In an effort to test the technique of using the moon as a mirror, scientists will use Hubble to observe the transit of Venus across the sun’s face on June 5-6. If successful, this method could be used to detect the very faint fingerprints of an Earth-like planet outside our solar system that similarly transits [...]

More than 60 moons orbit Saturn and by combining data from NASA’s Cassini mission with modeling techniques, scientists have so far been able to identify one with planet-like qualities. Saturn’s moon Phoebe was believed to be a so-called planetesimal, a remnant planetary building block actively evolving for a time before it stalling out. PASADENA, California [...]

Two new papers published in the Astrophysical Journal describe the process of hydrocarbon creation on Saturn’s moon Titan and predicted how long Titan’s chemical factory has been running by modeling how concentrations of methane on the surface change over time. The papers are backed by data from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft and the European Space Agency’s [...]

Based on data from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft, a newly published research paper suggests that Lake Ontario Lacus on Saturn’s moon Titan is very similar to the Etosha salt pan on Earth, although the liquid in Ontario Lacus is methane, ethane and propane rather than water. A new study analyzing data from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft suggests [...]

NASA’s Cassini spacecraft captured surface temperature measurements with its composite infrared spectrometer and several images as it completed its flyby of Saturn’s moons Enceladus and Tethys. Scientists plan on using this new data, combined with previous data, to create digital elevation maps of Tethys. These raw, unprocessed images of Saturn’s moons Enceladus and Tethys were [...]

A new report suggests that the magnetic anomalies on the moon are remnants of a massive asteroid collision, which is believed to have occurred some 4 billion years ago. The research team believes metallic iron from an asteroid could have been magnetized by the impact and topographical surveys show that most of the magnetic anomalies [...]

Below are two new videos released from NASA showing the evolution of the moon and a narrated tour of the moon. A Narrated Tour of the Moon Although the moon has remained largely unchanged during human history, our understanding of it and how it has evolved over time has evolved dramatically. Thanks to new measurements, [...]

The GRAIL spacecraft has officially begun its science phase and will map the gravity field of the moon three times over the next 84 days, allowing scientist to better understand how Earth and other rocky planets in the solar system formed and evolved. PASADENA, California — NASA’s Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) spacecraft orbiting [...]

By combining data from one of Cassini’s instruments, called CAPS (Cassini Plasma Spectrometer), researchers discovered that Dione’s exosphere contains molecules of oxygen. The researchers estimate the density of the molecular oxygen ions to be in the range of 0.01 to 0.09 ions per cubic centimeter and are produced when neutral molecules are ionized. Dione, one [...]

Recently published research papers reveal new details of how Saturn’s moon Titan shifts with the seasons and throughout the day. The research is based on data from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft and shows in detail how Titan’s atmosphere and surface behave much like Earth’s atmosphere. A set of recent papers, many of which draw on data [...]

Researchers recently examined the new high-resolution images from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft and found that “recent” geologic activity has occurred on the moon. Small valleys are forming on the surface as the moon’s crust is being stretched and the scientists believe this activity occurred less than 50 million years ago. New images from [...]

While NASA released some detailed lunar data late last year, no one had used this data to create a map in true 3-D, something that only Apollo’s astronauts have enjoyed in real life until now. The map was created by Jeffrey Ambroziak, who recently launched a Kickstarter project to fund a full-resolution, two-sided 3-D Moon [...]