Solar System

Mexico City is sinking up to 14 inches per year, satellite images show

By Keith Cooper published 5 May 26

Mexico City is one of the fastest subsiding cities in the world, dropping by up to 14 inches every year.

A tiny world at the edge of our solar system grew a mysterious atmosphere, and we don't know how

By Keith Cooper published 5 May 26

A trans-Neptunian object was found to possess a surprising thin atmosphere after astronomers witnessed the object occult a distant star.

NASA is making a powerful new ion engine to send astronauts to Mars — and it just passed its 1st test

By Keith Cooper published 5 May 26

A prototype ion engine that uses lithium metal vapor as a propellant has aced its first tests, achieving 25 times more power than the ion engine on the Psyche mission.

Drone radar could help spacecraft pinpoint where to drill for water on Mars, scientists say

By Samantha Mathewson published 1 May 26

Drone-mounted radar flown over glaciers on Earth show how the technology can map buried ice in detail, helping future Mars spacecraft choose exactly where to drill.

Is it cake? No, it's a parachute! | Space photo of the day for May 1, 2026

By Chelsea Gohd published 1 May 26

In this donut-shaped bag is a massive parachute. Next stop? Mars.

NASA's Curiosity and Perseverance rovers capture sweeping Mars panoramas (video)

By Samantha Mathewson published 1 May 26

New panoramic views from NASA's Curiosity and Perseverance rovers reveal dramatically different Martian terrains shaped by ancient water and billions of years of geological change.

Is Venus volcanically active? Big Hawaiian eruption in 2022 could help scientists find out

By Keith Cooper published 30 April 26

Evidence suggests that Venus is still volcanically active, and new data about a big eruption in Hawaii a few years ago could help scientists find out for sure.

An Amazon rainforest river from space | Space photo of the day for April 30, 2026

By Chelsea Gohd published 30 April 26

The Ucayali River snakes across the rainforest in this image captured by NASA astronaut Jessica Meir from the International Space Station.

NASA chief Jared Isaacman says he's fighting for Pluto: 'I am very much in the camp of 'make Pluto a planet again'

By Mike Wall published 28 April 26

Should Pluto be a bona fide planet again? NASA is working to "revisit the discussion" on Pluto's planethood status, according to agency chief Jared Isaacman.