Solar System

Latest about Solar System

A tan, gaseious Jupiter hangs in black space, layered like a cross section of geological survey, a swirling red storm at its lower left.

An amateur astronomer used an old technique to study Jupiter — and found something strange

By Victoria Corless published

The long-held assumption that Jupiter's iconic swirling clouds are made of frozen ammonia could be upended.

Jupiter
Astronauts watch giant spider cranes 3d-print landing pads on the moon.

Humans will soon be able to mine on the moon. But should we? 4 questions to consider

By Evie Kendal, Alan Duffy published

By the end of this decade, nations and private companies may well be mining the surface of the Moon.

The moon
Two domes and one under construction are connect by short tubes on the grey surface of the moon. Neighboring the their upper left, two additional domes, like mounds covered with moon dust, and rows of solar panels on the right. Above in the black sky, Earth hangs upper left.

Food grows better on the moon than on Mars, scientists find

By Tom Brown published

Scientists expect the moon to have better soil for growing food than the red planet

Mars

Once-in-a-160000-year comet G3 ATLAS could shine as bright as Venus next week. Here's what to expect.

By Joe Rao published

One of the brightest comets in 20 years, Comet 2024 G3 (ATLAS) returns for a close encounter with the sun — but will we be able to see it?

Comets

Clyde Tombaugh: The astronomer who discovered Pluto

By Nola Taylor Tillman last updated

Reference From farm boy to cosmic pioneer: The life and legacy of Clyde Tombaugh.

Reference
An artist's impression of a dark comet in the outer solar system.

Big 'dark comet' discoveries could be coming in 2025

By Darryl Seligman published

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory's Legacy Survey of Space and Time should spot many new "dark comets" after coming online in July 2025.

Comets
Chunks of frost composed of carbon dioxide begin to break apart and crash to the Martian surface.

From gassy geysers to frosty avalanches, let’s ring in the Martian New Year!

By Meredith Garofalo published

It’s time to ring in the Martian New Year with a variety of strange sights on the planet’s Northern Hemisphere.

Mars
person standing looking at the blood moon above

What is a blood moon?

By Scott Dutfield, Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference It may look spooky, but a blood moon is just a trick of the light. Here we explain this phenomenon and tell you how and where to see the next one.

Reference
An illustration shows Pluto and its largest moon Charon

How Pluto captured its largest moon Charon with a 10-hour icy 'kiss'

By Robert Lea published

Pluto may have got romantic to capture its largest moon, colliding and engaging in a passionate but icy 10 hour kiss with Charon billions of years ago.

Pluto
a false-color blue-and-green image of a mountainous landscape dotted with craters

Ancient volcanic ash on Mars could offer new clues in search for extraterrestrial life

By Patrick Pester published

Researchers believe dark rocks at the site of a future Mars rover landing mission may be left over from ancient volcanic eruptions, and may be protecting signs of life — if there ever was life on Mars.

Mars
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