Solar System

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

This alien world could help us find Planet Nine in our own solar system

Deep Space

This alien world could help us find Planet Nine in our own solar system This alien world could help us find Planet Nine in our own solar system

By Paola Rosa-Aquino

Images like this one could help reveal the Sun’s inner workings

Science

Images like this one could help reveal the Sun’s inner workings Images like this one could help reveal the Sun’s inner workings

By María Paula Rubiano A.

We still don’t really know what’s inside the sun—but that could change very soon

NASA

We still don’t really know what’s inside the sun—but that could change very soon We still don’t really know what’s inside the sun—but that could change very soon

By Charlie Wood

Mars died billions of years ago, and its guts are still spilling into space

Biology

Mars died billions of years ago, and its guts are still spilling into space Mars died billions of years ago, and its guts are still spilling into space

By Charlie Wood

Europa’s icy surface may glow in the dark

Moons

Europa’s icy surface may glow in the dark Europa’s icy surface may glow in the dark

By Kate Baggaley

Traces of life on Venus now seem dubious

Science

Traces of life on Venus now seem dubious Traces of life on Venus now seem dubious

By Paola Rosa-Aquino

New 3D moon models show it might hold up to 15,000 miles of frozen water

Moons

New 3D moon models show it might hold up to 15,000 miles of frozen water New 3D moon models show it might hold up to 15,000 miles of frozen water

The moon is (slightly) wet, NASA confirms. Now what?

Biology

The moon is (slightly) wet, NASA confirms. Now what? The moon is (slightly) wet, NASA confirms. Now what?

By Charlie Wood

The moon will soon have cell service

Internet

The moon will soon have cell service The moon will soon have cell service

By Charlie Wood

Landing on the moon only made us love it more

Moons

Landing on the moon only made us love it more Landing on the moon only made us love it more

By Alice Gorman/MIT Press Reader

11 of NASA’s most out-of-this-world illustrations

Moons

11 of NASA’s most out-of-this-world illustrations 11 of NASA’s most out-of-this-world illustrations

By Sara Kiley Watson

Three ways scientists could search for life on Venus

Science

Three ways scientists could search for life on Venus Three ways scientists could search for life on Venus

By Charlie Wood

Crisp Hubble snapshot shows powerful new Jupiter storms

Science

Crisp Hubble snapshot shows powerful new Jupiter storms Crisp Hubble snapshot shows powerful new Jupiter storms

By María Paula Rubiano A.

Venus’s atmosphere shows potential signs of life

Science

Venus’s atmosphere shows potential signs of life Venus’s atmosphere shows potential signs of life

By Paola Rosa-Aquino

Clumps of bacteria could spread life between planets

Biology

Clumps of bacteria could spread life between planets Clumps of bacteria could spread life between planets

By Paola Rosa-Aquino

Hubble just captured a lunar eclipse for the first time ever

Deep Space

Hubble just captured a lunar eclipse for the first time ever Hubble just captured a lunar eclipse for the first time ever

By Paola Rosa-Aquino

Ammonia ‘mushballs’ could spark strange lightning on Jupiter

Environment

Ammonia ‘mushballs’ could spark strange lightning on Jupiter Ammonia ‘mushballs’ could spark strange lightning on Jupiter

By Paola Rosa-Aquino

Ancient valleys may hold clues to past life on Mars

Biology

Ancient valleys may hold clues to past life on Mars Ancient valleys may hold clues to past life on Mars

By Kate Baggaley

Watch NASA launch its next rover to Mars

Mars

Watch NASA launch its next rover to Mars Watch NASA launch its next rover to Mars

By Paola Rosa-Aquino

12 stunning images from past Mars missions gallery

Mars

12 stunning images from past Mars missions gallery 12 stunning images from past Mars missions gallery

By

Geologists say Venus has enough active volcanoes to form a ‘Ring of Fire’

Science

Geologists say Venus has enough active volcanoes to form a ‘Ring of Fire’ Geologists say Venus has enough active volcanoes to form a ‘Ring of Fire’

By Paola Rosa-Aquino

For astronauts in space, play is a way to stay safe

International Space Station

For astronauts in space, play is a way to stay safe For astronauts in space, play is a way to stay safe

By Amy Schellenbaum

A lopsided pair of dead stars could reveal some of the universe’s secrets

Science

A lopsided pair of dead stars could reveal some of the universe’s secrets A lopsided pair of dead stars could reveal some of the universe’s secrets

By Paola Rosa-Aquino

Frigid Pluto may have had a toasty start

Pluto

Frigid Pluto may have had a toasty start Frigid Pluto may have had a toasty start

By Kate Baggaley

NASA’s New Horizons is so far away, it’s seeing stars from new angles

NASA

NASA’s New Horizons is so far away, it’s seeing stars from new angles NASA’s New Horizons is so far away, it’s seeing stars from new angles

By Candice Wang

The next era of space travel should include nuclear-powered rockets

Energy

The next era of space travel should include nuclear-powered rockets The next era of space travel should include nuclear-powered rockets

By Iain Boyd/The Conversation

Mud volcanoes on Mars hint at ancient water reservoirs

Mars

Mud volcanoes on Mars hint at ancient water reservoirs Mud volcanoes on Mars hint at ancient water reservoirs

By Charlie Wood

This little NASA rover can conquer sand and steep hills

Mars

This little NASA rover can conquer sand and steep hills This little NASA rover can conquer sand and steep hills

By Kate Baggaley

Scientists say the sun is lazy and boring

Science

Scientists say the sun is lazy and boring Scientists say the sun is lazy and boring

By Rachel Feltman

Ancient supernovas may have pierced moon rocks with star shrapnel

Moons

Ancient supernovas may have pierced moon rocks with star shrapnel Ancient supernovas may have pierced moon rocks with star shrapnel

By Charlie Wood

Did Uranus get smacked so hard it spun sideways?

Science

Did Uranus get smacked so hard it spun sideways? Did Uranus get smacked so hard it spun sideways?

By Charlie Wood

Will asteroids wreak havoc on future Mars settlers?

Mars

Will asteroids wreak havoc on future Mars settlers? Will asteroids wreak havoc on future Mars settlers?

By JoAnna Wendel

Mars might be made of mashed-up baby planets

Mars

Mars might be made of mashed-up baby planets Mars might be made of mashed-up baby planets

By

At long last, NASA’s probe finally digs in on Mars

Mars

At long last, NASA’s probe finally digs in on Mars At long last, NASA’s probe finally digs in on Mars

By Charlie Wood

If life exists on Titan, it’s even weirder than we thought

Moons

If life exists on Titan, it’s even weirder than we thought If life exists on Titan, it’s even weirder than we thought

By Charlie Wood

Earth has a new mini-moon, but don’t get too attached

Moons

Earth has a new mini-moon, but don’t get too attached Earth has a new mini-moon, but don’t get too attached

By Charlie Wood

NASA has officially detected ‘marsquakes’ on the Red Planet

Mars

NASA has officially detected ‘marsquakes’ on the Red Planet NASA has officially detected ‘marsquakes’ on the Red Planet

By Charlie Wood

Katherine Johnson, whose calculations enabled the first moonwalk, dies at 101

Moons

Katherine Johnson, whose calculations enabled the first moonwalk, dies at 101 Katherine Johnson, whose calculations enabled the first moonwalk, dies at 101

The New Horizons spacecraft just revealed secrets of the most distant object we’ve ever visited

Science

The New Horizons spacecraft just revealed secrets of the most distant object we’ve ever visited The New Horizons spacecraft just revealed secrets of the most distant object we’ve ever visited

By Charlie Wood

These lunar rover tires mimic camel hooves for maximum traction on the moon

Animals

These lunar rover tires mimic camel hooves for maximum traction on the moon These lunar rover tires mimic camel hooves for maximum traction on the moon

By Stan Horaczek

Asteroids go to pieces when their host star dies

NASA

Asteroids go to pieces when their host star dies Asteroids go to pieces when their host star dies

By Charlie Wood

These close-up photos of the sun could help us forecast space weather

NASA

These close-up photos of the sun could help us forecast space weather These close-up photos of the sun could help us forecast space weather

By Charlie Wood

This new solar orbiter will peek at some of the sun’s most secretive spots

NASA

This new solar orbiter will peek at some of the sun’s most secretive spots This new solar orbiter will peek at some of the sun’s most secretive spots

By Charlie Wood

What your voice would sound like on other planets and moons

Mars

What your voice would sound like on other planets and moons What your voice would sound like on other planets and moons

By Sara Chodosh

LightSail 2′s success could pave the way for more sun-powered spacecrafts

Science

LightSail 2′s success could pave the way for more sun-powered spacecrafts LightSail 2′s success could pave the way for more sun-powered spacecrafts

By Charlie Wood

A hundred stars have disappeared—and researchers aren’t ruling out aliens

Science

A hundred stars have disappeared—and researchers aren’t ruling out aliens A hundred stars have disappeared—and researchers aren’t ruling out aliens

By Charlie Wood

Meteorite-eating microbes could help us look for alien life

Biology

Meteorite-eating microbes could help us look for alien life Meteorite-eating microbes could help us look for alien life

By Charlie Wood

Mysterious stripes on Saturn’s moon Enceladus may have a new origin story

Moons

Mysterious stripes on Saturn’s moon Enceladus may have a new origin story Mysterious stripes on Saturn’s moon Enceladus may have a new origin story

By Charlie Wood

NASA’s solar probe reveals stunning results after swooping in close to the sun

NASA

NASA’s solar probe reveals stunning results after swooping in close to the sun NASA’s solar probe reveals stunning results after swooping in close to the sun

By Charlie Wood

Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is doing just fine, thanks for your concern

Science

Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is doing just fine, thanks for your concern Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is doing just fine, thanks for your concern

By Charlie Wood

The first global map of Titan reveals Earth-like features with a peculiar twist

Moons

The first global map of Titan reveals Earth-like features with a peculiar twist The first global map of Titan reveals Earth-like features with a peculiar twist

By Charlie Wood

Twelve photos that capture the wonder of Apollo 11

Moons

Twelve photos that capture the wonder of Apollo 11 Twelve photos that capture the wonder of Apollo 11

By Jessica Boddy

‘Oumuamua isn’t aliens, but it may not be an asteroid either

NASA

‘Oumuamua isn’t aliens, but it may not be an asteroid either ‘Oumuamua isn’t aliens, but it may not be an asteroid either

By Charlie Wood

NASA’s sending a rover named VIPER to map the moon’s ice deposits

Moons

NASA’s sending a rover named VIPER to map the moon’s ice deposits NASA’s sending a rover named VIPER to map the moon’s ice deposits

By Charlie Wood

This spherical asteroid might be our solar system’s tiniest dwarf planet

Science

This spherical asteroid might be our solar system’s tiniest dwarf planet This spherical asteroid might be our solar system’s tiniest dwarf planet

By Charlie Wood

An experiment hinted at Martian life in the ’70s. So why did we stop looking?

Biology

An experiment hinted at Martian life in the ’70s. So why did we stop looking? An experiment hinted at Martian life in the ’70s. So why did we stop looking?

By Charlie Wood

How China got the first seedling to sprout on the moon

Agriculture

How China got the first seedling to sprout on the moon How China got the first seedling to sprout on the moon

Inside NASA’s plan to use Martian dirt to build houses on Mars

Mars

Inside NASA’s plan to use Martian dirt to build houses on Mars Inside NASA’s plan to use Martian dirt to build houses on Mars

By Megan Gannon

NASA’s plan to save its stuck Mars drill involves a robot with a shovel

Mars

NASA’s plan to save its stuck Mars drill involves a robot with a shovel NASA’s plan to save its stuck Mars drill involves a robot with a shovel

By Charlie Wood

There are no shortcuts when you build a drone destined for Mars

Aviation

There are no shortcuts when you build a drone destined for Mars There are no shortcuts when you build a drone destined for Mars

By John Kennedy

Saturn now has 82 known moons—so why did we only get one?

Moons

Saturn now has 82 known moons—so why did we only get one? Saturn now has 82 known moons—so why did we only get one?

By Charlie Wood

Humans will definitely bring microbes to Mars—so we might as well bring our favorites

Mars

Humans will definitely bring microbes to Mars—so we might as well bring our favorites Humans will definitely bring microbes to Mars—so we might as well bring our favorites

By Charlie Wood

Elon Musk just unveiled SpaceX’s next step toward ‘Moon bases and Mars cities’

Mars

Elon Musk just unveiled SpaceX’s next step toward ‘Moon bases and Mars cities’ Elon Musk just unveiled SpaceX’s next step toward ‘Moon bases and Mars cities’

By Charlie Wood

Venus may have been habitable and Earth-like before greenhouse gas took over

Science

Venus may have been habitable and Earth-like before greenhouse gas took over Venus may have been habitable and Earth-like before greenhouse gas took over

By Charlie Wood