Atmosphere
Maybe Volcanoes Could Explain the Phosphine in Venus’ Atmosphere
The detection of phosphine in Venus' atmosphere was one of those quintessential moments in space science. It was an unexpected…
Sunrises Across the Solar System
Scientists have learned a lot about the atmospheres on various worlds in our Solar System simply from planetary sunrises or…
Newborn Exoplanets can be Completely Stripped of Their Atmosphere by Stars
Newborn exoplanets can have a tough life. They may form an atmosphere, but that atmosphere can be doomed. Their stars…
Extremely Hot Exoplanets Can Have Extreme Weather, Like Clouds of Aluminum Oxide and Titanium Rain
Thanks to the success of the Kepler mission, we know that there are multitudes of exoplanets of a type called…
The Coast of Antarctica is Starting to Turn Green
The Antarctic Peninsula is the northernmost part of Antarctica, and has the mildest climate on the continent. In January, the…
Astronomers Continue to Analyze Pluto’s Atmosphere
When NASA's New Horizons spacecraft flew past Pluto, studying the atmosphere was a key scientific objective. Most of what we…
Spacecraft and Ground Telescopes Work Together to Give us Stunning New Pictures of Jupiter
It's difficult to imagine the magnitude of storms on Jupiter. The gas giant's most visible atmospheric feature, the Great Red…
Astronomers Can Actually See the Clouds and Weather on Brown Dwarf 6.5 Light-Years Away
Brown dwarfs are in a tough spot. Not quite a star, not quite a planet, they occupy a place between…
The Atmosphere On Venus Rotates Faster than the Planet, and Now Astronomers Think They Know Why
Venus is unique—almost—in our Solar System because it's what's known as a "super-rotator." That means that Venus' atmosphere rotates faster…
Worlds With Hydrogen in Their Atmospheres Could Be the Perfect Place to Search for Life
We're waiting patiently for telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope to see first light, and one of the reasons…