Latest articles by Nola Taylor Tillman
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.
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.
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.
Phoenix Mars Lander: The First Spacecraft to Taste Martian Water
NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander was a recycled spacecraft that became the first spacecraft to sample water on Mars.
Secrets of Planet Birth Revealed in Amazing ALMA Radio Telescope Images
Gas and dust disks around young stars reveal features that suggest planets are off to an early start.
Small Magellanic Cloud: A Satellite Dwarf Galaxy Neighbor
For hundreds of years the Small Magellanic Cloud has provided astronomers with a relatively close-up view of another galaxy.
Black dwarf stars: The (theoretical) end of stellar evolution
A black dwarf is all that is left after a white dwarf star burns off all of its heat, but retains its mass.
Planets in Two-Star Systems Could Boast Life-Friendly Moons
A world tightly circling a pair of stars could cling to its moon, providing potential regions for life to evolve.
What Is a Spiral Galaxy?
A spiral galaxy has a distinct winding shape. Most of the galaxies observed by astronomers are spiral galaxies.
Pluto's Biggest Moon Could Give an Orbiter an (Almost) Free Ride
A spacecraft orbiting the dwarf planet could use Pluto's moon Charon to make important orbital changes.
The Purported Plumes of Jupiter's Moon Europa Are Missing 'Hotspot' Engines
The geological hotspots that surround geysers throughout the solar system are mysteriously absent on Jupiter's ocean-harboring moon Europa.
How Did an Oddball Planet Like Mercury Form?
Whether Mercury formed from a single collision or multiple impacts, the iron-rich planet is probably a rare breed.
First 'Orphan' Gamma-Ray Burst Reveals Insight into Powerful Stellar Explosions
The first orphan gamma-ray burst reveals what happens after the merger of two massive stars.
Jupiter's Atmosphere
The atmosphere of Jupiter has distinctive belts, bands and a massive swirling storm.
Discovery of Potential Exomoon Raises Hopes of Real-Life Pandora or Endor
The discovery of a potential exomoon could be the first step in finding worlds like "Avatar's" moon Pandora or "Star Wars'" forest moon of Endor.
TRAPPIST-1 Worlds Are Rocky and Rich in Water, New Research Uncovers
The TRAPPIST-1 system boasts seven rocky worlds in the habitable zone of their star. New research reveals that these worlds may be rich in volatiles such as water, as well.
