Solar System
Latest about Solar System
![A rendered photo of Mercury with rainbow colors across its surface](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ygDyXubaZeVyML3msWUUhK-320-80.jpg)
9 miles of solid diamonds may lurk beneath Mercury's surface, new study finds
By Deepa Jain published
New simulations suggest that a 9-mile-thick layer of diamonds may lurk deep below the surface of Mercury. The gems almost certainly can't be mined for bling — but they may help solve some of the planet's biggest mysteries.
![Image of the planets in our solar system before Pluto was demoted](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GuYEwVMfA8HwScNAHp3rsC-320-80.jpg)
Astronomers want to change how we define a planet — again
By Kristel Tjandra published
Astronomers are proposing a new, more quantitative definition of what makes a planet. The new definition looks more directly at the object's mass — but it would still leave Pluto out of the running.
![A digital image showing thousands of blue and orange dots surrounding a white circle representing the Earth](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/D4n3uQEzg3pCQYzmTcDw3K-320-80.jpg)
'Dark comets' may be a much bigger threat to Earth than we thought, new study warns
By Paul Sutter published
A strange class of space rock known as a "dark comet" has qualities of both asteroids and comets — and the hard-to-spot objects may pose a larger threat to Earth than we thought, according to new research.
![An artist's rendering of a black hole](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DDvy89CzEH3pLHBqNyBJyR-320-80.jpg)
What would happen if a black hole wandered into our solar system?
By Ashley Hamer published
Black holes aren't "cosmic vacuum cleaners," but what would happen if one wandered into our solar system?
![Saturn moon Enceladus in front of planet Saturn, rings and other moons.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dJrQUnf28iZGj7bNgbrbSS-320-80.jpg)
How many moons are in the solar system?
By Harry Baker published
The solar system has many more moons than the one we can see in the sky. But how many do we actually know about? And how many more are waiting to be discovered?
![NASA's snap of Phobos, captured by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on its Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HF44nL4dTrqYWYSY8R7Fmi-320-80.png)
'Space potato' spotted by NASA Mars satellite is actually something much cooler
By Ben Turner published
The starchy-looking moon Phobos, destined to crash into Mars' surface, has been revealed in new detail by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The 'space potato' image was recently shared on NASA's Instagram.
![An image of Jupiter's great red spot](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wkpzCfxrJscxgFpsoHZpgS-320-80.jpg)
Is Jupiter's Great Red Spot an impostor? Giant storm may not be the original one discovered 350 years ago
By Stefanie Waldek published
Astronomer Giovanni Cassini observed Jupiter's 'Permanent Spot' in 1665, but new research suggests it's a different vortex from today's Great Red Spot.
![Facts about Earth](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xm5tNGu2r7gT9WzeXqd8S9-320-80.jpg)
50 interesting facts about Earth
By Stephanie Pappas, Robert Roy Britt, Ailsa Harvey last updated
Reference We've collected some of the most interesting and amazing facts about Earth
![An artist's impression of the solar system](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RHiYURLf7bwv2TrTshqpic-320-80.jpg)
8 strange objects that could be hiding in the outer solar system
By Harry Baker published
The outer solar system is a vast and mysterious place that could be harboring hidden objects we know almost nothing about — from the elusive Planet Nine and baby black holes to interstellar visitors and "planet killer" asteroids.
![illustration of a protoplanetary disk](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zoVZmHNf7VAoUdwzczcXLH-320-80.jpg)
James Webb telescope reveals 'cataclysmic' asteroid collision in nearby star system
By Ben Turner published
The James Webb Space Telescope has caught a snapshot of two massive asteroids colliding in a nearby star system — and it could teach us about how common solar systems like our own are.
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