More planets found beyond solar system
Deploying the massive Keck telescope in Hawaii in a new planet search, a team of astronomers has detected two planets orbiting Sun-like stars, bringing to 12 the number of distant worlds discovred beyond our solar system.One of the new discoveries, a Jupiter-sized sphere that most likely apepars deep blue-violet, barely …
Far-flung galaxy clusters may reveal fate of universe
A survey of galaxy clusters by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has found what could be some of the most distant clusters ever seen. If the distances and masses of the clusters are confirmed by ground-based telescopes, the survey may hold clues to how galaxies quickly formed into massive large-scale structures …
A space oddity
Out in the reaches of the solar system, beyond the orbits of Neptune and Pluto, something strange is going on. Two space probes, now speeding away into the interstellar void, are not behaving as they should. They appear to be experiencing an unexplained extra tug from the sun-raising the possibility …
Astronomers discover 2 planets with notable orbits
Astronomers aided by a precocious amateur have discovered two more planets orbiting sun like stars, including one with the most Earth like orbit of any of the new worlds detected so far. The discovery brings the total number of confirmed extrasolar planets to a dozen. But, until now, all the …
NASA seeks aid for Russia on new station
Worried that trouble in Moscow is threatening its own dreams, NASA wants to spend up to $660 million over five years to bail out its Russian partner in building a planned international space station.
NASA millions to bail out Russian program
NASA will ask Congress and the White House for approval to buy up to an additional $US660million worth of goods and services from the Russian Space Agency over the next four years. The move is a scramble to salvage plans to build an international space station with the Russians.
A cannibal in the yonder
The Milky Way galaxy is cannibalising two neighbouring galaxies by ripping hydrogen gas out of them, an astronomer Brad Gibson said. Tides, not friction, are the culprit. Mr. Gibson, from Canberra's Mount Stromlo Observatory, said the mystery surronding the gas emission from the galaxies, known as the Large and Small …
Out in space, mystery force is baffling to top scientists
For 19 years, space scientists, astronomers and physicists have been trying to find an explaination for a mysterious force that seems to be pulling spacecraft in the direction of the Sun. A team of investigators has now announced that, after examining and ruling out most of the possibilities they could …
Jupiter's rings are just dust
Scientists analyzing pictures from the unmanned Galileo spacecraft announced Tuesday that Jupiter's faint rings are made of dust kicked up when cosmic debris smashed into the giant planet's four small inner moons. The astronomers said the images had solved one of the recent mysteries surrounding Jupiter, the solar system's largest …
Faster and cheaper aren't always better, U.S. space agency finds
One success and one failure : In pursuit of its new "faster, better, cheaper" philosophy, NASA sent its Pathfinder mission to Mars, which was a stunning success in July 1997. But its Lewis satellite, fell out of orbit and burned up in the atmosphere after being sent into space a …
Engineers successfully regain control of SOHO spacecraft
Spacecraft controllers successfully regained control of the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft after sending a series of commands directing the spacecraft to fire thrusters and turn its face and solar power panels fully towards the Sun. SOHO operates at a special vantage point 1.5 million kilometres out in space, …
Galileo finds Jupiter's rings formed by dust blasted off small moons
Jupiter's intricate, swirling ring system is formed by dust kicked up as interplanetary meteroids smash into the giant planet's four small inner moons, according to scientists studying data from NASA's Galileo spacecraft. Images sent by Galileo also reveal that the outermost ring is actually two rings, one embedded within the …
A romp around the red planet in an airplane
Engineers at NASA's Ames Research Center plan to launch the first plane on Mars. The estimated tab: $48 million. The Ames team, has already designed a robot plane and dubbed it Kitty Hawk. It would be carried to the Red Planet like the Mars Rover but launched in the air, …
Solar eclipse on Aug 22
An annualar eclipse of the sun will occur in the early hours of August 22 next. According to the meterorological centre in Bhubaneshwar, the eclipse will be visible in the country as a partial one except the extreme north western region.
China plans to put humans in space?
China has extensive plans for the exploration and utilisation of space, including its announced intention to launch humans in space next year, according to a report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) in Washington.
Country to view century's last solar eclipse
India is once again in the path of totality of the century's last total solar eclipse which will occur exactly a year later on this day, according to Birla planetarium officials.
Mir 'could hit' populated areas
The troubled Mir spacecraft could land on populated areas when it ends its 13 -year endurance trial in orbit, say British scientists.
Black hole is found in centre of galaxy
An enormous black hole has been discovered at the centre of our galaxy, one that could shed light on how galaxies form, according to findings presented on Monday at a scientific conference. Proof of the long-suspected black hole was presented by Ms Andrea Ghez of the University of California at …
