Earth

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

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

Latest Updates

Global sea levels have risen by 3.6 inches since the early 1990s and it's bound to get worse.

Sea level rise slowed down in 2022. NASA says it's just a blip

By Tereza Pultarova published

Global sea levels rose more slowly in 2022 than models predicted. But there's no reason to celebrate, according to NASA.

This view of Earth was captured by a camera aboard the upper stage of a Falcon 9 rocket following the launch of the SES-18 and SES-19 satellites on March 17, 2023.

Spectacular SpaceX video shows Earth as beautiful blue marble in blackness of space

By Robert Lea published

A camera aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket caught Earth as a beautiful blue marble in a striking new video filmed from orbit.

On Feb. 21, Antarctica's sea ice retreated to its lowest extent since satellite records began in 1979.

World must act now to defuse 'climate time bomb,' UN scientists warn

By Ben Turner published

The UN's final IPCC report warns that drastic action must be taken immediately, but staving off disaster is within humanity's grasp.

Meteor Crater near Winslow, Arizona, was blasted out by a roughly 165-foot-wide (50 meters) impactor about 50,000 years ago.

Big asteroids hit Earth more frequently than thought, study suggests

By Elizabeth Howell published

But the new result is controversial.

Artist's illustration of the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite in Earth orbit.

NASA climate change satellite back online after instrument shutdown

By Elizabeth Howell published

A stricken Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) instrument is back online, but NASA officials did not disclose a cause for the issue during commissioning.

an illustration depicting a landscape under the night sky on the left and the daytime sky on the right

Vernal equinox 2023 brings spring to the Northern Hemisphere with a not-so-equal timing twist

By Joe Rao published

On March 20 at 5:24 p.m. EDT (2:24 p.m. PDT) the spring (or vernal) equinox occurs as the sun's rays shine directly down on the equator.

Active vents from Earth's "Lost City" hydrothermal system could be similar to features found in the oceans of Europa and Enceladus.

Surprising newfound ocean bacteria could aid search for alien life

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

A newfound, highly adaptable bacterium shows the kind of diverse life to look for on Europa or Enceladus, astronomers say.

illustration of broken satellites with pieces in orbit around earth, which is in behind

Solving space junk problem may require lasers and space tugs, NASA says

By Elizabeth Howell published

A new NASA report evaluates the costs and benefits of various space debris removal efforts for the estimated 100 trillion bits of space junk in orbit.

The TEMPO instrument will be the first space-borne air pollution sensor operating in geostationary orbit.

NASA's new air pollution sensor will monitor smog above America in real time

By Tereza Pultarova published

For the first time, a space-born smog sensor will be able to provide data on the distribution of air pollutants over America non-stop and in real time.

a saucer-shaped cloud above a mountain in a blue sky

UFO-shaped clouds invade skies over Keck Observatory in Hawaii (photos)

By Samantha Mathewson published

Lenticular clouds were seen above the W. M. Keck Observatory on March 8, hovering in the skies above the Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa volcanoes and resembling classic flying saucer UFOs.

Rocket Lab, whose Electron launcher is seen here on its Virginia pad, is among the space companies that did business with Silicon Valley Bank.

Silicon Valley Bank collapse ripples across space industry

By Robert Lea published

The forced closure of the Silicon Valley Bank on Friday (March 10) could have a major impact on the space sector, as many space and tech companies had investments and accounts with the bank.

Forms of oxygen created by living organisms have been detected high above Earth's surface.

Earth spouts 'biosignatures' into space, hinting that other life-bearing worlds may do the same

By Tereza Pultarova published

Forms of oxygen created by living organisms can be found in space around our planet, a new study has revealed, hinting at a potential new method for tracing life on exoplanets.

a pyramid of light in the night sky

See the night sky shine with ghostly zodiacal light this month

By Robert Lea published

For the next few weeks in March, the sky to the west is illuminated by a pyramid of ethereal glow after twilight known as the zodiacal light.

Seasonal variations of the sea ice extent in Antarctica.

Antarctic sea ice hits record low, satellites reveal

By Tereza Pultarova published

Antarctic sea ice shrunk to a record low in February, satellite measurements revealed.

astronaut floating beside lockers in space with his arm stretched out

UAE's 1st long-duration astronaut sets sights on moon and Mars

By Elizabeth Howell published

Sultan Al Neyadi blasted off March 2 as part of the SpaceX Crew-6 mission, and says his International Space Station mission will get the UAE ready for the moon and Mars.

An illustration depicting the layers of Earth's internal structure..

Earth's mysterious innermost core is a 400-mile-wide metallic ball

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

New research adds to the growing body of evidence that the mysterious innermost inner core is a distinct metallic ball deep inside Earth.

Dust launched from the surface of the moon could help cool Earth, a new study suggests.

Moon-dust shield could help fight climate change on Earth

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

Launching huge amounts of moon dust toward a gravitationally stable spot between Earth and the sun could help cool our planet, a new study suggests.

NASA astronaut Josh Cassada posted this dazzling aurora photo on Twitter on Feb. 28, 2023 with a simple but appropriate caption: "Absolutely unreal."

'Absolutely unreal:' NASA astronaut snaps amazing photo of auroras from space station

By Mike Wall published

NASA astronaut Josh Cassada captured a stunning shot of green auroras dancing in Earth's skies from his vantage point on the International Space Station.

artist's impression of satellite dishes on the moon's surface with the earth in the background

We need more rules for space junk and moon bases, NASA and US officials say

By Elizabeth Howell published

New space rules will need to come fast to support commercial space stations and moon settlements, and guard against swiftly-growing space debris.

Artist's illustration of the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite in Earth orbit.

NASA's SWOT water satellite suffers instrument shutdown in orbit

By Elizabeth Howell published

The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) team is troubleshooting the instrument as they seek to have the spacecraft ready for operations in June.