The articles presented here expound on the topics of the origin, nature and prevalence of life in the universe. Links to related sites and news articles are included. Full description.

Visitors can view this image of the Nimbus 7 satellite, which has been used to measure ozone levels as part of the TOMS (Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer) program. Full description.

This page links to several sites with reference materials covering such topics as solar storms and flares, the magnetosphere, and other issues in Sun-Earth research. Links to a glossary and to a summary of the Ulysses solar study mission are also included. Full description.

This site offers students an opportunity to participate in a pictorial voyage that follows the NEAR spacecraft from its inception through the cruise phase to asteroid 433 Eros. They will learn about the rationale for visiting an asteroid, the instruments and construction of the spacecraft, and follow its flyby of the asteroid Mathilde, swingby of Earth, and encounter with Eros. Full description.

This simulated image of the Van Allen Belts is part of the Great Images in NASA (GRIN) library, a collection of JPEG images which is browseable by subject, NASA center (Goddard, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, etc.), or by keyword. Links to other parts of the GRIN website are included. Full description.

This website, produced by the Kennedy Space Center, provides histories of NASA's manned space missions, beginning with the first flights by American astronauts in the Mercury program and proceeding through the latest missions of the Space Shuttle and International Space Station. Each section features mission goals and summaries, descriptions and pictures of the spacecraft, and stories about the astronauts ... Full description.

This lithograph shows Jupiter's four largest moons in their correct scales, in order of increasing distance away from Jupiter (from bottom: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto). All the images were taken by the Galileo spacecraft, except for the globe of Callisto, which was taken by the Voyager spacecraft. The accompanying text describes the images, provides some historical facts and statistical data, ... Full description.

These images of Neptune were captured by the Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1989. The images are accompanied by a brief description and history, some statistical facts, and importants dates in the study of Neptune. Full description.

This site explains how supernovae can be detected and studied by measuring the decay of radioactive elements in the material ejected from them. It is part of the Goddard Space Flight Center's "Imagine the Universe" website, created by GSFC's Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics. It includes text, remotely sensed imagery, and links to other topics related to high energy astrophysics. Full description.

This lithograph shows mosaic images of Mercury, captured by the Mariner 10 spacecraft. The images are accompanied by a brief description and history, some statistical facts, and a list of significant dates in the exploration of Mercury. Full description.