Planetary Science

Planetary Science

An ancient impact on Earth led to a cascade of cratering

For the first time, scientists have discovered clusters of craters on Earth that were formed by the impacts of material thrown out of a larger crater.

Planetary Science

These are the first visible-light images of Venus’ surface captured from space

Cameras aboard NASA’s Parker Solar Probe managed to peer through Venus’ thick clouds to photograph the planet’s surface.

Planetary Science

50 years ago, Arecibo got an unprecedented view of Venus’ surface

Over its 57-year lifetime, Arecibo’s radar system measured the mountains around Venus’ middle, studied the textures of many rocky bodies in outer space and more.

Planetary Science

Earth has a second known ‘Trojan asteroid’ that shares its orbit

A recently found space rock is about one kilometer wide, orbits ahead of Earth around the sun and will stick around for at least 4,000 years.

Planetary Science

Machine learning points to prime places in Antarctica to find meteorites

Using data on how ice moves across Antarctica, researchers identified more than 600 spots where space rocks may gather on the southern continent.

Planetary Science

Organic molecules in an ancient Mars meteorite formed via geology, not alien life

Analysis of an ancient Martian meteorite reveals that organic molecules within it were formed by geologic processes rather than alien life.

Astronomy

Astronomers identified a second possible exomoon

Kepler 1708 b i, a newly discovered candidate for an exoplanet moon, has a radius about 2.6 times that of Earth, a new study suggests.

Planetary Science

Oxygen-rich exoplanets may be geologically active

Experiments show that rocks exposed to higher concentrations of oxygen have a lower melting temperature than rocks exposed to lower amounts.

Planetary Science

Enceladus’ plumes might not come from an underground ocean

The celebrated plumes of Saturn’s moon Enceladus could come from pockets of watery mush in the moon’s icy shell, simulations suggest.

Space

Spacecraft in 2021 set their sights on Mars, asteroids and beyond

This year, a bevy of new missions got under way on Mars and spacecraft prepared to visit asteroids.

Planetary Science

Ingenuity is still flying on Mars. Here’s what the helicopter is up to

NASA’s Ingenuity craft was originally planned to operate only 30 Martian days.

Planetary Science

This tiny, sizzling exoplanet could be made of molten iron

A newly discovered exoplanet that whips around its star in less than eight hours is smaller than Earth, as dense as iron and hot enough to melt.