Within the orbit of Jupiter’s innermost large moon, Io, are four smaller moons: Metis, Adrastea, Amalthea, and Thebe. They are known as the Inner Group, or the Amalthea group after their largest member, which measures 270 kilometers (168 miles) at its …
The Hera mission is also slated to launch in October 2024. The spacecraft will visit asteroid Didymos and its small moon Dimorphos, which the DART spacecraft intentionally impacted in 2022. Hera will investigate DART’s aftermath, helping us understand …
Samples are waiting for us on Mars. Here’s how to get them back. NASA’s Mars Sample Return program is a top scientific priority, but findings from an independent review board show that the project’s current schedule and budget are untenable. The Planetary …
Orlando Figueroa: In my opinion, there is no reason why they couldn't do both. There is a human exploration side of the House and the science side of the House, and they both have a special role in what they contribute to NASA and the nation. It's …
The Planetary Society believes in the scientific exploration of space, in an open and welcoming curiosity in its practice, and that we as a species are bettered by the effort to know the Cosmos and our place within it. The Society’s core pillars of …
Internal structure Uranus does not have a solid surface. Beneath the planet’s atmosphere lies a slushy mix of water, methane, and ammonia. A rocky core probably lies at the planet’s center. What happens within the planet’s icy layers is a mystery, said …
What is a NEO? A NEO (near-Earth object) is an asteroid or comet that comes within 50 million kilometers (30 million miles) of Earth’s orbit, representing a possible danger to our planet. Using the cut-off for asteroid diameter of 1 meter, there are …
Mars is called the red planet, but its actual color may not be so simple. Much of what we know about the colors of worlds beyond Earth comes from spacecraft data, but those don’t map perfectly to what our eyes see. While the true colors of the planets may …
Our eyes are remarkable organs. Millions of receptors called rods and cones line our retinas, converting light into signals that our brains use to see the world around us. The colors we perceive vary among individual humans, including people who have color …
A total solar eclipse is 12 weeks away! Another kind of occultation is happening this year, when the Moon occults the Sun creating a solar eclipse. On April 8, 2024, an estimated 635 million people will be able to watch the Moon cover at least part of the …
What is a planetary occultation? An occultation is the ultimate planetary line-up. A planetary occultation happens when a larger planetary body passes in front of a smaller one, blocking the view of the smaller one from Earth. The most common kind of …
“Bill Nye’s opening note is only the first incredible detail that will captivate the attention and imagination of young readers. . . Perfect for intermediate science lessons and a useful update for existing library collections; the large format images make …
Learn how to be a top-performing space advocate This course, taught by The Planetary Society’s Chief of Space Policy, Casey Dreier, will help you become a top-performing space advocate. Through videos, written content, quizzes, and assignments, you will …
On a day before eclipse day, go outdoors to locate a good viewing spot, at the same time of day that the eclipse will be happening. Look for your shadow — if you can see the shadow of your head and shoulders clearly, whether it's on the ground or on a …
Australia is celebrating space with a new coin. The Royal Australian Mint’s first minted coins for 2024 celebrate Australia's involvement in space. The Australian Space Agency, which officially formed in 2018, worked closely with the Mint to design the …
Space exploration is hard. That’s why we always have to keep pushing to make it happen. You can make a big difference in ensuring that space exploration missions move forward by joining The Planetary Society’s annual Day of Action, which will take place on …
Thank you for signing up for the Day of Action! This page provides information and materials so participants can prepare for their trip and for their meetings. It will be updated as more details become available. Important dates: February 29th: End of …
The maps that Magellan generated are still the most detailed in existence — although other missions such as Venus Express and Akatsuki have studied Venus’ atmosphere and measured some surface characteristics like temperature, no other mission has conducted …
It’s been a big year here at The Planetary Society. To recap the highlights, listen to this week’s Planetary Radio for interviews with several members of our team as we revisit some of 2023's groundbreaking discoveries, Society achievements, and …
Like Io, Europa orbits close to Jupiter and has sizable moons orbiting beyond it. The resulting gravitational effects also melt Europa’s subsurface layer, but because this moon is composed mostly of water ice, its melted layer is a huge ocean of liquid …
