Planetary Science

Planetary Science

This is the most comprehensive map of the moon’s geology yet

Cartographers merged Apollo-era maps and modern lunar observations to into a new geologic map of the moon.

Space

Interstellar comet Borisov has an unexpected amount of carbon monoxide

The second known visitor from outside the solar system has three times as much CO relative to H2O than any comet seen in the inner solar system.

Planetary Science

Unlike Earth, the gases in Venus’ atmosphere aren’t uniformly mixed

Measurements of Venus’ atmospheric nitrogen show that a planet’s upper atmosphere doesn’t necessarily match the lower atmosphere.

Space

‘Spacefarers’ predicts how space colonization will happen

In Spacefarers, Christopher Wanjek provides an optimistic yet realistic view on how humans might colonize the rest of our solar system.

Space

Saturn’s auroras may explain the planet’s weirdly hot upper atmosphere

Data from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft could help solve Saturn’s mysterious “energy crisis.”

Planetary Science

If Pluto has a subsurface ocean, it may be old and deep

New analyses of images from NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft suggest that Pluto may have had a sea beneath its icy shell for roughly 4.5 billion years.

Planetary Science

The asteroid Ryugu has a texture like freeze-dried coffee

Only about half of the asteroid Ryugu is rock; the rest is airy holes, a finding that could help reveal details of how the planets formed.

Planetary Science

Coronavirus and technical issues delay a Mars mission’s launch

The joint European-Russian ExoMars rover’s launch was postponed from July to 2022 so technicians could resolve issues with the landing equipment.

Astronomy

Heavy metal may rain from the skies of planet WASP 76b

Astronomers saw hints of iron rain on an ultrahot gas giant, an exoplanet where starlike atmospheric temperatures drive weird weather.

Planetary Science

Some ‘superpuff’ exoplanets may actually be ringed worlds like Saturn

“Superpuff” planets look fluffy and light. But for some of the worlds, the effect could instead be explained by large, rocky rings, a study suggests.

Planetary Science

Meet Perseverance, NASA’s newest Mars rover

NASA’s next Mars rover will be called Perseverance.

Planetary Science

An ancient magma ocean may have once driven Earth’s magnetic field

Computer simulations of molten silicate under extreme temperatures and pressures may have just filled in a gap in the history of Earth’s magnetism.