Planets & Moons

There are 8 officially recognized Solar System planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Most of them, except Mercury and Venus, have their own natural satellites, commonly called “moons.” Some of the dwarf planets, like Pluto and Eris, have moons, too. Here, you’ll learn the best dates to observe planets in the sky and find everything you need to know about planets, dwarf planets, and natural satellites. When you learn enough, test your astronomy skills with our challenging quizzes!

Planets near the Moon

September 2024: What Planet is Next to the Moon Tonight?

~13 min
Astronomical News

What is that bright dot shining near the Moon tonight? Find out about stars and planets that can be seen next to our natural satellite this month!

Planetary Opposition

Planetary Opposition 2024: Best Time to See Planets

~6 min
Astronomical News

The best time to view most planets is at the astronomical opposition. Find out what it means and when to see the upcoming oppositions.

Facts About Saturn

What Is Saturn And When Will It Shine Brightest In 2024?

~12 min
Astronomical News

How many rings does Saturn have? Where is Saturn tonight in the sky? Find answers to these and other most common questions about Saturn in our article.

Facts About Uranus

Planet Uranus: The Coldest Planet

~10 min
Astronomical News

Uranus has a peculiar chemical composition, extreme temperatures, and the most unusual axial tilt. Here we’ll take a closer look at this planet.

Facts About Mercury

All About Mercury, The Smallest Planet In The Solar System

~8 min
Astronomical News

Explore the closest planet to the Sun! Find out how long a day on Mercury is and how many moons the planet has. Also, keep up with the upcoming Mercury events!

Planetary Alignment Infographic Preview

Planetary Alignment Infographic: A Celestial Parade

Infographics

Discover how to observe planetary alignments with this colorful infographic and mark your calendar for the next “planet parade”.

Planetary Alignment in space

Planetary Alignment: What Is It? When Is the Next Planetary Alignment?

~11 min
Astronomical News

What is a planetary alignment, and when is the next one? Find out how to see planets line up in the sky.

Mars and its two moons, Phobos and Deimos

Mars: Facts About the Red Planet

~9 min
Astronomical News

Why is Mars red? What’s the gravity on Mars? Read this article to get answers to these and many other questions and learn more about the Red Planet.

Amazing Planet Venus

Facts About Venus: Explore the Earth's Sister Planet

~10 min
Astronomical News

Why is Venus so hot and bright? When is the best time to observe it? Read this article to get answers to these and many other questions about this planet.

Planetary conjunctions - bright dots

Planetary Conjunctions: What Are They and When Is the Next One?

~3 min
Astronomical News

Stay up to date with our complete list of planetary conjunctions! Mark your calendars, and be sure to observe these fascinating astronomical phenomena.