First Rosetta Science Results Are Surprising
January 26, 2015
The first suite of science papers from the Rosetta mission has been published, giving new insights about comets.
VIEW HEADLINES ONLY
Comet Ocean Theory Debunked
December 11, 2014
Data from the Rosetta mission debunk the notion that comets brought Earth's ocean water. Now they're hoping asteroids could have.
Comet Lander Working, But Not Optimal
November 13, 2014
Rosetta's Philae lander hopped twice before landing in the shade in a tilted position, but the instruments are working.
Rosetta's Philae: ESA Lands Probe on Comet
November 12, 2014
Another space first: the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission landed its Philae probe on a comet this morning, but will it stick?
Of Planets and People
September 29, 2014
Here's a quick tour of the planets to see what's newsworthy.
Rosetta and the Stone
August 6, 2014
A historic comet rendezvous mission begins today after ten years in space.
Every Planet Surprises Secular Astronomers, II: Outer Planets
May 3, 2014
"Surprise" or "puzzling" are the most common words in news reports about bodies in the solar system. Here are recent examples that discuss the outer planets.
ISON Died a Customary Comet Death
December 2, 2013
Comet ISON was not unusual for breaking up and sputtering to a fiery end. That's in comets' nature.
Was Charlemagne Protected from a Cosmic Disaster? A Carbon-14 Mystery
January 22, 2013
Tree ring data from the 8th century hint that a cosmic catastrophe was averted on the "privileged planet."
Astronomy Grab Bag
December 29, 2012
For year's end, here's a clean-out of astronomy articles—from planetary science to cosmology—to motivate further inquiry.
Is This Any Way to Learn About the Origin of Life?
September 22, 2012
Pollute, freeze, zap. Goal: "to better understand how life arose on Earth."
Asteroids as Water Balloons Gave Us Oceans
July 23, 2012
Planetary scientists are looking to asteroids as the source of Earth's water – not from evidence, but from desperation.
Comety Show: Oceans from Space
October 11, 2011
Finally, a comet has been found with a deuterium-to-hydrogen ratio that is close to that found in Earth’s oceans. That had not been true of many other comets. Astrobiologists claim this ration in Comet Hartley 2 as “proof” that our water came special delivery from water-balloon comets. But why do they believe that, what constitutes proof, and what new problems does the “proof” lead to?