Road Tripping Space: Visiting Meteorites in Africa
Traveling through space can be a bumpy ride! Join Govert Schilling on a scenic road trip across southern Africa filled with craters and meteorites.
Bright future for South African Astronomy
Govert Schilling chronicles his travels to astronomical observatories across South Africa, the future site of the Square Kilometre Array.
The Incredible Skies of Namibia
Explore two unique astronomical sites that lie under the dark skies of Namibia - the HESS high-energy array and the Africa Millimeter Telescope.
SOFIA Dashes into Pluto's Shadow
Despite an 11th-hour scramble due to an unexpected in predictions, NASA's flying observatory was in the right place at the right time on June 29th as distant Pluto briefly covered a 12th-magnitude star.
South Pole Science
A behind-the-scenes look at the construction of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica, plus more information about science done at the South Pole. (This blog is an online companion to our January 2014 feature article on IceCube.)
A Whirlwind South Pole Tour
S&T contributing editor Govert Schilling tells the story of his recent expedition to the unique science laboratory located at the inhospitable South Pole.
Radio Astronomy in the Aussie Outback
It's not easy to get to the Murchison Radio Observatory in Western Australia. Being in one of the most remote regions of the country means there's hardly any radio interference that might otherwise compromise the astronomical observations. It's one of the most radio-quiet zones on the planet.
Planet Hunters are Losing Count
The latest 500 planet candidates from the Kepler mission are just part of the story. But Terra II remains elusive.
Remembering Tom Gehrels (1925-2011)
Dutch-born planetary scientist and asteroid hunter Tom Gehrels passed away on July 11th. Sky & Telescope contributing editor Govert Schilling shares his memories of a unique person.
Praising Arizona — II
S&T contributing editor Govert Schilling visits observatories in southern Arizona.
Praising Arizona — I
S&T contributing editor Govert Schilling visits observatories in southern Arizona
Standard-Candle Supernova Confusion
Type 1a supernovas are crucial for measuring how the expansion of the universe has been changing. But no one knows for sure exactly what they are.
Rain of Super-Particles
A 45-year mystery solved? Scientists using the new Pierre Auger Observatory say they've finally tracked down where ultra-high-energy cosmic rays — "tennis ball particles" — are coming from.
Cold Evidence for a Cosmic "Texture"?
A ripple in the cosmic background radiation hints at an irregularity in spacetime. . . maybe.
The Source of the Dinosaurs' Asteroid
Did a colossal collision in the asteroid belt 160 million years ago doom the dinosaurs? A just-published analysis argues strongly for exactly that.
Mira's Marvelous Tail
Mira, the closest and brightest of the red long-period variable stars, has thrown off a gassy hood and a comet-like tail so big that if you could see them, they would overflow your telescope's field of view.
The New Largest Telescope in the World
With an aperture of 10.4 meters, Spain's new Gran Telescopio Canarias is about to assume the title.
Overgrown Planet, or Dwarf in the Desert?
Astronomers have uncovered a fascinating heavy object orbiting close to its star. The problem is, they aren't sure what to call it.
Goodbye, Pluto. Hello, "Dwarf Planets"!
It's official: our solar system has eight planets, and Pluto is not one of them according to the International Astronomical Union.
Giant Telescopes of the Future
Telescopes as large as 20, 30, and even 100 meters are now on the drawing boards.
