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Small BodiesStories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.
The pale blue dot 35 years later
On its 35th anniversary, a reflection on what the pale blue dot means to us.
Why send people back to the Moon?
What can an astronaut do on the Moon that a robot can’t?
Extraterrestrial lights
How other worlds experience auroras.
Capturing magic
A photographer’s guide to auroras.
It's not magic; it's magnetic!
The magnetism behind spectacular phenomena.
How to spot comet SWAN (C/2025 F2)
Catch this spectacular comet over the next few weeks.
Calendar of space events 2025
Space missions, rocket launches, and celestial events are coming our way in 2025.
Tech funded by Planetary Society launches to the Moon next month
A spacecraft trying to land on the Moon will carry PlanetVac, the lunar dustbuster that could change how we explore other worlds.
A beginner’s guide to stargazing
It only takes a few basic tips to start exploring the night sky.
Connecting ancient life to other worlds
Looking to the past to guide the search for life.
How soon will Starship fly?
One rocket could decide how soon humanity returns to the Moon — and maybe one day sets foot on Mars.
How to spot the ISS
Seeing the ISS is easy and amazing stargazing.
How to see the nova (“new star”) in Corona Borealis
A giant stellar explosion is going to be visible from Earth. Here's how to see it.
Earth’s quasi-moons, minimoons, and ghost moons
They may not be real moons, but they're worth exploring and studying.
Chang’e-6 launch: What to expect
China will attempt to return the first-ever samples from the far side of the Moon.
What are planets made of?
A look at the compositions of terrestrial planets, gas giants, and ice giants in our Solar System.
The hottest and coldest places in the Solar System
The worlds of our Solar System run the gamut of temperatures. Here are some of the hottest and coldest places we know of.
Is the Moon shrinking?
The Moon is shrinking in both actual volume and its apparent size from Earth’s perspective. We explain how scientists know this, why it happens, and how it might affect Earth.
An exquisite cosmic coincidence
Why eclipses on Earth are unlike anything else in the Solar System.
The best places to search for life in our Solar System
From Earth's neighboring planets to distant moons, these are the best places to look for alien life.