Solar System

Latest about Solar System

An artist's depiction of the first identified interstellar object, 'Oumuamua.

Scientists want to build an ‘interstellar interceptor’ to play hide-and-seek with the next ’Oumuamua

By Harry Baker published

Researchers want to build a spacecraft to lurk in far-Earth orbit and chase down interstellar objects as they whizz through the solar system.

Space
An illustration of a young planet forming from rocky asteroids. Some pieces careen off into the atmosphere of the local star.

Crushed-up planets around dead stars could rewrite the history of the solar system

By Brandon Specktor published

A new study of white dwarfs with "polluted" atmospheres is causing scientists to rethink how and when planets form.

Planets
So long, and thanks for all the fish.

Could Earth ever leave our solar system?

By Joe Phelan last updated

Here's how the Earth could theoretically leave the solar system.

Planet Earth
Global color view of Mars. A large, round, rusty-red planet. There are numerous craters all over on the planet. There is a small white circle at the top (ice cap). In the top-right quadrant of the planet there is a very large darker patch. On the bottom half there is what appears to be a long canyon that is in the shape of a smile.

Mars: The Red Planet

By Adam Mann published

Reference Mars is a rusty, red world and one of the most explored planets in the solar system.

Reference
Scientists looked at the heavy elements that make up Jupiter's core and lower atmosphere to learn more about how the biggest planet in our solar system formed.

Scientists find remains of cannibalized baby planets in Jupiter's cloud-covered belly

By Harry Baker published

A first-of-its-kind study into the inner workings of Jupiter has revealed that the gas giant fed on baby planets as it grew.

Jupiter
The dramatic outburst of Comet 17P/Holmes, seen in October 2007.

Watch the biggest-ever comet outburst spray dust across the cosmos

By Stephanie Pappas published

The dust trail from the largest comet outburst on record will be visible to amateur astronomers in late July 2022.

Comets
A photo of Neptune taken by Voyager 2 on August 16, 1989.

Neptune: The farthest planet from our sun

By Patrick Pester published

Neptune is the farthest planet from the sun in our solar system and home to blistering winds and diamond rain.

Neptune
Mercury in space surrounded by stars. Image elements furnished by NASA.

Mercury: Facts about the smallest planet

By Patrick Pester published

Mercury is the closest planet to the sun, the fastest planet orbiting the sun and the smallest planet in our solar system.

Mercury
Hubble’s observation of Jupiter in 2021. NASA, ESA, A. Simon (Goddard Space Flight Center), and M.H. Wong (University of California, Berkeley) and the OPAL team.

Jupiter: Facts about the king of the planets

By Adam Mann published

Reference Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system, with moons, rings and beautiful clouds.

Reference
This is an image of the planet Uranus taken by the spacecraft Voyager 2 in 1986. NASA & JPL-Caltech.

Uranus: Facts about the sideways ice giant

By Adam Mann published

Reference Uranus is a strange world in the solar system that spins on its side. A new probe that will visit Uranus in the coming decades could unlock even more secrets about this peculiar planet.

Reference
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