Solar System

Latest about Solar System

A large bright full moon hangs central in a starry black sky.

What's inside the moon? Gravity measurements suggest a layer of molten rock

By Conor Feehly published

In between the moon's solid core and external surface may swirl a partially molten layer of rock.

The moon
Comet Tsuchinshan–ATLAS above Earth taken from the International Space Station

Scientists discover bright 'sungrazer' comet that could be visible with the naked eye this month — after Tsuchinshan–ATLAS

By Harry Baker published

Newfound comet C/2024 S1 will light up Earth's skies in late October before a super close slingshot around the sun.

Comets
a bright white dot sits at the bottom center of a grainy grey image of space with smaller scattered stars.

Phew! No 'doomsday' asteroids hide in famous broken comet's debris stream

By Keith Cooper published

The Taurid Meteoroid Stream, responsible for two November meteor showers and possibly the Tunguska and Chelyabinsk impacts, probably doesn't hide a civilization-killing asteroid, a new study finds.

Asteroids
This image shows the far side of the moon, illuminated by the sun, as it crosses between the DSCOVR spacecraft and the Earth — 1 million miles away.

We have the satellite data to show climate change is real. Now what?

By Conor Feehly published

Free, open source climate data can help bridge the gap between information and environmental action.

Climate Change
A close-up of a bright solar flare erupting from the sun on Oct. 8, 2024.

Severe solar storm could supercharge auroras across US, impact power grids, NOAA warns

By Meredith Garofalo published

A powerful X-class solar flare that erupted on Tuesday (Oct. 8) could generate a strong geomagnetic storm Thursday (Oct. 10) and Friday (Oct. 11), possibly leading to supercharged auroras.

The Sun
The ESA-NASA SOHO spacecraft captured this view of Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (bright white streak at right) during a solar eruption on Oct. 9, 2024.

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS photobombs SOHO spacecraft during powerful solar flare (video)

By Meredith Garofalo published

The SOHO spacecraft captured amazing imagery of Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) zooming near the sun as the star unleashed a powerful X flare.

Comets
a ball of grey boulders and rocks seen against the blackness of space

Astronauts could mine asteroids for food someday, scientists say

By Samantha Mathewson published

Material harvested from asteroids could be used to sustain astronauts during long-duration space missions.

Asteroids
graphic showing 44 small flags beneath the words "artemis accords," with the moon in the background

Dominican Republic signs Artemis Accords for peaceful moon exploration

By Andrew Jones published

The Dominican Republic has signed the Artemis Accords, becoming the 44th nation to join the United States' moon-exploration coalition.

The moon
a hurricane and clouds visible on earth. in front is space station infrastructure, a solar panel and a robotic arm

Hurricane Milton bears down on Florida with Category 5 strength in new ISS footage (video)

By Elizabeth Howell published

Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall in Florida as soon as Wednesday (Oct. 9), with Category 5 force. NASA's Kennedy Space Center and several space missions will be affected.

Earth
illustration showing a rover and lander on mars, with a helicopter flying above them and a satellite overhead

Can Rocket Lab come to NASA's rescue with new Mars sample-return plan?

By Keith Cooper published

In response to NASA's plea for help bringing the cost and complexity of its Mars sample-return program, Rocket Lab has won a contract to study a potential solution.

Mars
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