On the cover: The dust surrounding Fomalhaut may be the seeds of a planetary system. (JAC/UCLA)

The Biggest Bang
Since the Big Bang
"This field is changing almost daily," observed author Peter Gwynne when he finished his article on gamma-ray bursts for this issue of StarDate. Even as Gwynne was reporting and writing, astronomers were busy adding to the remarkable list of discoveries that has changed the study of gamma-rays in the last year. Astronomers are slowly figuring out the nature of these colossal, distant explosions.

Circle in the Sand
Evidence of the earliest astronomers lies buried under the wind-swept dunes of southern Egypt. An ancient culture at Nabta used a calendar circle that is older than Stonehenge to mark the solstice and possibly worship their gods, represented in the stars. Executive editor Damond Benningfield met the archaeologists and has the story of their discovery.

Face on Mars Revealed
New views from Mars Global Surveyor put a two-decade-old mystery to rest.

AstroNews: Dusty disk around nearby

Read archived news from StarDate magazine in the Resources section.

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