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.
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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?
Mercury, Moon May Still Be Erupting
October 17, 2014
Two objects that should be old and dead show surprising activity. Other indications of youthfulness in the solar system are noted.
Of Planets and People
September 29, 2014
Here's a quick tour of the planets to see what's newsworthy.
Planets Don't Fit Evolutionary Models
September 8, 2014
Secular planetary scientists are surprised by almost every object they observe in the solar system. Their models cannot reproduce our system of planets.
New Ways to Find E.T.
August 11, 2014
SETI researchers may not have to wait by the stellar radio dial for their imaginary friends to call in. They might eavesdrop on their pollution.
Keeping Titan Old
June 21, 2014
As the Cassini orbiter makes its 103rd close pass by Titan, have long-agers found ways to keep it billions of years old?
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.
Cosmos 2.0 Repeats the Flaws of Cosmos 1.0
March 17, 2014
Neil de Grasse Tyson is showing himself to be a good disciple of Carl Sagan, never questioning his master.
The Spin on Planets
February 18, 2014
As the orbs whirl around Sol, human understanding of our space neighborhood rises and falls.
Changing Stories at Saturn and Titan
December 21, 2013
News from the ringed planet and its largest moon shows scientists can't keep their stories straight when trying to keep Saturn billions of years old.
Cosmic Whacks as Creative Forces
October 17, 2013
Asteroid impacts are some astronomers' answer to everything, except when they are shown to be unworkable.
Scientists Dodge Youthfulness of Saturn Moon Titan
August 17, 2013
Like Enceladus, Saturn's moon Titan shows multiple signs of being far less than 4.5 billion years old – yet the press releases are strangely silent about the implications.
Astrobiology: The Science of Could
July 1, 2013
Anything "could" happen. Shouldn't science deal with what does happen and what did happen? The "could" word is rampant in astrobiology literature and origin-of-life studies.
Titan's Methane Still Puzzles Scientists
April 16, 2013
The methane in Titan's atmosphere should be long gone, and may be disappearing soon, planetologists say.