Planetary Geology
86 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.
Why Venus Is Hotter Than Mercury, Even Though It's Farther from the Sun
Venus's surface is hotter than Mercury's, despite being farther from the Sun. The reason lies in Venus's thick, heat-trapping atmosphere-not its distance from our star.
Researchers suggest searching the Moon for alien technology fragments
A new study proposes that tiny fragments of ancient alien technology might be preserved in the Moon's surface. The authors outline how future lunar samples and advanced analysis could help search for these microscopic technosignatures.
Mercury's Surface Hides Evidence of Greater Planetary Shrinkage
A new study using NASA MESSENGER data finds Mercury may have shrunk by up to 30 percent more than earlier models indicated, with impact debris masking the true scale of planetary contraction
Landsat 8 Captures Anak Krakatau Eruption from Orbit
NASA and USGS's Landsat 8 satellite recorded Anak Krakatau's eruption as volcanic gas and ash reached the atmosphere, grounding flights and halting local activity while the volcano remains active
China Targets 2028 Launch for Mars Sample Return Mission
China's Tianwen 3 mission is advancing toward a 2028 launch window, with plans to return Martian surface samples to Earth by 2031 using a multi-stage spacecraft and strict planetary protection protocols
Genesis Sample Capsule Carash Exposed a Critical Spacecraft Design Flaw
NASA's Genesis mission was meant to return solar wind samples from deep space but ended with its capsule shattered in the Utah desert after a parachute system failure. The mission's outcome forced a reexamination of spacecraft safety and sample recovery methods
Simulations Reveal Moon May Have Formed in Hours After Giant Impact
New computer models suggest the Moon could have assembled rapidly from debris after a collision between early Earth and a Mars-sized body, with the timing and temperature of the impact playing a critical role
Crescent Moon to Occult Jupiter in Rare Daytime Event
A rare daytime occultation will see the Moon pass in front of Jupiter on September 8, with the best viewing opportunities for North America. Observers will need careful planning and optical aid to catch the event in daylight
NASA tests Slingshot spacecraft concept for mineral mapping beyond Earth
A NASA-funded study is evaluating whether a small spacecraft using Raman spectroscopy could remotely identify minerals on the Moon, asteroids, and Martian moons, potentially transforming how resources are surveyed before future missions
Venus Reveals Its Crescent Phase as It Approaches Inferior Conjunction
Venus is now visible as a striking crescent through small telescopes as it draws closer to Earth and prepares to pass between our planet and the Sun, offering a rare chance to observe its changing phases and orbital motion
Meteorite dust reveals magnetic forces shaped the infant solar system
Analysis of ancient meteorite grains has uncovered evidence that strong magnetic fields influenced the earliest stages of the solar system's formation, challenging the long-held view that gravity alone sculpted the protoplanetary disk
SMART-1's Controlled Lunar Crash Changed How Spacecraft Reach the Moon
Europe's SMART-1 probe ended its mission with a deliberate impact on the Moon, testing solar electric propulsion and gathering data on lunar geology. The mission's engineered crash provided new insight into impact processes and spacecraft design limits
BepiColombo Prepares for Dual Mercury Orbit as Separation Nears
After nearly eight years in transit, ESA and JAXA's BepiColombo mission is set to split into two orbiters at Mercury, aiming to resolve key questions about the planet's surface, magnetic field, and formation using coordinated observations.
Hubble Reveals Giant 10-Sided Cloud Structure at Saturn's South Pole
Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have identified a vast, ten-sided atmospheric pattern encircling Saturn's south pole, challenging assumptions about the planet's unique polar weather and raising new questions about giant planet meteorology
BepiColombo Prepares for Critical Mercury Arrival Maneuver
ESA and JAXA's BepiColombo spacecraft will soon separate its orbiters for Mercury capture, marking a pivotal phase in the mission's multi-year journey to study the planet's surface and magnetic environment
Pioneer 11's Saturn Flyby Tested the Limits of Deep Space Navigation
NASA's Pioneer 11 spacecraft became the first probe to traverse Saturn's rings in 1979, gathering data on the planet's moons, rings, and magnetic field while clearing the way for later missions to the outer solar system
Mars Interior Reveals Unexpected Southern Hemisphere Thermal Anomaly
Analysis of NASA spacecraft data suggests Mars's southern mantle is hundreds of degrees warmer than the north, challenging assumptions about the planet's internal symmetry and geological history
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
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