# Planets

Last year

2022

# Goldilocks zone

Planetary bodies seen for first time in habitable zone of dead star

Researchers suggested their findings might provide a glimpse of what will become of our solar system.

21.3k

Feb 11th 2022, 7:26 AM

All time

# Quiz

Quiz: How much do you know about the planet Mars?

Test your knowledge.

35.8k

Feb 21st 2021, 10:00 PM

# Look Up

Five astronomical highlights the skies have in store in 2021

We’re starting another rotation around the sun. Here’s what to watch out for in the skies.

27.6k

Dec 24th 2020, 7:30 PM

# Space

QUIZ: How much do you know about the planet Venus?

Scientists made a new discovery in the clouds of Venus recently…

35.0k

Sep 16th 2020, 9:30 PM

# Research

Saturn is losing its rings at the 'worst-case scenario' rate

The rings are being pulled into Saturn by gravity as a dusty rain of ice particles under the influence of Saturn’s magnetic field.

50.0k

Dec 18th 2018, 12:42 PM

# Potential life

Seven planets in Milky Way have water and are potentially 'habitable'

Based in the Trappist-1 system, the planets seem to contain water and have rocky surfaces.

15.8k

Feb 10th 2018, 8:30 AM

# The final frontier

"A giant surprise": New photos reveal previously unseen mountains on Pluto

WOAH.

21.7k

Jul 15th 2015, 9:09 PM

# under the sea

What's under the icy seas of Europa? NASA plans to find out

The hope is that a new prototype will be able to explore distant planets with potential habitable oceans.

11.9k

Jun 28th 2015, 9:30 AM

# as you do

What were you doing at 15? This boy found a new planet 1,000 light years from Earth

Wagg’s exoplanet is located in a distant solar system within our home galaxy, the Milky Way.

8.6k

Jun 11th 2015, 10:29 PM

# into the beyond

This space suit isn't from a new sci-fi movie. NASA astronauts might wear this to Mars

For the first time since 1982, NASA is in the process of testing new space suit prototypes.

23.8k

Jun 5th 2015, 7:00 PM

# COLONISATION

'Get your ass to Mars': Buzz Aldrin wants humans to permanently occupy Mars

The second man to land on the Moon said those that travel to Mars shouldn’t envisage that they will ever return to Earth.

11.9k

Nov 14th 2014, 2:38 PM

# deep space

These stunning Hubble images show us the secrets of the universe

And a lot of pretty colours as well.

14.5k

Nov 8th 2014, 4:00 PM

# Space race

'It's not like Star Trek': This is a big weekend for NASA's plans to land a human on Mars

The MAVEN spacecraft, a scout for human explorers, is approaching the red planet

12.3k

Sep 19th 2014, 7:15 AM

# He Said What

Football on Jupiter, Mars or Saturn? Sepp Blatter thinks it could happen some day

He has to be trolling us at this stage.

4.4k

Jun 11th 2014, 4:50 PM

# a mars a day

Look up! We'll have the best view of Mars in two years tonight

Hello there, Red Planet.

19.2k

May 10th 2014, 4:00 PM

Voices

Opinion: We have found Earth's Cousin outside our solar system ... but what does that mean?

The Kepler spacecraft been on a planet-hunting mission since 2009 – and it’s just found the first Earth-sized planet in a habitable zone. What are the implications?

107

May 6th 2014, 7:30 PM

# uncharted space

NASA finds 'bonanza' of 715 new planets, but how many could support life?

About four in fact.

10.1k

Feb 27th 2014, 10:10 AM

# interstellar trekker

Is there life on Mars? Ten years on the Opportunity rover is still looking

The rover was only supposed to run for 90 days, but 10 years a 40 Martian kilometers later, it shows no signs of stopping.

8.0k

Jan 25th 2014, 10:00 AM

Voices

Column: Stargazing for beginners – get the most out of these dark winter nights

Short days can hinder what we can do with our free time – but there is plenty to see and do at night, even in these days of less money to spend, astronomy is a surprisingly inexpensive (and often free!) hobby to enjoy, writes Conor Farrell.

7.6k

Dec 14th 2013, 12:00 PM

# Look Up

International Space Station to pass in front of the moon tonight

Areas between Dublin and Bantry Bay in Cork should be able to see it tonight.

17.8k

Oct 10th 2013, 7:15 AM

# The Future

Scientists launch animal sperm bank to recreate populations on other planets

The scientists in Japan were quick to stress that there is presently no human application for the technology but this may be explored in the future.

5.9k

Aug 28th 2013, 9:30 PM

# KAPUT

NASA's planet-hunting spacecraft is broken - but they're determined to fix it

The planet-hunting telescope is 40 million miles from Earth and searches for Earth-like planets outside our solar system.

6.3k

May 16th 2013, 1:59 PM

# Kepler

Earth isn't so special anymore, apparently

We’re not the only good place to hang out in the ‘habitable zone’.

19.5k

103

Apr 20th 2013, 1:00 PM

# Astronomy

Astronomers reveal the smallest planet ever discovered by humans

Earth, meet your new baby cousin: Kepler 37b.

10.5k

Feb 20th 2013, 8:11 PM

Voices

Column: Why I want to be Ireland's first female astronaut

Engineer, Norah Patten, has always been fascinated with space and has even made a career out of it. Now she wants to be Ireland’s first female astronaut. Here she tells us why.

499

Jan 27th 2013, 7:30 PM

Voices

Column: Why it’s important to look at the stars – literally

It’s good to be curious about a world outside our own, because being inquisitive in the past has gotten us where we are today, writes Conor Farrell.

7.1k

Dec 15th 2012, 7:00 PM

# Home 2.0

The top 5 planets that are 'prime candidates' for harbouring life

They all have VERY fancy names.

7.3k

Oct 20th 2012, 8:45 AM

# final frontier

Astronomers find diamond planet twice the size of Earth

The planet is made up mainly of graphite and diamond and was spotted zooming around a nearby star.

13.7k

Oct 11th 2012, 9:29 PM

# Blue moon

Blue moon to be visible tomorrow night

This month the universe has decided to throw in a second full moon for the price of one.

14.7k

Aug 30th 2012, 7:24 PM

# backdrop

PIC: If Jupiter were as close to Earth as the moon is...

One word: Wow.

10.2k

Jul 3rd 2012, 2:25 PM

# the longest day

Is today the longest day of the year? Or tomorrow?

It’s tomorrow. Officially. At 12.09am to be exact.

13.5k

Jun 20th 2012, 8:47 PM

# Mars

NASA refines Mars landing – but brings it closer to dangerous landing zone

‘Curiosity’ is set to land on the red plant in early August.

2.4k

Jun 12th 2012, 2:30 PM

# Transit of venus

VIDEO: Venus passes in front of the sun for the last time before 2117

The ‘Transit of Venus’ occurs in pairs, and won’t be seen again this century – but NASA, thankfully, took this video.

2.8k

Jun 6th 2012, 8:17 AM

# Venus

Astronomers gear up for rare Venus Transit solar event

Next time Venus can be seen travelling across the face of the Sun will be in 2117.

2.6k

Jun 5th 2012, 11:36 AM

# Space

European Space Agency sets sights on Jupiter

New mission will focus on the gas giant’s three large icy moons.

1.1k

May 3rd 2012, 10:31 AM

# Mars

Mars Watch: Tonight's your chance to see the red planet

Giant telescopes set up around country for public to use.

9.2k

Mar 29th 2012, 7:00 AM

# heavens above

Bright stars: What to see in the sky tonight

Jupiter, Venus and a thin slice of crescent moon to be highly visible at 8.30pm.

39.2k

Mar 26th 2012, 4:45 PM

# Planets

'Double Planet' in the skies tonight, as Venus and Jupiter blaze together

The brightest and second-brightest planets in the sky will come extremely close to one other tonight – and it will all be visible with the naked eye.

7.7k

Mar 12th 2012, 11:26 AM

# solar flare

Northern Lights might be visible over Ireland tonight

There may be lots of activity in the skies tonight, thanks to solar flare activity – here’s your guide on what to look out for.

9.7k

Mar 8th 2012, 12:16 PM

Good Morning

The 9 at 9 Nine things to know this morning…

3.6k

Dec 22nd 2011, 8:28 AM