Articles
Earth’s Great Gift to the Moon: Water
Tiny samples from Apollo moon rocks help solve an ancient myatery
Asteroid in a Bag: NASA’s Long, Strange Trip
The space agency's latest plan for a manned mission—including capturing an asteroid and towing it to the moon—begs crddulity
Where in the Universe Is Voyager? The Surprising Showdown over Where Our Solar System Ends
Voyager 1 entered interstellar space, and then—oops!—it didn't
Humanity Leaves the Solar System: 35 Years Later, Voyager Offically Exits the Heliosphere
It is a historic threshold: An object created by humans has exited our solar system. For years now, scientists have speculated as to when the Voyager I...
A Living Ocean on a Jovian Moon?
Jupiter's watery Europa may be the best bet for life elsewhere in the solar system
Comet Making Closest Approach Ever of Earth
The comet passed within 100 million miles of Earth, its closest approach in its first-ever cruise through the inner solar system.
Smallest Planet Yet Found Outside Solar System
Astronomers searching for planets outside our solar system have discovered the tiniest one yet — one that's about the size of our moon.
Cosmic Light Show: Auroras Around Distant Worlds
A phenomenon familiar on Earth may be common throughout the galaxy
Stellar Dust Ring Could Promise Big Things
A familiar formation around the nearby star Vega may herald a solar system much like ours.
Coming in 2013: The Comet of the Century?
If early observations are any indication, we could be in for a real sky-show next fall
Voyager 1 at the Threshold of Forever
A 35-year old spacecraft prepares to exit the solar system and enter interstellar space
Lost in Space: A Starless Planet Floats Alone
A strange, free-range world is found
Did a Distant Solar System Send Life to Earth?
Time was, the solar system was raining rocks. You only need to look at the cratered face of airless bodies like Mercury and the moon to get a sense of the cosmic...
The Great, Wet, Cosmic Rock
Asteroids always get left out of the party. Send a spacecraft to Jupiter or Saturn or one of the solar system’s other glamor spots and the press will be all over...
A Brand New Ocean -- on Saturn's Moon Titan
It really is a shame that Titan can't slip away from Saturn late one night. The ringed planet's most interesting moon would easily qualify as one of the solar...
Voyager I May Soon Become the First Spacecraft to Reach Interstellar Space
Attention, earthlings: Voyager is about to leave the building.
A Leisurely Cruise on the Good Ship Solar System
Never mind how steady the Earth seems beneath your feet, we're moving in more ways -- and at far greater speeds -- than we realize. In order to complete a...
A Close Look at a Jewel Box Asteroid
Quick multiple choice: What's a Vesta? a) A low-calorie soft drink. b) A 12th century Scottish garment. c) A truly awful sub-compact Chevy from the early 1970s...
The Mysterious Jets in Saturn's Weirdest Ring
If the solar system were a neighborhood, Saturn would be the house that never takes down its Christmas lights. The other seven planets may be beautiful in their...
How Planets Paint Rings Around Stars
For something formed by the iron hand of physics, the universe has a lovely aesthetic sense -- its galaxies spiral, its novas explode, its nebuale spread like...
