Planetary Formation
‘Diamond’ Super-Earth’s Makeup Called Into Question In New Study
A precious planet? Don't think so fast, a new study says. The so-called "diamond super-Earth", 55 Cancri e, may actually…
Mercury’s Resonant Rotation ‘Should Be Common’ In Alien Planets
Three to two. That's the ratio of the time it takes Mercury to go around the sun (88 days) in…
This Earth-Like Mars Rock Shows Diversity of Red Planet Geology
A strange rock encountered by the Mars Curiosity rover early in its mission has few similarities to other rocks found…
Super-Earth’s Probable Water Atmosphere Revealed In Blue Light
Playing with the filters on a telescope can show us amazing things. In a recent case, Japanese astronomers looked at…
Astronomers See Snow … In Space!
There's an excellent chance of frost in this corner of the universe: astronomers have spotted a "snow line" in a…
To The Moon, Jeremy! Canadian Astronaut Thinks Off-Planet Geology During Arctic Trip
It takes gumption to go knee-deep in mud to save a stranded rover. Or to climb up precarious slopes in…
Flying Space Toasters: Electrified Exoplanets Really Feel the Heat
Overheated and overinflated, hot Jupiters are some of the strangest extrasolar planets to be discovered by the Kepler mission... and…
What Craters on the Moon Teach Us About Earth
When the Moon was receiving its highest number of impacts, so was Earth. Credit: Dan Durda Some questions about our…
From Eternity to Here: The Amazing Origin of our Species (in 90 Seconds)
From the initial expansion of the Big Bang to the birth of the Moon, from the timid scampering of the…
What Has the Kuiper Belt Taught Us About The Solar System?
Over 4 billion miles (6.7 billion km) from the Sun, the Kuiper Belt is a vast zone of frozen worlds…