solar system

This mosaic image of asteroid Bennu is composed of 12 images collected on Dec. 2, 2018 by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft from a range of 15 miles.

Science

If This NASA Spacecraft Can Avoid 'Mount Doom,' It Might Nab A Bit of Asteroid

6:20pm October 19, 2020

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

NASA is getting ready to collect its first sample from an asteroid ever. The rocks and dust could help us understand potentially dangerous space rocks and the history of the solar system.

The vernal equinox falls on March 19 nationwide this year. It's the earliest start to spring since 1896. This photo shows the Earth shortly before the moment of the equinox on March 20, 2019.

Science

Spring Starts Today All Over America, Which Is Weird

7:17pm March 19, 2020

by Rebecca Hersher

Spring begins at 11:50 p.m. ET on March 19 this year. It is the earliest nationwide vernal equinox since 1896. Why, you ask? Get ready for orbital mechanics and a lot of information about calendars.

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An artist's rendition of the gigantic ring system circling J1407b.

Science

Spin To Survive: How 'Saturn On Steroids' Keeps From Self-Destructing

6:38pm October 14, 2016

by Rebecca Hersher

A distant planet has rings so large it makes Saturn look like a child's toy. But, until now, scientists have been baffled about how the enormous rings keep from self-destructing. The answer: spin.

Rosetta's mission control specialists at the European Space Operations Center in Darmstadt, Germany, were jubilant on Jan. 20, 2014, after getting back the first signals that their mission's probe had "woken up" on the comet's surface.

Scientists To Bid A Bittersweet Farewell To Rosetta, The Comet Chaser

10:24pm September 29, 2016

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

To cap its 12-year scientific voyage, the Rosetta spacecraft will take a final plunge Friday. Scientists will signal Rosetta to crash into the surface of a comet — and gather data all the way down.

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An artist's depiction of the surface of the planet Proxima b as it orbits the red dwarf star Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our solar system. The planet is a bit more massive than Earth, scientists say, and circles its star once every 11 days.

This Planet Just Outside Our Solar System Is 'Potentially Habitable'

4:31pm August 24, 2016

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

It's not exactly close — 25 trillion miles from Earth, say the scientists who spotted it. But that might be near enough for further exploration. It's about Earth's size, with mild temperatures.

The Japanese Subaru Telescope on Mauna Kea in Hawaii has the right attributes for searching for Planet Nine.

Astronomers Are On A Celestial Treasure Hunt. The Prize? Planet Nine

9:14am August 13, 2016

by Joe Palca

Earlier this year, a pair of scientists predicted the existence of a ninth planet based on computer modeling of the solar system. This fall, the race is on to be the first to spot it in a telescope.

This illustration show's NASA's Juno mission approaching Jupiter. Juno used distant stars to chart its course across the void.

'Star Trackers' Help Juno Find Its Way

8:05am July 03, 2016

by Joe Palca

Space navigation is tricky. There's no up or down, no left or right, and no road signs. This device uses stars to help determine if a spacecraft is off course. It takes nifty pictures, too.

Juno Space Probe Is Set To Enter Jupiter's Orbit On Monday

7:00am July 03, 2016

by Joe Palca

The craft is designed to glean data from Jupiter that could also help us learn how Earth formed. But first, Juno has to get into orbit — determined by a crucial half-hour of firing by its main engine.

The imagined view from "planet nine" back toward the sun. Astronomers think the huge, distant planet is likely gaseous, similar to Uranus and Neptune.

Scientists Find Hints Of A Giant, Hidden Planet In Our Solar System

7:03pm January 20, 2016

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

Something very big, out beyond Neptune, is warping the orbits of small, icy objects circling our sun. Astronomers haven't seen it yet, but say the culprit could be a planet with 10 times Earth's mass.

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Hey! Let's Name That New 'Planet'

3:54pm January 20, 2016

by Eyder Peralta

Planet Nine, as scientists are calling it, deserves a better name if it becomes reality. Should it be Plutoo? Or Plutwo? Yeah, we know you can do better, so come brainstorm with us.