Planetary Science

Spurred by competition from China and Russia, the Trump administration is pushing for nuclear power on the moon by 2030

Astronomers think small space rocks from beyond our solar system routinely strike Earth—but proving it isn’t easy

It’s certainly possible to consume water sourced from the icy rings of Saturn, but doing so safely may require extra steps

Scientists are racing to learn as much as possible about the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS before it fades from view forever

Observations of a baby star may show the earliest stages of planet formation that astronomers have ever seen

When large masses of water are moved from one place to another, this changes the shape of Earth and leads to a phenomenon called true polar wander

A new global overview of Mars suggests dust, rather than water, is the source of mysterious streaks there

Launching in 2028, China’s Tianwen-3 Mars sample return mission could bring Red Planet rocks back to Earth as early as 2031—years ahead of competing U.S.-European efforts

To achieve its ambitious plans for missions to the moon and beyond, Russia needs other spacefaring nations as partners. But the war in Ukraine is making that help increasingly hard to find

Close stellar encounters could change the structure of our planetary system, potentially dooming Earth or other worlds to oblivion

Recent observations have revealed carbon monoxide venting from the largest comet ever seen, providing clues about its origins in the mysterious depths of the outer solar system

Scientists are rallying to reverse ruinous proposed cuts to both NASA and the National Science Foundation