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!

Amazing Planet Venus

Facts About Venus: Explore the Earth's Sister Planet

~9 min

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.

Astronomical News
Facts About Mercury

Facts About Mercury: All You Need to Know

~7 min

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!

Astronomical News
Moon near Saturn in September 2023

September 2023: What Planet is Next to the Moon?

~11 min

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!

Astronomical News
Jupiter guide

Jupiter Facts: The Biggest Planet in the Solar System

~10 min

The bright Jupiter is known for its many moons, unstable surface, and mysterious Great Red Spot. Is there something else? Find out!

Astronomical News
Neptune Opposition

Planetary Opposition 2023: Saturn, Jupiter, and Other Planets At Their Brightest

~6 min

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

Astronomical News
Mercury and Mars in August 2023

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

~7 min

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

Astronomical News
Neptune at opposition 2021

Planet Neptune: Explore the Farthest Planet From the Sun!

~8 min

How big is Neptune? What is Neptune made of? Why is Neptune blue? Read our article and learn curious facts about the outermost planet in the Solar System.

Astronomical News
Mars and its two moons, Phobos and Deimos

Mars: Facts About the Red Planet

~10 min

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.

Astronomical News
Facts About Saturn

What Is Saturn: Planet Boasting Rings, Moons, and More

~12 min

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.

Astronomical News
Planetary Alignment Infographic Preview

Planetary Alignment: A Celestial Parade

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

Infographics