Van Allen radiation belts have a particle accelerator

Scientists knew something accelerated particles in the belts to 99 percent the speed of light. New results show the acceleration energy comes from within the belts themselves.

New sharp image of Whirlpool Galaxy

A new camera on a telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory near Tucson has given us this beautiful view of the Whirlpool, which is also called M51.

New discoveries about quasars

“For the first time, we are able to see the actual extent to which these quasars and their black holes can affect their galaxies," - Astronomer Kevin Hainline

Limits to galactic growth

When a galaxy makes too many stars too quickly, it reduces its capacity for making stars in the future. Now astronomers have the first detailed images of this self-limiting galactic behavior.

Want to find distant planets? Our own sun offers clues

A new study teaches us about the formation of our own solar system, and might also aid in the search for other stars orbited by habitable planets.

Spitzer sees long tail, strong gas emissions from Comet ISON

Although the comet is behind the sun now - not visible from Earth - a space telescope has seen dust and carbon dioxide steadily “fizzing” away from it, in a tail about 186,400 miles long.

Ancient snowfall likely carved Martian valleys

Researchers at Brown University have shown that some Martian valleys appear to have been caused by runoff from orographic precipitation.

Cosmic whirl

The center of galaxy NGC 524, 90 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Pisces, as seen by the Hubble Space Telescope.

Official trailer for Neil deGrasse Tyson’s re-release of Cosmos

Neil deGrasse Tyson's version of the classic Cosmos series will be coming to a TV screen near you in 2014.

Video: Ride with the Cassini spacecraft orbiting Saturn

It's eight years of time and 200,000 images compressed into 4 minutes of video. An awesome way to experience Cassini's tour of Saturn.