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The latest news and stories from Astronomy Magazine
Updated: 2 years 29 weeks ago

New international study shows some asteroids live in own "little worlds"

Wed, 08/25/2010 - 00:00
Scientific results show that when asteroids spin fast enough, they can undergo rotational fission, splitting into two pieces that then begin orbiting each other.

Pulverized planet dust may lie around double stars

Tue, 08/24/2010 - 00:00
Scientists believe that planetary collisions are kicking up fresh dust.

Richest planetary system discovered

Tue, 08/24/2010 - 00:00
Scientists believe there are as many as seven planets orbiting this Sun-like star.

Scientists develop a new way to weigh planets

Mon, 08/23/2010 - 00:00
The method is based on corrections astronomers make to signals from pulsars.

Galactic super-volcano in action

Fri, 08/20/2010 - 00:00
M87's location, coupled with long observations over Chandra's lifetime, has made it an excellent subject for investigations of how a massive black hole impacts its environment.

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter reveals incredible shrinking Moon

Fri, 08/20/2010 - 00:00
Based on the size of the newly discovered cliffs, scientists estimate the distance between the Moon's center and its surface has shrunk by about 300 feet.

Hidden star power revealed

Thu, 08/19/2010 - 02:00
Scientists determine that an ancient galaxy cluster is still actively producing stars.

Astronomers take a step toward understanding the mysterious dark energy

Thu, 08/19/2010 - 02:00
The team used a massive galaxy cluster as a cosmic magnifying lens to study the nature of dark energy and improve current measurements of the mass and energy content of the universe.

Eclipsing pulsar promises clues to crushed matter

Wed, 08/18/2010 - 02:00
This is the first time scientists have detected X-ray eclipses from a fast pulsar that is also accreting gas.

Astronomers challenge current theories on stellar evolution

Wed, 08/18/2010 - 02:00
Scientists have demonstrated that a magnetar formed from a star with at least 40 times the mass of the Sun, but theory states that mass should form a black hole.

IBEX mapping mission yields intriguing new studies about our solar system

Tue, 08/17/2010 - 02:00
In addition to detailing the never-before-seen regions at the solar system's edge, IBEX data has been used in discoveries closer to Earth.

Report identifies top priorities for astronomy and astrophysics in the coming decade

Mon, 08/16/2010 - 02:00
The research will cover areas such as understanding how the first stars and galaxies formed, locating earthlike planets, and surveying the Milky Way.

The "evening star" shines brightly in August

Mon, 08/16/2010 - 02:00
Brilliant Venus appears highest in evening twilight this week.

Extended solar minimum linked to changes in Sun's conveyor belt

Mon, 08/16/2010 - 02:00
The study highlights the importance of monitoring and improving measurement of the Sun's meridional circulation.

A cosmic question mark

Fri, 08/13/2010 - 02:00
NGC 4696 is more interesting than most elliptical galaxies, with its huge dust lane and strange thin filaments of ionized hydrogen.

Fermi detects shocking surprise from supernova's little cousin

Fri, 08/13/2010 - 02:00
Scientists have detected gamma rays from a nova for the first time.

Einstein@Home "citizen scientists" discover a new pulsar in Arecibo telescope data

Thu, 08/12/2010 - 02:00
Scientists find the pulsar especially interesting because it is likely a recycled pulsar that lost its companion.

Discovery of first Trojan asteroid in a stable zone near Neptune

Thu, 08/12/2010 - 02:00
Trojans share their planet's orbit and help astronomers understand how the planets formed and how the solar system evolved.

An "island universe" in the Coma cluster

Wed, 08/11/2010 - 02:00
The cluster continues to transform galaxies because of interactions of close-proximity galaxy systems.

Survey spots stellar nurseries

Wed, 08/11/2010 - 02:00
A new camera that detects light in the near-infrared will provide a detailed study of star formation in the Magellanic Clouds.