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Small BodiesStories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.
Why we need plutonium power for space missions
Spacecraft need power to reach the dark, dusty, distant locales of our solar system. Safe, non-weapons-grade plutonium-238 provides that power when solar energy can't cut it.
Jaw-Dropping Jupiter
10 years after launching, Juno is still showing us Jupiter’s stunning beauty.
We Love to Buggy
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo mission that introduced Moon buggies to the world, and catch up on this week’s space news.
The Icy Intrigue of Enceladus
Saturn’s icy moon invites further study, and The Planetary Society’s LightSail 2 spacecraft celebrates an anniversary.
Cyclones and Storms and Flares, Oh My!
Jupiter’s cyclones are beautiful, and the Sun’s storms and flares are a little bit scary.
Seeing Ourselves in Space
When we look at our planet, look for life, or direct a rover to look at itself, we see ourselves in new ways.
Unlikely Space Travelers
Squid, mice, and stuffed animals may seem like Earthlings, but this week they’re coming to you from space.
Spotting Rovers From Above and Asteroids From Afar
China’s Zhurong Mars rover snaps a selfie and gets a bird’s-eye-view pic from above, and asteroid hunters of all kinds look out for dangerous rocks.
"Just Nuke 'Em!" Planetary Defense in the Movies
What two famous 1998 asteroid movies got right and wrong.
Risky business: will the world rise to the challenge of asteroid defense?
This November, NASA will launch the world’s first mission to test a method of deflecting an asteroid.
Venusian Probes and UFOs
Venus is an intimidating destination for spacecraft, and we’re pretty sure Earth hasn’t yet been a destination for aliens.
Is it aliens? Three questions to evaluate UFO claims
It's important to consider explanations that don't involve large conspiracies or require our understanding of physics to be wrong.
Eclipses: It’s All About Perspective
Look at eclipses from the perspective of Earth, the Moon, and beyond. Plus catch up on the week’s space news.
Celebrating Canadian Investments in Lunar Science and Exploration
The Planetary Society congratulates the Government of Canada on a new series of investments in science and exploration at the Moon.
Solar Plasma and Europan Magma
From solar storms to underwater volcanoes and asteroid close calls, catch up on what’s scary and beautiful this week in space.
A Super Blood Moon Is Nicer Than It Sounds
Find out what a super blood Moon is, and celebrate a milestone in Mars exploration.
Seeking Small Worlds
A spacecraft leaves one asteroid as planetary defense experts turn to others.
Saving the World One Asteroid at a Time
Don’t leave it up to cosmic fate; take action right now to defend our planet from dangerous impacts.
This Is What Legally Happens If An Uncontrolled Rocket Damages Something
Space lawyers explain what happens if an object from something like debris from a rocket causes damage or harm.
Moon, Mars and a Meteor Shower
Remembering a space pioneer and seeing a rover from a whole new perspective.