Project News

New Molecules Around Old Stars

Herschel • External • June 17th, 2014

Astronomers have discovered that a molecule vital for creating water exists in the burning embers of dying Sun-like stars. When low- to middleweight stars like our Sun approach the end of their lives, they eventually become dense, white dwarf stars. In doing so, they cast off their outer layers...

Herschel Sees Budding Stars and a Giant, Strange Ring

Herschel • News Release • June 12th, 2014

The Herschel Space Observatory has uncovered a weird ring of dusty material while obtaining one of the sharpest scans to date of a huge cloud of gas and dust, called NGC 7538. The observations have revealed numerous clumps of material, a baker's dozen of which may evolve into the most powerful...

Herschel Uncovers a Dearth of Oxygen near a New Star

Herschel • Feature • June 9th, 2014

A cosmic mystery regarding oxygen has deepened, thanks to new findings from the Herschel Space Observatory, a European Space Agency mission with important NASA contributions. Observations of a newly forming star have revealed strangely low levels of molecular oxygen, the kind we breathe, in the...

NASA's WISE Findings Poke Hole in Black Hole 'Doughnut' Theory

Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer • Project News • May 22nd, 2014

A survey of more than 170,000 supermassive black holes, using NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), has astronomers reexamining a decades-old theory about the varying appearances of these interstellar objects.

Well-behaved, Young Galaxy Surprises Astronomers

Herschel • Feature • April 29th, 2014

Scientists have discovered a young galaxy acting in unexpectedly mature ways.

Herschel Completes Largest Survey of Cosmic Dust in Local Universe

Herschel • News Release • March 18th, 2014

The largest census of dust in local galaxies has been completed using data from the Herschel space observatory, providing a huge legacy to the scientific community.

NASA's WISE Survey Finds Thousands of New Stars, But No 'Planet X'

Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer • Project News • March 7th, 2014

After searching hundreds of millions of objects across our sky, NASA's Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) has turned up no evidence of the hypothesized celestial body in our solar system commonly dubbed "Planet X."

NEOWISE Spies Its First Comet

Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer • Project News • February 28th, 2014

NASA's Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) spacecraft has spotted a never-before-seen comet -- its first such discovery since coming out of hibernation late last year.

NASA's Kepler Mission Announces a Planet Bonanza, 715 New Worlds

Kepler • Project News • February 26th, 2014

NASA's Kepler mission announced the discovery of 715 new planets. These newly-verified worlds orbit 305 stars, revealing multiple-planet systems much like our own solar system.

Bullying Black Holes Force Galaxies to Stay Red and Dead

Herschel • News Release • February 25th, 2014

Herschel has discovered massive elliptical galaxies in the nearby Universe containing plenty of cold gas, even though the galaxies fail to produce new stars.

New Molecules Around Old Stars

Herschel • June 17th, 2014

Astronomers have discovered that a molecule vital for creating water exists in the burning embers of dying Sun-like stars. When low- to middleweight stars like our Sun approach...

Herschel Sees Budding Stars and a Giant, Strange Ring

Herschel • June 12th, 2014

The Herschel Space Observatory has uncovered a weird ring of dusty material while obtaining one of the sharpest scans to date of a huge cloud of gas and dust, called NGC 7538....

Herschel Uncovers a Dearth of Oxygen near a New Star

Herschel • June 9th, 2014

A cosmic mystery regarding oxygen has deepened, thanks to new findings from the Herschel Space Observatory, a European Space Agency mission with important NASA contributions....

NASA's WISE Findings Poke Hole in Black Hole 'Doughnut' Theory

Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer • May 22nd, 2014

A survey of more than 170,000 supermassive black holes, using NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), has astronomers reexamining a decades-old theory about the...

Well-behaved, Young Galaxy Surprises Astronomers

Herschel • April 29th, 2014

Scientists have discovered a young galaxy acting in unexpectedly mature ways.

Herschel Completes Largest Survey of Cosmic Dust in Local Universe

Herschel • March 18th, 2014

The largest census of dust in local galaxies has been completed using data from the Herschel space observatory, providing a huge legacy to the scientific community.

NASA's WISE Survey Finds Thousands of New Stars, But No 'Planet X'

Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer • March 7th, 2014

After searching hundreds of millions of objects across our sky, NASA's Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) has turned up no evidence of the hypothesized celestial body in...

NEOWISE Spies Its First Comet

Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer • February 28th, 2014

NASA's Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) spacecraft has spotted a never-before-seen comet -- its first such discovery since coming out of...

NASA's Kepler Mission Announces a Planet Bonanza, 715 New Worlds

Kepler • February 26th, 2014

NASA's Kepler mission announced the discovery of 715 new planets. These newly-verified worlds orbit 305 stars, revealing multiple-planet systems much like our own solar system.

Bullying Black Holes Force Galaxies to Stay Red and Dead

Herschel • February 25th, 2014

Herschel has discovered massive elliptical galaxies in the nearby Universe containing plenty of cold gas, even though the galaxies fail to produce new stars.