Astronomy April 2009

Why the universe had no beginning
The Big Bang may not have been the instant of creation but a single event in an infinite cycle.
By Paul J. Steinhardt


The cyclic theory of the universe proposes a novel answer to the question: What happened at the Big Bang?
By Richard Talcott


Is Earth one of a kind?
Ten years ago astronomers thought our planet was really, really special. New observations suggest it may not be so rare.
By Ray Villard


Is the Big Bang in trouble?
The cosmologists who explained how our universe came to be now face their greatest challenge: proving exotic fundamental concepts like dark matter and energy.
By Daniel Pendick


Scientists still can't account for about 40 percent of the stuff of stars, planets, and people.
By Daniel Pendick


Find your way through the spring sky
Warm weather and giant constellations beckon beginning observers.
By Michael E. Bakich


Chris Schur captures the universe
Detailed galaxy shots, Milky Way panoramas, and gleaming star clusters showcase this skyshooter's best work.
By Chris Schur


With HyperStar, you'll image more in less time
After a quick alteration, you can produce great images up to 30 times faster.
By Jack Newton


View a mix of solar and deep-sky images taken by a master.
By Michael E. Bakich