Articles

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

Destination: Moon

Getting to the Moon — or any moon — isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. That’s why we speak up in support of the hard work that it’ll take to get there.

Sharing an eclipse with kids

Here's a simple and safe way to observe solar eclipses that's appropriate for young children, with no eclipse glasses or other special equipment needed.

Visions of Venus

See our neighboring planet in radar and in artwork, and catch up on the week’s space news.

Happy Perihelion!

There’s lots to celebrate this week, from the New Year to perihelion and everything we’ve accomplished together during the last orbit.

How do we see the surface of Venus from space?

Although Venus is shrouded in a thick atmosphere, several spacecraft have been able to image its surface from space. Future missions will expand and refine the maps we already have.

What are Jupiter’s Galilean moons?

An introduction to Jupiter's moons Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.

Laser pointer + cat = science

Learn why NASA got a cat to chase a laser pointer, see the Uranus system like never before, and catch up on this week’s space news.

China's plans for outer Solar System exploration

A Callisto impactor, a Uranus flyby, and a dedicated ice giant orbiter could be on China’s planetary exploration horizon.

Earth's water may have been on our planet since its formation, or could have been brought here by impactors early in our planet's history. Here's a look at the leading theories about where Earth's water came from.

Alien clouds and those that peer through them

From mythology to technology, clouds can’t keep us from seeing what lies beneath.

Planetary Society members at the 2023 Day of Action

Your impact: December solstice 2023

Space advocacy ramps up in Washington.

Looking for long waves

Why JWST observes in the infrared.

The year in pictures: 2023

Looking back at 2023 through the eyes of spacecraft.

Getting around in space

Planets move around a star, spacecraft make their way across planets and through space, and Planetary Society members advance our mission.

Picks, pics, and peaks

Your picks for the Best of 2023, our favorite space pics, a mind-boggling peak speed, and more.

The best of 2023

The results are in for the Best of 2023! People around the world voted, and here are the winning space images, missions, exploration milestones, and more.

Gifts from above

Space exploration bestows us with many gifts, from scientific insights and beautiful images to technological marvels and inspiring achievements. Now it’s your turn to bestow some cosmic gifts.