Explore Worlds
Find Life
Defend Earth
Where did we come from? Are we alone in the Universe? We can only answer these questions by exploring the planets and other worlds of our Solar System and beyond. Learn why these worlds are so important, and how you can get involved.
The Sun, our Solar System’s star
We study the Sun to learn about how stars work, and to help protect our civilization from solar storms.
Mercury, world of extremes
Mercury a little-explored world, full of mystery, with a surface split into extremes and an interior that puzzles scientists.
Venus, Earth's twin sister
Venus may have had oceans and been habitable to life before being transformed into an inhospitable wasteland.
Earth, our home planet
Earth, the only planet known to support life, offers liquid water, an oxygen-rich atmosphere, and protection from the Sun’s harmful radiation.
The Moon, gateway for science and exploration
The Moon is the only world besides Earth ever walked on by humans. By studying it, scientists can learn about Earth’s past and better understand worlds throughout the galaxy.
Mars, the red planet
Mars once had liquid water on the surface and could have supported life. Scientists are uncovering how it transformed into the cold, dry desert-world it is today.
Asteroids, comets, and other small worlds
Asteroids and comets are windows into the Solar System's past and a potential threat to Earth today.
Jupiter, the planet with a planetary system of its own
Jupiter, our largest planet, teaches us how planetary systems evolve. Its four planet-like moons make it a planetary system of its own.
Io, Jupiter’s chaotic volcano moon
Io, one of Jupiter's four Galilean moons, is known for its explosivity.
Europa, Jupiter’s possible watery moon
Europa is the sixth-largest moon in the solar system and Jupiter’s fourth-largest satellite.
Saturn, planet of rings, moons and more to explore
Saturn is the crown jewel of our solar system. It has a stunning set of rings, diverse moons, and so much more to explore.
Enceladus, Saturn’s moon with a hidden ocean
With its subsurface ocean and so-called "tiger stripes," Enceladus is one of Saturn's most fascinating moons.
Titan, a moon with familiar vistas
Saturn's largest moon, Titan, is both the only other place in the Solar System with liquid on its surface and the only moon with a thick atmosphere, making it a tantalizing destination to search for life.
Uranus, the sideways planet
Uranus may be the butt of all planet jokes, but there's much more to this world than potty humor.
Neptune, planet of wind and ice
Neptune, our outermost planet, is a windy blue world with exotic ice, raging storms, rings, and a moon that could have a subsurface ocean.
Triton, Neptune's largest moon
Triton is likely a captured Kuiper Belt Object and possibly an ocean world.
Pluto, the Kuiper Belt’s most famous dwarf planet
Pluto is a dwarf planet and the largest of the Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs) — a collection of ice-rock bodies found outside Neptune’s orbit.
Exoplanets, worlds beyond the Solar System
Some exoplanets could be habitable and are prime targets in the search for life beyond Earth.
A Pale Blue Dot
Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us.
What is a Planet?
It's right there in our name: The Planetary Society. But what is a planet? This seemingly simple question is the subject of much debate.
Learn MoreLatest Articles
Flyby of Venus Speeds MESSENGER Onward to Mercury
The MESSENGER spacecraft is zeroing in on Venus for the most significant gravity assist maneuver of its long journey to Mercury.
Mimas, Dione, Rhea
There's been quite a lot of Mars on this page for the last week; it's time to remind ourselves that there are other places besides Mars in the solar system.
Windows Onto the Abyss: Cave Skylights on Mars
Today's set of image releases from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter HiRISE team included this one, of a fairly bland-looking lava plain to the northeast of Arsia Mons. Bland, that is, except for a black spot in the center.
New territory on Titan
The other day I posted a global view of Titan featuring new territory near the north pole. Now the imaging team has released a much higher resolution version of this view.