Planetary Science

Astronomy

Why it’s good news that Pluto doesn’t have rings

The New Horizons team searched for rings around Pluto, and found nothing. That suggests the spacecraft’s next destination might be ring-free too.

Astronomy

How a meteor shower helped solve the case of the vanishing comet

A missing comet has been linked to a long-lost meteor shower, helping astronomers recover both.

Astronomy

New questions about Arecibo’s future swirl in the wake of Hurricane Maria

The iconic Arecibo Observatory was damaged in Hurricane Maria, but not as much as originally thought. But its funding is still in doubt.

Astronomy

Ice in space might flow like honey and bubble like champagne

Zapping simulated space ice with imitation starlight makes the ice act more like a liquid than a solid, meaning similar ices in space might be good places for organic chemistry.

Astronomy

R.I.P. Cassini

After 20 years, nearly 300 orbits and pioneering discoveries, the Cassini spacecraft plunges to its death in Saturn’s atmosphere — taking data until its very last breath.

Astronomy

These are Cassini’s parting shots of the Saturn system

In its last hours before plunging into Saturn’s atmosphere, the Cassini spacecraft turned its cameras to some of the system’s well-known features.

Planetary Science

The Cassini probe dies tomorrow. Here’s how to follow its end

Science News is on the scene at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory for the big finish of the Cassini mission to Saturn.

Astronomy

So long, Titan. Cassini snaps parting pics of Saturn’s largest moon

The last swing past Saturn’s largest moon sent Cassini heading directly towards the planet — and showed how future spacecraft will explore other moons.

Astronomy

Final flyby puts Cassini on a collision course with Saturn

A “last kiss goodbye” with Saturn’s largest moon sent the Cassini spacecraft on its final trajectory into the planet’s atmosphere.

Astronomy

Pluto’s pits, ridges and famous plain get official names

From Adlivun to Voyager, the International Astronomical Union officially names 14 surface features on the dwarf planet.

Planetary Science

Readers were curious about rogue planets, exomoons and more

Readers had questions about rogue planets, human arrival in Australia, and exomoons.

Planetary Science

Moons of Uranus face future collision

By studying variations in the rings of Uranus, researchers have determined the mass and density of the planet’s moon Cressida.