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

No spacecraft has visited Uranus since the Voyager 2 mission's 1986 flyby.

Here's where planetary science is going in the next decade

By Meghan Bartels published

The solar system is overflowing with fascinating destinations, but NASA can only operate so many missions.

Pluto, the largest of the dwarf planets. This image was taken by NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft.

Curious kids: What is a dwarf planet?

By Vahe Peroomian published

In 2006, and after much debate, the International Astronomical Union came up with a new definition for a planet. And for the first time, the term "dwarf planet" was used.

An image of Neptune taken by the Very Large Telescope of the European Southern Observatory (on the right) and one captured by the Hubble Space Telescope (on the left).

Neptune is cooling down and scientists don't know why

By Tereza Pultarova published

Two decades worth of observations revealed unexpected cooling of the solar system's most distant planet Neptune amid astronomical summer.

Scientists have created a detailed topological map of asteroid Bennu.

Asteroid Bennu's mysterious missing craters suggest 'impact armoring' protecting the surface

By Tereza Pultarova published

The surface of asteroid Bennu acts like an impact-absorbing crumple zone that protects the space rock from forming craters, a new study based on OSIRIS-REx observations reveals.

Returning comets fade even when they don't approach the sun, a new study found.

Comets fade even as deep in space as Saturn's orbit, scientists find

By Elizabeth Howell published

When comets first appear near Earth, their bright tails of ionized gas stun observers, but on every subsequent return, they become dimmer.

This NASA sky map shows the location of Venus, Mars and Saturn in the night sky April 4, 2022.

See Venus, Saturn and Mars shine close before sunrise this week

By Elizabeth Howell published

Venus, Saturn and Mars will be visible and very close together this week in the predawn sky. Here's how to see it.

The orbits of thousands of asteroids (in blue) cross paths with the orbits of planets (in white), including Earth’s.

NASA downgrades a large asteroid's risk of impact in 2880

By Elizabeth Howell published

A fresh assessment of a distantly risky asteroid brings good news: it's even less of a threat than astronomers had feared.

An image of Pluto taken by the New Horizons probe in 2015 with evidence for potential cryovolcanism marked in blue.

Ice volcanoes on Pluto may still be erupting

By Rebecca Sohn published

An area of Pluto that researchers think was formed from the eruption of ice volcanoes is unique on the dwarf planet and in the solar system, a new study suggests.

This NASA diagram shows the location of Venus, Mars, Saturn and the crescent moon in the predawn sky on March 27 and March 28, 2022.

Venus, Mars and Saturn form a celestial triangle before dawn: How to see it

By Elizabeth Howell published

You can spot them Sunday and Monday, before sunrise.

A "selfie" of Zhurong and its lander captured by a deployed remote camera.

China may have its sights set on a mission to Venus

By Andrew Jones published

China is considering adding a mission to Venus to its plans for planetary exploration, according to a senior Chinese space official.

An artist's illustration of the planets of our solar system in order.

Solar system planets, order and formation: A guide

By Daisy Dobrijevic published

Reference Explore the eight (or nine) planets of the solar system in order from nearest to the sun and discover the many wonders of our solar system along the way.

An artist's depiction of Chariklo, the largest known Centaur, accompanied by its rings and satellites.

What if the same spacecraft studied mysterious icy bodies and the cosmos as well?

By Meghan Bartels published

Staring out into space is a time-tested technique for making long journeys pass more quickly, but not one often applied at the scale of the solar system.

Taken during Juno's 39th close flyby of Jupiter on Jan. 12, 2022, this stunning view captures two of the planet's moons: Io (left) and Europa (right).

NASA spacecraft snaps gorgeous new photo of Jupiter's moons Io and Europa

By Samantha Mathewson published

NASA's Juno spacecraft beamed back stunning new photos of Jupiter's moons, Io and Europa.

A false-color image highlights different materials on the surface of the dwarf planet Ceres.

Strange dwarf planet Ceres may have formed at the icy edges of the solar system

By Paul Sutter published

Ceres is the most dominant member of the asteroid belt but it doesn't look like the other asteroids.

Artist's illustration of Planet Nine, a world about 10 times more massive than Earth that may lie undiscovered in the far outer solar system.

Another search for Planet 9 comes up empty

By Elizabeth Howell published

A theorized huge, Planet 9 beyond the orbit of Neptune once again wasn't found in a new survey.

This Virtual Telescope Project graphic shows the orbit of the near-Earth asteroid 2022 ES3, which flies close by Earth on March 13, 2022.

An asteroid the size of a bus flies by Earth today and you can watch it live online

By Elizabeth Howell published

You can watch a big asteroid make a safe flyby of Earth today (March 13) from any spot with good internet access.

Jupiter is a gas giant, but it has rocky moons, including Ganymede (shown here), the largest moon in the solar system.

Are there any moons that are made of gas?

By Ashley Hamer published

What would happen if Earth's moon were made of gas?

This artist’s illustration shows what Mars would look like with liquid water.

Could Mars ever have supported life? This NASA challenge wants your help to find out

By Elizabeth Howell published

A new competition with HeroX asks for innovative ways to analyze data gathered on the Red Planet.

Venus and Mars will shine near each other in the predawn sky on March 12, 2022. Here's where to look.

See Venus and Mars pair up in the early morning sky Saturday

By Samantha Mathewson published

Venus will meet up with Mars in the very early morning sky on Saturday (March 12). Here’s how you can catch the planetary duo.

Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, like the solar system's other small bodies, is shaped by geological processes rather than by gravity.

Why are asteroids and comets such weird shapes?

By JoAnna Wendel published

While planets and some moons are almost perfectly spherical, the smaller bits of the solar system, such as asteroids and comets, come in all different shapes. But why is that?