Planetary Science

August’s supermoon will be the first of four supermoons in a row

Surging solar activity means enormous sunspots are in the space-weather forecast. Here’s how to view them safely

New evidence points to a carbonaceous asteroid from the outer solar system as the culprit for Earth’s most recent mass extinction

Coronal mass ejections from the sun sparked dazzling auroras that were visible from the ground and from space

The possibility of liquid water beneath the surface of Saturn’s moon Mimas may offer clues to how such seas form, and another spot to search for life

Identifying asteroids with potential moons could aid researchers in understanding unique aspects of our solar system

Newfound spiderlike features suggest lunar explorers should watch their step

Mysterious “leopard spots” on a Martian rock could be evidence of extraterrestrial life—or of mere lifeless chemistry. Finding out the truth may require bringing the rock back to Earth

Material from the moon’s far side collected by China’s Chang’e 6 spacecraft could solve a long-standing lunar mystery

We can and should look harder for evidence of alien visitors to our solar system

Despite an eye-watering price tag, bringing pieces of Mars back to Earth promises to revolutionize our understanding of life’s place in the early solar system

China’s Chang’e 6 mission has successfully returned samples from the moon’s far side, opening a new phase of the nation’s lunar space race with the U.S.