Earth

Earth, our home planet, is the 3rd planet from the sun.

Related Topics: Mars, The Moon, Venus, We Don't Planet, Neptune 

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An Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle lifting off

Indian rocket launches EOS-06 ocean-studying satellite and 8 tiny craft into orbit

By Mike Wall last updated

An Indian rocket launched an ocean-observing satellite and eight tiny ride-along spacecraft early Saturday (Nov. 26).

rocky structures covered by dots and blobs

Surprise finding at Arctic vent site could help in the search for extraterrestrial life

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

A vent deep under the Arctic ice is surprisingly similar to what may occur on Saturn's icy moon, Enceladus.

device screen showing icons of twitter and mastodon

Space scientists and astronauts launch to other platforms amid Twitter turmoil

By John Loeffler published

Several prominent astronomers, scientists and at least one astronaut have announced their exit from Twitter following Elon Musk's takeover. Will more follow?

An illustration of the LightSail 2 spacecraft disintegrating in Earth's atmosphere.

LightSail 2 spacecraft ends its solar-sailing mission in a blaze of glory

By Robert Lea published

LightSail 2's 3.5-year mission came to an end on Nov. 17 when the sunshine-riding craft burned up upon reentry to Earth's atmosphere.

Space Perspective's MS Voyager "marine spaceport" ocean vessel will allow passengers to fly into the stratosphere from ocean vessels.

Space Perspective to launch balloon-borne tourist flights from 'marine spaceport'

By Elizabeth Howell published

From sea to the stratosphere, Space Perspective aims to give high-altitude balloon tourists a flexible launching point to see the blackness of space and the curve of Earth.

oblong golden box with circular layers visible inside and out

World's first computer, the Antikythera Mechanism, 'started up' in 178 B.C., scientists claim

By Owen Jarus published

The mysterious Antikythera mechanism, thought by some to be the world's first computer, was first "started up" on Dec. 22, 178 B.C., archaeologists have now found.

An aerial view of the massive radio dish at Arecibo Observatory after the telescope's collapse.

NSF plans another collapse for Arecibo Observatory (op-ed)

By Joanna Rankin, Mary Fillmore published

The collapse of the world's most powerful radio and radar telescope didn't kill off science at the Arecibo Observatory, but the National Science Foundation might.

photograph of glacier in front of mountain

Glaciers in Yellowstone and Yosemite on track to vanish within decades, UN report warns

By Michael Dhar published

A United Nations report warns of imperiled glaciers at iconic World Heritage sites — but climate action could save most of them.

A Mars Express image taken on May 29, 2019, showing a storm swirling to the right of the north pole ice cap.

Mars' clouds are strangely Earth-like, despite wildly different atmospheres

By Robert Lea published

Despite having radically different atmospheres, Mars and Earth seem to have similar cloud patterns, hinting that the features may form in much the same way.

streak of a rocket lifting off into space in the black night

NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission will carry science across the solar system

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA's chief scientist said the Artemis 1 launch of Wednesday (Nov. 16) will swiftly change science across the solar system, with studies in radiation and sustainability also helping Earthlings.

A view of Earth as seen from the Artemis 1 Orion capsule more than 9 hours into flight on Nov. 16, 2022.

Artemis 1's Orion capsule sends Earth 1st image of home on the way to the moon

By Meghan Bartels published

Artemis 1 has sent home its first stunning image from what will be a 25-day mission through deep space.

streaking image of a rocket caught across a background map of moving clouds

Epic Artemis 1 moon rocket launch spotted streaking through Earth's atmosphere in satellite image

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA's Artemis 1 launch to the moon streaks to space in a view from a weather satellite, which spotted the Space Launch System's water trail after liftoff Wednesday (Nov. 16).

sun shines over solar panels with black of space in behind

BlueWalker 3 satellite unfurls biggest commercial communications array ever

By Elizabeth Howell published

AST SpaceMobile's BlueWalker 3 satellite unveiled an array that is about the same size as a small apartment, to provide high-speed communications from orbit.

several images of a red moon rising above a launch tower beside artemis 1, seen at a distance

Blood Moon rises over Artemis 1 megarocket preparing for launch in stunning photos

By Elizabeth Howell published

Last week's Blood Moon total lunar eclipse was visible over the Artemis 1 rocket on Nov. 8, making for an epic view of the mission's eventual destination.

A sample of Dresser Formation stromatolite, showing a complex layered structure formed of hematite, barite, and quartz, and a domed upper surface.

3.5 billion-year-old rock structures are one of the oldest signs of life on Earth

By Stephanie Pappas published

Fossils called stromatolites from Western Australia were created by microbes 3.48 billion years ago.

An illustration of Earth and deep space behind it.

Scientists have traced Earth's path through the galaxy via tiny crystals found in the crust

By Chris Kirkland, Phil Sutton published

Tiny grains of minerals smaller than the width of human hair hold clues to the construction of our planet Earth and its path through the Milky Way.

Close-up view of the lunar surface captured by the Orion spacecraft's onboard optical navigation camera during the mission's closest approach to the lunar surface on Nov. 21, 2022.

Space photos: The most amazing images this week!

By Doris Elin Urrutia last updated

A small Mars helicopter flies again, Artemis I takes lunar close-ups and astronaut finalists take the stage in Paris. These are some of this week's top photos.

The crater-riddled far side of the moon seen by the Orion spacecraft.

The top space stories of the week!

By Doris Elin Urrutia last updated

The sunlight-riding LightSail 2 ends its mission, Artemis 1 flies close to the moon and Europe announces its newest astronauts. These are some of this week's top stories.

Gas leaking in the Baltic Sea from one of the damaged Nord Stream pipelines seen bubbling up to the surface by a Pléiades Neo satellite.

Huge Nord Stream pipeline gas leak not big enough to warm climate, scientists say

By Tereza Pultarova published

The Nord Stream natural gas pipeline leak may not cause a noticeable warming of the climate but still "damage to infrastructure such as this should be avoided," scientists say.

earth with half on fire and large rock in background

Curious Kids: What would happen if the world split in half?

By Jonti Horner published

The solar system isn't as violent as it used to be, when giant impacts could shatter worlds.