Planets
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PlanetsJupiter’s stormy weather runs deep
Jupiter is covered in swirling storms. A new 3-D map of the planet’s atmosphere shows those storms start far, far below the clouds.
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PlanetsThe ultimate getaway — visiting the Red Planet
At a recent summit, experts discussed the challenges of a human mission to Mars — and how to land a crew there within 20 years.
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ClimateThis planet’s lightning storms are like nothing on Earth
Radio waves from a faraway exoplanet could signal intense lightning storms there.
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PlanetsHunt is on for new Planet Nine
Lots of clues point to the likelihood that a mystery planet lurks in the outer suburbs of our solar system. Math and the screening of old photos may turn it up.
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PlanetsBeyond Pluto: A new 9th planet?
A giant planet, perhaps 10 times Earth’s mass, may be orbiting the sun from a great distance. Its existence, orbit and size are all surmised, based on strange effects seen in objects within the distant Kuiper Belt.
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PlanetsWeird Pluto gives up its secrets
The New Horizon spacecraft spent almost a decade getting to Pluto. Its first few months of data reveal this dwarf planet is far stranger than scientists had imagined.
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PlanetsCool Jobs: Exploring the solar system
Meet three scientists who explore the solar system. Their jobs range from steering a spacecraft to chasing solar eclipses around the world.
By Ilima Loomis -
PlanetsPicture This: Evidence of liquid water on Mars
Mars hosts surface salt deposits. They appear to come from seasonal water flows on the Red Planet, a new study concludes.
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SpaceLike Tatooine in ‘Star Wars,’ this planet has two suns
Scientists have found the tenth planet with two suns. Such planets might be more common than single-sun planets, like our own, a new survey suggests.
By Ilima Loomis -
PlanetsScientists Say: Exoplanet
Eight planets orbit our sun. We give a slightly different name to the millions of similar bodies orbiting other stars.
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PlanetsNews Brief: Venus may have active volcanoes
The Venus Express spacecraft detected flashes of infrared light that may be from hot lava erupting from active volcanoes.
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PlanetsPluto hosts ice mountains, data suggest
Geologic activity appears to have been reshaping Pluto, erasing craters and more.