Planetary Science

  1. Planetary Science

    Nitrogen fizz fuels ‘magic island’ on Titan, simulation suggests

    Nitrogen bubbles may be the source of the “magic island” on Saturn’s moon Titan.

    By Ashley Yeager
  2. Planetary Science

    Food for microbes found on Enceladus

    The underground ocean of Saturn’s moon Enceladus harbors an abundance of molecular hydrogen, which could be an important source of food if microbial life exists there.

    By Ashley Yeager
  3. Planetary Science

    Jupiter’s Great Red Spot has company. Meet the Great Cold Spot

    A previously unidentified dark mark on Jupiter has been dubbed the “Great Cold Spot” because of its temperature and resemblance to the planet’s Great Red Spot.

    By Ashley Yeager
  4. Planetary Science

    Competing ideas abound for how Earth got its moon

    The moon may have formed from one giant impact or from about 20 small ones.

    By Thomas Sumner
  5. Planetary Science

    Extreme gas loss dried out Mars, MAVEN data suggest

    Over the planet’s history, the Martian atmosphere has lost 66 percent of its argon and a majority of its carbon dioxide, according to data from NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft.

    By Ashley Yeager
  6. Planetary Science

    It’s time to redefine what qualifies as a planet, scientists propose

    Astronomers can have their definition of a planet, but some planetary scientists plan to stick to the long-held meaning of the word.

    By Ashley Yeager
  7. Planetary Science

    How Pluto’s haze could explain its red spots

    Pluto’s collapsing atmosphere may explain the dwarf planet’s seemingly random ruddy spots.

    By Ashley Yeager
  8. Astronomy

    Close pass by sun didn’t radically alter comet 67P’s landscape

    Landslides on comet 67P shot plumes of dust into space, but changes like these might not radically alter the landscape of the comet.

    By Ashley Yeager
  9. Planetary Science

    Saturn’s ‘Death Star’ moon may not conceal ocean after all

    A lack of cracks on Mimas suggests that the icy moon of Saturn doesn’t conceal a subsurface ocean of liquid water.

    By Thomas Sumner
  10. Planetary Science

    Saturn’s ‘Death Star’ moon may not conceal an ocean after all

    A lack of cracks on Mimas suggests that the icy moon of Saturn doesn’t conceal a subsurface ocean of liquid water.

    By Thomas Sumner
  11. Planetary Science

    Europa lander mission takes another step toward reality

    NASA is working on a possible lander mission in which the main science goal would be to search for signs of life on Jupiter’s moon Europa.

    By Ashley Yeager
  12. Planetary Science

    Juno spacecraft won’t go into shorter orbit around Jupiter

    Juno will remain in its 53-day orbit around Jupiter due to an issue with two helium check valves, NASA reports.

    By Ashley Yeager