MS-ESS1-3

Analyze and interpret data to determine scale properties of objects in the solar system.

  1. Planets

    Explainer: What are asteroids?

    Leftovers from the creation of the solar system, asteroids are space rocks that orbit the sun. Let’s hope the big ones never become meteorites.

    By
  2. Earth

    Meteorites likely wiped out Earth’s earliest life

    Enormous meteorites appear to have slammed into Earth several times early in its history. Each mega-smashup would have boiled off oceans and obliterated any bit of life.

    By
  3. Planets

    First mega-Earth found

    Astronomers are puzzled by Kepler-10c. This exoplanet is rocky like Earth — but as massive as Neptune. And that challenges their accepted ideas about how planets form.

    By
  4. Space

    Sun sibling spotted

    Separated at birth: Astronomers find a star 110 light-years away. It was born at the same time as our sun and from the same cloud of gas and dust.

    By
  5. Planets

    Distant planet may boast the longest year

    On a planet far, far away, a single pass around its sun may seem to last forever.

    By
  6. Planets

    A ‘Goldilocks’ world?

    Scientists have spotted a faraway planet that is nearly the size of Earth and could host liquid water. It's too far to visit, but astronomers say the galaxy could be littered with such potentially habitable worlds. Don't hang up yet, E.T.

    By
  7. Planets

    Heavenly research

    Groundbreaking research in astronomy landed four high school seniors spots as finalists in the 2014 Intel Science Talent Search.

    By
  8. Planets

    Surprising rings circle comet-asteroid hybrid

    It’s too small to be a planet. Yet this planet wannabe still resembles Saturn-like giants. It’s the smallest solar system inhabitant to, like them, host rings of orbiting ice.

    By
  9. Space

    Waves from the birth of time

    Inflation is the idea that in the split-second after the Big Bang, the universe exploded into huge-ness. Although the hypothesis is 30 years old, evidence to confirm it had been lacking. Until now.

    By
  10. Space

    Galaxy drags trail of newborn stars

    Distant galaxy plows through cluster of others, with baby stars in tow

    By
  11. Space

    Star cluster rockets through space

    It’s the first time astronomers have ever detected a cluster of stars moving collectively at such speed.

    By
  12. Planets

    Double sunsets on a distant world

    Astronomers discover for the first time a planet circling two stars.

    By