Solar System

The sun's atmosphere is way hotter than its surface. Scientists may finally know why

By Keith Cooper Published 7 July 26

NASA's Parker Solar Probe has found charged grains of dust being carried on magnetic plasma waves in the Sun's outer atmosphere, providing a new clue to the mystery of the Sun's corona is so hot.

More clues surface about the origins of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS

By Keith Cooper Published 6 July 26

Observations of the fast-moving interstellar comet with the Very Large Telescope in Chile support similar observations made by the JWST.

'Once-in-a-millennium' asteroid flyby will be visible to much of the world in 2029

By Sharmila Kuthunur Published 6 July 26

Ninety percent of the world's population could glimpse asteroid Apophis during its once-in-a-millennium close approach to Earth in 2029.

Human flight was still 7 years away in 1776. Now, we're headed back to the moon

By Mike Wall Published 4 July 26

Humanity made some halting steps toward flight over the centuries, but our species was still firmly rooted on the ground when the United States of America was born on July 4, 1776.

In 1776, the moon was a clock, a calendar and a streetlight — and it was 31 feet closer to Earth

By Stefanie Waldek Published 2 July 26

The moon that rose on July 4, 1776, was slightly closer to Earth than it is today.

NASA will send a soccer ball to the moon — if the US wins the World Cup

By Mike Wall Published 1 July 26

NASA will send a soccer ball to the moon if the United States wins the FIFA World Cup, agency chief Jared Isaacman said on Tuesday (June 30).

Ocean-monitoring satellite spots wildfire smoke from space | Space photo of the day for July 1, 2026

By Chelsea Gohd Published 1 July 26

A NASA satellite has found an unintended, important purpose.

In 1776, the solar system only had 6 planets. Now, it has 8. Does it end there?

By Samantha Mathewson Published 1 July 26

As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, the history of the solar system tells its own story of exploration.

'PROMISE' me the moon? NASA wants to send spare nuclear-powered Mars rover to the lunar surface

By Josh Dinner Published 30 June 26

NASA has announced new lunar landing contracts for its Artemis Moon Base program, as well as a potential new moon rover mission named PROMISE.