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![The Earth, moon and an asteroid's trajectories are seen in this gif.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3oorv6q4S26DQmJFKWcj7e-320-80.gif)
It's International Asteroid Day, and astronomers have much to celebrate
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
"It's a fun day."
![A view of the top of Io, a slight haze protrudes from the surface in one isolated location.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Lya9sSYHQiquAvTpCGVTE7-320-80.png)
NASA's Juno probe reveals lava lakes across Jupiter's volcanic moon Io (image)
By Stefanie Waldek published
Infrared images showcase "fire-breathing" lakes all across the Jovian moon.
![The Red Planet is seen against the darkness of space.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MeLBJNnoVngsSXk8pfYpsG-320-80.jpg)
Mars is an asteroid punching bag, NASA data reveals
By Keith Cooper published
Small asteroids have the Red Planet in their crosshairs more often than not, as Mars lander's seismometer detects their impacts.
![A white plane is seen on a runway. It has a NASA sign on its tail.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/U57UouWZmE2ufGFktzT4rA-320-80.jpg)
NASA is flying planes low over the US to make maps of air pollution sources
By Rahul Rao published
NASA is flying aircraft low over the US in order to learn where, exactly, greenhouse gases are coming from. The results should help the agency fight causes of human-driven climate change.
![a cylindrical spacecraft stands up right in the desert above illustrations of the moon's surface on the ground](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yxwHd5csdyHoUgF7ebr9t6-320-80.jpg)
The moon on Earth: Astrobotic unveils 'proving ground' for future lunar missions
By Andrew Jones published
Pittsburgh-based company Astrobotic has unveiled a lunar testing ground to help prepare for a range of coming moon missions.
![Technicians remove the samples collected on the moon's far side from the return capsule of the Chang'e 6 lunar mission.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CEzEdUKdvmJ7nrYj2mKXKU-320-80.jpg)
China opens Chang'e 6 return capsule containing samples from moon's far side (video)
By Andrew Jones published
China's Chang'e 6 mission return capsule has been transferred to Beijing and opened to access its precious cargo — samples from the moon's mysterious far side.
![Two pieces of rocky material are seen with blueish areas highlighted.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gzJeoU2xQEB7VXTAevdXH8-320-80.jpg)
Phosphate in NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample suggests space rock Bennu hails from an ocean world
By Victoria Corless published
NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission brought pieces of space rock Bennu to Earth in 2023. An analysis of these samples has revealed interesting data.
![(Right) Jupiter as seen by the JWST (Left) a close up of the Great Red Spot, the solar system's largest storm](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Wftswhonh4pTdhwL8pE7C8-320-80.png)
James Webb Space Telescope spies strange shapes above Jupiter's Great Red Spot (image)
By Robert Lea published
The James Webb Space Telescope has discovered strange structures in the atmosphere of Jupiter over the solar system's largest storm, the Great Red Spot, proving the planet is full of surprises.
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