Solar System

Latest about Solar System

A photo of Earth (left) and Mars (right) against a dark background. Earth is bigger and white clouds float among blue oceans while Mars as a few white clouds dotting its reddish brownish surface

How Mars 'punches above its weight' to influence Earth's climate

By Keith Cooper published

"Without Mars, Earth's orbit would be missing major climate cycles. What would humans and other animals even look like if Mars weren't there?"

Mars
A brown landscape is scarred dark red as streaks of orange flames are seen around the edges of the dark area with streams of smoke moving toward the bottom of the image

Satellites spy raging bushfires in Australia | Space photo of the day for Jan. 15, 2026

By Kenna Hughes-Castleberry published

The image shows just how large and devastating these events can be.

Earth
Perihelion is when there is the shortest distance between Earth and the sun.

Perihelion: What is it and when does it occur?

By Tereza Pultarova last updated

Reference Perihelion is the point at which an orbiting body is closest to the sun. The word comes from Greek and literally means around (peri) the sun (helios).

Reference

What is the moon phase today? Lunar phases 2026

By Tariq Malik, Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

Reference See what moon phase it is tonight and find out when you can see the rest of the moon phases for 2026.

Reference
A computer modeled image of a red crater filled with blue-gray water.

How Mars' ancient lakes grew shields of ice to stay warm as the Red Planet froze

By Keith Cooper published

The findings potentially solve the paradox of how liquid water seems to have persisted on Mars even when the climate grew too cold.

Mars
A series of snow-covered mountain peaks jut out against a white landscape in an image seen from space

Satellite sees snowy Greenland peaks from space | Space photo of the day for Jan. 14, 2026

By Kenna Hughes-Castleberry published

Greenland's mountains greatly affect local climate patterns.

Earth
illustration of a small, faraway moon base on the hilly, crater-marked surface of the moon.

The US really wants a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030. 'Achieving this future requires harnessing nuclear power,' NASA chief says

By Mike Wall published

NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy have firmed up their commitment to develop a nuclear reactor for use on the surface of the moon by 2030.

The moon
An artist impression of a future lunar hotel.

This company is taking $1 million reservations for hotel rooms on the moon

By Tereza Pultarova published

A California-based start-up wants to open a hotel on the moon by 2032 and is now accepting bookings for the out-of-this world travel experience.

The moon
An illustration of a Martian lander with hexagonal solar panels faced toward the top of the image and shooting off a small metal cylinder with a beam of yellow light headed for the top right of the image

Experts push back against cancellation of NASA's Mars sample return project

By Leonard David published

Exploration advocates are pushing back against the planned cancellation of NASA's Mars sample return project, saying it could potentially find evidence of Red Planet life.

Mars
ESA's Envision spacecraft should lift off to Venus in 2031

Will budget cuts force NASA to withdraw from Europe's next Venus mission?

By Tereza Pultarova published

"We are in constant contact with NASA."

Venus
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