SUNSET: 
The Milky Way Is Warped in More Ways Than One
Astronomers mapping out luminous stars across our galaxy's disk found that the Milky Way is warped — and multiple factors are twisting its shape.
Taking Note of Molecules in Space
What do methylidyne, cyanamide, vinyl alcohol, and rugbyballene all have in common? They’re all molecules that have been detected in space — and they’re all included in a recent census of our universe’s chemical makeup.
Curiosity Rover Exposes Mountain’s Origin
Scientists have used an innovative measure of Mars's gravity to reveal the origin of the mountain the rover is exploring.
February 2019: Dawn & Dusk Planets
February's Sky Tour podcast urges you to get outside early to gaze on three bright planets — then return in the evening to spot two more.
Meet Vega, the Jewel of the Lyre
Meet Vega, the fifth-brightest star in the night sky and the most brilliant star in the constellation Lyra. Vega is in the prime of its life on the main sequence, but it's notable for its speedy spin and infrared-radiating debris disk.
Did a Mars-size Body Bring Life-essential Elements to Earth?
Collision with a Mars-size body — the same body thought to have formed the Moon — might also have brought life-supporting volatile elements to Earth.
Amateur Scopes Help Find Planet Formation’s Missing Link
A surprisingly inexpensive setup of amateur equipment is helping astronomers on their quest to find Kuiper Belt objects of every size to better understand how planets formed in our solar system.
What Quasars Can Teach Us About Dark Energy
Astronomers have found a way to turn quasars into standard candles, with potentially far-reaching implications for the nature of mysterious dark energy.
60-second Astro News: Latest from Ultima Thule & A Tall-Tailed Galaxy
This week in astronomy news, see two stunning images — one from the edge of the solar system, the newest image of Ultima Thule, and the other from the depths of the Coma Cluster of galaxies.
Speeding Up Plutonium Production for Space Exploration
Automation of a key process may yield an eightfold boost to U.S. plutonium production, a promising development for deep-space exploration.
Astronomers Identify Weather Cycle on Jupiter
Astronomers have identified a periodic clearing at the gas giant's equator; amateurs may have spotted the change at the end of 2018.
Government Shutdown Creates Financial Woes, Uncertainty for Astronomers
Among its many effects, the U.S. government shutdown has created a struggling postdoctoral program, delays in NASA missions, and problems for government scientists trying to continue their research.
Asteroid Impacts Increased 290 Million Years Ago, Lunar Craters Reveal
Researchers have estimated the ages of craters on the lunar surface, finding that the rate of large impacts nearly tripled 290 million years ago — an increase that might be ongoing.
A Space Rock Strikes Moon During the Total Lunar Eclipse
The Moon got bonked by a space rock during Sunday's total lunar eclipse. Take a look!
Initial Results from the Ultima Thule Flyby
NASA's New Horizons made history when it flew by "Ultima Thule" on New Year's Day, but the science return is only beginning. Here's the latest from mission principal investigator Alan Stern.
Piercing the Veil of Our Black Hole
Astronomers have overcome the interference of clumpy interstellar gas to catch a glimpse of the gas around the Milky Way’s central black hole.
Saturn Hasn’t Always Had Rings
Analyses of data from Cassini’s final days suggest the rings are a late addition and use them to solve a Saturnian mystery.
How to “See” Interstellar Space Probes
So far, humans have sent five probes into space that are or will go far beyond the solar system: the Pioneers, the Voyagers, and New Horizons. As an exercise in fun, here's how you can find those probes' locations on the sky.
We Don’t Really Know When the Sun Rises
Hundreds of sunrise and sunset times reveal that there’s something amiss with our calculations.
Scientists Question Popular Planet Formation Theory
New studies are challenging the core accretion theory, the primary model astronomers use to understand how worlds form in our solar system and beyond.
