of catastrophic events that produce the strongest gravitational waves. Scientists just announced 5 new pairs, in the centers of distant galaxies.
October 8, 2017
Is dust what’s dimming Tabby’s Star?
Astronomers say they've found a smoking gun that rules out the idea of an energy-harvesting megastructure or Dyson sphere - built by an alien civilization - surrounding Tabby's Star.
October 5, 2017
Large storm on sun sparked global aurora on Mars
Scientists said the solar event "lit up Mars like a light bulb." It was the biggest event of its kind so far observed by spacecraft in Mars orbit and on the surface.
October 3, 2017
Moon and planet-rise, seen from space
This timelapse video shows a peaceful and breathless moonrise from the International Space Station, with Venus, Mars and Mercury also in view.
October 3, 2017
Farthest active inbound comet yet
Most comets become active only when near the sun. This one is active, but distant, between the orbits of Saturn and Uranus, where sunlight is 1/225th as bright as seen from Earth.
October 2, 2017
