Planets

Space Scientists Gear Up For Rare Celestial Event

Posted 05.30.2012

By: Clara Moskowitz Published: 05/29/2012 02:03 PM EDT on SPACE.com Scientists are gearing up for the upcoming transit of Venus, an extremely ra...

Unseen Object Lurks At Solar System's Edge, Scientist Conjectures

Posted 05.25.2012

By: Natalie Wolchover Published: 05/22/2012 12:54 PM EDT on Lifes Little Mysteries A planet four times the size of Earth may be skirting the edges...

TONIGHT: Final Bow For Sky Show Featuring Venus, Moon

Posted 05.22.2012

By: Joe Rao Published: 05/21/2012 05:29 PM EDT on SPACE.com We all know how, after a great theatrical show has concluded the actors come out fo...

NEXT MONTH: Rare Celestial Event May Kickstart Search For Alien Planets

Posted 05.16.2012

By: Mike Wall Published: 05/16/2012 01:04 PM EDT on SPACE.com Observations of next month's historic Venus transit may eventually help astronomer...

WATCH: Zoom Over Amazing Asteroid During Surreal Sunrise

Posted 05.15.2012

Even though NASA’s Dawn spacecraft has been orbiting the asteroid Vesta since mid-2011, the rocky world still yields surprises--from its complex geo...

Rare Celestial Event Has Skywatchers Heading North

Posted 05.15.2012

By: Mike Wall Published: 05/15/2012 07:42 AM EDT on SPACE.com A NASA sun-watching spacecraft will have an unbeatable view of June's historic Ven...

Tiny Cosmic Blip Sparks Big Discovery By Astronomy 'Detectives'

Posted 05.11.2012

By: Clara Moskowitz Published: 05/10/2012 02:09 PM EDT on SPACE.com Detective astronomers have discovered at least one unseen alien planet, and po...

Ancient Rock Helps Unlock Secret Of Planet's Past

Posted 05.10.2012

By: SPACE.com Staff Published: 05/09/2012 06:45 PM EDT on SPACE.com A new look at an ancient volcanic blast on Mars suggests that the Red Planet...

Dying Stars Caught Feasting On Earth-LIke Planets

Posted 05.07.2012

By: SPACE.com Staff Published: 05/07/2012 06:26 AM EDT on SPACE.com Astronomers have caught four dying stars in the act of chowing down on rocky...

Life Could Lurk Beneath Planet's Rugged Rocks, Scientists Say

Posted 05.04.2012

By: Nola Taylor Redd Published: 05/03/2012 02:06 PM EDT on SPACE.com Beneath their rugged exterior, some Martian rocks could be hiding life, sci...

THIS WEEK: See Venus At Its Most Brilliant

Posted 04.27.2012

By: Geoff Gaherty Published: 04/27/2012 01:59 PM EDT on SPACE.com Step outside any night this week about an hour after sunset and have a look at...

Sun-Like Star May Break Astronomical Record

Posted 04.27.2012

By: Denise Chow Published: 04/26/2012 05:29 PM EDT on SPACE.com A star already known to host five alien planets may actually be home to a whopping...

Artist Interview: Jesse Bransford

Kari Adelaide | Posted 04.24.2012

Kari Adelaide

For the past eight years, Jesse Bransford has systematically engaged with ancient visual symbols and the cultural lore surrounding the seven classical planets. 2012-04-24-JesseBransfordpic.png

TONIGHT: Venus Meets Up With Crescent Moon

Posted 04.24.2012

By: Joe Rao Published: 04/23/2012 05:59 PM EDT on SPACE.com On Tuesday evening (April 24), skywatchers will be treated to yet another eye-catchi...

TONIGHT: Skywatchers' Last Chance To See Jupiter For Long Time

Posted 04.22.2012

By: Joe Rao Published: 04/20/2012 06:22 PM EDT on SPACE.com Jupiter will end its brilliant year-long show on Sunday evening (April 22) by making...

TONIGHT: Prime Time For Viewing Venus In Evening Sky

Posted 04.14.2012

By: Joe Rao Published: 04/13/2012 08:36 PM EDT on SPACE.com The planet Venus is now at its peak of visibility in the evening sky this weekend, mak...

LOOK: First Photo Of Auroras On Uranus

| Sid Perkins | Posted 04.14.2012

WASHINGTON – For the first time, scientists have captured images of auroras above the giant ice planet Uranus, finding further evidence of just how ...

THIS WEEKEND: Best Time To See Saturn

Posted 04.13.2012

By: Geoff Gaherty Published: 04/11/2012 05:04 PM EDT on SPACE.com When amateur astronomers reflect on the most memorable sights of their lifetim...

LOOK: Scientists Explain Weird 'Animal Face' On Mars

Posted 04.09.2012

It looks as if scientists have finally caught a glimpse of life on Mars—well, at least something that looks like life. NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Or...

How To See Mercury In Morning Sky This Month

Posted 04.05.2012

By: Geoff Gaherty Published: 04/04/2012 04:06 PM EDT on SPACE.com This month the evening skies are ablaze with planets: Venus, Mars, and Saturn ...

'Warp Speed' Planets Hit 30 Million Miles An Hour, Study Shows

Posted 03.24.2012

By: Denise Chow Published: 03/23/2012 03:55 PM EDT on SPACE.com Planets in tight orbits around stars that get ejected from our galaxy may actual...

TONIGHT: Venus, Jupiter 'Dance' In Dazzling Sky Display

Posted 03.12.2012

By: Mike Wall Published: 03/12/2012 09:39 AM EDT on SPACE.com Venus and Jupiter have been dancing toward each other in the night sky for months,...

Tonight's Mars 'Show' To Be Year's Best, Astronomers Say

Posted 03.03.2012

By: Mike Wall Published: 03/02/2012 09:52 AM EST on SPACE.com UPDATE: See our latest skywatching tips to see Mars at opposition here: Mars Visi...

TONIGHT: Four Planets And Moon To Make Spectacular Show

Posted 04.27.2012

By: Tariq Malik Published: 02/25/2012 12:28 PM EST on SPACE.com A cosmic team-up of planets and the thin crescent moon is dazzling skywatchers ...

Rare Planetary Alignment Comes Feb. 25

AP | MARCIA DUNN | Posted 04.24.2012

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AP) — Stargazers of the world are getting a treat this weekend. On Saturday and again Sunday, Venus, Jupiter...