Planetary Science

Astronomy

China’s lunar rock samples show lava flowed on the moon 2 billion years ago

The first lunar rocks returned to Earth in more than 40 years show that the moon was volcanically active later than scientists thought.

Astronomy

Space rocks may have bounced off baby Earth, but slammed into Venus

New simulations suggest a way to help explain dramatic differences between the sibling worlds.

Planetary Science

NASA’s Perseverance rover snagged its first Martian rock samples

Two tubes of stone drilled from a basalt rock nicknamed Rochette are the first from Mars slated to eventually return to Earth.

Planetary Science

50 years ago, astronomers were chipping away at Pluto’s mass

Prior to the discovery of Pluto’s moon Charon, astronomers struggled to pin down the dwarf planet’s mass.

Astronomy

The definition of planet is still a sore point – especially among Pluto fans

In the 15 years since Pluto lost its planet status, scientists have continued to use the definition that works for them.

Planetary Science

See some of the most intriguing photos from NASA’s Perseverance rover so far

Six months ago, Perseverance landed on the Red Planet. Here’s what the rover has been observing.

Space

Jupiter’s intense auroras superheat its upper atmosphere

Jupiter’s hotter-than-expected upper atmosphere may be caused by high-speed charged particles slamming into the air high above the poles.

Astronomy

The tiny dot in this image may be the first look at exomoons in the making

New ALMA observations offer some of the strongest evidence yet that planets around other stars have moons.

Planetary Science

Marsquakes reveal the Red Planet boasts a liquid core half its diameter

Analyses of seismic waves picked up by NASA’s InSight lander shed new light on the planet’s core and give clues to the thickness of the crust.

Planetary Science

NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover has begun its first science campaign

Now about 1 kilometer south of its landing spot, the rover has spotted several promising spots in its search for hints of ancient life.

Planetary Science

A century of astronomy revealed Earth’s place in the universe

The past century of astronomy has been a series of revolutions, each one kicking Earth a bit farther to the margins.

Planetary Science

Lakes of liquid water at Mars’ southern ice cap may just be mirages

In 2018, scientists found evidence for water lakes sitting beneath the southern Martian ice cap. New evidence suggests the lakes might not exist.