Also in this issue: The Leonids

For the most part, astronomy is a hands-off science. Astronomers must study everything from planets to galaxies through telescopes, across vast gulfs of space and time. But they get to study a few objects up close, including asteroids and the planet Mars, because fragments of these bodies have broken off in collisions and found their way to Earth.

Today, astronomers are trying to match some of the fragments, called meteorites, to the asteroids from which they came. Others are examining rocks from Mars for signs of ancient microscopic fossils. Future probes to Mars may bring back more pieces of Mars, giving us a better look into the planet's past.

We have details on these rare excursions into "hands-on" astronomy in our main features:

Searching for Lost Parents

Martian Rockhounds

Read archived news from StarDate magazine in the Resources section.

Every issue of StarDate also includes monthly star charts and stargazing highlights, plus stunning astronomical images.

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