The Solar System
In the Solar System Channel, you can explore the planets and celestial objects around our own sun. Learn about topics such as Mars, Jupiter and the Moon.
Constellation Pictures
How to Find Orion's Belt in the Night Sky
Radio Telescope Image Gallery
How do I build a telescope at home?
Shooting the Stars as an Astrophotographer
The Largest Star in the Universe Is 1,700x Bigger Than Our Sun
Twinkle, Twinkle: The Ultimate Stars Quiz
White Dwarfs Can Shred Planets to Pieces
Learn More / Page 5
It's the first interstellar rock we've ever found!
It wasn't quite as loud as you might imagine.
The term "blue moon" dates back to at least the 16th century. Since then, it's had several different definitions, many of which are contradictory. So what's a blue moon today?
By Mark Mancini
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A billion years ago, the moon stopped being geologically active. But that's not to say that the moon is doing nothing for Earth. Let's find out why we owe our moon some thank yous.
What if your job were to protect life in the galaxy at all costs? That's exactly what the folks manning NASA's Planetary Protection office do, and bunny suits are just the beginning.
One tragic, moonless night in April 1912, the Titanic slid into the depths of the North Atlantic Ocean -- for good. A crew of Texas State academics suggested that Earth's favorite satellite may have some explaining to do.
Some scientists think the existence of plate tectonics could be a prerequisite for life. So do they exist on other planets outside of Earth?
By Mark Mancini
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Once upon a time, the sun caught an interstellar orphan and adopted it as its own. It's named 2015 BZ 509.
To define the location of objects in the sky, astronomers utilize a system of celestial coordinates, which extends latitude and longitude from Earth's surface into space.
Yep, 'Oumuamua was probably kicked out of its own star system by an overbearing gas giant like Jupiter.
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No worries though. Jupiter, Neptune or Uranus could create their own beautiful, bright ring display in the distant future.
Rovers are getting some practice hunting for microbes here on Earth before they head to Mars in 2020.
Every April, the Lyrid meteor shower fills the sky with shooting stars. Here's how to see them in 2023.
By Mark Mancini
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The wait is over. NASA confirms Mars is seismically active.
The idea of planet Nibiru has captivated doomsday prophets and conspiracy theorists for decades, but nobody has proven its existence. What's the deal?
By Mark Mancini
Scientists are continually discovering more moons orbiting the outer planets, particularly Saturn and Jupiter. Just how many moons does Jupiter have?
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It's a celestial gift in the middle of August. Just look up for a spectacular sight.
The European Space Agency's Gaia satellite observatory has created a 3-D model of the Milky Way — and beyond! — that charts more than a billion stars.
Say hello to the newly discovered TRAPPIST-1 system, which is just 39 light-years away and filled with seven Earth-like planets.
The rings of Saturn, Uranus and Neptune may be remnants of smaller planets destroyed long ago by the gas giants' powerful gravity.
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And solving that issue could go a long way toward making our planetary neighbor habitable.
Jupiter has been notoriously bad about revealing any water deep in its thick atmosphere. That's changing though.