Advertisement

Image: Maksym Yemelyanov/Zoonar/IMAGO

Solar system

The solar system is Earth's cosmic neighborhood, consisting of eight planets, five dwarf plants and thousands of smaller objects that orbit the sun.

Skip next section All Content on this topic

All Content on this topic

An image of the earth and it's gravitational pull.

An image of the earth and it's gravitational pull.

Does gravity work differently at different places on Earth?

How the Earth’s shape, your altitude and the density of the rock beneath your feet influence your weight.

NASA's Perseverance Rover is seen in front of a view of Mars that it had captured.

NASA's Perseverance Rover is seen in front of a view of Mars that it had captured.

Was there life on Mars? New clues spark hope

NASA says possible evidence of microbial activity on Mars was found in rock samples from an ancient lakebed.

A "selfie" taken by NASA's Perseverance Mars rover, made up of 62 individual images, on July 23, in this image released on September 10, 2025

A "selfie" taken by NASA's Perseverance Mars rover, made up of 62 individual images, on July 23, in this image released on September 10, 2025

NASA rover discovers potential signs of ancient life on Mars

The discovery is among the strongest evidence yet that the red planet may have once harbored life.

Private space traveler Jared Isaacman seen from behind in a spacesuit, half his body out of a space capsule, with Earth in the distance

Private space traveler Jared Isaacman seen from behind in a spacesuit, half his body out of a space capsule, with Earth in the distance

Space law crisis: Outer space security in an insecure world

There are reasons to be optimistic about space security, but they may have to be driven by the private sector.

Close-up of the moon during a total lunar eclipse in 2022; the moon a red-orange

Close-up of the moon during a total lunar eclipse in 2022; the moon a red-orange

Blood Moon: What makes a total lunar eclipse

The moon shines with all of Earth's sunrises and sunsets during a total lunar eclipse. But how, when it's in our shadow?

A pregnant woman sits in a doctor's office, she looks worried

A pregnant woman sits in a doctor's office, she looks worried

Nigeria most dangerous place on Earth to give birth

Almost a third of the world's maternal deaths occur in Nigeria, with one death every seven minutes.

A water drop hangs on the edge of a tap

A water drop hangs on the edge of a tap

Where did the Earth's water originally come from?

From outer space or inside the Earth? This Tomorrow Today question comes from Souleymane N. in Senegal.

How do we protect our planet? — Tomorrow Today

Muscle mass and life expectancy; clean drinking water; safer urban mobility; and preparing for space hazards.

Tomorrow Today — The Science Show

ESA probe for asteroid defense / What pterosaurs ate / How octopuses hunt / Marine noise pollution

Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov, NASA astronauts Nichole Ayers, Anne McClain, and Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi sit beside each other

Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov, NASA astronauts Nichole Ayers, Anne McClain, and Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi sit beside each other

NASA astronauts return to Earth from ISS after five months

The Crew-10 mission, returning on a SpaceX capsule, had replaced Wilmore and Williams, who were stranded aboard the ISS.

A new look at the dark universe — Tomorrow Today

From Euclid to Mars Express, Europe’s space race brings stunning discoveries and tackles challenges in orbit and beyond.

DW Tomorrow Today Sendungslogo Composite

DW Tomorrow Today Sendungslogo Composite

Could space debris endanger the ozone layer again?

Old satellites reenter the atmosphere and burn. Is this a clean solution to space waste, or will it spark a new crisis?

Mars Express at 20: Water, ice and life’s hidden clues

Mars Express has spent 20 years uncovering water ice and landscapes that hint Mars was once habitable.

The NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite at the Indian Space Research Organization's Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh, India.

The NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite at the Indian Space Research Organization's Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh, India.

US, India launch satellite to track Earth's surface

The mission will map the Earth's surface in incredible detail.

Jets of silicon monoxide blowing away from the baby star HOPS-315

Jets of silicon monoxide blowing away from the baby star HOPS-315

Astronomers capture dawn of new solar system for 1st time

The discovery of rocky planet formation offers a rare vision of how Earth-like worlds may start to form.

Solar and wind park

Solar and wind park

How hackers could take down Europe's power supply

Cybersecurity is essential for energy providers — can they defend themselves against attacks from hackers?

packed stadium, sign: Feed the World, July 13th 1985 at Wembley Stadium, Live Aid

packed stadium, sign: Feed the World, July 13th 1985 at Wembley Stadium, Live Aid

Live Aid heralded a new global solidarity. So what happened?

In 1985, people around the world came together in an unprecedented show of unity to fight famine in Ethiopia.

A model of one of The Exploration Company's Nyx capsules

A model of one of The Exploration Company's Nyx capsules

German space capsule lost carrying ashes of 166 people

The Nyx craft was due to return remains to bereaved families after the extraterrestrial trip.

Tourism and mobility: from Earth to orbit — MADE

Overtourism, Moldova’s crumbling railways, lab samples via drones and the space race.

Mars, Snickers and MilkyWay bars of chocolate.

Mars, Snickers and MilkyWay bars of chocolate.

Mars' acquisition of Pringles' maker triggers EU alarms

The EU is worried the takeover would increase Mars' bargaining power and hike prices for consumers.

Protesters display a banner reading "No Space for Bezos!" on the Rialto Bridge during a protest against Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' upcoming wedding to Lauren Sanchez being held in Venice, Italy, June 13, 2025

Protesters display a banner reading "No Space for Bezos!" on the Rialto Bridge during a protest against Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' upcoming wedding to Lauren Sanchez being held in Venice, Italy, June 13, 2025

Bezos' Venice wedding party venue moved following protests

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Venice wedding party venue was moved out of the city center at the last minute.

The wreckage of Air India's Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad on Jun 13, 2025.

The wreckage of Air India's Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad on Jun 13, 2025.

Air India marred by flight disruptions in crash aftermath

Air India has seen a wave of flight cancellations, with its Boeing fleet under review by Indian regulators.

Science Unscripted Teaser 2025

Science Unscripted Teaser 2025

Is your life meaningful?

The answer might be no. But if you say yes ... then what exactly are you picturing when you say yes?

Solar corona: a composite image taken by the European Proba-3 mission and released, June 16, 2025

Solar corona: a composite image taken by the European Proba-3 mission and released, June 16, 2025

Twin Proba-3 spacecraft create artificial solar eclipse

After a first-ever space maneuver, the European mission revealed new insights into the solar corona.

Employees of 'ispace' wait for the signal from the touchdown of its lunar lander Resilience on the Moon at a venue to watch its landing in Tokyo, Japan, June 6, 2025

Employees of 'ispace' wait for the signal from the touchdown of its lunar lander Resilience on the Moon at a venue to watch its landing in Tokyo, Japan, June 6, 2025

Japan's ispace fails second lunar landing mission

The mission was aborted as it was likely the craft had crashed after losing contact.

A woman in a spacesuit

A woman in a spacesuit

A gold rush in space — the business of space travel

Gernot Grömer founded the Austrian Space Forum to advance space travel and enable Mars missions in 20 to 30 years.

Image of the White House with a thunder cloud looming

Image of the White House with a thunder cloud looming

Trump's economic philosophy: A real plan or simply chaos?

Are Trump's tariffs a bargaining chip towards a different, more dramatic plan? Business Beyond takes a look.

A Long March-3B Y110 rocket carrying Tianwen-2 probe takes off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province, China, May 29, 2025

A Long March-3B Y110 rocket carrying Tianwen-2 probe takes off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province, China, May 29, 2025

China launches mission to get asteroid samples

If the mission succeeds, it will make China the third country to fetch the asteroid rocks.

A satellite flying over the moon.

A satellite flying over the moon.

China and Russia plan to build nuclear power station on moon

The power station will be part of the International Lunar Research Station planned to be constructed by 2035.

Venera 4 replica

Venera 4 replica

Soviet-era Venus probe plunges back to Earth after 53 years

Launched from the Soviet Union, Kosmos 482 had been bound for Venus but never reached its destination.

A replica of one of Soviet Russia's Venera Venus Landers

A replica of one of Soviet Russia's Venera Venus Landers

Cosmos 482 Venus lander is a special kind of space debris

Most space debris burns up in the atmosphere, but the incomning Russian Venus mission probe Cosmos 482 is different.

US astronaut John Young stands on the moon in 1972

US astronaut John Young stands on the moon in 1972

NASA cuts: ESA in talks about the 'full repercussions'

As the US shifts its ambitions to Mars, cuts to the national space agency will affect the work of European researchers.

Former Labor Minister Kim Moon Soo on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

Former Labor Minister Kim Moon Soo on Saturday, May 3, 2025.

South Korea: Kim Moon Soo wins conservative nomination

The People Power Party has nominated Kim Moon Soo as its candidate for snap elections.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks during an online New Year news conference with local and foreign journalists at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea

South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks during an online New Year news conference with local and foreign journalists at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea

South Korea: Former President Moon indicted for bribery

Moon Jae-in led South Korea from 2017 to 2022.

Mars as seen from space in 1997.

Mars as seen from space in 1997.

NASA digs up new clue in search for life on Mars

A carbon cycle has been discovered on Mars. So, where's the life?

K2-18 b, artist's impression

K2-18 b, artist's impression

Strongest sign yet of possible life beyond Earth — study

Could there be extraterrestrial life on a planet named K2-18 b that lies 120 light-years from Earth? Maybe.

A view of the moon, illuminated in white light

A view of the moon, illuminated in white light

NASA's moon-based time standard

NASA is working on a unified time standard for the moon. LTC will be key to the success of multinational moon missions.

Rabea Rogge

Rabea Rogge

First German woman in space returns to Earth

German scientist Rabea Rogge landed back on the coast of California after four days in space.

Image of sunlight illuminating the surface of the moon.

Image of sunlight illuminating the surface of the moon.

How radiation from the sun affects the moon

Radiation and particles from the Sun present a major challenge for crewed lunar exploration.

DW Tomorrow Today Sendungslogo Composite

DW Tomorrow Today Sendungslogo Composite

Tomorrow Today — The Science Show

How social media affects your brain. Equal opportunity in child development. AND: Is honesty always the best policy?

A still image from a Ukrainian Long Neptune cruise missile flight test

A still image from a Ukrainian Long Neptune cruise missile flight test

Will Ukraine's Neptune long-range missile make a difference?

Ukraine has unleashed a new missile that can reach targets deep inside Russia, a potential replacement for US rockets.

Nasa astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore

Nasa astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore

Stranded NASA astronauts have landed back on Earth

Nasa astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore have landed safely back on Earth in a SpaceX capsule.

The Crew Dragon capsule containing Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams before its splashdown off the coast of Florida

The Crew Dragon capsule containing Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams before its splashdown off the coast of Florida

NASA astronauts return to Earth after 9 months on ISS

Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams returned to Earth in a SpaceX capsule after an extended stay on the ISS.

People wave Indian flags as an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) during the launch of the Chandrayaan-3 mission

People wave Indian flags as an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) during the launch of the Chandrayaan-3 mission

India approves Chandrayaan-5 moon mission

India is planning to launch a fifth lunar probe carrying a 25-kilogram rover, in association with Japan.

USA SpaceX Starship Start in Texas

USA SpaceX Starship Start in Texas

SpaceX's Starship to leave for Mars end of 2026, Musk says

Despite recent failures, Elon Musk insisted the world's most powerful rocket will soon blast off to the Red Planet.

NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter is seen in a close-up taken by Mastcam-Z, a pair of zoomable cameras aboard the Perseverance rover.

NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter is seen in a close-up taken by Mastcam-Z, a pair of zoomable cameras aboard the Perseverance rover.

How did the Ingenuity helicopter fly on Mars?

The Mars-copter Ingenuity confirmed that flight on the surface of other planets is possible. Here’s how it worked.

An aerial view of a Greenland icesheet over land, with chunks of ice floating in the ocean nearby.

An aerial view of a Greenland icesheet over land, with chunks of ice floating in the ocean nearby.

Our next ice age is due in 10,000 years, but there's a catch

Scientists find ice age cycles follow patterns related to the Earth’s orbit around the sun. When's the next one?

In this rendering private lunar lander Blue Ghost touches down on the moon with a special delivery for NASA Sunday, March 2, 2025.

In this rendering private lunar lander Blue Ghost touches down on the moon with a special delivery for NASA Sunday, March 2, 2025.

US private spacecraft lands on moon

Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Mission has achieved its first moon landing after a long journey through space.

A picture of asteroid Dimorphos provided by NASA shows as a grey rock

A picture of asteroid Dimorphos provided by NASA shows as a grey rock

Risk of large asteroid striking Earth falls to 1.5%

NASA cuts calculations of asteroid large enough to wipe out a whole city striking Earth in half.

Zin Mar Aung, Myanmar's National Unity Government's foreign minister, at MSC 2025, talking to DW

Zin Mar Aung, Myanmar's National Unity Government's foreign minister, at MSC 2025, talking to DW

Zin Mar Aung: 'Myanmar's junta losing control'

The opposition NUG's foreign minister told DW at MSC that the Myanmar junta lacks legitimacy to hold elections.