Live Science Plus
An illustration of our solar system.
(Image credit: MARK GARLICK/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY via Getty Images)
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Live Science keeps you up-to-date with the amazing discoveries astronomers are making about the planets in our universe, from Earth and its solar system sisters to distant exoplanets thousands of light-years away.
Our expert writers and editors report on the discovery of planets more hospitable to life than Earth, research suggesting an unknown "captured" alien planet may be hiding at the edge of our solar system, why the jury is still out on Planet Nine, and even what color the sunset is on other planets. So, whatever your cosmic curiosities, there's sure to be something that captivates you in the latest planet news, features and articles.
Discover more about planets
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Bizarre patterns on Venus have scientists puzzled -
The solar system's largest moon may be heating up -
NASA spacecraft beams back blue images of Mars on its way to a metal asteroid — Space photo of the week -
One of Neptune's 16 moons is not like the others, James Webb telescope finds -
Watch NASA's Curiosity rover 'struggle' to remove a rock that got stuck on its robotic arm for nearly a week -
'I was not looking for this': Scientist accidentally finds shortcut to Mars that could slash travel time in half21 Comments
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Scientists identify 10,000 'impossible' exoplanet candidates, potentially tripling the number of known alien worlds -
Scientists tracked faint signals from the stars — and may have turned up hundreds of undiscovered planets -
Strange discovery offers 'missing link' in planet formation -
James Webb telescope uncovers a new mystery: A broiling 'hell planet' with an atmosphere that shouldn't exist2 Comments -
Science history: Astronomers spot first known planet around a sunlike star, raising hopes for extraterrestrial life — Nov. 1, 1995 -
It's official: Humans have found 6,000 planets beyond our solar system -
JWST finds planet with all-carbon atmosphere orbiting 'black widow' star -
A real-life Pandora? Newfound 'disappearing' planet in our neighboring star system could have a habitable moon, just like the Avatar movies2 Comments -
Stunning 'sun dogs' could sparkle in alien skies, James Webb Space Telescope suggests
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The solar system's largest moon may be heating up
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Spiders on Jupiter? Scientists uncover secret origins of arachnid-like 'demon' lurking on gas giant's moon. -
James Webb telescope spots weird changes on Jupiter's icy moon Europa -
Jupiter is shrinking and used to be twice as big, mind-boggling study reveals -
James Webb telescope reveals 'impossible' auroras on Jupiter -
Jupiter: Facts about the biggest planet in our solar system -
'I won't be surprised if this is happening throughout the universe': Mushball storms on Jupiter offer clues to atmospheres of distant planets -
Powerful solar winds squish Jupiter's magnetic field 'like a giant squash ball' -
Jupiter's Great Red Spot is being squeezed, Hubble Telescope finds — and nobody knows why
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NASA spacecraft beams back blue images of Mars on its way to a metal asteroid — Space photo of the week
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Watch NASA's Curiosity rover 'struggle' to remove a rock that got stuck on its robotic arm for nearly a week
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'I was not looking for this': Scientist accidentally finds shortcut to Mars that could slash travel time in half21 Comments
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NASA's Curiosity rover finds a surprising number of giant 'dragon scales' littered across Mars -
A giant 'shadow' has been creeping across Mars for 50 years — and scientists aren't sure why4 Comments -
NASA rover discovers first ruby-like crystals on Mars -
An anomaly in Mars' mantle could trigger volcanoes to erupt — and may be causing the whole planet to spin faster5 Comments -
Giant string of organic molecules on Mars may be one of the best signs of life yet2 Comments -
Giant 'spiderwebs' on Mars contain tiny egg-like structures that scientists 'can't quite explain,' NASA rover reveals11 Comments
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Mercury's 'missing' meteorites may have finally been found on Earth -
Mercury is weird because of a 'hit-and-run' incident in its youth2 Comments -
See Mercury's frigid north pole in extraordinary new images from the BepiColombo spacecraft -
9-mile-thick layer of solid diamonds may lurk beneath Mercury's surface, study hints -
It's the best time of year to spot Mercury. Here's how to find it. -
Mercury may have a 'potentially habitable' region below its surface, salty glaciers suggest -
Mercury is still shrinking after billions of years, and scientists can see its 'wrinkles' -
Mercury reaches its highest point in the sky this weekend. Here's how to see it. -
See Mercury's giant, comet-like tail in stunning new image as it passes close to the sun
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One of Neptune's 16 moons is not like the others, James Webb telescope finds
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James Webb telescope captures auroras on Neptune for first time ever -
Space photo of the week: 1st-ever close-up of Neptune is Voyager 2's final portrait of a planet -
Neptune keeps growing enormous dark and bright spots, and scientists don't know why -
All of Neptune's clouds have mysteriously disappeared, and the sun may be to blame -
Ghostly rings of Neptune shine in new James Webb Telescope images -
Neptune: The farthest planet from our sun -
Astronomers perplexed by plummeting temperatures in Neptune's atmosphere -
'Diamond rain' on Uranus and Neptune seems likely
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Why does Pluto have such a weird orbit? -
New Pluto mission could uncover dwarf planet's hidden ocean — if the 'queen of the underworld' gets to fly -
Skyscraper-size spikes of methane ice may surround Pluto's equator -
James Webb telescope discovers 'a new kind of climate' on Pluto, unlike anything else in our solar system -
How Pluto captured its largest moon Charon with a 10-hour icy 'kiss' -
James Webb Space Telescope deciphers the origins of Pluto's icy moon Charon -
Pluto's huge white 'heart' has a surprisingly violent origin, new study suggests -
Pluto may have an ice-spewing 'supervolcano' the size of Yellowstone, New Horizons data reveals -
When will Pluto complete its first orbit since its discovery?
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Saturn's chaotic atmosphere revealed in most comprehensive view yet by James Webb and Hubble telescopes -
Saturn's largest moon may actually be 2 moons in 1 — and helped birth the planet's iconic rings -
Saturn's largest moon may be riddled with 'slushy tunnels' that contain alien life, new study hints -
Scientists find best evidence yet that icy moon Enceladus is habitable11 Comments -
Saturn will be at its biggest and brightest on Sept. 21 — here's how to see it3 Comments -
There's liquid on Titan, Saturn's largest moon. But something's missing and scientists are confused2 Comments -
Saturn: Facts about the ringed planet -
There's a weird, disappearing dark spot on Saturn's moon Enceladus -
We might have been completely wrong about the origin of Saturn's rings, new study claims
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Uranus has a new, hidden moon, James Webb Space Telescope reveals -
Scientists find Uranus is surprisingly warm, heating up the case for a new planetary mission -
Surprised scientists discover the 'dark sides' of Uranus' moons are the wrong way around -
Scientists finally know how long a day on Uranus is -
Icy moon of Uranus may have once hid watery secret, Voyager 2 archives reveal -
Scientists finally know why ultraviolent superstorms flare up on Uranus and Neptune -
A moon of Uranus could have a hidden ocean, James Webb Space Telescope finds -
Neptune isn't as blue as you think, and these new images of the planet prove it -
Space photo of the week: Uranus 'rings' in the New Year in stunning James Webb telescope image
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Bizarre patterns on Venus have scientists puzzled
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Why is Venus so bright?2 Comments -
Hold the syrup: Weirdly perfect 'pancakes' on Venus may prove the planet is buckling -
Venus may be geologically 'alive' after all, NASA reveals -
See Venus at its 'greatest brilliancy' this week — or wait until Sept. 2026 -
Venus goes 'new moon' as it passes between Earth and the sun this weekend -
Venus, the 'love planet', will look extra special this Valentine's Day. Here's why. -
Japan loses contact with Akatsuki, humanity's only active Venus probe -
Molecule responsible for robbing Venus of its water may finally have been identified
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Bizarre patterns on Venus have scientists puzzled
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The solar system's largest moon may be heating up
-
NASA spacecraft beams back blue images of Mars on its way to a metal asteroid — Space photo of the week
-
One of Neptune's 16 moons is not like the others, James Webb telescope finds
-
Watch NASA's Curiosity rover 'struggle' to remove a rock that got stuck on its robotic arm for nearly a week
-
'I was not looking for this': Scientist accidentally finds shortcut to Mars that could slash travel time in half21 Comments
-
Scientists identify 10,000 'impossible' exoplanet candidates, potentially tripling the number of known alien worlds
-
NASA's Curiosity rover finds a surprising number of giant 'dragon scales' littered across Mars
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A giant 'shadow' has been creeping across Mars for 50 years — and scientists aren't sure why4 Comments
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Saturn's chaotic atmosphere revealed in most comprehensive view yet by James Webb and Hubble telescopes
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