Planetary Science
Did Earth’s Water Come from Meteorites?
At least some of our planet’s water was carried here by hydrogen-rich space rocks, but it’s not yet clear how much
Planetary Science88 articles archived since 1845
Planetary Science
‘Man in the Moon’ Older Than Scientists Thought
Revisiting the precious lunar samples on Earth suggests that some areas of the moon’s surface might be older than scientists once thought
Arts
NASA’s Europa Clipper Mission Carries Special Cargo: A Poem
“If, by some chance, there’s another being out there that might connect to it, I wanted them to know that regardless of how it may seem sometimes, we love this Earth,” says poet Ada Limón about her poem...
Planetary Science
We Need to Widen the ‘Habitable Zones’ Seen around Alien Stars
When looking for life in space, we should broaden our horizons
Geology
Giant ‘Gravity Hole’ in the Ocean May Be the Ghost of an Ancient Sea
A vast expanse of the Indian Ocean is a staggering 100 meters lower than the global average sea level because of a major dip in Earth’s gravity. Scientists now think they know the cause...
Water
Rampant Groundwater Pumping Has Changed the Tilt of Earth’s Axis
Human depletion of groundwater has shifted the global distribution of water so much that the North Pole has drifted by more than four centimeters per year
Planetary Science
We Live in the Rarest Type of Planetary System
New work suggests four distinct star system types—and finds our own in the rarest category
Planetary Science
Pebbles from an Asteroid Are about to Be Delivered to Earth, and It’s Totally Awesome
The OSIRIS-REx mission will return samples from the asteroid Bennu that could rewrite our solar system’s history
Planetary Science
Newfound ‘Quasi-Moon’ Has Been Earth’s Fellow Traveler for Thousands of Years
Astronomers recently identified asteroid 2023 FW13 as a quasi-moon, a space rock orbiting the sun nearly in tandem with Earth
Planetary Science
Dried-Up Lagoon Is ‘Time Analog’ for Martian Life
If Martian microbes were like those in this Earth lagoon, they could have survived the Red Planet’s primordial desiccation
Planetary Science
A Meteorite Fell in Their Bedroom. Here’s What Happened Next
Earlier this month a meteorite crashed through the roof of a New Jersey home. The residents are still pondering the fate of their gift from the skies
Planetary Science
JWST Spots Biggest Water Plume Yet Spewing from a Moon of Saturn
The huge watery cloud spurting from Enceladus could carry the ingredients for life farther into space than previously known
Weather
Bizarre, Unexplained Rumblings in Earth’s Atmosphere Puzzle Scientists
Solar-powered balloons detected strange, ultra-low-frequency rumblings in Earth’s stratosphere that, so far, scientists can’t identify
Planetary Science
NASA’s Interplanetary Plans May Be Lurching toward Disaster
Delays and budgetary overruns are causing many to worry that NASA’s ambitious planetary science program is at a breaking point
Planetary Science
The Six Moons Most Likely to Host Life in Our Solar System
Vast quantities of liquid water may exist on moons of Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune, making life possible there, too
Planetary Science
Where Did Mars’s Moons Come From?
New results from a U.A.E. orbiter suggest Mars’s moons may be pieces of the planet. A Japanese mission will tell us for sure
Planetary Science
Jupiter’s Hot Youth May Have Melted Its Icy Moons
A gas giant planet’s youthful glow could explain major differences between its four largest satellites
Planetary Science
Inside the New Missions to Jupiter’s Moons
Spacecraft will explore hidden oceans and the possibility of life on the moons of Jupiter
Planetary Science
Europe Successfully Launches JUICE Mission to Study Jupiter’s Icy Moons
The ambitious Jupiter moon mission JUICE has begun its long journey to the Jovian system
Planetary Science
JWST Captures Stunning Image of Rings around Uranus
The imagery offers a rare view of the ice giant’s ring system, bright moons and dynamic atmosphere
