Planets

Planets

Scientists Say: Proxima b

A new planet outside our solar system is only 4.2 light years away.

Planets

A trail of cosmic dust may lead to alien life

Liquid water can be found even in the cold reaches of the outer solar system. Some hidden oceans may harbor warm oases cozy for living things.

Space

Smash hit? Comet mission comes to an end

Rosetta’s 12-year mission to a comet has come to a bittersweet end. The orbiter turned off its cameras, settled down on its rocky home and entered a deep and lasting sleep.

Space

Sun’s nearest stellar neighbor may have Earth-like planet

A planet roughly the size of Earth orbits within the “Goldilocks” zone of the Proxima Centauri. Only 4.2 light-years away, this star is the one closest to our sun.

Planets

Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is really, really hot

The Great Red Spot, a storm churning on Jupiter for at least 150 years, may be helping to keep the planet warm, a new study finds.

Planets

New clues in search for Planet Nine

New details about Planet Nine, a hypothetical object on the edge of our solar system, might help scientists actually find it.

Planets

That’s no moon: Earth’s tiny tagalong

A newly discovered asteroid appears to be orbiting Earth, like a new mini-moon. In fact, it’s really orbiting the sun.

Space

By Jove! Juno-cam sends back first postcard

After a long and quiet trek through space, the Juno spacecraft showed it weathered the trip fine and is ready to get on with its business: probing what makes Jupiter tick.

Space

Success! The Juno spacecraft is now orbiting Jupiter

After nearly five years, the probe has safely reached its target. Juno will spend 20 months in orbit around the planet so that scientists can probe the many mysteries of this gas giant.

Planets

Juno’s knocking on Jupiter’s door

The Juno spacecraft will peer into Jupiter’s clouds and fly in close to its monstrous auroras.

Planets

Jupiter’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.

Planets

The 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.