Astronomy
Top Ten Mysteries of the Universe
What are those burning questions about the cosmos that still baffle astronomers today?
May 08, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Fast Forward: The Dark Energy Camera
Get a sneak peak at the new project that will search for mysterious cosmic energies that drive our universe
May 2012 |
By Mark Strauss
When Runaway Planets Go 30 Million Miles Per Hour
A new discovery indicates some planets may be flung out of our galaxy at velocities a few percent of the speed of light
March 30, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Ask Smithsonian: Can Birds Be Identified Just From Their Feathers? Questions from Our Readers
Our new feature, Ask Smithsonian, is all about finding the answers. Do you have a question for our curators?
March 15, 2012 |
By Beth Py-Lieberman
Scientists Discover a Waterworld Just 40 Light Years Away
An entirely new type of planet is made up mostly of water
February 25, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
How Much the Hope Diamond is Worth and Other Questions From Our Readers
From American art, history and culture, air and space technology, contemporary art, Asian art and any of the sciences from astronomy to zoology, we'll find an answer
February 07, 2012 |
By Aviva Shen
An Astronomer’s Solution to Global Warming
The technology developed for telescopes, it turns out, can harness solar power
February 03, 2012 |
By Alaina G. Levine
How To See Tonight’s Meteor Shower
Take advantage of this rare chance to see the Quadrantid meteor shower
January 03, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
A Guided Tour of the Universe
A new exhibition at the Natural History Museum gives visitors a dazzling view of our evolving universe
December 29, 2011 |
By Joseph Stromberg
What the Earth-Sized Planet Discovery Means
The lead scientist in the new planet discovery explains the significance of the find
December 21, 2011 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Two Smithsonian Scientists Receive Presidential Award
An astrophysicist and a conservation biologist each receive one of the highest honors in science
September 30, 2011 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Inside the Double-Sun Planet Discovery
How Smithsonian and Harvard scientists discovered the planet that orbits two stars
September 23, 2011 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Weekend Events: June 17-19: Sun Spots, Tom Hanks, and the Greensboro Lunch Counter
Visit the Smithsonian museums to look at some of the wonders of the universe and dive into the Portrait Gallery for a double feature
June 16, 2011 |
By Brittany Dant
Brilliant Space Photos From Chandra and Spitzer
Two unsung space telescopes create eye-opening images of the universe from light we can't see
February 2011 |
By Abigail Tucker
What's Next in Space?
Probes and landers sent into the final frontier will bring us closer to answering cosmic mysteries
August 2010 |
By Mark Strauss
Asteroid Hunters
Astronomers are determined to protect human beings from inanimate outer space invaders
August 2010 |
By Robert Irion
Wednesday Roundup: Protostars, Movie Stars, Maps of Stars and More
Spielberg and Lucas on Rockwell: In honor of the American Art Museum’s current exhibit entitled “Telling Stories: Norman Rockwell from the Collections of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg,” filmmaker Laurent Bouzereau interviewed both movie moguls about the 20th century painter and illus...
July 21, 2010 |
By Jess Righthand
Far Sighted
The Chandra X-Ray Center at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Laboratory helps scientists observe a fantastic range of phenomena
June 2010 |
By G. Wayne Clough
Dark Energy: The Biggest Mystery in the Universe
At the South Pole, astronomers try to unravel a force greater than gravity that will determine the fate of the cosmos
April 2010 |
By Richard Panek
The Secrets Within Cosmic Dust
Dust captured by a spacecraft from a comet's tail holds clues to the origin of the solar system
December 2009 |
By Robert Irion
