Jan. 15, 2006: Stardust touches down

Jan. 15, 2006: Stardust touches down

On Feb. 7, 1999, the Stardust mission launched. The first-of-its-kind sample-return mission was commissioned with flying through the coma of Comet Wild 2, collecting dust particles, and then bringing those particles back to Earth.  On Nov. 2, 2002, the spacecraft made a practice run past asteroid 5535 Annefrank to ensure the equipment was functioning correctly Continue reading "Jan. 15, 2006: Stardust touches down" The post Jan. 15, 2006: Stardust touches down appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .

Statins may help almost everyone with type 2 diabetes live longer

Statins may help almost everyone with type 2 diabetes live longer

New research suggests statins may protect adults with type 2 diabetes regardless of how low their predicted heart risk appears. In a large UK study, statin use was linked to fewer deaths and major cardiac events across all risk levels. Even those labeled “low risk” benefited, challenging long-held assumptions about who should receive preventive therapy. Side effects were rare and generally mild.

The Sky Today on Thursday, January 15: Saturn moves into Pisces

The Sky Today on Thursday, January 15: Saturn moves into Pisces

Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  January 14: Iapetus at inferior conjunction First-magnitude Saturn crosses into Pisces today, readily visible to the naked eye as the brightest light in the southwestern sky as it sinks slowly toward the horizon a few hours after sunset. You’ll want to catch Continue reading "The Sky Today on Thursday, January 15: Saturn moves into Pisces" The post The Sky Today on Thursday, January 15: Saturn moves into Pisces appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .

Stripped bare

Stripped bare

Vikas Chander from New Delhi, India The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) looms above the iconic dried out camel thorns of the Deadvlei clay pan in Namibia. In billions of years, repeated close encounters with the Milky Way will strip the LMC of its gas and dust before it eventually merges with our galaxy. The photographer Continue reading "Stripped bare" The post Stripped bare appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .