Solar System

Four of Uranus's Moons Might Contain Briny Oceans

Four of Uranus's five icy moons likely contain a thin layer of briny (or otherwise enriched) water, astronomers have concluded from Voyager 2 data.

Oumuamua painting by Hartmann

Exoplanets

Was Interstellar Object `Oumuamua a Chunk of Exo-Pluto?

The interstellar pancake named 'Oumuamua might have been a chip off a Pluto-like object in another star system.

nearby view of ejecta streaming out from asteroid

Solar System

DART Asteroid Redirect Test Wildly Successful

They needed to shorten the moon’s orbit by 73 seconds. They shortened it by more than half an hour.

collection of still images showing a small white dot moving across a black background and dissolving into a plume of white dust

Solar System

Photos Show Drama of DART Asteroid Impact (Updated)

The DART impact into asteroid moon Dimorphos wowed astronomers with an unexpectedly dramatic plume.

Dimorphos' rocky surface

Solar System

NASA's DART Mission Successfully Impacts Asteroid

NASA's DART mission will impact the asteroidal moon Didymos on Monday. Here's how to watch and what we'll learn.

NASA's DART mission

Solar System

NASA’s DART Mission Launches for Head-on Collision with an Asteroid

The first-ever planetary defense mission is now on its way to the asteroid Didymos and its moon, Dimorphos.

Illustration of BepiColumbo in front of Mercury

Solar System

BepiColombo First Picture of Mercury (Updated)

BepiColombo is set to make the first of several flybys past Mercury on Friday, October 1st.

Venus flybys

Solar System

Two Space Probes to Pass by Venus (Update)

Two spacecraft are heading for a close Venus encounter: Solar Orbiter passes by on August 9th and BepiColombo on August 10th.

Mars Ascent Vehicle concept

Spacecraft and Space Missions

Mars Sample Return Program Forges Ahead

It's full steam ahead for the joint NASA-ESA Mars Sample Return, a complex plan to collect bits of Mars and — for the first time — send them to Earth.

Mars south pole ice cap

Solar System

Evidence Grows for Super-Salty Underground Lakes on Mars

New analysis of data from the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter strengthens the case for salty lakes underneath Mars's south polar cap.

Rover tracks on Mars

Solar System

Three Missions Head for Mars

The summer of 2020 will see three spacecraft launch toward the Red Planet, each one with distinct objectives.

Post-touchdown

Solar System

Hayabusa 2 Touches Down, Collects Asteroid Sample

The Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa 2 has touched down on Ryugu, the asteroid it's been orbiting since last summer, and collected a sample from its surface.

Image of BepiColumbo launch

Spacecraft and Space Missions

Mission to Mercury Launches

The BepiColombo spacecraft, Europe's first mission to Mercury, rocketed away from Earth to begin its seven-year trek to the innermost planet.

Mars Express

Solar System

Liquid Water on Mars! Really for Real This Time (Probably)

A radar instrument on one of the oldest operational Mars orbiters has discovered possible evidence of liquid water on Mars.

Gibbous Venus from Akatsuki

Solar System

Akatsuki's Amazing Views of Venus

Almost everyone considered Japan's Venus-bound orbiter a lost cause, but the spacecraft survived, reached its objective, and is wowing scientists with results.

Curiosity

Curiosity's Discoveries on Mars

After four Earth years on the Red Planet, the intrepid rover has found evidence of long-gone water and habitable environments.

Curiosity Selfie

Solar System

What Are Curiosity and Opportunity Up To?

As Schiaparelli prepares to land on Mars, how are the other robotic denizens of the Red Planet doing?

Astronomy & Observing News

Spacecraft Imaging for Amateurs

An international community of space enthusiasts has become adept at reinterpreting images from planetary spacecraft.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement