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Small BodiesStories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.
What to look forward to in space in 2024
A total solar eclipse and the launch of Europa Clipper are on our list of cosmic events to get excited about this year.
A guide to eclipse vocabulary
A list of useful words and terms relating to lunar and solar eclipses.
The phases of the Moon explained
Your guide to the phases of the Moon, their names, and why they happen.
Two pale blue dots
Reflecting on Carl Sagan’s influence on this pale blue dot we call Earth.
A year in review and a reddish hue
Get ready for a total lunar eclipse and pick your favorites from this year in space.
Your cosmic community
There’s no limit to what a community of like-minded space enthusiasts, advocates and even famous luminaries can achieve when we all work together.
Solar Plasma and Europan Magma
From solar storms to underwater volcanoes and asteroid close calls, catch up on what’s scary and beautiful this week in space.
A Super Blood Moon Is Nicer Than It Sounds
Find out what a super blood Moon is, and celebrate a milestone in Mars exploration.
From Mercury orbit, MESSENGER watches a lunar eclipse
Watch as our enormous moon -- a quarter the diameter of the planet -- just winks out as it passes into Earth's long shadow, in an animation captured from more than 100 million kilometers away.
The solar eclipse in Africa seen from space
On Sunday, the shadow of the Moon passed across Africa and the Atlantic Ocean. This was the last solar eclipse of the year. The Elektro-L satellite was able to observe the eclipse, and we can see the darkness of the lunar shadow covering Africa.
Anahita's first eclipse
Emily wakes up her 5-year-old daughter to experience her first lunar eclipse.
Lunar eclipse tonight, mid-eclipse at 08:17 Dec 21 UT
Unless you live under a rock you probably know that there is a total lunar eclipse tonight, one that should be particularly favorable for viewing from North America but which will be at least partially visible to viewers in South America, Europe, and easternmost Asia and Australia too.