Solar System

Latest about Solar System

A series of brown, dark blue and white streaks across the surface of Mars

A mysterious substance on Mars might be an undiscovered mineral

By Julian Dossett published

Scientists have spotted a mysterious mineral on Mars that may be new to science — and could help reveal some Red Planet mysteries.

Mars
China's lunar lander, with four legs, floats down to the surface of Earth via parachute

China's lunar lander aces touchdown and takeoff tests ahead of planned 2030 crewed moon mission (video)

By Leonard David published

China conducted takeoff and touchdown tests with its "Lanyue" moon lander on Aug. 6, 2025, as it prepares to launch a crewed lunar mission by 2030.

The moon
a man in a blue suit speaks in front of a plaque reading "united states department of transportation"

'We want to get there first and claim that for America': NASA chief explains push for nuclear reactor on the moon (video)

By Brett Tingley published

Interim NASA Administrator Sean Duffy says his plan to put a nuclear reactor on the moon is part of his plain to "get there first and claim that for America."

The moon
China's Mars rover Zhurong poses for a self portrait with its lander in this photo from Utopia Planitia released on June 11, 2021.

China wants to return samples from Mars, but will it allow other nations to inspect its containment methods?

By Leonard David published

International oversight would reduce risks, but could be "a politically sensitive and contentious matter."

Mars
three panel image showing the sun on the left, the solar flare erupting in the center and a view of the northern lights on the right

Solar eruption from Earth-facing sunspot could trigger northern lights Aug. 8 (video)

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

The M4.4 solar flare unleashed a coronal mass ejection (CME) into space — and Earth might just receive a glancing blow.

The Sun
This high-resolution image captured by NASA's New Horizons spacecraft combines blue, red and infrared images to show a bright expanse on Pluto known as Sputnik Planum, which has been found to be rich in nitrogen, carbon monoxide and methane ices.

An icy supervolcano on Pluto may have erupted millions of years ago, leaving a massive crater on the frozen world.

By Nola Taylor Tillman published

The caldera may have blasted out its cryomagma in a single explosive event, or it may have spread its eruptions over time.

Pluto

Earth’s 'oldest' impact crater is much younger than previously thought – new study

By Aaron J. Cavosie, Alec Brenner published

Unravelling Earth’s 4.5-billion-year history with rocks is tricky business.

Earth
A control room with blue lights and lots of computer panels sits behind glass with a sign that reads Firefly Mission Operations Center above it.

NASA awards Firefly Aerospace $177 million for 1st multi-rover mission to moon's south pole

By Josh Dinner published

NASA has awarded Firefly Aerospace a $176.7 million contract to deliver a pair of rovers and three scientific instruments to the moon's south pole.

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

NASA aiming to build nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030

By Mike Wall published

NASA is accelerating its plans for a nuclear reactor on the moon, aiming to establish such a power outpost by 2030, according to Politico.

The moon
An older man with white hair and glasses wearing a dark jacket stands between large rows of solar panels under a night sky full of stars.

Solar farms could help find dangerous asteroids, scientist says

By Victoria Corless published

By transforming idle heliostats into asteroid detectors, scientists aim to develop a cost-effective method for spotting faint, fast-moving space rocks.

Asteroids
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