The first infrared panorama of the Milky Way's center has revealed a previously unknown population of massive stars scattered across the turbulent zone around our galaxy's core.
The aftermath of an earthquake, a friendly cow, and an ethereal Paris sunset are three of the six winners of the National Geographic International Photo Contest 2008.
See National Geographic News's most popular astronomy photos of 2008, including stunning supernova remains, exoplanet firsts, and a rare celestial smiley face.
Remains of two potentially new prehistoric species have been unearthed in the Sahara: a pterosaur, or flying reptile, and a sauropod, a barrel-bodied, long-necked herbivore.