Planets : Discovery News

How Can a Planet Fit in a Drop of Water?: Big Pic

Posted Tue Jan 31, 2012 11:56 AM ET | 0

Drops Of Jupiter: Using high-speed photography, Markus Reugels captures a variety of celestial wonders inside a water droplet. Read more

Hunting Pluto's Dangerous Rings

Posted by Ian O'Neill Fri Jan 27, 2012 02:46 PM ET | 0

If there is a ring system, it could spell doom for the speedy New Horizons probe when it flies by in 2015. Read more

Planets May Have Survived Star's Death

Posted by Irene Klotz Wed Dec 21, 2011 01:00 PM ET | 0

Two Earth-sized worlds are seen orbiting a burned-out star, defying theories about the ultimate fate of planets. Read more

Alien Planet Could Host Life

Posted by Irene Klotz Mon Dec 5, 2011 11:29 AM ET | 0

The newly confirmed planet, Kepler-22b, orbits smack in the middle of the habitable zone of a star similar to our own. Read more

New Batch of Giant Alien Worlds Found

Posted Sat Dec 3, 2011 10:38 AM ET | 0

The finding of 18 distant planets boosts a theory about how planets form. Read more

How Aliens Can Find Us (and Vice Versa): Photos

Posted Tue Nov 8, 2011 09:08 AM ET | 0

Explore how aliens might stumble upon our planet -- and how we might spot them first. Read more

Unveiling Asteroid Lutetia's Secrets: Photos

Posted Thu Oct 27, 2011 02:01 PM ET | 0

Although the European Rosetta probe had a chilly reception when it visited asteroid Lutetia in 2010, it appears the blind date may have been warmer than it appeared. Read more

Visualizing the Baby Proto-Exoplanet: Big Pic

Posted Wed Oct 19, 2011 11:37 PM ET | 0

Astronomers have detected the fuzzy infrared glow of dust and gas surrounding a baby exoplanet -- here's a stunning artist's impression of what the world might look like. Read more

Comet Armageddon Detected in Nearby Star System

Posted by Ian O'Neill Wed Oct 19, 2011 04:05 PM ET | 0

Through its infrared eye, Spitzer has detected the dusty remains of comet impacts around the star Eta Corvi -- reminding us what it must have been like during the early evolution of our own solar system. Read more

Comet Armageddon Detected in Nearby Star System

What Is Space?

Posted by Jason Major Thu Oct 13, 2011 04:00 AM ET | 0

What does it take to comprehend the vast distances between the planets of the solar system? Read more

Awesome Artistic Rendering of Planet Earth, Cubed!

Posted by Robert Lamb Mon Oct 10, 2011 12:48 PM ET | 0

We all know a cubed Planet Earth is physically impossible, but it sure makes for an interesting thought experiment. Read more

Awesome Artistic Rendering of Planet Earth, Cubed!

Exquisite Exoplanetary Art: Photos

Posted Mon Sep 19, 2011 08:00 AM ET | 0

Until we can travel to a world orbiting another star, we'll have to depend on the beautiful imaginings captured in exoplanetary art. Read more

Are Small Rocky Worlds Actually Naked Gas Giants?

Posted by Ian O'Neill Fri Sep 16, 2011 02:14 PM ET | 0

If a large gas giant drifts too close to its star, it might have its thick atmosphere stripped, leaving its bare, rocky core. Read more

Are Small Rocky Worlds Actually Naked Gas Giants?

HD 85512b -- Portrait of a Super-Earth: Big Pics

Posted Mon Sep 12, 2011 06:00 PM ET | 0

The find is the largest exoplanet discovery yet and includes at least one very Earth-like world. Read more

NASA Twin Science Probes Launched to the Moon

Posted by Irene Klotz Sat Sep 10, 2011 12:02 PM ET | 0

An unmanned Delta 2 rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force on Saturday to send a pair of NASA science probes on their way to the moon. Read more