Space

The imagined view from "planet nine" back toward the sun. Astronomers think the huge, distant planet is likely gaseous, similar to Uranus and Neptune.

Scientists Find Hints Of A Giant, Hidden Planet In Our Solar System

7:03pm January 20, 2016

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

Something very big, out beyond Neptune, is warping the orbits of small, icy objects circling our sun. Astronomers haven't seen it yet, but say the culprit could be a planet with 10 times Earth's mass.

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Belgian Astronomers Honor David Bowie With A Constellation

7:56am January 19, 2016

It's a tribute to the man who brought us "Space Oddity," "Starman" and "Life on Mars." Bowie may now be in the great unknown but his constellation shines on.

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Members of the media setup remote cameras for the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch with the Jason-3 spacecraft onboard at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on Saturday.

National

WATCH: SpaceX Rocket Explodes In Attempt To Land On A Barge

8:19pm January 18, 2016

by Eyder Peralta

SpaceX was coming off a huge win last month when it landed a rocket on solid ground. Elon Musk took Sunday's failure in stride, saying at least the leftover pieces were bigger.

An artist's impression of the superluminous supernova as it would appear from a planet in the same galaxy, about 10,000 light-years away. The exploding star is 570 billion times brighter than our sun.

Record-Busting Star Explosion Baffles Sky Watchers

7:27pm January 14, 2016

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

It's 200 times more powerful than a typical supernova and 570 billion times brighter than our sun. First spotted in June, this stellar monster is wowing astronomers, who wonder what's at its heart.

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Why David Bowie Was Right About The Spiders On Mars

6:38pm January 12, 2016

David Bowie sang it right; there are spiders on Mars. "Spiders" are the name for a geological formation on the planet's surface.

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The inset image shows X-ray arcs that astronomers say are signs of galactic burping in the Messier 51 galaxy system, captured by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory.

Science

Scientists Spot 'Burping' Black Hole In Nearby Galaxy

3:06pm January 06, 2016

by Merrit Kennedy

Astronomers observed two arcs of X-ray emissions near a supermassive black hole. They say this shows "black holes can create, not just destroy."

This platinum-engraved sapphire disk, part of a set illustrating Earth's biodiversity, will be housed in the Earth Chamber of the MoonArk. It's designed by Mark Baskinger with Matt Zywica, Maggie Banks, Christie Chong, Bettina Chou, Adella Guo, Natalie Ha

Science
Arts

An Artistic Time Capsule Prepares To Hitch A Ride To The Moon

8:14am January 03, 2016

by Irina Zhorov

When a company named Astrobotic launches a lunar rover in 2017, the MoonArk will be aboard. It's a lightweight, sturdy "portrait of humanity," carrying the work of more than 200 artists and designers.

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A Physicist Dreams Of Catching Dark Matter In The Act

4:55am January 01, 2016

by Joe Palca

Hold out your hand for a century, and 100 million particles of dark matter will pass through each second without leaving a trace. Still, a physicist in South Dakota thinks he may be able to catch one.

WATCH: The Stuff We've Left In Space

12:01pm December 30, 2015

by Camila Domonoske

Scientists keep track of nearly 20,000 pieces of space debris, from the size of an apple to that of a school bus. A visualization from the Royal Institution lets you watch the orbiting trash pile up.

A close-up image from the New Horizons probe of a range of mountains on Pluto, one of the highlights from space in 2015.

Science

3 Big Moments From Space In 2015

11:45am December 26, 2015

by NPR Staff

From photos of far-flung Pluto to space lettuce, it's been an exciting year for developments in space. NPR Science Correspondent Geoff Brumfiel shares three highlights with host Linda Wertheimer.

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