Planetary Geology
69 reportsTectonic features and planetary volcanism form a case with different strengths and limits. Reports examine how planetary surfaces are dated and which minerals are detected remotely, showing how sparse measurements or incomplete records limit certainty.
Pluto's Planet Status Revisited as Astronomers Debate IAU Definition
Two decades after Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet, new observations and ongoing debate among planetary scientists are challenging the criteria that define what counts as a planet in our solar system
NASA Backs 18 Advanced Concepts for Future Space Missions
NASA has awarded funding to 18 early-stage technology proposals, supporting research into new mission concepts including lunar cave exploration, exoplanet imaging, and distributed probes for Saturn's rings
China Delays Chang'e 7 Moon South Pole Launch Amid Severe Weather
China's Chang'e 7 lunar mission, designed to search for water ice near the Moon's south pole, has been postponed due to a tropical depression threatening the Hainan launch site. The new launch window remains uncertain
Japan Prepares MMX Spacecraft for Mars Moon Sample Return Launch
Japan has revealed its MMX spacecraft, scheduled to launch on October 19, aiming to collect and return samples from Mars' moon Phobos. The mission will test new sample-return technology and address key questions about the origins of Mars' moons.
Study Finds Some Terrestrial Microbes Could Survive on the Moon
A new analysis suggests certain bacteria and fungi from Earth may persist in cryptobiotic states on the lunar surface, especially in shadowed polar regions, raising questions for future crewed missions and planetary protection
China Prepares Chang'e 7 for Complex Lunar South Pole Mission
China's Chang'e 7 spacecraft, launching in August 2026, will deploy an orbiter, lander, rover, and hopper to investigate the Moon's south pole, targeting water ice and testing new navigation and international science payloads
Mars Express Reveals Detailed 3D View of Schiaparelli Crater
ESA's Mars Express orbiter has produced a new high-resolution 3D visualization of Schiaparelli Crater and the Southern Highlands, offering fresh insight into ancient Martian water activity and surface evolution
Voyager 2's Launch Opened the Outer Solar System to Exploration
NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft began its journey to the outer planets on August 20, 1977, using a rare planetary alignment to visit Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune and extend humanity's reach into interstellar space
Richat Structure's Concentric Rings Imaged from the International Space Station
A new photograph from the International Space Station captures the Richat Structure, a 40-kilometer-wide geologic formation in Mauritania, revealing its striking concentric rings as seen from orbit
NASA Study Finds Human Microbes Could Survive in Moon's South Pole Shadows
A NASA-led study simulates lunar south polar conditions and finds that some common Earth microbes, including bacteria and fungi, could persist in shadowed lunar regions, raising new questions for planetary protection as human exploration expands
Total Solar Eclipse Observed Over Greenland's Remote Fjords
A rare total solar eclipse was observed from the deck of a research vessel in East Greenland, offering scientists and eclipse chasers a unique view of totality above icebergs and glaciers under clear Arctic skies
NASA Johnson Photographers Document Human Spaceflight Milestones
NASA's Johnson Space Center photography team has recorded decades of astronaut training, mission operations, and engineering tests, providing a visual record of human spaceflight and the people behind major missions using a range of imaging techniques
NASA SCoPE Trains Planetary Science Interns in Public Engagement
NASA SCoPE collaborated with Arizona State University's FORCE Summer School to provide undergraduate interns with hands-on training in science communication and public outreach, focusing on planetary research under extreme conditions
Curiosity Marks 14 Years on Mars with New Rock Layer Analysis
NASA's Curiosity rover has reached its 14th anniversary on Mars, continuing its ascent of Mount Sharp with detailed rock and environmental measurements using its suite of scientific instruments
NASA Backs Spherical Aerobots to Probe Titan's Subsurface Caves
A NASA-funded study is developing small, spherical flying robots designed to explore the hydrocarbon caves and sinkholes of Saturn's moon Titan, using solid-state ion propulsion to overcome terrain that would defeat conventional rovers
Asteroid Samples Reveal DNA and Protein Building Blocks in Space
Laboratory analysis of asteroid material returned to Earth has identified all five nucleobases of DNA and RNA, as well as multiple amino acids, suggesting the chemical ingredients for life are common in the solar system and beyond
China Unveils Detailed Lunar Map and New Geologic Timeline
Chinese researchers have released a new 1:5 million scale map of the Moon, updating lunar geologic eras and far side data using recent sample-return missions and reprocessed spectral analysis
NASA Invites India to Join Moon South Pole Base Collaboration
NASA has formally invited India to participate in developing a permanent lunar base near the Moon's south pole, marking a significant step in US-India deep-space cooperation and expanding the Artemis program's international partnerships
Meteorite Fragments Rain Down Over Mbale, Uganda in 1992 Event
On August 14, 1992, a large meteoroid entered Earth's atmosphere above Mbale, Uganda, breaking apart and scattering hundreds of meteorite fragments across the region. Scientists later analyzed the debris to study its composition and impact effects
SpaceX Rocket Impact on Moon Raises Safety Questions for Lunar Missions
A SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage collided with the lunar surface near Einstein Crater, prompting new scrutiny of debris risks as lunar exploration and infrastructure expand
Ancient Martian Meteorite Teghaza 001 Sheds Light on Mars' Early Crust
Laboratory analysis of the Teghaza 001 meteorite, recovered in Mali, reveals evidence of ancient Martian crust formation and early atmospheric loss, offering new constraints on Mars' geological evolution
Ancient Mars Meteorite Reveals Unexplored Era in Red Planet's History
A 1.27-billion-year-old Martian meteorite found in Algeria is providing rare insight into a previously undocumented period of Mars' geological evolution, according to new laboratory analysis
NASA Prepares LEMS Seismic Station for Artemis Lunar Surface Deployment
NASA engineers have completed the Lunar Environment Monitoring Station (LEMS), a compact seismic instrument suite designed for long-term deployment by Artemis astronauts near the Moon's south pole, aiming to monitor moonquakes and meteorite impacts.
1972 Daylight Fireball Skimmed Earth's Atmosphere Over North America
On August 10, 1972, a large meteoroid entered Earth's atmosphere over Utah and exited over Alberta, Canada, producing a rare daylight fireball visible across North America and offering a unique opportunity to study atmospheric entry dynamics
Pluto's Atmosphere Shows Signs of Collapse as It Moves Away from the Sun
Astronomers tracking Pluto's atmosphere with stellar occultation techniques report a measurable drop in atmospheric pressure, suggesting the dwarf planet's nitrogen-rich envelope is beginning to freeze out as Pluto recedes from the Sun
Luna 24's 1976 Moon Sample Return Marked End of Soviet Lunar Missions
On August 9, 1976, the Soviet Luna 24 probe launched from Baikonur, aiming to collect and return lunar soil. The mission's samples revealed traces of water and closed a chapter in robotic Moon exploration.
NASA's SkyFall Mars Helicopters to Map Subsurface Ice with Flexible Radar
NASA's upcoming SkyFall mission will deploy three mini helicopters to Mars, each equipped with lightweight, flexible radar antennas designed to detect shallow subsurface ice deposits inaccessible to orbiting spacecraft
NASA Extends Voyager 2 Science With Power-Saving Maneuver
NASA engineers have implemented a new power management strategy on Voyager 2, allowing the spacecraft to continue collecting scientific data for at least another year as its nuclear power source declines
Perseverance Rover Captures Earth Passing Behind Mars' Moon Phobos
NASA's Perseverance rover has recorded a rare occultation event, imaging Earth as it briefly disappeared behind Mars' innermost moon Phobos using its Mastcam-Z camera system
NASA Faces Challenge of Toxic Dust for Future Mars Astronauts
NASA's Martian Dust Limit Working Group has reviewed the health risks posed by Mars dust, which contains carcinogenic silica and heavy metals, and is developing exposure standards and mitigation strategies for future crewed missions
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