Astronomers from Queen's University have helped to discover 10 new planets. A team of experts from the Belfast institution used special cameras located in the Canary Islands and South Africa to make their finds.
Few subjects capture the human imagination quite like the quest to use space travel to discover the nature of the universe beyond Earth. Since ancient times, people have dreamed of leaving their home planet and exploring other worlds. In the latter half of the 20th century, that dream became reality. In this special report, from the latest space shuttle launch to the discovery of new planets, MSN UK News brings you the latest news and images from the final frontier.
Latest space exploration headlines from MSN UK News
Nasa's next space shuttle launch has been delayed by nearly a week after a new fuel tank arrived late. Discovery had been scheduled to blast off on May 25, but the arrival of an external fuel tank for the space station mission was held up by bad weather.
Evidence of the biggest meteorite ever to hit the British Isles has been uncovered in Scotland. Scientists believe the meteorite struck about 1.2 billion years ago near the town of Ullapool in the north west Highlands.
A solar system that appears to be a miniature version of our own has been discovered 5,000 light years away. Astronomers discovered two gaseous planets similar to Jupiter and Saturn, but smaller, orbiting a star with half the mass of the Sun.
The Beatles' song Across the Universe will be the first ever to be beamed directly into space, Nasa said. Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney said it was an "amazing" achievement and John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono called it the "beginning of a new age".
The deeper astronomers gaze into the cosmos, the more they find it is a bizarre and violent universe. Recent findings range from blue orphaned baby stars to menacing "rogue" black holes that roam our galaxy, devouring any planets unlucky enough to be within their reach.
An international panel of former pilots and government officials has called on the US government to reopen its generation-old UFO investigation. MSN's reluctant expert probes deeper.
Unique footage taken from the moon give a heavenly view of earth dipping below the horizon. The 'Earthset' was filmed by a high definition television camera from a lunar probe.
More on space exploration from across the web
Learn more about space exploration with MSN Encarta
Since ancient times, human beings have dreamed about leaving their home planet and exploring other worlds. In the 20th century, that dream became reality. Discover more about space exploration with MSN Encarta.
Explore the outer reaches of our universe with Nasa
Discover the wonders of our expanding universe with the National Aeronautics and Space administration, the agency of the US government responsible for developing space exploration and research.
Take a spectacular virtual tour of Nasa
See what goes on behind-the-scenes at Nasa with this spectacular virtual tour from Windows Live Photosynth. These amazing Photosynths show four different aspects of the Shuttle's lifecycle as you've never seen them before.
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We may not be alone...
- Does the prospect of scientists discovering extraterrestrial life fill you with excitement or send a shudder of fear down your spine?
- It thrills me! I'm very excited at the thought of there being life on other planets
78% - Are you kidding? I'm scared witless - who knows what destruction aliens could be capable of
7% - No idea: I'm not entirely convinced ET exists anywhere other than in our imagination
15%
- It thrills me! I'm very excited at the thought of there being life on other planets
More on the final frontier from MSN UK News
50 years of the Space Age
Fifty years ago, a bleeping aluminium sphere the size of a basketball became the first man-made object to orbit the Earth, ushering in the start of the Space Age. Special report.
In pictures: Endeavour's voyage
The US space shuttle Endeavour has safely returned to Earth. In this gallery, MSN UK News brings you the most arresting images from its incredible journey into outer space.
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