Planetary Science

The triumph of NASA’s first crewed lunar mission in a half-century is a reminder of what the moon really means for Earth—and why we’re going back

NASA plans to launch a wildly ambitious nuclear-powered octocopter to Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, in 2028

A hidden milestone lurks in the U.S.’s Artemis-focused lunar ambitions—the nation’s first-ever successful robotic moon rover

If NASA’s ambitious lunar exploration plans succeed, scientists will cover the moon with sensors—and find answers to several long-standing questions about the inner solar system

The fifth day in space for Artemis II saw space suit tests, an Easter egg hunt and final preparations for an imminent close encounter with the moon

A daring 10-day voyage took four astronauts on a loop around the moon and set the stage for future forays to the lunar surface

The decades since scientists confirmed the first planet around another star have been rich in discovery, but it’s rare to see a new solar system as it forms

Scientists have found the oldest direct evidence for tectonic motion on Earth by more than half a billion years

New satellite data come up dry as the search for lunar ice continues

By plying its ground-penetrating radar in the depths of Mars’s Jezero Crater, this rover has found even older deltas buried beneath those seen on the surface from space

China and the U.S. are in a high-stakes race to build permanent lunar outposts. Can both nations coexist on the moon?

An obscure lunar region called Rimae Bode is emerging as a high-priority landing site for China’s first crewed moon mission