Astronomers have observed a planetary system that challenges current planet formation theories, with a rocky planet that formed beyond the orbits of its gaseous neighbors, possibly after much of the ...

The world’s largest terrestrial biome is changing fast, so much so that Earth’s appearance from space will be subtly shifting in color. Faced with warming temperatures, boreal forests are gradually ...

For life to develop on a planet, certain chemical elements are needed in sufficient quantities. Phosphorus and nitrogen are essential. Phosphorus is vital for the formation of DNA and RNA, which store ...

Snapshots from six computer simulations illustrating the distinct tectonic regimes of terrestrial planets, including the newly discovered “episodic-squishy lid” regime. This framework provides a new ...

Earth may have a moon today because a nearby neighbor once crashed into us, a new analysis of Apollo samples and terrestrial rocks reveals. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an ...

Silicon monoxide gas detected by JWST signals the sublimation and recondensation of silicate dust into crystalline minerals. These minerals combine into pebbles, the earliest building blocks of ...

Illustration comparing the planets of the Solar System and the Sun on the same scale. The planets are shown to scale relative to each other but their distances are not. From left to right the bodies ...

What are the lengths of time it takes for Venus, Mars, and Mercury to orbit the Sun? How far away are Venus, Mars, and Mercury? In the early 1600s, Johannes Kepler used observations of the motions of ...

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) decided several years ago that they needed to come up with a definition for a planet (for use with the objects in our Solar System). The IAU has various ...

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Planetary scientists are split, oscillating between two main theories that explain the order in ...

Late-stage planetary collisions reshaped Earth and its neighboring planets, delivering water, altering their atmospheres, and influencing their tectonics. New findings suggest these violent impacts ...