August 31, 1999

Allan Kozinn reviews Mota Trio playing final concert of 1999 Summergarden series in Sculpture Garden of Museum of Modern Art; photo (M)

Heavenly Sleuths Prevail Astronomers think they have solved the mystery of a strange object that has confounded them for three years: It is probably a type of quasar. SCIENCE TIMES, PAGE F1

Astronomers think that strange object that has confounded them for last three years is extremely rare type of quasar; quasar experts had been unable to find clear identifying clues in object's spectrum of light until 10 nights ago; new observations were made by one of world's two most powerful telescopes, at Keck Observatory in Hawaii; there, astronomers detected distinct pattern of hydrogen emissions, signature of quasars; mystery object was detected in 1996 by Cal Tech team conducting Digital Palomar Sky Survey; it has frustrated astronomers ever since, until now (M)

Horror is hot in the movies; mass film audience has sprouted sudden and insatiable appetite for dark woods, ghostly visions and psychological terror; The Blair Witch Project came out of nowhere to become phenomenon of summer, then little-heralded Bruce Willis film called The Sixth Sense exploded at box office; forthcoming horror films include Stir of Echoes and Stigmata; photos (M)

Authorities say Gidone Busch, mentally disturbed Orthodox Jew wielding hammer, was fired upon at least 12 times and killed by police in Borough Park, Brooklyn; shooting brings several hundred angry residents of largely Hasidic neighborhood into streets to protest what they say is excessive force by police; many residents criticize Mayor Rudolph W Giuliani for not going to Brooklyn to address their concerns; map; photo (M)