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

Greenland ice sheet

How many ice ages has the Earth had, and could humans live through one?

By Denise Su published

We know that the Earth has had at least five major ice ages. Could humans survive one?

sharp-edged cloud

Strange cloud in satellite data catches interest of scientists

By Elizabeth Howell published

A "peculiar" cloud over the Caspian Sea offers an interesting case study of how satellites can detect such phenomena in Earth's atmosphere.

protestors at US Supreme Court

Former astronauts and space industry leaders weigh in on fall of Roe v. Wade and abortion access

By Elizabeth Howell published

Space exploration is feeling the shockwaves from the historic decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to revoke Roe v. Wade on Friday (June 24).

The sun shining over a city

Satellites zoom in on cities' hottest neighborhoods to help combat the urban heat island effect

By Daniel P. Johnson published

Landsat satellites have been pinpointing risks of extreme heat within cities.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 53 Starlink internet satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on May 14, 2022.

Coming increase in rocket launches will damage ozone, alter climate, study finds

By Tereza Pultarova published

The projected growth in the number of rocket launches will have a detrimental impact on Earth's climate and its protective ozone layer, a new study has found.

gullies on Mars

Extreme microbes in salty Arctic water could aid search for life on Mars

By Keith Cooper published

Never-before-seen microbes living deep beneath the permafrost at one of the coldest and saltiest water springs on Earth could provide a blueprint for life on Mars.

lightsail and africa

LightSail 2 celebrates 3rd space birthday as end of mission approaches

By Elizabeth Howell published

LightSail 2 is now marking three years of spaceflight, but is unlikely to celebrate a fourth anniversary.

Density of swine waste lagoons in North Carolina, as determined using data from the Landsat 5 satellite.

Harmful pig poop lagoons mapped from space (images)

By Jeff Spry published

North Carolina State University scientists are using satellite images to monitor the expansion of the state's swine waste lagoons.

People gather for sunrise at Stonehenge, on June 21, 2022 in Wiltshire, England.

Summer solstice 2022 celebrated on Earth and in space (photos)

By Elizabeth Howell published

People around the world celebrated the summer solstice today (June 21), as did some satellites in space.

large dish of silver liquid

World's largest liquid mirror telescope ready to observe

By Stefanie Waldek published

The 4-meter-wide International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT) at Devasthal Observatory in the central Himalayas comes online.

A view of Kitt Peak National Observatory's southwest ridge burned by a wildfire.

Kitt Peak telescopes remain standing after Arizona wildfire claims at least 4 buildings on site

By Elizabeth Howell published

While astronomical facilities and instrumentation may still be intact, it's too unsafe to verify in person right now.

Sun shining brightly through Stonehenge's standing stones.

Summer solstice 2022 marks the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere

By Daisy Dobrijevic published

Summer in the Northern Hemisphere began today (June 21) as the summer solstice 2022 occurred at 5:14 a.m. EDT (0914 GMT), marking the longest day of the year.

Midnight sun in Finland on the night of the 2022 summer solstice.

June solstice 2022 around the world. Here is what to expect

By Joe Rao published

The June solstice 2022, which is recognized as the official start of the summer in the Northern Hemisphere, will occur on Tuesday, June 21, at precisely 5:14 a.m. EDT (09:14 GMT).

Kitt Peak's Very Long Baseline Array Dish seen in front of the Contreras Fire early on June 17, 2022.

Arizona wildfire reaches some of famed Kitt Peak's telescopes

By Meghan Bartels published

A large wildfire in Arizona is seriously threatening a key site for astronomy.

Smoke visible from the Contreras Fire as seen from Kitt Peak on June 16, 2022.

Fire shuts down Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona

By Elizabeth Howell published

A fast-burning wildfire shut down all operations at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona, home to one of the largest collections of astronomical instruments in the United States.

A visualization of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.

'Factorian Deep,' the new deepest point in Antarctica's Southern Ocean, mapped for the first time

By Brandon Specktor published

Researchers have published the most detailed map of Antarctica's frigid Southern Ocean to date, including the ocean's new deepest point, the "Factorian Deep."

Glaciers in Antarctica are melting because of climate change.

Antarctica's 'Doomsday Glacier' is hemorrhaging ice faster than in the past 5,500 years

By Ben Turner published

Antarctica's Doomsday Glacier is losing ice at its fastest rate in 5,500 years, raising concerns about the ice sheet's future.

Scientists think that Milankovitch cycles cause periodic changes in Earth's climate.

Milankovitch cycles: What are they and how do they affect Earth?

By Tereza Pultarova published

Milankovitch cycles are periodic changes in the orbital characteristics of a planet that control how much sunlight it receives thus affecting its climate and habitability.

An image of Astra's LV0010 rocket launching the NASA TROPICS mission.

Astra rocket suffers major failure during launch, 2 NASA satellites lost

By Tariq Malik published

An Astra rocket carrying two small hurricane-tracking satellites for NASA failed to reach orbit Sunday (June 12) after a major malfunction.

Stage separation of the Astra LV0010 rocket with the Earth below.

Watch Astra launch 2 tiny hurricane-studying NASA satellites today

By Mike Wall published

Astra plans to launch two cubesats for NASA's TROPICS hurricane-studying mission Sunday (June 12) during a two-hour window that opens at 12 p.m. EDT (1600 GMT).