• Two planets found sharing one orbit!

    Buried in the flood of data from the Kepler telescope is a planetary system unlike any seen before. Two of its apparent planets share the same orbit around their star. If the discovery is confirmed, it would bolster a theory that Earth once shared its orbit with a

  • Three theories of planet formation busted

    The more new planets we find, the less we seem to know about how planetary systems are born, according to a leading planet hunter. With the tally of confirmed planets orbiting other stars now more than 500, planet hunters are heading for a golden age of discovery,…

  • Comet Tempel 1 encounter – tonight

    NASA's Stardust-NExT probe is plunging toward Comet Tempel 1 for Valentine's Day encounter designed to reveal how solar heat devours the icy cores of comets. Closest approach happens at 8:37 p.m. PST (11:37 p.m. EST) on Feb. 14th. Stay tuned for fantastic…