Explore Worlds
Find Life
Defend Earth
All
All
Sun
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Small BodiesStories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.
The best of 2023
The results are in for the Best of 2023! People around the world voted, and here are the winning space images, missions, exploration milestones, and more.
How old is the Earth?
The Earth is thought to be about 4.54 billion years old. Learn more about how it formed, and how we know when this all happened.
Lucy’s flyby of Dinkinesh: Everything you need to know
On Nov. 1, 2023, NASA’s Lucy spacecraft flew past Dinkinesh, a small asteroid in the main belt, and discovered a binary pair of moonlets in orbit around the asteroid.
Why aren't there more close-up images of Uranus and Neptune?
There aren't many close-up, high-resolution images of the ice giants Uranus and Neptune. The reason comes down to distance.
How do humans try to communicate with aliens?
SETI is the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, using various techniques to look for signals from advanced alien civilizations. METI (messaging extraterrestrial intelligence) is when we send out our own signals for aliens to find.
Why partial eclipses are worth seeing
Partial eclipses are the most common solar eclipse to see. Here's why that is, and why it's worth going out and (safely) looking up.
Warum Partielle Sonnenfinsternisse sehenswert sind
Partielle Sonnenfinsternisse sind die am häufigsten zu beobachtende Form der Sonnenfinsternis. Hier erfahren Sie, warum das so ist und warum es sich lohnt, hinauszugehen und (sicher) nach oben zu schauen.
Pourquoi les éclipses partielles méritent d’être observées
Les éclipses partielles sont les éclipses solaires les plus fréquentes. Voici pourquoi c’est le cas et pourquoi il vaut la peine de sortir et de lever les yeux au ciel (en toute sécurité).
Por qué contemplar eclipses parciales merece la pena
Los eclipses parciales son los eclipses solares más comunes. Aquí te explicamos por qué y por qué vale la pena salir a mirar al cielo (de forma segura).
What is an annular solar eclipse?
An overview of annular solar eclipses, how they work, what they're like to experience, and how to view one safely.
A guide to eclipse vocabulary
A list of useful words and terms relating to lunar and solar eclipses.
Are your solar eclipse glasses safe?
A guide to how to make sure your solar eclipse glasses are safe and certified, plus tips on what to do — and what not to do — if you want to experience an eclipse without glasses.
How to see newly discovered Comet Nishimura
Comet Nishimura was discovered in August 2023, and is passing close to Earth and the Sun in September. Learn more about it and how to find it.
Moonstruck
Exploring humanity’s long relationship with the Moon.
A lunar saga
How the origins of the Moon could shape the future of human space exploration.
What would happen if an asteroid hit the Moon?
If a large asteroid impacted the Moon, would it cause problems for us here on Earth?
Life on Venus: Your Questions Answered
Is there life on Venus? Was our planetary neighbor ever inhabited? Here are the answers to your most pressing questions about the possibility of alien life on Venus.
Why did we need OSIRIS-REx?
How OSIRIS-REx’s samples build upon our knowledge of asteroids and the early Solar System.
Are aliens real?
An exploration of whether aliens are out there, what kind of extraterrestrial life is most likely to exist, and how we're looking for it.
Why is Venus called Earth’s twin?
Although Venus and Earth have many differences, they're often called twins because of some key similarities. Looking back to the two planets' early history, the similarities run even deeper.