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Small BodiesStories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.
Faith, Doubt, and Contact
Contact remains a unique movie due to its representation of science. It remains a great film due to the treatment of doubt and faith as a universal aspect of human existence.
A Personal Message to Planetary Radio Listeners
Planetary Radio host Mat Kaplan has an announcement for listeners.
Love at first sights
JWST’s stunning first science images
The Space Advocate Newsletter, July 2022
JWST's success will outshine its past troubles.
See JWST's amazing first science images
These are some of the first science images from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), released on July 12, 2022.
See JWST’s first deep field image
Bill Nye's reflections on the first deep field image from NASA's JWST mission.
JWST versus Hubble: How are they different?
Unlike Hubble, JWST was primarily designed to see the universe in infrared light, revealing ancient galaxies, peering through nebulae, and uncovering exoplanet atmospheres.
Breaking new ground
Whether it’s a mission, a policy decision, or an individual person, sometimes all it takes is one thing to change the way we explore.
Why this Ceres mission could change the search for alien life
The enigmatic water-rich world in the inner Solar System could be set for a bold new NASA astrobiology mission.
Planetary accessorizing
Planets are beautiful and fascinating enough on their own, but there’s no denying that moons and rings add a little something special.
How do planets get moons?
Here are the distinct ways in which the moons of our Solar System formed.
China looks to outer Solar System with nuclear Neptune orbiter
The mission proposal calls for nuclear fission power. Breakthroughs would boost China’s overall exploration capabilities.
Defend your planet
With so many asteroids out there, it’s up to us to defend our planet from impacts. Find out how you can make a difference.
LightSail 2 getting lower as it completes third year in space
An update on The Planetary Society's LightSail 2 mission, which launched in 2015.
How do planets get rings?
The planets in our Solar System show that no two ring systems are exactly alike.
Updates from our Shoemaker NEO Grant winners
Brief updates on what the latest Shoemaker NEO grant winners have been working on.
Persevering through it all
Exploration will always face setbacks, but this week’s Downlink reminds us of the impressive human ability to persevere.
A joint-letter in support of NEO Surveyor
The National Space Society and The Planetary Society jointly argue for funding the asteroid-hunting NEO Surveyor mission.
Why can't the ISS operate forever?
Here are the reasons the International Space Station (ISS) needs to deorbit eventually.
First steps and big leaps
Technological innovation is a big part of the fun of space exploration, and you can help make it happen.