Solar System

Our solar system is filled with planets, asteroids, comets, the sun and more, making it a wealth of discoveries waiting to be found. See the latest discoveries from across our solar system here. 

Explore the planets in our solar system: Earth, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

Related topics: asteroids, Pluto, the moon, comets

Latest Updates

Ceres will be at opposition on March 21, 2023, though you'll still need a telescope to see the dwarf planet.

Spot dwarf planet Ceres during the new moon tonight

By Robert Lea published

The dark skies of the new moon will offer skywatchers the chance to spot Ceres tonight (March 21), as the dwarf planet reaches opposition.

photograph of several women in the 1870s. the women all wear black dresses. some are sitting at tables. some are standing. maria mitchell is near the middle of the picture beside a long telescope. behind is a building with window shades open

New children's book celebrates pioneering astronomer Maria Mitchell

By Elizabeth Howell published

Pioneering American astronomer Maria Mitchell is the star of a children's book using an ancient language she happened to know: Latin.

The luminous, hot star Wolf-Rayet 124 (WR 124), which lies about 15,000 light-years from Earth, is prominent at the center of this James Webb Space Telescope composite image, which combines near-infrared and mid-infrared wavelengths of light from Webb's Near-Infrared Camera and Mid-Infrared Instrument. NASA released this image on March 14, 2023.

Exoplanets, dark matter and more: Big discoveries coming from James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers say

By Keith Cooper published

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has dazzled us plenty already, but the best is yet to come from the observatory, mission team members say.

A view of Jupiter's moon Europa captured by NASA's Juno mission during its Sept. 29, 2022, close flyby at the moon. The spacecraft was 945 miles (1,500 kilometers) above the moon's surface when the image was taken.

Jupiter moon Europa's buried ocean may alter rotation of its icy shell

By Andrew Jones published

The vast, swirling ocean within Jupiter's moon Europa may be affecting the rotation of its icy crust, scientists say.

an illustration of Earth beside a much larger blue-and-green planet

Here's the devastating impact a super-Earth would have on our solar system

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

A study simulated what would happen if a super-Earth orbited in the middle of our solar system, and the results are chaotic.

an illustration of a bright disk of material in space. the disk is white on its outer edges and yellow and red in its center

'Missing link' protostar may prove solar system's water is older than the sun

By Robert Lea published

A planet-forming disk around a distant star has revealed an abundance of water that may indicate the solar system's water is older than the sun.

Artist's conception of the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) spacecraft next to Earth on the right and the boundary of the heliosphere on the right (represented by a bubble of gas).

NASA's IBEX spacecraft bounces back from glitch to study edge of solar system

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) is back to normal operations after controllers successfully reset its computer March 2, NASA said.

An illustration of the night sky on March 1 showing the proximity of Venus and Jupiter.

Don't miss Venus and Jupiter shine super close in the night sky. They won't be closer until 2032!

By Joe Rao published

You can catch an incredibly close view of these worlds for 2 hours after sunset tonight (March 1).

This image of the dwarf planet Ceres, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft in 2015, approximates how the dwarf planet's colors would appear to the eye.

Astronomers spy new class of dark, water-rich asteroids like dwarf planet Ceres

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

Astronomers interpret the spectra of 10 well-known dark asteroids and find them to be water-rich like the dwarf planet Ceres.

Artist's conception of the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) spacecraft next to Earth on the right and the boundary of the heliosphere on the right (represented by a bubble of gas).

NASA's IBEX spacecraft not responding to commands after computer glitch during 15-year mission to study interstellar border

By Elizabeth Howell published

NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) reset its flight computer Feb. 18 and has been unresponsive to commands ever since, agency officials said Friday (Feb. 24).

A photograph of a telescope in front of two bright objects in the night sky.

See a bright Venus and Jupiter hold a celestial meeting in the night sky this month

By Joe Rao published

Venus and Jupiter should make for a very striking visual spectacle, no doubt attracting the attention of even those who don't give more than a casual glance at the night sky.

An illustration of the orbits of Jupiter's moons, not including its newly found 12 moons.

Jupiter now has the most moons in the solar system, beating Saturn thanks to 12 newfound satellites

By Robert Lea published

Jupiter now boasts the largest number of moons orbiting it after scientists discovered another 12 moons, bringing the behemoth's total up to 92.

An artist's depiction of the James Webb Space Telescope.

The James Webb Space Telescope gets its own micrometeoroid forecast — here's how

By Meghan Bartels published

Even as the James Webb Space Telescope is allowing astronomers to see inside vast, distant galaxies, it's also studying some tiny, nearby objects, albeit inadvertently.

An image of Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) as seen over Italy on Jan. 24, 2023.

The Comet Interceptor probe could visit a stunning object like the green C/2022 E3 (ZTF)

By Meghan Bartels published

Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is tantalizing to spot through a telescope, but what would it look like up close?

An image of Uranus taken by Voyager 2 on Jan. 14, 1986.

The moon will eclipse Uranus Saturday (Jan. 28)

By Elizabeth Howell published

Get your telescopes ready: Uranus will disappear behind the moon on Saturday (Jan. 28) and the event will be visible to a select few in Asia or the far north of the world.

A Voyager 2 image of Neptune's largest moon, Triton, in 1989.

Wild mission concepts would melt into icy moons, surf on sunlight to the ice giants, and more

By Briley Lewis published

From the nearby moon to distant Triton, planetary scientists have a plethora of ideas for how to explore our solar system.

An illustration of the surface of Jupiter's moon, Io, the most volcanic body in the solar system

Massive, months-long volcanic eruption roils Jupiter's moon Io

By Robert Lea published

Jupiter's moon Io is the most volcanic body in the solar system, with outbursts occurring yearly. A particularly large volcanic eruption was spotted in the fall of 2022.

An illustration of the night sky on Jan. 22 showing Venus and Saturn in close proximity.

See a 5-planet parade in the night sky this month. Venus and Saturn stand out.

By Robert Lea published

The five planets of the solar system visible with the naked eye can all be seen this January, making the start of 2023 a special time for astronomers.

An artist's illustration of NASA's Juno spacecraft at Jupiter.

Juno spacecraft recovering its memory after mind-blowing Jupiter flyby, NASA says

By Robert Lea published

NASA's Juno spacecraft is recovering its memory after a download disruption following its December flyby of Jupiter.

An artist's depiction of one of the twin Voyager probes.

The most distant spacecraft in the solar system — Where are they now?

By Briley Lewis published

Humans have sent four spacecraft out of the solar system, with another swiftly approaching the edge of our solar system — and they have a lot to teach us about our place in space.