Skip to Main Content

2000

Pin it

  • Brushfires in the Sky

    April 25, 2000

    Stargazers around the globe were treated to an unexpected and rare display of red-colored aurora on April 6-7, 2000 after a vigorous interplanetary shock wave passed by Earth. This story includes a gallery of more than 40 images showing the northern lights over Europe and parts of the United States as far south as Florida.

  • Colder than Space

    Feb. 7, 2000

    The detector of an X-ray telescope slated for launch by Japan on Feb. 8 is colder than chilliest reaches of our universe. The "Astro-E" mission will target clusters of galaxies, supermassive black holes, neutron stars and more.

  • Waiting for Cynus X-3

    Feb. 25, 2000

    One of the brightest x-ray sources in the Milky Way seems about to to erupt in a dazzling flare. By studying the explosion scientists hope to unravel an extragalactic mystery.

  • Continents in Collision: Pangea Ultima

    Oct. 6, 2000

    Creeping more slowly than a human fingernail grows, Earth's massive continents are nonetheless on the move. Geologists say that in 250 million years the Atlantic Ocean could be just a distant memory while Earthlings will be able to walk from North America to Africa.

  • Culprits of Climate Change

    Aug. 29, 2000

    For many years, researchers agreed that climate change was triggered by "greenhouse gases," with carbon dioxide from burning of fossil playing the biggest role. However, NASA funded scientists suggest that climate change in recent decades has been mainly caused by air pollution containing non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gases.

  • The Andromeda Drain

    Jan. 26, 2000

    The Chandra X-ray Observatoryhas spied a peculiar black hole at the center of the Andromeda galaxy.

  • Sun Sample Return Mission Nears Launch

    Oct. 12, 2000

    The science payload for NASA's Genesis spacecraft, which will collect samples of the solar wind and return them to Earth, is now complete. Genesis is primed for liftoff in February 2001. Samples will parachute back to Earth two years later.

  • Stability of martian water

    June 29, 2000

  • Guess Who's Coming to Breakfast?

    Feb. 13, 2000

    The NEAR spacecraft is now less than 1000 km from asteroid 433 Eros. It is scheduled to enter orbit around the space rock at 10:33 EST on Monday morning. Critical science observations are slated to begin 11 hours earlier when the spacecraft passes directly between the Sun and Eros.

  • La Nina's Ghost

    Sept. 15, 2000

    La Nina has faded away, but will weather patterns change? Some scientists expect the Pacific Decadal Oscillation to pick up where La Nina left off.