As the Sun nears solar maximum, the odds of potentially dangerous solar storms go up. What could one do to Earth?
https://www.planetary.org/articles/should-you-be-worried-about-solar-storms
Federal spending caps and inflation take a bite out of NASA's ambitions.
https://www.planetary.org/articles/nasas-fy-2025-budget-request-is-not-enough
The Moon is shrinking in both actual volume and its apparent size from Earth’s perspective. We explain how scientists know this, why it happens, and how it might affect Earth.
Jupiter has much more going on beneath its outer clouds, and NASA invites players to unravel a fictional mystery.
https://www.planetary.org/the-downlink/hidden-depths-and-a-cosmic-mystery
China's Queqiao-2 spacecraft will relay communications to Earth to support lunar far side and south pole missions, including missions led by international partners.
https://www.planetary.org/space-missions/queqiao-2-chinas-bridge-for-lunar-exploration
Funding for the Near-Earth Object Surveyor, support for VERITAS, and a second lease on life for Mars Sample Return were all included in the final congressional budget for NASA in 2024.
https://www.planetary.org/articles/planetary-society-advocacy-priorities-in-nasas-fy2024-budget
There are hundreds of eclipse events being held all across North America. Here's how to find one near you.
https://www.planetary.org/articles/how-to-find-eclipse-events-in-your-area
A moon transiting the Sun is awesome, but still doesn’t quite compare to a total solar eclipse. Learn why, find out about Europa Clipper’s message in a bottle, and more.
https://www.planetary.org/the-downlink/transits-are-cool-but
Twenty years ago, a Planetary Society program sent students to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to work on the Mars Exploration Rovers program.
https://www.planetary.org/articles/red-rover-goes-to-mars-20-years-later
The White House proposed $25.4 billion for NASA in 2025, a modest increase from the previous year, and far less than originally planned.
How scientists use total solar eclipses as opportunities to do solar science.
Announcing the first C. Wallace Hooser award for visionary philanthropy
https://www.planetary.org/articles/your-impact-march-equinox-2024
Why eclipses on Earth are unlike anything else in the Solar System.
https://www.planetary.org/articles/an-exquisite-cosmic-coincidence
The Curiosity rover is climbing a mountain to gain knowledge. Bringing back Mars samples will gain us even more.
https://www.planetary.org/the-downlink/science-to-satisfy-curiosity
The project has the potential to transform our understanding of the Solar System and provide evidence of life beyond Earth.
https://www.planetary.org/articles/the-science-value-of-mars-sample-return
The Odysseus spacecraft marks the return of U.S. landers to the Moon. JAXA wants you to help name an asteroid. And we’re speaking up for your place in space.
https://www.planetary.org/the-downlink/lunar-success-stories
It was a busy month at the International Space Station.
Ridges on Mars and Europa hint at past and present water. Distant dwarf planets are unexpectedly warm. And we’re working hard to help find life.
https://www.planetary.org/the-downlink/a-ridge-over-hidden-water
Though promising conceptually, Starship presents more questions than answers for NASA's Mars Sample Return needs.
https://www.planetary.org/articles/can-spacexs-starship-save-nasas-mars-sample-return
The NASA probe is on a mission to the potentially dangerous asteroid Apophis
Hosting a solar eclipse-watching party is a fantastic way to share one of nature’s most awe-inspiring events with your friends and family. Here’s a guide to hosting a safe and memorable eclip...
https://www.planetary.org/articles/how-to-host-an-eclipse-party
Some things, like solar cycles, are hard to predict. Others, like Zoozve taking the world by storm, are even more unpredictable.
A brief summary of The Planetary Society's policy principles and recommendations for Mars Sample Return.
https://www.planetary.org/articles/the-path-forward-for-mars-sample-return
In anticipation of the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, The Planetary Society has partnered with the National Park Service to launch a new Eclipse Explorer Junior Ranger booklet.
https://www.planetary.org/articles/become-an-eclipse-explorer
Gurbir Singh joined us on Planetary Radio: Space Policy Edition to discuss the history and motivations behind India’s space program.
https://www.planetary.org/articles/history-motivations-indias-space-program
The story behind the newly-named quasi-satellite of Venus.
From Earth's neighboring planets to distant moons, these are the best places to look for alien life.
https://www.planetary.org/articles/the-best-places-to-search-for-life-in-our-solar-system
A cool moon, a mysterious planet, and a potentially hazardous asteroid feature in this week’s space news roundup.
A battle over the future of Mars Sample Return is taking a toll on NASA’s workforce.
Meet the lesser-known moons of our Solar System's gas giants.
https://www.planetary.org/articles/the-coolest-moons-of-jupiter-and-saturn-youve-never-heard-of
A rover collects samples, future Mars Sample Return missions will retrieve them, and perhaps a robotic dog will play fetch somewhere along the way.
A total solar eclipse and the launch of Europa Clipper are on our list of cosmic events to get excited about this year.
https://www.planetary.org/articles/what-to-look-forward-to-in-space-in-2024
An edited transcript of an interview with Orlando Figueroa, chair of the independent review team that evaluated NASA's Mars Sample Return program.
https://www.planetary.org/articles/what-went-wrong-with-mars-sample-return
Do it now. Do the science proposed by the community. Do it together. But do it with balance.
https://www.planetary.org/advocacy/principles-for-mars-sample-return
Distant, icy Uranus has puzzled scientists for decades. From its sideways spin to its mysterious magnetic field, the oddball world has many secrets waiting to be revealed.
https://www.planetary.org/articles/uranus-biggest-unsolved-mysteries
We might not know what color the planets really are, but we know a whole lot of other fascinating things about them.
https://www.planetary.org/the-downlink/colorful-faults-and-false-colors
A handy guide to help tease apart the differences between asteroids, comets, meteors, meteorites, and meteoroids. e
https://www.planetary.org/articles/asteroids-vs-comets-vs-meteorites-meteoroids-meteors
Sometimes the Solar System offers up a planetary pair for our viewing enjoyment. Japan has a pair of missions in the news. And the Sun and Moon will pair up to create an eclipse in just 12 weeks.
Cameras on our space probes act as proxies for our own eyes, but what they see isn't necessarily what our eyes would see.
https://www.planetary.org/articles/why-the-true-colors-of-the-planets-arent-what-you-think
An explainer on planetary conjunctions, and what it means when a planet is at conjunction or at opposition.
https://www.planetary.org/articles/what-is-a-planetary-conjunction
Announcing the first in a new series of kids books from The Planetary Society and Lerner Publishing Group.
https://www.planetary.org/articles/casting-shadows-announcement
Getting to the Moon — or any moon — isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. That’s why we speak up in support of the hard work that it’ll take to get there.
Here's a simple and safe way to observe solar eclipses that's appropriate for young children, with no eclipse glasses or other special equipment needed.
https://www.planetary.org/articles/sharing-an-eclipse-with-kids
An overview of the online courses available to Planetary Society members.
See our neighboring planet in radar and in artwork, and catch up on the week’s space news.
Information for registered participants of The Planetary Society's 2024 Day of Action.
https://www.planetary.org/advocacy/day-of-action-2024-participant-information
There’s lots to celebrate this week, from the New Year to perihelion and everything we’ve accomplished together during the last orbit.
Although Venus is shrouded in a thick atmosphere, several spacecraft have been able to image its surface from space. Future missions will expand and refine the maps we already have.
https://www.planetary.org/articles/how-do-we-see-the-surface-of-venus-from-space
An introduction to Jupiter's moons Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.
https://www.planetary.org/articles/what-are-jupiters-galilean-moons