"Liquid Water" Below Martian Surface Might Be Clay
Mysterious spots that scientists thought were subsurface lakes beneath the Martian south pole may instead be ancient clay deposits.
NASA’s Curiosity Takes Step Toward Solving Mars Methane Mystery
New measurements from NASA’s Curiosity rover show that methane concentrations near the Martian surface vary on a daily cycle. The finding could help reconcile conflicting data.
More Mysterious Buried Splotches on Mars Might Not be Liquid Water
Astronomers find more bright spots underneath Mars's south polar cap, but could they really be subterranean lakes?
Water-Ice Clouds Could Have Warmed Early Mars
New simulations show that the greenhouse effect of high water-ice clouds could have warmed early Mars, permitting the presence of long-ago lakes.
See the Latest Stunning Images from Mars
NASA's Perseverance rover, China's Tianwen 1, and the United Arab Emirates' Hope orbiter share their latest photos from Mars.
Chlorine and Water Are in the Air in Martian Summertime
Two studies of the Martian atmosphere are changing the way we think about its current climate and its ancient past.
Behold Mars! The Best View Until 2035
After a two-years hiatus Mars returns big and bright at opposition on October 13th, its best apparition until September 2035.
Evidence Grows for Super-Salty Underground Lakes on Mars
New analysis of data from the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter strengthens the case for salty lakes underneath Mars's south polar cap.
Was Early Mars "Wet and Warm"? Or Wet and Cold?
A new model suggests that Martian valley networks might have been created by ancient subglacial rivers rather than water flowing on the surface.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
NASA Launches Perseverance Rover for Mars
NASA’s Perseverance rover heads to the Red Planet.
China Launches Tianwen 1 Mars Mission
China launches its first Marsbound mission, Tianwen 1, which carries an ambitious orbiter, lander, and rover package.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
United Arab Emirates Launches Mars Hope Orbiter
United Arab Emirates joins the "planetary space club" with an ambitious mission to Mars.
Weak Martian Magnetic Field May Have Let Air Out
Mars's magnetic field weakened and disappeared billions of years ago. Now, scientists have found that the weak field might have been worse than none at all.
The Martian Methane Mystery Continues
The most advanced instrument ever sent to Mars to study its atmosphere has failed to find any methane after months of searching.
Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson
Curiosity Sees Phobos Transit . . . After Sunset
NASA's Curiosity rover just spied transits of both Martian moons across the face of the Sun — including one that happened after the Sun had set.
New Study Confirms Methane on Mars – But It’s Not Definitive
Independent methane detections in the Martian atmosphere by the Curiosity rover and Mars Express orbiter add confusion to a convoluted story.
Curiosity Rover Exposes Mountain’s Origin
Scientists have used an innovative measure of Mars's gravity to reveal the origin of the mountain the rover is exploring.
Dust Storm Electricity Might Forge Perchlorates on Mars
Electrostatic discharge in a simulated dusty Martian environment yields perchlorates — a potential energy source for microbial life — at abundances 1,000 times greater than sunlight alone.
60-Second Astro News: Dust Storms on Titan, Origin of Phobos
In astronomy news this week: Dust storms are seen blowing around Titan for the first time, and new clues from old data suggest that an impact on Mars gave birth to Phobos.
Explore the Night with Bob King
Observers Anxious for Dust to Settle as Mars Opposition Approaches
With opposition only weeks away, will the current global dust storm finally break? We look at the prospects.