Latest articles by Nola Taylor Tillman
How and Why Do Planets Die?
Fire, ice, volcano or star — planets have a variety of ways to die.
Fingerprints of Venus Transformation May Be Hidden in Plain Sight
The transformation of a water-rich Venus to an overheated world may be preserved in its complex geological features.
An Ice Giant and Warped Disk? Weird Star's Mysteries Just Get Weirder
For over a decade, a warped disk around a young star puzzled astronomers — but new research suggests explanations for two of the mysteries it poses.
A Newborn Monster Black Hole May Get the Boot When Its Parent Galaxies Collide
The most massive black hole mergers can hurl the new, combined object free from their galaxy.
The Lunar South Pole Is a Rich Target for NASA's 2024 Moon Goal
Pence's five-year lunar challenge targets the moon's south pole, an area rich in water and science.
Universe Quickly Spawned Stars After Big Bang, Ancient Galaxy Shows
Observations of the most distant galaxy ever identified revealed traces of oxygen from at least one previous generation of stars, a sign that star formation got off to an early start.
NASA's IBEX Mission: Exploring the Edge of the Solar System
IBEX is helping astronomers figure out where the edge of our solar system ends and the rest of space begins.
NASA's Stardust Mission: The Space Probe That Brought Stardust to Earth
Over the course of 11 years, Stardust visited an asteroid and two comets and sent pieces of space matter back to Earth.
NASA's New Millennium Program: Taking Risks to Reduce Future Danger
The New Millennium Program explored new technology in space to reduce mission costs.
After a Slow Start, Milky Way's Neighbors Have Upped Their Star-Forming Game
As they prepare for their first lap around the Milky Way, our galaxy's nearest neighbors have shown a dramatic increase in star formation.
NASA's STEREO mission: A quest to learn more about the sun
Although one of the twin spacecraft is no longer in contact with Earth, NASA's STEREO mission continues to provide insights about the sun.
These Bubbles of Star Birth in the Milky Way's Galactic Neighbor Look Spectacular!
A beautiful image of the Milky Way's closest galactic neighbor provides insight into how stars form.
Deep Impact: The Deep-Space Comet Hunter
NASA's Deep Impact mission was the most-traveled deep-space comet hunter of its time.
It's the Year of the Pig! Google Doodle, White House and More Celebrate
The lunar new year kicked off today with the Year of the Pig.
Super-Earth Smackdowns May Explain Diverse Worlds
Crashing a giant space rock into a young planet can strip off some or all of its atmosphere, creating a wealth of different types of worlds.
What Spacecraft Will Enter Interstellar Space Next?
Pioneers 10 and 11, Voyagers 1 and 2, and New Horizons are the only spacecraft currently capable of leaving the solar system. Which one will be the next to go?
Dawn Mission: Shedding Light on Asteroids
The Dawn spacecraft broke several records when it visited Vesta and Ceres in the asteroid belt.
GRAIL: NASA's Mission to Study the Gravity of the Moon
Before their fiery demise, NASA's twin GRAIL spacecraft mapped the moon in a quest to learn more about our closest neighbor.
Ant Attack! Insects Swarm Australian Ring-Hunting Telescope
Astronomy may focus on the stars, but occasionally something happens to bring it back down to Earth — like a swarm of insects shorting out their telescope.
The Largest Alien Planet of TRAPPIST-1 Has an Atmosphere That Evolved Over Eons
The atmosphere surrounding the largest TRAPPIST-1 planet makes a strong case for it being a rocky world.
Deep Space 1: Providing a Wealth of New Space Technology
The primary mission for NASA's Deep Space 1 was to test out a dozen new advanced technologies. During the spacecraft's ride through space, it also swung by an asteroid and a comet.
Hubble Space Telescope Will Last Through the Mid-2020s, Report Says
Hubble has captured the universe for nearly 30 years. A new report estimates that the telescope will continue to function for at least another five.
Barnard's Star Planet May Not Be Too Cold for Life After All
One of Earth's nearest exoplanet neighbors, the planet orbiting Barnard's Star, may still have a chance at hosting life, despite its frigid temperatures.
