The almost-stars known as brown dwarfs have a lot more going on than we knew
Astronomy
Snapshots of the Heavens: Amazing Astronomy Photos
The Royal Observatory has culled through over 800 entries from astronomers and astro-photographers around the world to release its compilation of the best astronomy photos so far this year. Astronomy Photographer of the Year is …
Blowhard Galaxies and the Great Cosmic Wind
High winds can be enough of a problem here on Earth — a fact we’re learning anew as Hurricane Isaac fades into history and Hurricane Leslie stirs to life. As it happens, a stiff wind in space shouldn’t be overlooked either. So-called galactic winds, which are primarily photons shed from massive stars but sometimes also include …
Tatooine Now: NASA Finds Planet Orbiting Binary Star System
It’s not just science fiction. NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope has found evidence of multiple planets orbiting a binary star system.
Starstruck: Three Little Exoplanets All in a Row
Not all solar systems are as tidy as ours, but a new discovery means we’re not quite so alone anymore
Spinning In the Heavens — Spiral Galaxies
Though the universe is full of spiral-shaped galaxies, no two look exactly the same. Here are some striking examples
Evidence of Active Water on Mars
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter beams back images that suggest rivulets of water, flowing in spring and summer, then evaporating
A Brief History of the Hubble Space Telescope
The space shuttle Atlantis made a final maintenance trip to the Hubble Telescope, which has offered Earthlings a closer look at the cosmos since 1990. A look back at the telescope’s remarkable life and achievements
