Solar System(Page 10)

The top news about what's going on in the cosmic neighborhood—from planet nine to the sun, and everything in between.

Latest in Solar System

space technology on the moon

Moon dust kept sealed for 50 years will finally reveal its secrets Moon dust kept sealed for 50 years will finally reveal its secrets

By Neel V. Patel

The sad reason part of the Mars Rover’s last image is black and white The sad reason part of the Mars Rover’s last image is black and white

By Stan Horaczek

An image of Reiner Gamma on the moon.

Megapixels: Check out the moon’s gnarly sunburn Megapixels: Check out the moon’s gnarly sunburn

By Jessica Boddy

Chile Atacama desert life on Mars biosignatures

What could life on Mars look like? This Chilean desert holds some clues. What could life on Mars look like? This Chilean desert holds some clues.

By Neel V. Patel

River of stars map galaxy Gaia discovery

Astronomers found a stream of thousands of stars hiding in the Milky Way Astronomers found a stream of thousands of stars hiding in the Milky Way

By Neel V. Patel

spacex iridium 8 launch

Next month’s SpaceX launch could help end America’s reliance on Russian rockets Next month’s SpaceX launch could help end America’s reliance on Russian rockets

opportunity on Mars

NASA officially ends the Opportunity rover’s 15-year mission NASA officially ends the Opportunity rover’s 15-year mission

By Neel V. Patel

martian-dust-devil

RIP Opportunity: A eulogy for the beloved Mars rover RIP Opportunity: A eulogy for the beloved Mars rover

By Rachel Feltman

the planet mars

Mars One died before it could become Fyre Festival: Space Edition Mars One died before it could become Fyre Festival: Space Edition

By Neel V. Patel

What will we name the solar system’s next planet? What will we name the solar system’s next planet?

By Jason Lederman

opportunity on Mars

NASA’s latest effort to revive Opportunity will likely be the last NASA’s latest effort to revive Opportunity will likely be the last

By Neel V. Patel

Earth from moon collision building blocks life

The collision that formed the moon may have delivered the building blocks of life The collision that formed the moon may have delivered the building blocks of life

By Neel V. Patel

uranus on its side

We’re finally figuring out how Uranus ended up on its side We’re finally figuring out how Uranus ended up on its side

By Jacob Kegerreis/The Conversation

a big blue planet

Planet Nine might not actually be a planet Planet Nine might not actually be a planet

By Neel V. Patel

Saturn is ancient, but its rings are only as old as the dinosaurs Saturn is ancient, but its rings are only as old as the dinosaurs

By Neel V. Patel

a moon with a red tint due to a lunar eclipse

How to watch the super blood wolf moon this weekend How to watch the super blood wolf moon this weekend

By Neel V. Patel

the far side of the moon

Chang’e 4: why the moon’s far side looks red in new images Chang’e 4: why the moon’s far side looks red in new images

By David Rothery/The Conversation

China just accomplished the first landing on the far side of the moon

China just accomplished the first landing on the far side of the moon China just accomplished the first landing on the far side of the moon

By Neel V. Patel

MU69 is the most distant object we’ve ever visited—and it looks like a space snowman

MU69 is the most distant object we’ve ever visited—and it looks like a space snowman MU69 is the most distant object we’ve ever visited—and it looks like a space snowman

By Neel V. Patel

a pixelated raw image on the left, and a sharpened image of a fuzzy oval on the right

It’s official: NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft has made history It’s official: NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft has made history

By Rachel Feltman

a two-lobed rock floating in space

Watch live as NASA spends New Year’s Eve exploring the mysterious outer regions of our solar system Watch live as NASA spends New Year’s Eve exploring the mysterious outer regions of our solar system

By Rachel Feltman

a two-lobed rock floating in space

NASA’s New Horizons will spend New Year’s Eve staring at a very mysterious space ball NASA’s New Horizons will spend New Year’s Eve staring at a very mysterious space ball

By Neel V. Patel

This microscope could look for life on Jupiter’s moon

This microscope could look for life on Jupiter’s moon This microscope could look for life on Jupiter’s moon

By Sarah Scoles

the moon crossing in front of the earth

Chinese robots are on a mission to beat NASA to the far side of the moon Chinese robots are on a mission to beat NASA to the far side of the moon

By Neel V. Patel

an astronaut stands on the gray surface of the moon in a spacesuit

7 easy ways you can tell for yourself that the moon landing really happened 7 easy ways you can tell for yourself that the moon landing really happened

By Neel V. Patel

country dramatic sunset red

What gives a sunset its color? What gives a sunset its color?

By Andrew Zaleski

InSight's solar panel sits in front of a Martian landscape

Listen to the very first sounds recorded on Mars Listen to the very first sounds recorded on Mars

By Charlie Wood

The Parker Solar Probe is the single greatest innovation of 2018

The Parker Solar Probe is the single greatest innovation of 2018 The Parker Solar Probe is the single greatest innovation of 2018

By Shannon Stirone

NASA’s InSight lander is basically about to play an epic claw game on Mars

NASA’s InSight lander is basically about to play an epic claw game on Mars NASA’s InSight lander is basically about to play an epic claw game on Mars

By Shannon Stirone

NASA’s InSight lander survived ‘seven minutes of terror’ to touch down on Mars

NASA’s InSight lander survived ‘seven minutes of terror’ to touch down on Mars NASA’s InSight lander survived ‘seven minutes of terror’ to touch down on Mars

By Shannon Stirone

NASA’s 2020 rover will search Mars for signs of life

NASA’s 2020 rover will search Mars for signs of life NASA’s 2020 rover will search Mars for signs of life

By Neel V. Patel

the planet mars

NASA’s new Mars lander is in for ‘seven minutes of terror’ on Monday NASA’s new Mars lander is in for ‘seven minutes of terror’ on Monday

By Shannon Stirone

Volcanoes might have formed on Mars the same way they did in Hawaii

Volcanoes might have formed on Mars the same way they did in Hawaii Volcanoes might have formed on Mars the same way they did in Hawaii

By Shannon Stirone

Neptune and Triton

The outer solar system awaits—but getting there may not be as easy as we’d like The outer solar system awaits—but getting there may not be as easy as we’d like

The origins of Earth’s water are a big mystery—but we may have one more piece of the puzzle

The origins of Earth’s water are a big mystery—but we may have one more piece of the puzzle The origins of Earth’s water are a big mystery—but we may have one more piece of the puzzle

By Neel V. Patel

andy weir answers tweets for popular science

‘The Martian’ author Andy Weir answers your questions about Mars ‘The Martian’ author Andy Weir answers your questions about Mars

By Tom McNamara

Why are planets all the same shape?

Why are planets all the same shape? Why are planets all the same shape?

By Kate Baggaley

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe just smashed two all-time records on its way to the sun

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe just smashed two all-time records on its way to the sun NASA’s Parker Solar Probe just smashed two all-time records on its way to the sun

By Charlie Wood

Here’s why NASA is working on a concept crewed mission to Venus

Here’s why NASA is working on a concept crewed mission to Venus Here’s why NASA is working on a concept crewed mission to Venus

By Gareth Dorrian and Ian Whittaker/The Conversation

Miranda to Europa: You think you’ve got treacherous landing zones? Hold my beer

Miranda to Europa: You think you’ve got treacherous landing zones? Hold my beer Miranda to Europa: You think you’ve got treacherous landing zones? Hold my beer

Why NASA needs to flip Curiosity’s ‘brain’ over

Why NASA needs to flip Curiosity’s ‘brain’ over Why NASA needs to flip Curiosity’s ‘brain’ over

By Mary Beth Griggs

There’s a goblin lurking on the outskirts of our solar system

There’s a goblin lurking on the outskirts of our solar system There’s a goblin lurking on the outskirts of our solar system

two women holding a block of ice

The weirdest things we learned this week: Sheep on meth, hopping space robots, and the economy of “Frozen” The weirdest things we learned this week: Sheep on meth, hopping space robots, and the economy of “Frozen”

By Rachel Feltman

The ExoMars spacecraft measured radiation in deep space to help keep future astronauts safe

The ExoMars spacecraft measured radiation in deep space to help keep future astronauts safe The ExoMars spacecraft measured radiation in deep space to help keep future astronauts safe

By Charlie Wood

book cover accessory to war

The double-hinged door between astrophysics and the military The double-hinged door between astrophysics and the military

By Neil deGrasse Tyson and Avis Lang

Voyager 1 flying past Saturn, with Jupiter and the inner solar system visible in the background

Here’s what we had to say about Voyager 1 when it launched 41 years ago Here’s what we had to say about Voyager 1 when it launched 41 years ago

By Popular Science, August 1977, by Jim Schefter

Jupiter’s magnetic field has two ‘south poles’ Jupiter’s magnetic field has two ‘south poles’

By Charles Q. Choi

Illustration of mice astronauts in a spaceship.

Mouse poop might get humans to Mars Mouse poop might get humans to Mars

By Erin Blakemore

Before Jupiter got huge, it had a pretty messed up childhood

Before Jupiter got huge, it had a pretty messed up childhood Before Jupiter got huge, it had a pretty messed up childhood

By Charles Q. Choi

Mars’ skies are clearing up, but the Opportunity rover is still fast asleep

Mars’ skies are clearing up, but the Opportunity rover is still fast asleep Mars’ skies are clearing up, but the Opportunity rover is still fast asleep

By Mary Beth Griggs

NASA’s sun-kissing spacecraft will go 250 times faster than a bullet when it hits its stride

NASA’s sun-kissing spacecraft will go 250 times faster than a bullet when it hits its stride NASA’s sun-kissing spacecraft will go 250 times faster than a bullet when it hits its stride

By Mary Beth Griggs

A car-sized spacecraft just blasted off toward the Sun

A car-sized spacecraft just blasted off toward the Sun A car-sized spacecraft just blasted off toward the Sun

By Stefanie Waldek

Ancient space crystals may prove the sun threw heated tantrums as a tot

Ancient space crystals may prove the sun threw heated tantrums as a tot Ancient space crystals may prove the sun threw heated tantrums as a tot

By Neel V. Patel

Mars is missing a lot of this crucial terraforming ingredient

Mars is missing a lot of this crucial terraforming ingredient Mars is missing a lot of this crucial terraforming ingredient

By Mary Beth Griggs

mars opposition hubble

Forget the Blood Moon, the Red Planet is waiting for you tonight Forget the Blood Moon, the Red Planet is waiting for you tonight

By Sara Chodosh

Evidence of life on Jupiter’s moon Europa could be just inches below the surface

Evidence of life on Jupiter’s moon Europa could be just inches below the surface Evidence of life on Jupiter’s moon Europa could be just inches below the surface

Neptune, Titan, Jupiter, and Pluto look gorgeous in these new photos Neptune, Titan, Jupiter, and Pluto look gorgeous in these new photos

By Mary Beth Griggs

Jupiter has 10 newly-discovered moons, and one is a weirdo

Jupiter has 10 newly-discovered moons, and one is a weirdo Jupiter has 10 newly-discovered moons, and one is a weirdo

By Mary Beth Griggs

the curiosity rover on mars

Weather got you down? The entire planet of Mars is buried in a dust storm right now. Weather got you down? The entire planet of Mars is buried in a dust storm right now.

By Neel V. Patel

Massive atmospheric wave on Venus could explain the planet’s weird rotation

Massive atmospheric wave on Venus could explain the planet’s weird rotation Massive atmospheric wave on Venus could explain the planet’s weird rotation

By Mary Beth Griggs

In a shocking turn of events, lightning strikes on Jupiter look a lot like our own

In a shocking turn of events, lightning strikes on Jupiter look a lot like our own In a shocking turn of events, lightning strikes on Jupiter look a lot like our own

By Neel V. Patel

Is there life on Mars? TBD. But scientists found ancient organic matter in the Red Planet’s rocks. Is there life on Mars? TBD. But scientists found ancient organic matter in the Red Planet’s rocks.

By Mary Beth Griggs

Saturn’s speedy rotation makes its daytime auroras possible

Saturn’s speedy rotation makes its daytime auroras possible Saturn’s speedy rotation makes its daytime auroras possible

By Charles Choi

What’s hiding in the outer solar system?

What’s hiding in the outer solar system? What’s hiding in the outer solar system?