Solar System

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a mottled white, blue and brown orb on a black background
On this day in space! Aug. 24, 2006: Pluto loses its planet status

By Hanneke Weitering Published

On Aug. 24, 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) decided that Pluto wasn't a planet anymore.

Pluto
A variety of shades of dark blue, gray and white in large panels of ice and water.
Satellite sees Greenland's most significant floating ice loss in over a decade | Space photo of the day for Aug. 24, 2026

By Chelsea Gohd Published

A fractured "ice tongue" is visible in the imagery.

Earth
It's been 20 years since Pluto lost planet status. Will it ever get its title back?

By Keith Cooper Published

The reclassification of Pluto as a dwarf planet continues to stir up a hornet's nest of controversy and debate, as Space.com meets one astronomer who believes the decision to have been a mistake.

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Pluto
How a huge fleet of 17 spacecraft discovered something surprising about solar eruptions

By Keith Cooper Published

Taking measurements of the same CME from different vantage points in the solar system revealed the true extent of a solar eruption.

The Sun
The Propulsion Module (left) and Exploration and Return Modules (right), which together make up Japan’s Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft, are seen at the Tanegashima Space Center in Minamitane, Kagoshima prefecture on Aug. 13, 2026.
Japan unveils Mars moon sample-return spacecraft ahead of Oct. 19 launch (photos)

By Mike Wall Published

Japan recently gave the world a look at the spacecraft of its MMX mission, which will launch on Oct. 19 to grab pieces of the Mars moon Phobos and haul them back to Earth.

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Mars
An illustration of a spacecraft covered in gold foil next to the moon in space
China's Chang'e 7 moon probe will launch this weekend on the most ambitious lunar mission in history

By Leonard David Published

China aims to launch its Chang'e 7 moon mission on Aug. 24 to send a lander, a rover, a hopper and a wide range of science experiments to the lunar south pole.

7 Comments
The moon
Microbes from Earth may survive on the moon, scientists find

By Charles Q. Choi Published

"Even a bootprint or a rover's tread may create a habitable area."

9 Comments
The moon
a rusty red landscape shows a smattering of craters from a high altitude.
Mars Express orbiter captures detailed new video of the crater where Mark Watney was stranded in 'The Martian'

By Josh Dinner Published

Europe's Mars Express orbiter has captured stunning telemetry to create a new flyover visualization of the Red Planet's Southern Highlands and Schiaparelli Crater in magnificent detail.

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Mars
The Richat Structure as seen from space.
Try not to be hypnotized by the 'Eye of Africa' | Space photo of the day for Aug. 20, 2026

By Chelsea Gohd Published

This geologic feature has been mesmerizing astronauts since 1965.

Earth
The box in this image highlights two small craters. The lower crater formed on Aug. 5, 2026 when a SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage impacted the moon. The inset shows details of the new crater, enlarged three times. This image was captured by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter on Aug. 11, 2026 as it passed over the site at an altitude of 56 miles (90 kilometers).
A SpaceX rocket slammed into the moon this month — and a NASA spacecraft has spotted its lunar grave (photos)

By Leonard David Published

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has spotted the crater gouged out on the moon by a SpaceX rocket on Aug. 5, finding it to be about 60 feet (18 meters) wide.

The moon
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