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  • IMAGE First Light

    June 5, 2000

    NASA's IMAGE mission, a unique satellite dedicated to the study of space storms, has returned its first pictures of electrified gas surrounding our planet. Using antennas as large as the Empire State building, the satellite is taking an unprecedented look at Earth's magnetic environment and its response to fierce gusts of solar wind.

  • Happy New Year, Europa

    Jan. 3, 2000

    On the eve of another extended mission, NASA's Galileo spacecraft swooped past Jupiter's icy moon Europa today at an altitude of 351 kilometers. Another Io flyby is planned for February 22.

  • The Baffling Geminid Meteor Shower

    Dec. 8, 2000

    Most meteor showers are caused by comets, but the Geminid meteor shower, which peaks next Wednesday morning, seems to come from a curious near-Earth asteroid named 3200 Phaethon.

  • The Incredible Shrinking Ozone Hole

    Aug. 6, 2008

  • Weekend Meteors

    Oct. 18, 2000

    On Friday the 13th of October a brilliant fireball startled stargazers in Texas and Kansas. But that was just a piece of space junk -- a real meteor shower arrives this weekend when Earth passes through a stream of debris from Halley's comet.

  • Counting Brown Dwarfs

    Aug. 24, 2000

    Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have taken attendance in a class of brown dwarfs and found indications that these odd and elusive objects also tend to be loners. The Hubble census -- the most complete to date -- provides new and compelling evidence that stars and planets form in different ways.

  • Solar Cycle Update

    March 22, 2000

    Is the real Y2K problem just starting? NASA scientists say not to worry. The solar cycle appears to be on schedule for a peak in mid-2000, but this year's Solar Max appears to be slightly smaller than peaks registered in 1978 and 1989. Check out this story for predictions and for a summary of recent solar activity.

  • Hot X-rays from a Cold Comet

    Aug. 23, 2000

    Normally, x-ray astronomers concern themselves with the most violent and fiery denizens of the Universe. But, last month researchers solved a cosmic mystery when they turned Chandra toward Comet LINEAR, a chilly snowball from the outer solar system.

  • Moonlit Meteors

    April 18, 2000

    The oldest known meteor shower peaks on the morning of April 22 just four days after the Full Moon. Bright moonlight will reduce the number of shooting stars that are easy to see, but many meteor enthusiasts will be watching anyway because it's been over 3 months since the last major meteor shower.

  • Interplanetary Seasons

    June 20, 2000