Topic: Astronomy

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Kepler epitaph? Eight most intriguing finds of troubled telescope.

Kepler, the space telescope designed to help us find other Earth-like planets, is on the fritz. Scientists hope they will be able to fix it remotely, but if they can't, its brief, brilliant career could be over. Here are eight of its most important discoveries.
Mother's Day 2013: 10 best books

Mother's Day 2013: 10 best new books for all kinds of moms
3 novels with unforgettable main characters

These protagonists will still be on your mind long after you've reached the last page.
12 promising novels for spring 2013

Here are 12 spring 2013 fiction titles that we're looking forward to picking up.
Briefing
How dangerous are near-Earth asteroids? 5 key questions answered.

On Feb. 15, asteroid 2012 DA14, discovered a year ago, cleared Earth by a scant 17,200 miles. The same day, a smaller, unrelated asteroid that no one saw coming exploded 12 to 15 miles above Russia’s Chelyabinsk region. Events that day highlight the risk that near-Earth objects (NEOs) can pose – although to some extent, humans can counter them.

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Meteorite - not the end of the world - strikes Russia's Siberia (+video)

A bus-sized meteor exploded over Russia's Ural Mountains, sparking speculation about everything from a missile attack to the end of the world. The shock waves smashed windows and damaged buildings.
Meteor explodes over Russia, injuring hundreds (+video)

A 10-ton meteor exploded over Russia on Friday, creating a shockwave that blew out windows and injured some 400 people. What you need to know about meteor strikes.
Friday's near-miss asteroid could help track more dangerous ones

Asteroid 2012 DA14 will buzz within 17,200 miles of Earth – a record for a known object of that size. While it's no threat to hit, it might help scientists find and track others that are.
Cosmic rays' mysterious origin? Supernovae to blame, study confirms.

A team of researchers found the 'unique, smoking-gun signature' of the creation of cosmic rays in the expanding shells cast off by supernovae.
Asteroid worth $195B, asteroid miners speculate

Asteroid worth $195B: Asteroid miners say that asteroid 2012 DA14, which will buzz past our planet on Friday could contain a jackpot of valuable metals.
Supernova alert! Astronomers spot warning sign

Astronomers have identified the early warning sign of an imminent supernova: a stellar belch that could indicate the star will explode within a month or two.
State of the Union: NASA's 'Mohawk Guy' will sit with Michelle Obama

At the State of the Union address tomorrow night, First Lady Michelle Obama will be joined by NASA's 'Mohawk Guy,' the Iranian-American Bobak Ferdowsi who attracted attention during the landing of NASA's latest Mars mission, the Curiosity rover.
Earth-like planets next door? Prospect could point to 9.6 billion more

A new study calculates that the nearest Earth-like planet may be only 13 light-years away – and argues there may be more habitable planets out there than we thought.
Earth-like planets next door? Prospect could point to 9.6 billion more

A new study calculates that the nearest Earth-like planet may be only 13 light-years away – and argues there may be more habitable planets out there than we thought.
Milky Way could be home to 4.5 billion Earth-like planets

Astronomers have calculated that 6 percent of our galaxy's most common type of star probably host temperate, Earth-sized planets, meaning that a habitable alien Earth could be just a dozen light years away.
NASA's Curiosity rover taps Martian rock with its drill

Using its arm mounted drill, NASA's Curiosity rover has hammered a rock on an outcrop on Mars, in preparation for the first drilling activity on the Red Planet.
Comet ISON: NASA releases first photos of 'comet of the century' (+video)

Comet ISON could put on a spectacular display in late November. Comet ISON could shine brighter than the moon in the night sky. Comet ISON was photographed by NASA's Deep Impact probe earlier this month.
Earth-buzzing asteroid big enough to level a city, found by amateurs

Asteroid 2012 DA14 will set a record when it zips by within 17,000 miles of Earth next week. The 150-foot object was discovered by a team of dedicated amateur astronomers in southern Spain.
Earth won't be destroyed by huge asteroid next week, say scientists

Measuring 150 feet wide, asteroid 2012 DA14 could do some serious damage were it to strike our planet. But instead it will zip past us harmlessly, if somewhat closely.
Hunt for asteroids near earth way too slow, study says

Astronomers should dramatically ramp up the sky surveys, not only to better prepare for threats to Earth but also to exploit asteroids' contents, scientists say.
NASA's Curiosity ready to drill first Mars rock

NASA's Curiosity, the SUV-sized robot exploring Mars, is getting ready to spin its drill bit for the first time. Curiosity can probe an inch deep into Martian rock, deeper than any previous rover or lander.
17 stories from 'Undefeated: Inside the 1972 Miami Dolphins’ Perfect Season’

Writer Mike Freeman explores the undefeated season of the Florida team in his book.
Wildfires uncover drug lab in Australia, but miss big telescopes (+video)

Wildfires uncover drug lab in New South Wales, Australia. The illegal drug lab was revealed, and 28 homes were destroyed, by more than 140 wildfires burning across Australia.
Editor's Blog Hello Mars. Goodbye sci-fi

Since the dawn of astronomy, the Red Planet has fascinated humans. For most of history, it's been just outside the range of human discovery, which made it ripe for the imagination. Now, with the Curiosity Rover's high-resolution photos and mobile science lab, Mars is joining our world.
Man and Mars through history

A look back over centuries at man's attempt to uncover information about the 'Red Planet.'Sources: NASA, American Museum of Natural History, and Scientific American
Cover Story The Mars mystique

After 50 years of missions to Mars, scientists are unlocking some of the mysteries surrounding a planet that has captivated mankind for millenniums. Will humans ever leave a boot print on Mars?
Astronomers report largest structure in universe. Will it upend theories?

Recent work suggests that the upper limit to the largest gatherings of galaxies is about 1.2 billion to 1.5 billion light-years across. The structure that the team reports is nearly four times this theoretical limit.
What's going on around Andromeda? Curious structure puzzles scientists.

Scientists have found 13 dwarf galaxies orbiting the Andromeda galaxy in what appears to be a fairly narrow ring. That makes no sense according to current models of galaxy formation.
Odd meteorite could be time capsule of a wetter Mars

Scientists have analyzed a meteorite found on Earth and suggest that it could come from Mars's crust at a time when the planet was still wet and volcanically active.
Quadrantid meteor shower: Will moon wash out the show?

Quadrantid meteor shower-watchers will have to deal with a three-quarter-full moon, but the event peaks overnight Wednesday, meaning the show will go on.