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.

Related Topics: Our Amazing Planet, The Great American Solar Eclipse 2017, Mars

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Planets Venus, Mars and Jupiter align over the Isle of Portland Dorset England in the U.K.

This is the best time to spot a rare alignment of five planets. Here's how to watch it.

By Stephanie Pappas published

The five visible planets in the solar system are lined up against the predawn sky. Here's how to see them.

Scientists looked at the heavy elements that make up Jupiter's core and lower atmosphere to learn more about how the biggest planet in our solar system formed.

Scientists find remains of cannibalized baby planets in Jupiter's cloud-covered belly

By Harry Baker published

A first-of-its-kind study into the inner workings of Jupiter has revealed that the gas giant fed on baby planets as it grew.

Planets Jupiter, Venus, Mars, Saturn and the Moon shine above Rome at dawn, while the Tianhe-1 Chinese space station crosses the sky on April 27, 2022.

5 planets are lining up in the night sky this month

By Stephanie Pappas published

The five visible planets in the solar system will be lined up across the predawn sky this month. Here's how to watch.

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this sequence of the 2012 transit of Venus from space.

Venus crossed the sun's face 10 years ago. Most people alive will never see the sight again.

By Tom Kerss published

On the 10th anniversary of the last transit of Venus, find out what makes these events so special and what else to look out for during the long wait for the next one.

The dramatic outburst of Comet 17P/Holmes, seen in October 2007.

Watch the biggest-ever comet outburst spray dust across the cosmos

By Stephanie Pappas published

The dust trail from the largest comet outburst on record will be visible to amateur astronomers in late July 2022.

The image of Earth in space like a blue marble highlighted the planets fragility and the beauty of Earth.

How did Earth get its name?

By Elizabeth Howell published

Whether you call our planet the Earth, the world or a terrestrial body, all of these names have an origin story deep in history.

A photo of Neptune taken by Voyager 2 on August 16, 1989.

Neptune: The farthest planet from our sun

By Patrick Pester published

Neptune is the farthest planet from the sun in our solar system and home to blistering winds and diamond rain.

Mercury in space surrounded by stars. Image elements furnished by NASA.

Mercury: Facts about the smallest planet

By Patrick Pester published

Mercury is the closest planet to the sun, the fastest planet orbiting the sun and the smallest planet in our solar system.

A satellite image showing planet Earth at night.

Earth: Facts about the Blue Planet

By Adam Mann published

Learn all about Earth, from how our planet formed to what it's made of to why life exists on our blue planet.

Planets Jupiter, Venus, Mars, Saturn and the Moon shine above Rome at dawn, while the Tianhe Chinese space station crosses the sky on April 27, 2022.

ISS and China's space station photobomb image of 4 planets aligned in the sky

By Jeanna Bryner published

The International Space Station and China's space station photobombed a four-planet line-up in the early morning sky for Italian astrophysicist Gianluca Masi.

From his balcony in Rome, Gianluca Masi captured this night-sky image of Jupiter, Venus, Mars and Saturn (plus the moon) lined up.

4 planets line up like ducks in a row in gorgeous night-sky image

By Stephanie Pappas published

The moon is leading a parade of four planets across the predawn sky this week.

Planets Venus, Mars and Jupiter align over the Isle of Portland Dorset England in the U.K.

The planets are prepping for an epic alignment. Here's how to see it shape up.

By Stephanie Pappas published

The five naked-eye planets in the solar system will line up across the predawn sky this spring and summer. Here's how to watch.

An image of Pluto taken by the New Horizons probe in 2015 with evidence for potential cryovolcanism marked in blue.

Ice volcanoes on Pluto may still be erupting

By Rebecca Sohn published

An area of Pluto that researchers think was formed from the eruption of ice volcanoes is unique on the dwarf planet and in the solar system, a new study suggests.

In this illustration, the eight major planets of the solar system are shown orbiting the sun.

The solar system: Facts about our cosmic neighborhood

By Sarah Wild, Adam Mann published

Take a journey through our solar system, including a stop at the non-planet Pluto.

NASA captured the images during the fourth flyby of the Parker Solar Probe.

NASA captures stunning, first of a kind images of Venus' surface

By Ben Turner published

The stunning images show scorching hot continents, plains and plateaus

An image taken by the Dark Energy Survey shows Comet Bernardinelli-Bernstein in October 2017.

Largest comet ever observed bumps Hale-Bopp from pedestal

By Stephanie Pappas published

The Bernardinelli-Bernstein comet is officially the largest ever observed, according to new measurements.

Facts about Earth

50 interesting facts about Earth

By Stephanie Pappas, Robert Roy Britt, Ailsa Harvey published

Reference We've collected some of the most interesting and amazing facts about Earth

The Cassini spacecraft’s camera snapped this image of Saturn’s moon Mimas on Oct. 16, 2010, showing the large Herschel Crater.

Saturn's 'Death Star' moon could have a secret underground ocean

By Ben Turner published

Scientists have found "compelling evidence" that Saturn's "Death Star" moon is hiding an ocean just beneath its surface.

illustration of an earth-like planet orbited by a moon with a star in the background

NASA needs a new telescope, ASAP, to find Earth's twin

By Nicoletta Lanese published

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine say that finding Earth-like worlds should be a priority.

Jupiter’s banded appearance is created by the cloud-forming “weather layer.” This composite image shows views of Jupiter in (left to right) infrared and visible light taken by the Gemini North telescope and NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, respectively.

Jupiter's Great Red Spot is 40 times deeper than Mariana Trench

By Brandon Specktor published

The massive red storm extends far deeper than astronomers thought possible — and the ferocious winds powering it are deeper still.