Planetary Science

  1. Astronomy

    Rosetta’s countdown to comet landing has begun

    Everything is on track for Rosetta mission scientists to attempt to set the Philae lander on the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

    By Ashley Yeager
  2. Planetary Science

    Rosetta prepares to let go of its comet lander

    To date, everything is a go for scientists to attempt to land a robotic probe on a comet.

    By Ashley Yeager
  3. Planetary Science

    Comet delivered a showy meteor shower — on Mars

    Comet Siding Spring dumped several tons of material into the Martian atmosphere that could have damaged NASA spacecraft.

    By Science News Staff
  4. Planetary Science

    Water arrived on Earth earlier than thought

    Ancient meteorites from the asteroid Vesta indicate that Earth’s water was available before planet formed.

    By Christopher Crockett
  5. Science & Society

    Asteroids closer to home may get us to Mars

    NASA should abandon its attempt to bring a space rock into lunar orbit and instead scrutinize ones already whizzing by Earth, one scientist argues.

    By Science News Staff
  6. Planetary Science

    Rosetta’s comet is starting to let off more gas

    Rosetta's close encounter with comet 67P reveals the growth of its jets and what's in the comet's surrounding haze.

    By Ashley Yeager
  7. Planetary Science

    Mars orbiter snaps close up of comet Siding Spring

    NASA's spacecraft are giving astronomers a good look at a comet from the Oort cloud.

    By Ashley Yeager
  8. Planetary Science

    Comet Siding Spring makes close pass by Mars

    Mars appears to have survived its close encounter with comet Siding Spring mostly unscathed.

    By Ashley Yeager
  9. Planetary Science

    ‘Mars Rover Curiosity’ chronicles robot’s journey

    Engineer Rob Manning recounts the decade of victories and setbacks that preceded Curiosity’s landing on Mars.

    By Christopher Crockett
  10. Astronomy

    Second stop planned for mission to Pluto

    Scientists identify three possible targets for the New Horizons probe after it visits the former planet.

    By Science News Staff
  11. Planetary Science

    Surprises lurk inside a Saturn moon

    NASA’s Cassini spacecraft finds possible ocean or football-shaped core inside Mimas.

    By Christopher Crockett
  12. Planetary Science

    MAVEN gives first look at Mars’ escaping atmosphere

    Bits of Mars have been caught in the act of floating off into space.

    By Ashley Yeager