Saturn's F-Ring Has Quieted Down
August 4, 2014
Comparing measurements over 25 years, planetary scientists have noted a drop in bright clumps in Saturn's tenuous F-ring.
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Enceladus Geysers Still Unexplained
July 31, 2014
The number of geysers has topped a hundred on Saturn's overactive moon. How could they be sustained for billions of years?
Keeping Titan Old
June 21, 2014
As the Cassini orbiter makes its 103rd close pass by Titan, have long-agers found ways to keep it billions of years old?
Every Planet Surprises Secular Astronomers, II: Outer Planets
May 3, 2014
"Surprise" or "puzzling" are the most common words in news reports about bodies in the solar system. Here are recent examples that discuss the outer planets.
Enceladus Ocean Means Dating Trouble, Not Life
April 5, 2014
News media are jumping over an announcement that Saturn's moon Enceladus may have a large body of water under its icy crust, but what does it mean?
The Spin on Planets
February 18, 2014
As the orbs whirl around Sol, human understanding of our space neighborhood rises and falls.
Changing Stories at Saturn and Titan
December 21, 2013
News from the ringed planet and its largest moon shows scientists can't keep their stories straight when trying to keep Saturn billions of years old.
Europa Joins the Geyser Club
December 12, 2013
Hints of watery plumes have been detected on Europa – like Enceladus, at its south pole, too.
Space Diamonds May Be Closer to Home
October 13, 2013
While casting doubt on stars made of diamond, other news reports are saying the precious jewels may inhabit the gas giants of our solar system.
Scientists Dodge Youthfulness of Saturn Moon Titan
August 17, 2013
Like Enceladus, Saturn's moon Titan shows multiple signs of being far less than 4.5 billion years old – yet the press releases are strangely silent about the implications.
Cassini Shoots "Blue Dot" of Earth
July 24, 2013
Another epic photo of Earth from space was taken on July 19 of Earth from Saturn by Cassini, and released on July 22. From Mercury, the MESSENGER spacecraft also portrayed Earth as a small dot.
Saturn's Rings Impacted by Meteoroids
April 30, 2013
Cassini has observed clouds of dust from meteoroids hitting the rings. The data will "impact" theories of the rings' origin and age.
Bimbo Eruptions in the Solar System
April 6, 2013
Planetary origin theories come across as popular and charismatic, till some little moon pops off and says, "Yoo-hoo! Remember me?"
Rare Moments of Glory: Planetary Scientists Admit Seeing "Lucky" Circumstances
February 2, 2013
Why are we seeing young phenomena in the planets if they are billions of years old? Some scientists are abandoning uniformitarian assumptions and admitting we are lucky to be witnessing them in "rare moments of glory."
Astronomy Grab Bag
December 29, 2012
For year's end, here's a clean-out of astronomy articles—from planetary science to cosmology—to motivate further inquiry.