Planets
Find out everything there is to know about planets and stay updated on the latest planet news with the comprehensive articles, interactive features and planet images at LiveScience.com. Learn more about space and the solar system as scientists continue to make amazing discoveries about planets.
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5 Earth-like worlds may lurk in the outer reaches of the solar system, simulations suggest
By Deepa Jain published
The young sun may have captured several Mars- or Mercury-size exoplanets that now orbit in the outer reaches of the solar system, but identifying them will be extremely challenging.
Which planet is closest to Earth? (Hint: There's more than 1 right answer.)
By Harry Baker published
It may initially seem like a simple question, but determining which planet is closest to Earth is surprisingly tricky and can have multiple correct answers.
Mysterious 'magic' islands that come and go on Saturn's moon Titan finally have an explanation
By Briley Lewis published
Bright spots that appear and vanish on Saturn's moon Titan have a seemingly simple explanation — they're floating chunks of frozen organic material.
Wispy ice clouds may form above Venus' hellish surface
By Robert Lea published
The surface of Venus is a hellscape with temperatures hot enough to melt lead, but some regions of its atmosphere high over the surface remain cool enough to harbor ice and birth ghostly clouds.
Space photo of the week: An eerie look at Io, the most volcanic world in the solar system
By Jamie Carter published
In our favorite space image of the week, NASA's Juno spacecraft got an unprecedented look at Jupiter's volcanic moon Io from just 930 miles away.
Scientists have a new way to find oceans — and possible alien life — on distant planets
By Ivan Paul published
Scientists have proposed a new technique to help researchers identify oceans on exoplanets — a key step to finding life outside our planet.
Neptune isn't as blue as you think, and these new images of the planet prove it
By Robert Lea published
A new treatment of images collected by Voyager 2 in the late 1980s using data from the Hubble Space Telescope has revealed the actual colors of the solar system's distant ice giants, Neptune and Uranus.
Space photo of the week: Uranus 'rings' in the New Year in stunning James Webb telescope image
By Jamie Carter published
The James Webb Space Telescope reveals a stunning new portrait of ice giant Uranus, featuring its frigid rings and 14 of 27 moons.
NASA finds key ingredient for life gushing out of Saturn's icy moon Enceladus
By Joanna Thompson published
Scientists have discovered complex molecules in the gas and vapor plumes escaping from Enceladus's icy core — and one of them, hydrogen cyanide, is a precursor for life.
NASA identifies 17 planets with possible subsurface oceans, and they could be fit for life
By Conor Feehly published
A new NASA survey identified 17 exoplanets that may have the right conditions for liquid water oceans hidden beneath icy shells. The planets could be good candidates in the search for alien life.
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