Planets

Space

A passing star could fling Earth out of orbit — or into the sun

Computer models show that a star's tug could send Mercury, Venus or Mars crashing into Earth — or let Jupiter eject our world from the solar system.

Planets

A giant, busted planet fuels a nebula’s mysterious glow

This Helix Nebula is like a colorful explosion frozen in time. Its center seems to be steadily radiating X-rays.

Planets

Mars’ rust suggests it was once wet — and its seas frigid

Mars may once have held enough water to fill oceans and form coastlines. And the planet’s red dust hints that its seas would have been quite frigid.

Planets

Pluto and its moon Charon may have paired up with a kiss

After about 30 hours of contact, Charon could have separated from Pluto and drifted into its current orbit.

Planets

A distant crumbling planet spills its guts

Based on the light being emitted by its shed minerals, astronomers can for the first time determine the internal composition of an exoplanet.

Planets

So many wondrous moons — just a spaceship ride away

Scientists are studying extraterrestrial moons for clues to how planets form, how life began — and whether there’s life out there right now.

Planets

Scientists Say: Regolith

This sandlike dust blankets planets, asteroids and other rocky surfaces of our solar system, including our own planet.

Space

The biggest discoveries of Voyagers — NASA’s most distant explorers

Voyager 1 and 2 left Earth in 1977 to fly by the outer planets. Nearly 50 years later, these spacecraft are still transforming our knowledge of space.

Planets

A peek into a stellar nursery has revealed six baby giant worlds

Images of six Jupiter-sized worlds taken by the James Webb Space Telescope offer clues to how planets and stars form.

Space

The moon has new tales to share, some from its secretive far side

Ongoing observations and new lunar rock samples, including the first from its far side, should point to how both the moon and our Earth evolved.

Planets

Scientists Say: Theia

Clues about this ancient protoplanet's catastrophic end may have been entombed in Earth's lower mantle for billions of years.

Planets

Experiment: Make your own craters!

Let’s make our own craters in cocoa and flour to learn how these features form throughout the solar system — and why they’re different sizes.