Scientists are using the giant Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT) to go prospecting in a rich molecular cloud in our Milky Way Galaxy. They seek to discover new, complex molecules in interstellar space that may be precursors to life. picked by AutumnLotus 2 days ago

In 1919, an eclipse of the Sun first allowed astronomers to test Albert Einstein's theory of gravity, the general theory of relativity. Now, eclipses in a unique system of two dead stars, called pulsars, has shown that one of the pair is "wobbling" in space - just like a spinning top. The effect, called precession, is precisely as predicted by Einstein and is thus a new and exciting conf... read full post picked by AutumnLotus 2 days ago

The solar system's smallest planet has been shrinking at an unexpected rate, researchers announced on Thursday.

When NASA's Mariner 10 probe flew by Mercury in 1974 and 1975, it returned images of strange cliffs called 'scarps' that cut across all sorts of geological formations. That suggested that the planet's surface has contracted over time. picked by AutumnLotus 5 days ago

Australian astronomers may have found a solution to how far-away Jupiter and Saturn drive the sun's solar cycle. Astronomer Dr Ian Wilson and colleagues suggest Jupiter and Saturn affect the sun's movement and its rotation, and hence its sunspot activity. picked by AutumnLotus 6 days ago

The House of representatives has recently passed a bill that if passed by the senate and the President will ask Nasa to look into what they can do about Apophis. This asteroid will pass extremely close to the Earth in 2029 and may hit the Earth in 2036. One suggestion is to plant a radio transponder in order to track the asteroid. picked by 2manyusernames 1 week ago

At 7:17 AM on the morning of June 30, 1908, a mysterious explosion occurred in the skies over Siberia.

Kicking off the Theme Of The Week picked by kakana 1 week ago

As part of our follow-up work, we need volunteers to review our set of possible merging galaxies. Sign up. picked by Bornbad 2 weeks ago

As the Phoenix Lander rampages around the Martian surface, photos from other missions are bound to surface.

Here are some.

Includes a link to The Martian Weather Report picked by pocksucket 2 weeks ago

Almost confirmed that it is H2O, that is, until they actually do a test of the substance. Looks really good though! picked by sidran32 3 weeks ago

The identity of the mysterious dark matter thought to pervade the universe has eluded astrophysicists for decades. Now, for the first time a team hopes to look inside the sun for one of the prime candidates. picked by AutumnLotus 3 weeks ago

A new, instantly recognizable "face" on the surface of Mars has been captured by one of NASA's new, improved generation of robotic probes. picked by Mitzuzake 3 weeks ago

Like a cosmic Grim Reaper, a blast of ultraviolet light signals the violent death of the universe's most massive stars. Now astronomers have viewed this heavenly harbinger for the first time. picked by AutumnLotus 4 weeks ago

Scientists rename Pluto-like "dwarf planets" in its honor.

It's the least they could do! picked by suebe 4 weeks ago

Interactive timeline of every space launch. picked by AutumnLotus 1 month ago

NASA scientists have found a way to make giant space telescopes out of moondust. They unveiled plans today to mix lunar soil with a chemical hardener to make a light-collecting mirror more than 50 metres wide. picked by maxriter 1 month ago

More than 800,000 snapshots from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope have been stitched together to create a new "coming of age" portrait of stars in our inner Milky Way galaxy. The image depicts an area of sky 120 degrees wide by two degrees tall. High-res zoomable image. picked by AutumnLotus 1 month ago

For decades, astronomers have pictured our galaxy as sporting four major, spiral arms, however new images effectively sever two appendages, revealing the Milky Way has just two major arms. picked by AutumnLotus 1 month ago

Astronomers have discovered what may be the smallest alien planet yet — a rocky ``SuperEarth'' only four times heavier than our home planet. picked by AutumnLotus 1 month ago

NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has found a bizarre ring of material around the magnetic remains of a star that blasted to smithereens. picked by AutumnLotus 1 month ago

Four words you don’t want to hear in space:
“The toilet is broken.” picked by ozero 1 month ago

On April 9, the Sun erupted and blasted a bubble of hot, ionized gas into the solar system. The eruption was observed in unprecedented detail by a fleet of spacecraft, revealing new features that are predicted by computer models but difficult to see in practice. VIDEO picked by AutumnLotus 1 month ago

Previous estimates had ranged from 750 billion solar masses to up to 2 trillion. Lately, researchers have been leaning toward the higher figure. But now astronomers have used a more refined method to conclude that our galaxy's mass is slightly less than 1 trillion solar masses. picked by AutumnLotus 1 month ago

A number of images of the spacecraft, and images (both color and b&w) taken by the Phoenix. Outstanding. picked by jquipp 1 month ago

Some had hoped it might be just an illusion. But it looks like dark energy is real and here to stay, as astronomers "image" the mysterious entity in action. picked by AutumnLotus 1 month ago

The LALT is able to obtain a range of data on a global scale along the satellite's trajectory including the high latitude region above 75 degrees that has never been measured by an altimeter. The continuous range data of the LALT will enable us for the first time in the world to construct an accurate and precise global topographic map of the Moon. picked by AutumnLotus 1 month ago