Solar System
Latest about Solar System
![An asteroid orbiting the sun alongside Earth](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pdnLU6k6ZUsVQzST8Zkwzf-320-80.jpg)
New contest lets you name Earth's 1st 'quasi-moon' for free. Here's how to enter.
By Harry Baker published
A new public competition will allow a lucky astronomy enthusiast to name one of Earth's tiny "quasi-moons." Here's everything you need to know about how to enter the competition for free.
![The composite image shows the planetary parade, along with the moon, during the early hours of June 1.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gdN3bMdfqPzVgsdhAQTsNN-320-80.jpg)
Stunning 'parade of planets' image shows 6 worlds aligned over Earth
By Ben Turner published
A stunning photo of the recent "parade of planets" shows Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune in alignment over Earth. It was captured from the U.K. on June 1.
![The planets and larger moons to scale with the Sun.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WwZdFUBNG8m6cHZnmiT7GD-320-80.jpg)
A 'parade of planets' is coming on June 3. Here's what you can actually expect to see.
By Ben Turner last updated
Six worlds will align for a "parade of planets" on June 3, although only a few of them will be visible to the naked eye. Here's what you need to know about the rare alignment.
![This computer-simulated image shows a supermassive black hole at the core of a galaxy. The black region in the center represents the black hole’s event horizon, where no light can escape the massive object’s gravitational grip. The black hole’s powerful gravity distorts space around it like a funhouse mirror. Light from background stars is stretched and smeared as the stars skim by the black hole.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GjruzeoQ2bgwSpf8pDEjk8-320-80.jpg)
32 strange places scientists are looking for aliens
By Isobel Whitcomb published
From planets and moons in our solar system to dying stars and parallel universes, here are some of the far-out places scientists are searching for alien life.
![An image of Saturn's "tiger striped" moon](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TT68FP74C77E66bEH5Siqm-320-80.jpg)
Enormous 'San Andreas fault' on Saturn's moon could help reveal signs of alien life
By Robert Lea published
Huge "tiger stripe" fault lines seen on Saturn's moon Enceladus raise hopes that a "long-lived" ocean containing potential alien life may lurk beneath the moon's icy shell.
![A field of asteroids illuminated by a distant sun](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/C626LDsAvn3EE3L9nYKgyH-320-80.jpg)
Researchers just found more than 1,000 new solar system objects hiding in plain sight
By Harry Baker published
Artificial intelligence trained by asteroid-hunting citizen scientists helped identify more than 1,000 never-before-seen solar system objects from old Hubble images spanning two decades.
![Artist illustration](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GAMFCd4eEc3Catae48tCGf-320-80.jpg)
Jupiter may be the reason why Earth has a moon, new study hints
By Keith Cooper published
The great planetary instability, which saw Jupiter and the other gas giants wander chaotically through the solar system, coincides with the collision that formed Earth's moon. Could the two events be linked?
![A visualization of the glass lava lake spotted on Jupiter's volcanic moon Io](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GS5L3MJsXHo6mguKfPaita-320-80.jpg)
NASA reveals 'glass-smooth lake of cooling lava' on surface of Jupiter's moon Io
By Stephanie Pappas published
The volcanic surface of Jupiter's huge moon Io got a stunning close-up thanks to NASA's Juno mission.
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