A pellet of plutonium 238, illuminated by the glow of its own radioactivity. NASA and other space agencies use this material in radioisotope power sources for interplanetary missions to the solar ...

What lies beyond Neptune? Is it just empty space… or something far more mysterious? In this video, we explore the fascinating story of the Oort Cloud – a gigantic, icy sphere that surrounds our Solar ...

Pluto, once considered the ninth planet of our solar system, has been a topic of intrigue since its reclassification as a dwarf planet. Recent observations suggest that its atmosphere is expanding, ...

The workings of our solar system are roughly the same now as they have been for millions of years. Moons circle their planets, the planets circle the sun, the sun’s magnetic fields and sunspots wax ...

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are private, nonprofit institutions that provide expert advice on some of the most pressing challenges facing the nation and world. Our ...

Astronomers have revealed new research showing that millions of new solar system objects are likely to be detected by a brand-new facility, which is expected to come online later this year.

Scientists at the European Space Agency used a laser to communicate with a spacecraft 165 million miles (265 million kilometers) away in deep space for the first time, marking a major step forward in ...

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The organic ingredients to life, hints to where Earth’s water came from, and the fundamental building blocks of our planet and the solar system seem like a lot to fit in 4 ...

Our solar system passed through a vast wave of gas and dust around 14 million years ago, dimming Earth’s view of the night sky. The wave may even have left traces in our planet’s geological record.

Who hasn't looked into the sky and wondered if there's life out there, somewhere, looking back at us? Is it possible there's alien life closer to home — within the bounds of our solar system? The ...

Introduction: NASA's solar system exploration paradigm : the first fifty years and a look at the next fifty / James L. Green and Kristen J. Erickson -- Part I. Overview. Exploring the Solar System : ...