Planetary Geology
55 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.
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
NASA's Juno Mission Transformed Jupiter Science After 2011 Launch
NASA's Juno spacecraft, launched in 2011 on an Atlas V rocket, reached Jupiter in 2016 and has since delivered unprecedented data and images, reshaping our understanding of the giant planet's atmosphere, magnetic field, and moons
Curiosity Rover Detects Extensive Polygon Patterns in Martian Valley
NASA's Curiosity rover has imaged a vast field of honeycomb-like polygonal fractures in Mars' Valle Grande, raising new questions about the planet's surface processes and past water activity
NASA Invites Public to Identify August 2026 Satellite Image
NASA Earth Observatory has released a new satellite image challenge for August 2026, inviting the public to analyze a puzzling landform and submit their interpretations based on visible clues and scientific reasoning
NASA Tracks Falcon 9 Rocket Stage Ahead of Planned Lunar Impact
NASA and SpaceX are monitoring a spent Falcon 9 upper stage expected to strike the Moon near Einstein and Bell craters, using ground and space-based telescopes to gather data and refine tracking methods
Spirit Rover Data Reveals Widespread Ancient Water Activity on Mars
A new analysis of NASA's Spirit rover data has identified crystalline hematite and altered magnetite in Martian soil, supporting the view that liquid water once shaped large regions of Mars
Neptune's Inner Moons May Preserve Debris From Ancient Ice Worlds
Infrared observations from the James Webb Space Telescope reveal unexpected clay minerals on two small Neptunian moons, supporting a debris-origin scenario while leaving the fate of their original ice unresolved
Europa Clipper May Miss Ocean Water Rising Through Europa's Ice
Computer simulations suggest turbulent water rising through Europa's ice would freeze its pathways shut, making shallow surface pools poor indicators of the moon's buried ocean
How a Falcon 9 Upper Stage Ended Up Bound for the Moon
A Falcon 9 upper stage abandoned in a high Earth orbit is expected to hit the Moon on August 5, 2026, after gravity and solar activity gradually altered its trajectory
Chicxulub Dust May Have Fueled Lethal Firestorms
A new model of the Chicxulub impact includes ultrafine silicate dust found at fossil sites, suggesting surface temperatures may have become lethal within hours before a prolonged impact winter began
Triple-Lobed Asteroid 44 Nysa Imaged With Orbiting Moon in Asteroid Belt
Astronomers have resolved asteroid 44 Nysa as the first known triple-lobed body in the main belt, using adaptive optics on major ground-based telescopes. The object also hosts a small moon, raising new questions about asteroid formation and evolution.
Galileo's 1610 Observation of Saturn's Rings Changed Planetary Science
In July 1610, Galileo Galilei used a newly invented telescope to observe Saturn, recording features that would later be identified as the planet's rings-a finding that reshaped our understanding of planetary systems
Satellite Images Reveal Penguin Diet Shifts on Antarctica's Danger Islands
NASA's Landsat 8 satellite and drone surveys have enabled researchers to monitor Adélie penguin colonies on the Danger Islands by analyzing the color of their guano, offering new insight into how changing sea ice may affect Antarctic food webs
SpaceX Rocket Stage to Impact Moon, Raising New Scientific Questions
A spent SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage is set to collide with the lunar surface on August 5, offering researchers a rare opportunity to observe the effects of artificial impacts on the Moon using telescopes and orbital instruments
July's Buck Moon Aligns with Venus, Saturn, Mars, and Mercury
The full Buck Moon rises on July 29, accompanied by a rare alignment of Venus, Saturn, Mars, and Mercury. Observers can witness this planetary parade with the naked eye or optical instruments as twilight fades
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