Astronomy
One Family Lived on Mars Time for a Month
While a Martian day is only 39 minutes and 35 seconds longer than an Earth day, the differences quickly add up
January 07, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
This Is What a Watery Mars May Have Looked Like
Mars once had a vast ocean. What would that have looked like?
January 03, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
NASA Wants to Drag an Asteroid Into Orbit Around the Moon
If going to an asteroid is hard, maybe bringing an asteroid to us is easier?
January 03, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
The Smithsonian Heads to Hawaii
Coral reefs and radio telescopes make a trip to the tropics more than worthwhile
January 2013 |
By G. Wayne Clough, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution
PHOTOS: Getting Ready for the World’s Largest Radio Telescope
In Chile’s Atacama Desert, astronomers are preparing for a new array that will stretch across 10 miles
January 2013 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Will We Be Able to Prevent an Asteroid Strike and More Questions From Our Readers
Does lightning strike ships at sea and why does American English differ from British English?
January 2013 |
By Smithsonian Magazine
This Is What the End of All Time Looks Like
Feel like having your tiny human mind blown? Check out predictions for the next 10^10^10^76.66 years
December 28, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
This Meteor Shower Is So New It Doesn’t Even Have a Name
For the first time, debris from the comet Wirtanen may cross paths with the Earth
December 12, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Get Ready: A 2.8-Mile Wide Asteroid Is About to Swoop Past Earth
A huge asteroid will pass near Earth today, and you can watch it live online
December 11, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Why Do We Hiccup? And Other Scientific Mysteries—Seen Through the Eyes of Artists
In a new book, 75 artists illustrate questions scientists haven't fully answered yet
November 28, 2012 |
By Megan Gambino
Elon Musk’s Plan for Mars Is Really Vague But Definitely Expensive
Like any self-respecting space entrepreneur, Elon Musk has a plan for a Mars colony
November 27, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Jupiter Just Can’t Decide How Many Moons It Wants To Have
By catching or tossing comets or eating old moons, Jupiter's orbiter-count is constantly in flux
November 23, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
This Tuesday Morning, Debris of a Dying Comet Should Produce Extremely Bright Meteors
The annual Leonid meteor shower peaks this weekend
November 16, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Staring at the Sun: It’s NOT a “Mass of Incandescent Gas”
Solar astrophysicist Mark Weber presents new research about that "miasma of incandescent plasma" at the Air and Space Museum
November 16, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Scientists Get The Best Look Yet at a Rogue Planet With No Star
A gas giant, drifting alone with no star to call home, was discovered 100 light-years away
November 14, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Having Trouble Finding the ISS in the Night Sky? Have NASA Text You
NASA will email or text you to let you know when the ISS will be in your area
November 08, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
How Astronauts Take Such Beautiful Photographs in Space
How do astronauts capture such amazing photos? What gear do they use? What problems do they run in to?
November 08, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Finding Life on Other Planets May Be Even Harder Than We Thought
Some scientists think that to find advanced life, you need to look for an asteroid belt
November 05, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
The Sun’s Swirling Green Gases of Wonder
Unprecedented images from space capture the Sun’s true beauty
November 2012 |
By Erin Wayman
Giant Paintball Gun Could Save the World From Death-by-Asteroid
A big asteroid will eventually hit the Earth. What can we do to push it out of the way?
October 26, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
