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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

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 31 December 22

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 30 December 22

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.

The planets of the solar system, excluding Earth.

Every planet in the solar system will be visible on Wednesday (Dec. 28). Here's how to see them

By Brett Tingley last updated 28 December 22

Take a grand tour of the solar system tonight (Dec. 28) as each of the planets in the solar system will be visible at the same time.

A view from the Galileo spacecraft of a "chaos" region on Jupiter's icy moon Europa.

How artificial intelligence is helping us explore the solar system

By Briley Lewis published 23 December 22

From identifying safe landing sites on Europa to understanding craters on the moon, machine learning is helping planetary scientists push the boundaries of space exploration.

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

8 ways the James Webb Space Telescope is already revolutionizing astronomy

By Keith Cooper published 21 December 22

One year after its launch, the flagship space telescope is already making discoveries that are transforming our knowledge of the universe, both near and far.

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.

Europa's icy crust may let more material into hidden ocean than thought

By Sharmila Kuthunur published 20 December 22

New research shows that even smaller impacts can warm and soften enough ice on Jupiter's moon Europa to send material sinking into the underlying ocean.

A fireball with unexpected features as seen by the Global Fireball Observatory camera at Miquelon Lake Provincial Park, Alberta.

Scientists trace fireball to strange rocky meteoroid from the edge of the solar system

By Robert Lea published 19 December 22

A rocky meteoroid that exploded over Canada last year was more extraordinary than it first seemed: it originated from the outer solar system, where scientists thought only icy bodies exist.

NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter on the Martian surface as seen by the Perseverance rover.

Space helicopters will help us explore Mars and other worlds. Here's how.

By Rebecca Sohn published 14 December 22

When NASA scientists were planning the Mars Perseverance mission, they decided to try something new: Instead of just sending a rover, they'd also send up a small helicopter.

An artist's depiction of the Mariner 2 spacecraft.

60 years ago today, a spacecraft zipped past planet Venus for the 1st time ever

By Meghan Bartels published 14 December 22

It was the first planetary flyby ever.

An illustration showing a hypothetical cloud of dust that could come from infalling comets.

Hubble Space Telescope spots haunting glow surrounding the solar system

By Robert Lea published 9 December 22

Astronomers used 200,000 Hubble Space Telescope images to discover an eerie glow surrounding the solar system even after all other light sources have been eliminated.

(Main) An illustration of galactic cosmic rays. (Right top) An illustration of the Mars Express and (right bottom) Venus Express spacecraft.

Solar cycle peak reduces cosmic rays around Mars, Venus and Earth

By Robert Lea published 6 December 22

Measurements taken at Earth's neighbors, Mars and Venus, show the battle between high-energy cosmic rays from beyond the solar system and the influence of the sun in the inner solar system.

An artist's impression of a comet flying through space trailed by twin streams of gas and dust.

Massive eruption from icy volcanic comet detected in solar system

By Harry Baker published 5 December 22

Astronomers observed a major eruption from a volcanic comet flying through the solar system, likely spewing more than 1 million tons of debris into space.