Solar System Astronomy

Latest Feature Articles


 		The 10 Largest Moons in the Solar System
The solar system's ten largest satellites are scattered between the gas giant planets - and Earth.
When Asteroids Collide
The Hubble Space Telescope has captured an image of the aftermath of a collision between two asteroids.
The Moons of Neptune
Triton is the largest moon of Neptune, with six regular satellites inside its orbit and six irregular ones farther out.
Mars's Moons Phobos and Deimos
Phobos and Deimos are Mars's two small moons that were once asteroids.
New Moon and Eclipse
New Moon and Eclipse are more than just books by Stephenie Meyer and a hit movie series.
10 Facts About Mars
Learn interesting tidbits about Mars, the fourth planet from the Sun.
Lightning Storms on Saturn
The Ringed Planet hosts lightnings storms that can last for months on end.
Tropical Storms on Titan
Astronomers were surprised to find that Saturn's dry moon has large-scale atmospheric turbulence where none was expected.
Jupiter Hit by Comet or Asteroid
An amateur astronomer reports first sighting of new impact evidence on the solar system's largest planet.
Weather and Seasons on Titan
Saturn's largest moon has a substantial atmosphere that experiences seasonal change.
Weather on Other Planets
The solar system is a stormy place with dust devils, sulfuric acid rains, and screaming winds.
Facts About Meteors
Meteors are sudden streaks of light in the sky that can happen during predicted showers or at random.
New Member of the Solar System Discovered
The new solar system object named 2006 SQ372 is spotted on its 22,500-year-long orbit around the sun.
Makemake: The Fourth Dwarf Planet
Makemake is a Pluto-like object lying in our solar system beyond Neptune's orbit.
Ice Found on Mars
NASA's Phoenix Lander seems to have fulfilled one of its main missions: finding signs of water on Mars.
The First Day of Summer
The Northern Hemisphere welcomes the first day of summer on June 20 or June 21 depending on your location.
Climate Change on Jupiter
Understanding temperature change on our solar system's largest gas giant planet.
New Storms Spotted on Jupiter
Storms are firing up in Jupiter's atmosphere, with new areas of turbulence popping up near the Great Red Spot.
Facts About Asteroids
Learn more about the thousands of miniature planets called asteroids that orbit the sun.
First Ring Found Around a Moon
The first lunar ring has been found around a moon of the planet best known for its rings: Saturn.
The First Day of Spring
Spring begins in the Northern Hemisphere as Earth's Noth Pole tilts sunward.
Understanding the Solar Cycle
What is the solar cycle and how long does it last? What are the effects of the sun's changing cycle?
Asteroid Might Hit Mars
An asteroid approximately 60 meters in diameter has a 1-in-25 chance of smashing into Mars on January 30, 2008.
First Day of Winter
The astronomical beginning of the winter season is signaled by Earth's tilt and the amount of sunlight received in the Northern Hemisphere.
Comet Holmes Now Larger than Sun
Comet Holmes is now greater than the size of the sun and continues to be easy to spot in the night sky.

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