Shannon Hall
How Do Black Holes Get Super Massive?
Since their discovery, supermassive black holes – the giants lurking in the center of every galaxy – have been mysterious…
The Latest from Mars: Dried up Riverbed May Have Flowed into an Ancient Ocean
When it comes to Mars, the hot topic of study is water – a prerequisite for life. While liquid water…
Jets Boost — Not Hinder — Star Formation in Early Galaxies, New Study Suggests
Understanding the formation of stars and galaxies early in the Universe's history continues to be somewhat of an enigma, and…
60 Billion Habitable Planets in the Milky Way Alone? Astronomers say Yes!
A new study suggests that the number of habitable exoplanets within the Milky Way alone may reach 60 billion. Previous…
The Hunt for Exomoons Begins!
The latest exciting undertaking in exoplanet research is the search for exomoons. A team led by Dr. David Kipping at…
Behind the Scenes at Kitt Peak Observatory: What is an Observing Run Really Like?
Greetings, from the Kitt Peak National Observatory, in Arizona! I’m here on a weeklong observing run, which is arguably the…
A Rare Opportunity to Watch a Blue Straggler Forming
A unique and enigmatic variety of stars known as blue stragglers appear to defy the normal stellar aging process. Discovered…
How do Hypervelocity Stars End up Breaking The Speed Limit?
The Sun is racing through the Galaxy at a speed that is 30 times greater than a space shuttle in…
Mysterious and Well-Preserved Oort Cloud Object Heading Into Our Solar System
What if we could journey to the outer edge of the Solar System – beyond the familiar rocky planets and…
Blocking Light Sheds New Light on Exoplanet Atmospheres
Exoplanets are uncanny. Some seem to have walked directly out of the best science-fiction movies. For example, we’ve discovered a planet…