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Solar System

An illustration of a protoplanet crashing into Jupiter

Protoplanet smackdown may explain Jupiter’s core makeup

Science

Scientists say Jupiter may have been hit head-on by protoplanet not long after being formed — a violent collision with apparent lasting effects on the planet’s core

interstellar visitor

In a first, scientists spotted an ‘interstellar visitor’ in our solar system

Science
An artist’s concept of a planetary system discovered by Kepler, called KOI-961.

Kepler turns up a trove of new exoplanets

Science
Jupiter

Take a dazzling new peek at Jupiter

Technology
Asteroid

‘Asteroid hunters’ search for space rocks that could collide with Earth

Technology
This artist's concept shows NASA's Dawn spacecraft arriving at the dwarf planet Ceres

NASA’s Dawn spacecraft is already historic, and it’s just getting started

Science

NASA’s Dawn spacecraft already racked up several firsts during its seven-year flight from Earth, and now it’s the first-ever spacecraft to orbit a dwarf planet. Scientists are hoping its yearlong stay at Ceres, in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, will help reveal clues about how Earth got its water.

Comet Lovejoy has probably passed through the inner solar system at least once already—we just weren't alive to see it.

Look hard and you can see Comet Lovejoy lighting up the night sky

Science

The last time Comet Lovejoy was visible in the night sky was 8,000 years ago. Now it’s back and visible from the Northern Hemisphere in the coming weeks, and binoculars or a telescope can give you a glowing view of the visitor.

Galaxy formation

The water on Earth is even older than the sun

Science

Astronomy and planetary science often reach mind-bending results. This is no exception.

Sedna artist rendering

The discovery of a new ‘dwarf planet’ expands our view of the solar system

Environment

Meet Biden, a new dwarf planet named after the vice president that’s upsetting the apple cart that is our understanding of the solar system. It, along with a relatively nearby neighbor, Sedna, are challenging astronomers to rewrite definitions of how the solar system formed.

Sedna artist rendering

The discovery of a new ‘dwarf planet’ expands our view of the solar system

Environment

Meet Biden, a new dwarf planet named after the vice president that’s upsetting the apple cart that is our understanding of the solar system. It, along with a relatively nearby neighbor, Sedna, are challenging astronomers to rewrite definitions of how the solar system formed.