Features

On the Trail of Rogue Planets

A few scientists believe that most galaxies harbor a thousand trillion planets unattached to any star.

Vulcan Chasers

Why does Mercury travel a different path than Newton’s laws predict? For several decades, many astronomers believed an inner planet was at fault.

Digging for Gold

A near-Earth asteroid just one kilometer across could prove to be a gold mine for precious metals.

Astronomy’s Feisty Old Man

Despite half a century as the greatest living observational cosmologist, Allan Sandage remains an outcast for his views on the size and age of the universe.

The Triumph of Hipparcos

How can the most ancient stars appear older than the universe itself? Recent results from the European Hipparcos satellite may finally solve this mystery.

Raising Astronomers

It’s not hard to get kids hooked on astronomy. All it takes is some innovative classroom programs – or a crystal-clear night under the stars.

Touring a Stellar Graveyard

A colorful group of compact planetary nebulae awaits backyard observers who crank up the power.

Getting the Right Start

Looking for a good, low-cost scope? This 4.25-inch reflector you build from a kit could do the trick.

Ask Astro

The editors of ASTRONOMY answer your questions about the sky and the universe.

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