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VFTS 682: A brilliant but solitary superstar
VFTS 682 is a star three million times brighter than the sun has a mysterious origin and challenges astronomers' understanding of star formation.
May 25, 2011
Milky Way is special for its bright, nearby satellite galaxies
Among galaxies whose properties resemble our Milky Way, our home galaxy is rare for having bright and nearby satellites, the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds.
May 24, 2011
Photo ambassadors for ESO observatories
The European Southern Observatory designated six Photo Ambassadors, who share their dazzling view with the world from their observatories.
May 22, 2011
Billions of orphan Jupiters adrift in Milky Way galaxy?
Astronomers have discovered 10 free-floating, Jupiter-sized planets in our galaxy and say these objects might be more common than stars.
May 19, 2011
Comet Hartley 2 is tumbling, at a changing rate
Astronomers from the Planetary Science Institute say the discovery of the changing rate of rotation of the nucleus of Comet Hartley 2 is a first.
May 17, 2011
Endeavour space shuttle takes final flight
In 1992 Dan Brandenstein commanded the first flight of the space shuttle Endeavour. He spoke with EarthSky about Endeavour's final launch May 16, 2011.
May 16, 2011
Martian Summer by Andrew Kessler
Writer Andrew Kessler spent a summer embedded with the NASA team that oversaw the Phoenix Mars Lander. His book Martian Summer recounts the experience.
May 12, 2011
Flipped orbits for some hot Jupiters
Planets form from a vast rotating cloud of gas, but some of these systems the have flipped orbits. The star is spinning one way and the planet is orbiting in the opposite direction.
May 11, 2011
Kepler mission’s extraordinary planet discoveries
Famed planet-hunter Geoff Marcy spoke on May 2, 2011 about the Kepler space telescope and its 1,235 candidate planets. Does he think we'll find intelligent life?
May 9, 2011
Comet Elenin information from Don Yeomans
Comet Elenin will sweep past Earth in late 2011. NASA's Don Yeomans says its passage is nothing unusual and no dramatic events are expected.
May 9, 2011
