NatureNews - Space and astronomy - nature.com science feeds

Nature - the world's best science and medicine on your desktop

River deltas hint at ancient Martian ocean

Similar heights of channel mouths suggest they fed into one body of water.

Astronomy: Ready for boarding — finally

NASA and Germany have spent 15 years and billions of dollars on SOFIA, an airborne telescope that is about to produce its first results. Eric Hand asks whether the science will justify the cost.

A closer look at cosmic impacts

Moon-crater survey could improve Solar System surface-dating methods.

Collider gets yet more exotic 'to-do' list

The Large Hadron Collider could throw up evidence of new physics earlier than expected.

Space capsule probed for asteroid dust

Hayabusa holds lessons for future sample-return missions.

First light for Solar Dynamics Observatory

'Treasure trove' of data reveals the anatomy and evolution of solar flares.

Modelling Mars in a Texan torrent

Huge canyon carved out in a week may aid understanding of prehistoric megafloods.

Shockwave reveals star's birthplace

Astronomers spy the trail carved through interstellar gas by a massive runaway.

Hotspots leave magnetic scars on Mars

Puzzling 'stripes' generate another controversial origin theory.

Enigmatic star could emerge from its gassy cocoon

A dramatic drop in Eta Carinae's stellar winds could herald a bright future.

In search of dark nights

Astronomers and conservationists team up against bright lights.

Solar System showdown

Competition is fierce as committee weighs NASA's planetary priorities.

The Sun as comet snatcher

Most of the Solar System's comets may have been stolen from other stars.

Satellite spots soggy soil

European Space Agency mission provides the first global map of a key climate variable.

Asteroid probe begins return from rendezvous

But is Japan's Hayabusa capsule carrying any precious asteroid dust?