Planetary Science

Planetary Science

Jupiter shows off its infrared colors

Jupiter glows with infrared light in new images taken in preparation for the July 4 arrival of the Juno spacecraft.

Planetary Science

Earth has a tiny tagalong, and no, it’s not a moon

Asteroid 2016 HO3 is a quasisatellite of Earth — orbiting the sun while never wandering far from our planet.

Planetary Science

Ancient meteorite granules still mystify scientists

Shock waves might have formed the oldest solid fragments in the solar system, though interplanetary lightning isn’t entirely off the table.

Planetary Science

Juno is closing in on Jupiter

After 5 years of travel, Juno will soon reach Jupiter and begin its up close investigations of the giant planet.

Planetary Science

The 43-year history of journeys to Jupiter, in one graph

With the arrival of Juno, nine spacecraft will have flown past or orbited Jupiter over the last 43 years.

Planetary Science

Long-lost ‘extinct’ meteorite found

A newly discovered meteorite, nicknamed Öst 65, may have originated from the same collision that formed L chondrites, one of the most abundant groups of meteorites on Earth.

Planetary Science

Jupiter’s stormy weather no tempest in teapot

New radio observations reveal how ammonia moves about beneath Jupiter’s clouds and provide a sneak peek at what NASA’s Juno mission will learn later this year.

Earth

Plate tectonics just a stage in Earth’s life cycle

Plate tectonics is just a phase in a planet’s lifetime between conditions that are too hot or too cold for the planet-churning mechanism, new simulations suggest.

Planetary Science

Comet 67P carries two ingredients for life: glycine, phosphorus

Two ingredients essential for all life, phosphorus and the amino acid glycine, have been found floating around a comet.

Planetary Science

Seismic experiment might reveal thickness of Europa’s ice

Crashing an empty rocket fuel tank into the surface of Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa, could help scientists figure out the thickness of the ice.

Planetary Science

Space experts say sending humans to Mars worth the risk

At a meeting in Washington, NASA and aerospace reps discuss the hopes and hurdles of landing a crew on Mars by the 2030s.

Oceans

Ancient tsunamis reshaped Mars’ landscape

Ancient tsunamis generated by meteorite impacts may have reshaped ocean coastlines on Mars.