Planetary Science
What Happens to a Werewolf on the Moon?
As space agencies turn their gaze to the moon, we need to consider what werewolves might mean for lunar exploration—and vice versa
Planetary Science104 articles archived since 1845
Planetary Science
Space Junk Is Polluting Earth’s Stratosphere with Vaporized Metal
Defunct satellites and other pieces of orbital debris are pumping metals into Earth’s fragile upper atmosphere, with effects unknown
Planetary Science
‘Monster Quake’ Hints at Mysterious Source within Mars
Images from each and every spacecraft now orbiting Mars have ruled out a meteorite strike as the cause of a 4.7-magnitude marsquake, the strongest temblor ever detected beyond Earth
Planetary Science
Will the Next Supercontinent Really Drive Mammals to Extinction?
The formation of Pangaea Ultima some 250 million years from now would be bad news for mammalian life. But whether it would mean the end for mammals—or whether the supercontinent will form at all—is far from certain...
Planetary Science
NASA’s Psyche Mission Launches to Mysterious Metallic Asteroid
NASA’s Psyche mission is on its way to a heavy-metal asteroid of the same name—a type of object that scientists have never seen up close before
Planetary Science
How to Watch the Northern Lights and Other Awesome Auroras
When the sun gets feisty, Earth’s atmosphere can literally light up. But seeing the resulting aurora isn’t always easy
Planetary Science
NASA Reveals Sneak Peek of Historic Asteroid Sample
OSIRIS-REx’s treasure trove from asteroid Bennu includes material rich in water and carbon
Planetary Science
Bringing Mars Rocks to Earth Could Cost an Astronomical $11 Billion
NASA’s Perseverance rover has collected valuable samples, but a new report says the plan to fetch them is unworkable
Planetary Science
Beyond Pluto, New Horizons Gets a Reprieve from NASA
NASA has reversed course on plans to curtail the New Horizons spacecraft’s planetary science studies following a rebellion among the mission’s leaders
Planetary Science
Mars Sample-Return Missions Could Reduce Tensions with China on Earth
The U.S. may not beat China at retrieving Martian rocks first, according to an independent review board’s conclusion. But the U.S. can still lead with an exchange of samples here on Earth...
Planetary Science
OSIRIS-REx’s Asteroid Samples Are Finally Down to Earth
OSIRIS-REx—the first U.S. mission to attempt a sample return from a space rock—has successfully sent materials from asteroid Bennu back to Earth
Planetary Science
Jupiter’s Moon Europa May Hide Tantalizing Carbon in Mysterious Ocean
Jupiter’s mysterious moon Europa may hold carbon in the ocean lurking beneath its icy shell
Astronomy
NASA’s Gorgeous New Moon Image Paints Shackleton Crater in Light and Shadow
A new NASA instrument allows researchers to view the bright and permanently shadowed portions of the moon’s Shackleton Crater at the same time
Planetary Science
Ada Limón’s Poem for Europa, Jupiter’s Smallest Galilean Moon
U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón discusses her involvement in NASA’s Europa Clipper mission and the inspiration behind her poem, which will travel onboard the spacecraft.
Planetary Science
Mysterious Moonquake Traced to Apollo 17 Lunar Lander Base
The Apollo 17 lunar lander base is creating small-scale moonquakes on a daily basis
Planetary Science
Watch a Comet’s Tail Get Mangled by the Sun
Discovered only last month, Comet Nishimura is drawing attention before close approaches to the sun and Earth in the coming weeks
Planetary Science
Did Earth’s Water Come from Meteorites?
At least some of our planet’s water was carried here by hydrogen-rich space rocks, but it’s not yet clear how much
Planetary Science
‘Man in the Moon’ Older Than Scientists Thought
Revisiting the precious lunar samples on Earth suggests that some areas of the moon’s surface might be older than scientists once thought
Arts
NASA’s Europa Clipper Mission Carries Special Cargo: A Poem
“If, by some chance, there’s another being out there that might connect to it, I wanted them to know that regardless of how it may seem sometimes, we love this Earth,” says poet Ada Limón about her poem...
Planetary Science
We Need to Widen the ‘Habitable Zones’ Seen around Alien Stars
When looking for life in space, we should broaden our horizons
