Planetary science

172 cards. Each one is a 40-second story with a five-minute read behind it. Page 3 of 3.

121. How a heat-sensing instrument spent two decades revealing the secrets of the Saturn systemFor twenty years, a dedicated team at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center operated the Composite Infrared Spectrometer, or CIRS, aboard the Cassini orbiter. By sensing thermal radi…
122. NASA is scouting four ambitious missions to unlock the secrets of our solar systemNASA has selected four finalists for its Discovery Program, each aiming to explore Venus, Io, or Triton. These proposed missions seek to answer fundamental questions about planeta…
123. Why NASA scientists are trekking through Icelandic mud to find life on MarsTo understand the geology of distant planets, NASA’s Goddard Instrument Field Team treats Earth like an alien world. By conducting rigorous fieldwork in Iceland’s volcanic landsca…
124. Why scientists study tiny lunar rocks to unlock the secrets of our early EarthNASA’s Mid-Atlantic Noble Gas Research Laboratory, known as the Moon Girl lab, is analyzing Apollo-era lunar samples preserved for half a century. By studying these ancient, tiny …
125. Bennu is not the sandy beach scientists expected, but a rugged, boulder-strewn world.When NASA’s OSIRIS-REx arrived at asteroid Bennu in 2018, it confirmed the object was shaped like a spinning top. However, the surface was a major surprise. Instead of fine-graine…
126. Mars rover finds igneous rocks on Jezero crater floor altered by ancient waterResearchers analyzing data from the Perseverance rover have found that the floor of Mars' Jezorp crater is composed of igneous rocks that were chemically changed by water. The stu…
127. Laser measurements provide a highly accurate map of the Martian surfaceResearchers using the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) have completed one year of global mapping, revealing the planet's topography and surface features. By measuring laser pul…
128. Uncertainties remain regarding the composition and climate of the early EarthResearchers reviewing the history of our planet's atmosphere found that while scientists agree oxygen levels rose significantly near 2.0 billion years ago, the exact timing and ca…
129. The HiRISE camera aims to map the Martian surface with unprecedented detailResearchers designing the HiRISE camera for the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter have developed a system capable of capturing incredibly high-resolution images of the Red Planet. This …
130. How orbiting triplets exchange momentum to reshape cosmic structuresA review of triple-body dynamics found that in hierarchical systems, orbits can exchange angular momentum over long timescales. This process, known as the eccentric Kozai-Lidov me…
131. Experiments suggest hydrogen likely dissolved into the Earth's forming coreResearchers conducting high-pressure experiments found that hydrogen strongly prefers to bond with molten iron rather than silicate melt. By simulating the extreme temperatures an…
132. Astronomers map chemical structures in disks where planets are formingResearchers using the ALMA telescope observed five young star systems to understand how gas and dust influence planet composition. By studying these disks down to scales of 10 au,…
133. A journey to the exposed metallic core of a distant worldDeep beneath Earth's crust lies a hidden iron core, but we cannot see it. NASA's Psyche mission is heading to a unique asteroid that may reveal the secrets of planetary formation …
134. Seeing Saturn through heat: the infrared discoveries of the Cassini missionThis video explores the greatest hits of the Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS), an instrument that studied the Saturn system through heat radiation to uncover hidden worlds a…
135. NASA's upcoming DAVINCI mission aims to uncover the chemical secrets of VenusThe upcoming DAVINCI mission is designed to explore the mysteries of Venus, a planet that may have once been habitable. By combining flybys with an instrumented descent sphere, re…
136. The Perseverance rover uses zoomable cameras to capture detailed Martian landscapesResearchers describing the Mastcam-Z instrument on the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover have detailed a powerful imaging system. This pair of zoomable cameras provides both wide-angle…
137. New data from the Juno spacecraft reveals how Jupiter's deep winds shape its magnetic fieldResearchers who analyzed data from the Juno spacecraft found a new, highly detailed model of Jupiter's magnetic field. By observing the planet over 32 polar orbits, they were able…
138. Mars has a crust that is likely older than its surfaceResearchers using seismic data from NASA's InSight mission have established the first direct measurements of how thick the Martian crust actually is. By combining these local find…
139. Nitrogen and sulfur help reveal how giant planets form and migrateResearchers using computer simulations of growing planets found that while carbon and oxygen ratios offer limited clues about planetary migration, adding nitrogen and sulfur to th…
140. Phosphates may be abundant in the subsurface ocean of Saturn's moon EnceladusResearchers analyzing data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft found evidence of sodium phosphates in the plumes of Saturn's moon, Enceladus. While phosphorus is often scarce in extrat…
141. A mission concept balances scientific discovery and resource use to search for lifeResearchers investigating mission architectures for Saturn's moon Enceladus found that an 'Orbilander' concept offers the best balance of science return and resource investment. T…
142. How pebble accretion and migration shape the architecture of super-Earth systemsResearchers using N-body simulations found that the way planets gather material from cosmic dust, known as pebble accretion, determines whether a system ends up with small rocky w…
143. A new model suggests inward-drifting pebbles helped build the inner planetsResearchers using a new pebble accretion model found that the masses and orbits of Earth, Venus, Mars, and the Moon-forming impactor Theia are consistent with growth fueled by dri…
144. Lunar lava samples reveal volcanic activity as recently as two billion years agoResearchers analyzing rocks returned by the Chang’e-5 mission found that some of the Moon's youngest basalt lavas are approximately 1,963 million years old. These samples, collect…
145. Rotating disks of dust and gas surround young low-mass starsAstronomers observing young, low-mass stars have found that almost all of them are surrounded by flattened, rotating disks of cool gas and dust. These structures, known as protopl…
146. How NASA engineers and scientists are searching for ancient life on MarsGo behind the scenes of the Mars 2020 mission. This briefing features the NASA and Jet Propulsion Laboratory experts responsible for the Perseverance rover's engineering and scien…
147. How laser altimetry revolutionized our map of the solar systemFrom the dusty plains of Mars to the frozen expanses of Earth, a specialized technology called lidar is changing everything. By using laser pulses to measure distance, NASA Goddar…
148. Can an asteroid punch through the entire Earth? Physics suggests it is impossible.Scott Manley uses Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics simulations to explore whether a space rock could traverse the planet. Discover why increasing speed fails to solve the problem a…
149. The Sun is getting brighter, and it will end life on Earth sooner than expected.The Sun sustains life by fusing hydrogen into helium, but this process is not static. As the Sun consumes its fuel, it grows increasingly luminous. This gradual brightening threat…
150. NASA’s Parker Solar Probe captures the first visible light images of Venus’ glowing surfaceUsually hidden by thick, impenetrable clouds, the surface of Venus has finally been imaged in visible light from space. By leveraging the extreme heat of the planet during nightsi…
151. NASA discovers chemical energy source on Saturn's moon Enceladus, fueling hopes for alien lifeOn April 13, 2017, NASA revealed that the Cassini spacecraft detected hydrogen in the plumes of Saturn's moon Enceladus. This discovery suggests the icy moon possesses a global oc…
152. Can we hear the seismic heartbeat of the Red Planet?NASA's InSight mission uses advanced seismometers to detect vibrations on Mars, offering a rare glimpse into the planet's internal structure through the science of planetary acous…
153. How NASA invited the public to witness the final moments of the Cassini missionOn September 14, 2017, NASA hosted a final conversation with the architects of the Cassini mission. As the spacecraft prepared to plunge into Saturn’s atmosphere, experts shared t…
154. Why the most powerful volcanic eruptions in our solar system happen on IoWhile volcanoes shaped Earth and our Moon, the solar system's most intense volcanic activity occurs on Jupiter's moon, Io. NASA volcanologist Ashley Davies explains how studying t…
155. Why Venus is shifting from a planetary mystery to a prime scientific destination.Venus is often called Earth's twin, but its extreme environment has long kept researchers at bay. This talk from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory explores how advancing technology…
156. How NASA mapped a skyscraper-sized asteroid with a complex web of maneuversTo collect a precious sample from asteroid Bennu, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission performed a series of unprecedented, delicate maneuvers. This wasn't a simple orbit, but a complex, web…
157. Why does NASA send robotic explorers to visit volcanic moons and distant asteroids?NASA Planetary Science Division Director Lori Glaze answers popular questions about our solar system. This video explores the significance of planetary research and the motivation…
158. NASA is returning to Venus with two ambitious new exploration missionsNASA has officially selected two new missions to explore Venus. This video introduces the lead scientists behind these projects and explores why our planetary neighbor remains a p…
159. Why Earth's core is both solid and liquid, defying conventional physical expectations.Exploring the interior of our planet is surprisingly more difficult than observing the distant cosmos. This video examines how seismic data helps scientists map the mysterious, op…
160. Did an ancient asteroid deliver the essential ingredients for life to Earth?NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission recently returned a cache of dust and rocks from the asteroid Bennu. These pristine samples are now revealing unexpected biological building blocks, incl…
161. How NASA uses a hypervelocity gun to simulate extreme space impacts on EarthNASA Ames Research Center operates a unique vertical gun range designed to fire projectiles at orbital speeds. This facility allows scientists to replicate high-velocity impact co…
162. Does Earth's magnetic shield protect us from solar radiation by flipping upside down?Earth relies on a geomagnetic field to deflect harmful solar particles, acting as a planetary shield. This video explores how this field is generated by the molten core and invest…
163. Why scientists are traveling to a metal asteroid to understand Earth's hidden core.Earth's metallic core is buried too deep for us to reach. NASA's Psyche mission aims to study a unique, metal-rich asteroid that may reveal the secrets of how planets are built. T…
164. What the scars of cosmic collisions reveal about our solar systemWitness Earth's most striking impact craters as captured by ESA satellites. This visual countdown explores the geological signatures left behind by meteorites and what they teach …
165. A rare look inside the clean room at NASA's Europa ClipperGo behind the scenes at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to see the Europa Clipper spacecraft up close. Before its journey to Jupiter, project manager Jordan Evans provides a tour of…
166. The search for Martian life is moving toward a new, watery frontierNASA’s Perseverance rover is entering a fresh region of the Jezero Crater. This area shows the strongest evidence yet of carbonates—minerals that, on Earth, are left behind by liq…
167. Is this metal asteroid the exposed heart of a dead planet?NASA is preparing to launch a mission to Psyche, a unique asteroid orbiting between Mars and Jupiter. This journey could reveal whether we are looking at the primordial remains of…
168. Twenty-one Martian rocks could hold the first evidence of extraterrestrial lifeNASA's Perseverance rover has spent months caching a diverse collection of Martian materials. These aren't just stones; they are geological time capsules. If brought to Earth, the…
169. Could a metal-rich asteroid reveal the hidden origins of our solar system?NASA's Psyche spacecraft is embarking on a 2.2 billion mile journey to study a unique asteroid. This mission investigates a celestial body that may contain the metallic remnants o…
170. How two robotic explorers fundamentally changed our understanding of MarsOn January 25, 2024, NASA JPL experts gathered to commemorate two decades of Martian exploration. This presentation explores the legacy of the Spirit and Opportunity rovers and th…
171. How nine instruments will decode the secrets of an icy moonNASA’s Europa Clipper is preparing for a 1.6 billion-mile journey to Jupiter. To investigate whether Europa’s subsurface ocean could support life, engineers have integrated a soph…
172. Could a hidden ocean beneath Jupiter's ice sustain life?Deep beneath the frozen crust of Europa lies a massive, salty sea. NASA’s Europa Clipper mission is embarking on a 1.8 billion mile journey to investigate whether this distant moo…

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