Space / Meteors, Asteroids, & Comets

#53: Did Earth’s Gold Come From Outer Space?


Money never grows on trees, but precious metals do sometimes fall from the sky. 12.27.2011

#33: New Survey Softens 
Fears of Asteroid Impacts


Reports of our impending collective death have been somewhat exaggerated. 12.27.2011

NASA Ponders an 
Asteroid Shot

Putting people on a flying rock could be a good warm-up for the big prize: going to Mars. 05.06.2011

11 Space Missions That Will Make Headlines in 2011

This year, space exploration will bring news of expeditions to distant planets, the quest for life-friendly star systems, and the bold efforts of commercial space companies. Here's a preview of what to look forward to. 01.06.2011

The 100 Top Science Stories of 2010

Every year DISCOVER sorts through the scientific accomplishments of the past 12 months, and assembles a list of the coolest experiments, most brilliant discoveries, and most world-changing events. As you page through the countdown to the #1 science story, we think you'll come to the same conclusion we did: 2010 was quite a year. 12.16.2010

The Most Sensitive Radio Telescope in the World: Arecibo Observatory

So big that it needed a sinkhole to hold it 04.02.2010

#62: Sooth-Saying Science—First-Ever Prediction of a Meteor

Telescopes spotted it, computers traced it, onlookers watched it, and students picked up the pieces. 12.28.2009

Diamonds Are a Geologist's Best Friend

Tiny carbon spheres hidden under rock and ice may be telltales of cataclysmic comet strikes. 04.06.2009

What is This? A Windshield's Worst Nightmare Come True?

It may look like a worthless rock, but it can be encrusted with diamonds or used to find black gold. 02.05.2009

A Virtual Tour of 8 Strange Exoplanets

Astronomers have recently found hundreds of new planets. Here are what some of them might look like. 01.23.2009

Beyond the Nine Planets

We are only beginning to discover how vast and strange our solar system truly is. 01.06.2009

How a Cloud of Space Dust Could Wipe Out Life on Earth

Seemingly innocuous specks could throw off the whole solar system—and we might not see them until it's too late. 12.30.2008

#50: Confirmed: 1969 Meteorite Brought Genetic Building Blocks From Space

More evidence that asteroids may have led to the emergence of life on earth. 12.13.2008

#60: Mars Became Lopsided After Massive Asteroid Collision

After 30 years, the debate over the red planet's shape may be over. 12.11.2008

Ten Ways the World Will End

Will it be a solar flare? Or a gamma-ray burst? DISCOVER's own Phil Plait lays out the odds. 10.28.2008

The Solar System Looks Way Better Than It Used To

A comparison of landmark space pictures shows our imaging tech has improved in 40 years. A lot. 10.07.2008

Next-Generation Semiconductor Was First Created Elsewhere in the Cosmos

A rare and promising mineral was plucked from space by a NASA satellite. 08.21.2008

Mission to the Forgotten Planets

Before the Pluto fiasco, two asteroids were stripped of planet status. 03.11.2008

Rearranging Stars to Communicate with Aliens

A proposal to create special constellations that nature would never produce 02.08.2008

75. Were the First Americans Wiped Out By an Asteroid?

Giant explosion may have caused continent-wide fires and a 1,000-year cold spell 01.14.2008

Death By Cosmic Pinball

Astronomers triangulate the source of the dinosaur destroyer. 12.03.2007

Did a Comet Cause the Great Flood?

The universal human myth may be the first example of disaster reporting. 11.15.2007

What To Do Before the Asteroid Strikes

The doomsday rock is out there. It’s just a matter of time... 11.01.2007

What Caused the Great American Extinction?

A comet may have decimated native animals—and culture. 07.25.2007

The Asteroid Hunters

Backyard astronomers keep watch against Armageddon. 06.28.2007

StarDust Memories

StarDust Memories 04.27.2006

Discover Dialogue: Clark R. Chapman

There is the possibility of moving one out of the way if we have enough money' 03.04.2006

The Year in Science: Space Exploration

NASA's latest manned rocket, Saturn's moons, comet smashing, and more. 01.08.2006

A Space Oddity

12.01.2005

Sky Lights

Summer's spectacular meteors let you watch a cosmic trompe l'oeil 08.06.2005

Discover Dialogue: Planetary Geologist H. Jay Melosh

Just about every atom on Earth has been through a hypervelocity impact. 07.24.2005

Sky Lights

This month's shooting stars are not just the usual bits of falling fluff 12.03.2004

Sky Lights

Outer space is not just out there—it is also on your windowsill and inside your body 11.25.2004

A Piece of the Rock

04.21.2004

In Her Own Words: Meenakshi Wadhwa

If there's one thing you learn as a scientist, it's never to close your mind off to things that seem far-fetched' 03.28.2004

To Catch a Comet

In January a clever probe will meet up with a flying rock that may hold the secret to life on Earth 10.28.2003

Sky Lights

A chalk white miniature planet of giant craters and frozen lava makes a rare naked-eye appearance 03.01.2003

Astronomy

01.01.2003

Sky Lights

What happens when Earth collides with a piece of comet? See for yourself 08.01.2002

Space

Year In Science 01.13.2002

Astronomy

Year In Science 01.13.2002

Sky Lights

Heads up: Here comes space junk from 5 billion years ago 11.01.2001

Did Life on Earth Come From Mars?

Chunks of planets were flying all over the place when the solar system was young—and some may have carried hitchhikers 08.01.2001

Philip Bland, Meteor Man

An energetic young scientist believes he may have found the clue that solves the mystery of how the Earth was made 03.01.2001

The End is Near

The remarkable journey of a tough little space probe to the place where killer asteroids lurk 02.01.2001

Sky Lights

The solar system's biggest players put on a light show for city slickers 11.01.2000

The Panther Mountain Crater

The more time you spend with Yngvar Isachsen, the moe you wonder when the next killer meteorite will head our way 08.01.2000

Rock of Love

05.01.2000

Sky Lights

And ten other predictions of celestial wonders that won't disappoint in the new millennium 01.01.2000

Sky Lights

If the heavens line up just right, this month we'll be treated to the greatest show off Earth 11.01.1999

More Meteors, Please

August showers brings shooting flowers 08.01.1999

Steroids Amok

08.01.1999

Sky Lights

August showers brings shooting flowers 08.01.1999

Your Stars for 1999

A total eclipse and sizzling meteors highlight this year's sky watching. 01.01.1999

Autumn Showers

Fall features four meteor showers for your evening enjoyment. 10.01.1998

Chain of Craters

08.01.1998

The Year in Science: Astronomy 1997

Eccentric Character 01.01.1998

The Year in Science: Astronomy 1997

The Three-Tailed Comet 01.01.1998

The Year in Science: Earth 1997

Wee Comets Again 01.01.1998

The Year in Science: Earth 1997

Craters Without Impact 01.01.1998

The Year in Science: Space 1997

A Flying Bag of Charcoal 01.01.1998

May Pole

05.01.1997

Meteorite Hunters

Ralph Harvey can ride a Ski-doo as well as anyone, and he looks pretty good in antlers--just the guy to search Antarctica for pieces of other worlds. 05.01.1997

Hail, Bopp!

02.01.1997

The X-ray Comet

01.01.1997

Great Comet

11.01.1996

The Last Great Impact on Earth

In 1908 hundreds of square miles of Siberian forest were flattened and burned by a mysterious fireball. Only now, nearly nine decades later, are we learning what really happened--and not a minute too soon. 09.01.1996

From Far Beyond

08.01.1996

Flying Rubble

08.01.1996

Radiant Energy

08.01.1996

Paleozoic Pockmarks

07.01.1996

Planet Vesta

01.01.1996

Where Comets Come From

They're the mystery tramps of the solar system, streaking crazily through a warm space they don't belong in. Now astronomers have tracked them to their frozen trans-Neptunian home. 11.01.1995

The Mars Model

Crashing comets and asteroids can do more than just kill off earthly dinosaurs. On other planets and moons, they can destroy entire atmospheres. 06.01.1995

Perseids II

08.01.1994

Hot Flashes

Celestial lights can be more interesting than fireworks. 07.01.1994

Meteor Storm

11.01.1992

Death in June

06.01.1992