Classical Astronomers Observed a Different Great Red Spot on Jupiter
In 1665, astronomer Giovanni Domenico Cassini observed a massive storm raging on Jupiter. It became known as the Great Red Spot, a swirling oval of clouds that’s almost twice as…
New Moons Discovered Around Uranus and Neptune
Astronomers found a new moon orbiting Uranus, as well as two around Neptune. The tiny satellites appeared as faint specks in the outer reaches of the solar system following hours…
Something Is Messing With a Ring System Between Saturn and Uranus
A previously unknown satellite may be shaping the rings of Chariklo, a petite body that orbits the Sun between the orbits of Saturn and Uranus, according to a team of…
Vintage Voyager Data Reveals Plasma Jets in Jupiter’s Magnetosphere
There are jets in Jupiter’s magnetosheath, according to Voyager 2 mission data from 1979. The 45-year-old information is now revealing the dynamics of the plasma stream. What Is Planet Nine…
Then and Now: Our Earliest Close-Ups of the Planets Compared to Today’s Best Shots
Left: Pioneer 10’s view of Jupiter in March 1973. Right: Webb Telescope’s view of Jupiter in July 2022. Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, Jupiter ERS Team; image processing by Judy Schmidt…
Will Saturn’s Rings Really ‘Disappear’ by 2025?
If you can get your hands on a telescope, there are few sights more spectacular than the magnificent ringed planet – Saturn. What Inspired Dominic Monaghan’s Performance in Moriarty? Off…
Astronomers Spot New Aurora in the Gases Around Uranus
Feast your eyes on Uranus’ glowing edges. We’re serious—a team of astronomers has spotted a new aurora on the seventh planet from the Sun, glowing at infrared wavelengths. What Is…
Webb Telescope Reveals a High-Speed Jet on Jupiter
In July 2022, the Webb Space Telescope detected an intense jet shooting across the equator of Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system. The jet is traveling at about…
The Webb Telescope Finally Snaps Saturn’s Luminous Rings
The Webb Space Telescope has taken an image of the ringed planet Saturn, completing its photo album of our solar system’s gas giants. Webb Telescope Images the Pillars of Creation…