Oct 3rd, 2008 · NASA has postponed a planned repair mission to the Hubble Space Telescope after a new problem developed with the orbiting observatory. Ed Weiler, associate administrator of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA, explains why repairs won't take place until Feb. 2009 — at the earliest.
Sep 8th, 2008 · The British Antarctic Survey is seeking a plumber for its Bird Island research station, home to roughly 10 people during the summer, including scientists. According to the agency's job posting, the plumber must be familiar with such things as "conventional radiator central heating" — and presumably know his or her way around a frozen pipe.
Mar 1st, 2007 · Almost 2,000 years before the Inca sun cult appeared, a culture in coastal Peru built a series of towers to track the movement of the sun. Archeologists say it may be the oldest solar observatory in the Americas.
Nov 25th, 2005 · Throughout November, hundreds of people are lining up to peer through the telescope at Lowell Observatory in northern Arizona. What they'll see: Mars in close opposition with the Earth. This is the nearest the red planet has been to Earth since 2003. If you miss it this month, you'll have to wait until 2018 for such an incredible view. Sadie Babits has this postcard from the observatory.
Jul 10th, 2005 · George Johnson talks about his new book, Miss Leavitt's Stars: The Untold Story of the Woman Who Discovered How to Measure the Universe. Henrietta Leavitt, while working at Harvard College's observatory in the early 20th century, discovered a way to measure distances between stars, which led astronomers to calculate the size of the universe.
May 18th, 2005 · Wednesday marks the 25th anniversary of the Mount St. Helens explosion. An observatory that overlooks the crater has just reopened and volcano enthusiasts are flocking to visit.