Discover how scientists plan to use data from the GRAIL mission and a map of the Moon's gravitational field to learn about its internal structure. By comparing data about the Moon's gravity with information about its topography, scientists can gain a better understanding of the Moon's formation and
Learn how a giant storm on Saturn sent temperatures soaring in this video from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. About once a Saturn year, the planet develops a massive storm called a Great White Spot. Planetary scientist Brigette Hesman describes observations of the storm that erupted on Saturn i
Explore the complex process of designing and building a satellite using the MAVEN mission to Mars as an example. Plans for the MAVEN satellite went through a thorough review of the concept, budget, and risk analysis before proceeding to the next step of the process. Even after the design review is a
Learn about Earth's close encounter with asteroid 2012 DA14 on February 15, 2013, in this video from NASA. Asteroid 2012 DA14 passed safely about 17,000 miles (27,000 kilometers) from Earth's surface. Its orbit was well known and scientists were not worried about a possible collision. NASA observes
Explore the exciting discoveries from two NASA missions to study comets, Stardust and Deep Impact, which collected valuable data about the nature of comets. The Stardust spacecraft was designed to capture dust particles from comet Wild 2 and deliver them to Earth for analysis. The Deep Impact missio
Discover why Mercury has a tail like a comet, and why its poles are covered in ice despite its close proximity to the Sun. Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun, rotates three times on its axis every two of its years. Despite having temperatures that are hot enough to melt lead, the tilt of the pla
Discover dark features in Jupiter's atmosphere called "hot spots," and their connection to large-scale atmospheric waves. David Choi describes his research on hot spots clearings in Jupiter's atmosphere that appear bright in infrared light. Analysis of data from the Cassini mission in 2000 reveal ho
In this video segment from NOVA: "Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial," paleontologist Neil Shubin recounts a fossil discovery that added another compelling piece to the body of evidence that supports evolution. Shubin's find of a well-preserved skeleton, a "fishapod," represents a transitiona
Launched in September 2011, find out about the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission to measure the gravitational field of the Moon and study how the Moon developed over time. Animations illustrate technical aspects of the mission's design, including the launch, orbital insertion
Discover the instruments that Curiosity, a rover on Mars, used to gather and analyze soil samples in this video from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In 2012, Curiosity took its first scoop of Martian soil to test and analyze from an area called Rocknest. One of the project scientists describes how
Learn about the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission to Mars in this video from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Mars does not have a global magnetic field like Earth but does have patches of magnetic fields. Scientists use magnetometers to study the planet's magnetic anomalies.
Look at the northern and southern aurorae of Saturn and explains how they are produced in this video from NASA. In 2009, there was a rare opportunity to observe both of Saturn's poles simultaneously. The Hubble Space Telescope gathered data over several days, and researchers used the images they gat
