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Small BodiesStories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.
The secrets of Jupiter’s tiny new moons
Jupiter's 92 confirmed moons can teach us how the giant planets formed, and what conditions were like in the early Solar System.
By Jove! (Literally)
Jupiter’s moons have always been exciting to explore, and a new era of Jovian moon research is about to begin.
Proximity and distance
Looking at planets and moons from near and far, and figuring out how to get all the way out there.
The Next 10 Years
Six scientists share the major planetary science discoveries of the past decade, and the questions that will drive the next 10 years of solar system exploration.
New Concepts to Explore the Jovian System
Last year, NASA’s managers invited the European Space Agency to propose a small spacecraft to explore the Jovian system. Van Kane describes the recently-posted results of ESA's concept studies for two possible missions.
JUICE at Europa
Europe's JUICE spacecraft will provide us with a detailed regional study of this icy moon of Jupiter.
Europa: How Less Can Be More
Van Kane explains three factors that make exploring Europa hard—factors that can make a mission concept that seems like less actually be more.
Europa New Frontiers Mission? (Or why I like the Europa Clipper concept even more now)
Europa remains a top priority for a future mission to explore whether it could host life. While the Europa Clipper mission, remains the current front runner, a senior NASA manager has suggested that the agency may look at still lower cost options. Van Kane looks at what those options might be.
The Plumes of Europa
2013 has been a rather exciting year for Europa scientists. Today's exciting news: the Hubble Space Telescope discovery of water vapor plumes from the south pole of this icy moon.
Instruments for the JUICE Jovian Mission
The European Space Agency (ESA) announced the list of instruments selected for its JUICE mission to explore the Jovian system for three years starting in the 2030 following a 2022 launch.