Mars

Mars, the Red Planet, is the fourth planet from the sun.

Related Topics: Curiosity Mars Rover Mission, ExoMars, India Mars Orbiter Mission, Mars Rover Opportunity, Maven Mars Mission 

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NASA's Jupiter-exploring spacecraft Juno made a close pass at the giant planet's ice-covered moon Europa on Sept. 29. 2022.

Space photos: The most amazing images this week!

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

An astrophotographer takes an epic composite image of Jupiter, NASA slams a spacecraft into an asteroid, and Hurricane Ian is monitored from space. These are some of this week's top stories.

A time-lapse view of the asteroid Dimorphos getting bigger as the DART spacecraft hit it.

The top space stories of the week!

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

NASA slams into an asteroid, astronomers analyze ancient mega-supernovas and an astronaut watches Hurricane Ian from space. These are some of this week's top stories.

Woman and child viewing night sky with a telescope.

The brightest planets in October's night sky: How to see them (and when)

By Joe Rao published

Reference Our viewing guide tells you which planets are visible in October's night sky and how you can see them.

brown circle of a planet with white covering bottom tip

New evidence for liquid water on Mars suggests the planet is geothermally active

By Robert Lea published

Martian ice caps dip and rise and it may be evidence of liquid water lurking underneath them But what keeps that water from freezing?

small drone in front of a rocky hill with cloudy red sky in the background

Ingenuity Mars helicopter notches 33rd Red Planet flight

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter has taken flight again, staying aloft for nearly a minute this past weekend on its 33rd extraterrestrial sortie.

shiny object on dark reddish surface

Mars is littered with 15,694 pounds of human trash from 50 years of robotic exploration

By Cagri Kilic published

Omega's new Speedmaster X-33 Marstimer can keep track of time on both Earth and the Red Planet.

New Omega Marstimer watch keeps time on Earth and the Red Planet

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

The maker of the Moonwatch is ready to keep time on Mars. Omega has announced the Speedmaster X-33 Marstimer, a new timepiece that can keep track of time and time zones on Earth and the Red Planet.

An illustration of the moon as seen from orbit above Mars

NASA maps objectives to guide 'moon to Mars' space exploration

By Andrew Jones published

NASA is working on a blueprint to guide space exploration and infrastructure for the moon, Mars and to destinations across our solar system.

An illustration of the night sky on Sept. 24 depicting Mars passing the star cluster NGC 1746.

See Mars pass an asterism in the Taurus constellation on Saturday (Sept. 24)

By Robert Lea published

There is some debate as to the nature of the star cluster NGC1746.

A 'selfie' taken by China's Zhurong Mars rover during the Tianwen-1 mission.

China's Tianwen-1 Mars mission wins international space award

By Andrew Jones published

China's Tianwen 1 Mars mission has been awarded one of the spaceflight world's most prestigious awards.

robot covered with red dust

Good Mars weather lets NASA's power-starved InSight lander live a little longer

By Meghan Bartels published

Scientists expected that the lander would run out of power by the end of the summer, but InSight is still eking out science data and may for several months to come — potentially even into January.

NASA's Ingenuity helicopter captured this photo on its 32nd Martian flight, on Sept. 18, 2022.

Ingenuity Mars helicopter soars on 32nd flight

By Mike Wall published

Ingenuity traveled about 308 feet (94 meters) on Sunday (Sept. 18), staying aloft for more than 55 seconds and reaching a maximum speed of 10.6 mph (17.1 kph).

three dark splotches on a grey background with the rightmost splotch tinted blue

NASA's Mars lander hears the 'bloop' of meteorites hitting the Red Planet

By Robert Lea published

What's shaking on Mars? Thanks to the InSight lander scientists now know part of the answer is space rock impacts. The lander's seismometer has 'heard' at least four strikes.

a photo of large wheeled robot in the center with smaller stationary robot to the right

China Mars mission data offers evidence for ancient ocean

By Stefanie Waldek published

Evidence collected by the Tianwen 1 orbiter and Zhurong rover supports the possible existence of an ancient ocean in the Utopia Planitia region of Mars.

The James Webb Space Telescope's first images of Mars were captured by its NIRCam instrument on September 5, 2022

James Webb Space Telescope's 1st images of Mars reveal atmosphere secrets

By Robert Lea published

The James Webb Space Telescope excels at capturing images of distant cosmic objects, but the telescope's new Mars images demonstrate it can have an impact much closer to home.

lines of ice on the surface of mars

The icy steps on these Mars plains may be ancient wind-blown dust

By Elizabeth Howell published

A high-definition Martian camera spotted icy ridges on the Red Planet interlaced with channels, which may show ancient proof of water or lava.

astronaut walking in front of vehicle on mars in artist impression

Astronauts could use Mars soil for 3D-printing on the Red Planet

By Stefanie Waldek published

Making things for Mars astronauts on-planet would be a boon for future human missions.

An illustration of Mars seen from space.

Here comes Mars! Red Planet will soon offer us its best view until 2031

By Joe Rao published

Mars, the only planet whose surface we can see in any detail from the Earth, is now moving toward the best viewing position it will provide us until the year 2031.

The sun sets on a barren red landscape in the Arctic.

A Month on 'Mars': Return to Earth

By Rod Pyle published

Despite all the dangers of its rugged surface, our simulated Mars base is inhabited by magic.

lake on mars in artist impression

We still haven't found most of Mars' ancient lakes

By Elizabeth Howell published

A "new era" in Martian water searches awaits, a new study suggests, with hundreds of ancient lakes likely still lying undetected on the Red Planet.