Articles

Stories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.

Approaching the replica sample return capsule

OSIRIS-REx sample return: What to expect

The spacecraft will drop off its precious samples of asteroid Bennu on Sept. 24, 2023.

What would happen if an asteroid hit the Moon?

If a large asteroid impacted the Moon, would it cause problems for us here on Earth?

Day and night, it’s all about starlight

This week in space: Mars days almost match up with ours, and light and molecules are created by distant stars.

Vladimir Benishek and the mystique of asteroid research

The Planetary Society Shoemaker NEO Grant winner learned from his mother and grandfather, while also forging his own path.

Why did we need OSIRIS-REx?

How OSIRIS-REx’s samples build upon our knowledge of asteroids and the early Solar System.

Asteroid samples from another world

The OSIRIS-REx team explains the journey home.

Way out there

We’re always learning more about the worlds of the outer Solar System, and even those beyond.

Five asteroid deflection techniques to save the Earth

Kinetic impactor or nuclear blast? Here are some ways to defend our planet from a dangerous asteroid.

Hard-working spacecraft and even harder-working microbes

The Soyuz spacecraft have been helping humans get to and from space for decades, but that’s nothing compared to the billions of years that microorganisms have been making life on Earth possible.

Rocket flight and the five dwarfs

Meet the Solar System’s five official dwarf planets, celebrate two major launches, and find out why planets sometimes seem to go backwards across the sky.

Meet the Solar System's five official dwarf planets

The International Astronomical Union currently recognizes five dwarf planets: Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris.

Asteroids worth getting psyched about

New discoveries from Ryugu, material heading our way from Bennu, and anticipation for a mission to Psyche.

Volcanic Venus, myriad moons, and space sonification

Learn all about the possible volcanic activity found on Venus, the facts about a hyped-up near-Earth asteroid, Jupiter’s newest moons, and what space images sound like.

Spectacularly crepuscular!

Curiosity captures crepuscular rays on Mars, a new member community launches, and solar sailing takes exploration into the future.

Never let a rock sneak up on you

Finding asteroids before they hit Earth not only protects us from harm, it can also yield beautiful photos.

What was the Chelyabinsk meteor event?

When an asteroid exploded in the atmosphere above Chelyabinsk, Russia on Feb. 15, 2013, it made history and underscored the importance of planetary defense.