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Small BodiesStories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.
Never let a rock sneak up on you
Finding asteroids before they hit Earth not only protects us from harm, it can also yield beautiful photos.
Red hot space
This week’s roundup of space news and exploration inspiration will leave you seeing red (in the best way possible).
What was the Chelyabinsk meteor event?
When an asteroid exploded in the atmosphere above Chelyabinsk, Russia on Feb. 15, 2013, it made history and underscored the importance of planetary defense.
A year in review and a reddish hue
Get ready for a total lunar eclipse and pick your favorites from this year in space.
Creepy Cosmos! Scary space! Petrifying planets!
An especially spooky Halloween edition of The Downlink.
New wonders to behold
New stars are being born, new missions are being conceived, and new discoveries are being made all the time.
NASA says DART's asteroid impact was a huge success
On Tuesday, Oct. 11, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced that early observations indicate NASA's DART mission successfully moved asteroid moonlet Dimorphos.
See DART’s final images before it smashed into an asteroid
NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft intentionally crashed into Dimorphos, the moon of an asteroid named Didymos.
Your impact: September equinox 2022
We’re pleased to report a very active summer back to you.
Comets: big, beautiful, and surprisingly smelly
Get ready for one of the year’s best meteor showers, caused by one of the many intriguing comets of our Solar System.
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.
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.
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.
First steps and big leaps
Technological innovation is a big part of the fun of space exploration, and you can help make it happen.
The Space Advocate Newsletter, June 2022
NASA's proposal to slash funding for NEO Surveyor highlights the lessons unlearned after COVID.
A hazy shade of winter
A Martian explorer hunkers down for winter and a planet’s haze is explained.
China is getting serious about planetary defense
Here is what we know about the capabilities and technologies China is considering developing in the near future for near-Earth object monitoring, cataloging, early warning and response.
A little too close for comfort
From gas orbiting a supermassive black hole to asteroids orbiting near the Earth, sometimes the vastness of space can feel a bit tight.