Planets
The pebbled path to planets
Small pebbles zipping through a sea of gas may give rise to mighty planets.
Planets
More Stories in Planets
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PlanetsScientists discover likely source of the moon’s faint yellow tail
These sodium atoms are part of the debris kicked up from the moon’s surface, mostly by micrometeorites, two new studies conclude.
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PlanetsSigns of a hidden Planet Nine in our solar system may be an illusion
Hints of the remote planet, also called Planet X, relied on clumped up orbits of bodies beyond Neptune. A new study suggests that clumping doesn’t exist.
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SpaceLet’s learn about the moon
The moon is Earth’s nearest neighbor, and its gravity helps stabilize the planet’s climate and creates the tides.
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SpaceScientists Say: Planet
Planets have to orbit a star, be big enough to form a sphere and keep other objects out of their path around their star.
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SpaceRogue planets wander the galaxy all alone
Some planets don’t orbit stars. They were kicked into space long ago. The newest, smallest one found is only about as massive as Earth.
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SpaceMeet ‘Pi’ — a new Earth-sized planet
Searching through data from NASA’s K2 Mission, researchers found a new planet. Some call it K2-315b, others smile and refer to it as “Pi Earth.”
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SpaceJupiter may have ‘sprites’ or ‘elves’ in its atmosphere
This is the first time that scientists have seen hints of these weird side effects of lightning storms somewhere other than on Earth.
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SpaceThere’s water on sunny parts of the moon, scientists confirm
The new observations were made by a telescope on board a jet in Earth’s atmosphere. They confirm the presence of water on sunlit areas of the moon.
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PlanetsLet’s learn about Mars
Traveling to Mars offers many challenges, including life without gravity, cosmic rays and communication delays.