Our Solar System is a truly amazing place about which we know so much, yet at the same time still have so much to learn. In Understanding The Solar System, we’ll explore the inner workings of our fascinating cosmic neighbourhood, from the wonders of our own planet to the secrets of the Ice Giants and all of our planetary neighbours. Marvel at the incredible star that makes it all possible, and delve beneath the surface of Earth’s very own natural satellite and some of the Solar System’s strangest moons. We’ll also bring you a host of articles on other fascinating space phenomena, such as comets, asteroids, alien storms and more.
Welcome
25 unbelievable facts about the Solar System • Why our neighbour hood could be the strangest place in the cosmos
The sun and planets
The Sun • The Solar System would be nothing if it weren’t for the power and influence of our nearest star
News from the Sun • Explore some of the features of our Solar System’s star
Scientists get a gruesome look at how our Sun will eat planets • Peering into our Solar System’s future
Mercury • This minute world is arguably the least explored of the four terrestrial planets
News from Mercury • Discover some of the fascinating features of the Solar System’s smallest planet
22 things you didn’t know about Venus • Earth’s sister planet is an intriguing and mysterious world, with much more to it than meets the eye
What are planets like on the inside? • Even among the worlds of our Solar System we see a huge variety of planets
Earth • The rocky world that we call home is full of wonders
News from Earth • What’s happening on our home planet?
Complete guide to Mars • We’re learning more about the fourth rock from the Sun every day
Key Mars missions • Robots have been unlocking Mars’ secrets for decades
How the planets would look… • …if they were at the same distance from Earth as the Moon, and how it would affect our planet
Jupiter • The largest planet has a lot to tell us, and Juno is on the case
News from Jupiter • Delve into the Gas Giant’s fascinating secrets
Everything you need to know about Saturn • With its moon system, rings of dust and ice and occasionally tempestuous atmosphere, there’s more to this gas giant than meets the eye
Saturn’s Moons
Inside Saturn
Major missions to Saturn
Top 5 discoveries
Secrets of the Ice Giants • At the far reaches of the Solar System, two worlds remain a mystery to us. But recent research may have given us a peek into the unknown
How an ice giant is made • The ice giants formed around the Sun like their Solar System sïblings
How the ice giants’ weather systems compare with other worlds • The climate is very different across distant worlds
Missions to Uranus and Neptune • NASA reports suggest several possible future spacecraft to the ice giants
Moons of the Solar System
Complete guide to the Moon • Even though we know more about our natural satellite than any other celestial body - and have even visited it - the Moon continues to facinate us
Measuring up the Moon by its diameter
How the Moon was made
Inside and out • Earth’s natural satellite shares some remarkable similarities with our home planet
On the surface • The surface of the Moon is about contrasts: light and dark, hot and cold
Exploring the Moon: The Past
Exploring the Moon: Present and future • We’ve been studying the Moon for over 50 years, and thanks to a host of pioneering missions we now know more about our satellite than ever before
Earth to the Moon • Jump on board the Orion as we follow the route planned for the Artemis...