Planetary Science

  1. Planetary Science

    A different view of Uranus’ rings

    The rings of Uranus are now tilted edge on to Earth, revealing small, inner rings made of fine dust.

    By Ron Cowen
  2. Planetary Science

    Geyser gawker: Plans for a closer look at Enceladus

    The Cassini spacecraft will change course to take a close look next March at plumes of water vapor emanating from the south pole of Saturn's moon Enceladus.

    By Ron Cowen
  3. Planetary Science

    Idiosyncratic Iapetus

    The strange appearance of Saturn's moon Iapetus suggests that it was frozen in shape soon after birth, providing a glimpse into conditions in the early solar system.

    By Ron Cowen
  4. Planetary Science

    Deep Impact and Stardust: Still on assignment

    Two sturdy NASA spacecraft have new assignments, studying comets and looking for exoplanets.

    By Ron Cowen
  5. Planetary Science

    G Whiz! Craft identifies source of faint Saturnian ring

    The Cassini spacecraft has discovered the source of particles that make up Saturn's G ring.

    By Ron Cowen
  6. Planetary Science

    Saturn’s retinue: 60 and counting

    A little moon, two kilometers across, is Saturn's 60th satellite.

    By Ron Cowen
  7. Planetary Science

    Hyperion’s hydrocarbons

    New observations by the Cassini spacecraft indicate the presence of ice and solid carbon dioxide on Saturn's moon Hyperion, and suggest an explanation for the orb's spongelike appearance.

    By Ron Cowen
  8. Planetary Science

    Dust delays Martian rover

    A dust storm has delayed the descent of the Mars rover Opportunity into Victoria crater.

    By Ron Cowen
  9. Planetary Science

    Music to alien ears

    Saturn's moon Titan may be the best rock concert venue in the solar system, according to computer simulations of sound propagation on other worlds.

    By Davide Castelvecchi
  10. Planetary Science

    Eris dwarfs Pluto

    Ex-planet Pluto suffers another demotion, as observations show that it's much less massive than Eris, another distant denizen of the outer solar system.

    By Ron Cowen
  11. Planetary Science

    Shifting Ocean: Tipsy Mars may explain undulating shoreline

    Evidence that Mars once had a vast ocean gains support from a proposal that the planet was tipped halfway over on its side several billion years ago.

    By Ron Cowen
  12. Planetary Science

    Powering Enceladus’ plumes

    The action of Saturn's gravity is responsible for plumes of water vapor shooting out from cracks on the moon Enceladus.

    By Ron Cowen