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Weather and Atmospheric Phenomena

The layers of gas that are gravitationally bound above the surface of a planet, moon, or outer layers of a star.

Resources

Earth

Earth February 10, 2016

Radio Programs

Jupiter at Opposition II Giant storms for a giant planet November 2, 2023

More Neptune Opposition A breezy giant far from the Sun September 19, 2023

Mars and the Twins Twisting along with the winds of Mars May 17, 2023

Stormy Skies Stormy Sun, stormy Earth February 16, 2023

More Mars The Red Planet chills out October 15, 2022

Rocket Clouds Rocket launches and rare clouds October 10, 2022

Jupiter at Opposition III Big thunderstorms for a big planet September 26, 2022

Hycean Planets A new class of habitable planets August 30, 2022

Matching Storms The Sun helps El Niño August 8, 2022

Dogging the Sun “Rainbows” that flank the Sun June 29, 2022

Twilight The final glimmers of daylight May 3, 2022

Luhman 16 Close neighbors with a familiar look March 27, 2022

Triton An intriguing moon far from the Sun October 10, 2021

Moon and Saturn Stretching out the summer September 16, 2021

Neptune Opposition II Stormy skies on a blue planet September 14, 2021

‘Dark’ Lightning Bright evidence of dark matter August 17, 2021

Winds of Mars The troublesome winds of Mars June 24, 2021

Moon and Venus Hints of life in Venus’s clouds June 11, 2021

Second Storm A storm with an amazing history April 25, 2021

Changing Spot A changing “spot” on a giant planet April 24, 2021

Moon and Jupiter Snowballs that pack a wallop April 6, 2021

Moon and Mars 'Megafloods' on the Red Planet March 18, 2021

Moon and Regulus Bright lights near the Moon February 25, 2021

Uranus at Opposition II Powerful winds on a giant planet November 1, 2020

Moon and Mars A long summertime cloud on Mars September 4, 2020

Moon and Saturn Lightning bolts in alien skies August 29, 2020

Moon and Mars Breezing through a Martian day August 8, 2020

Mars at Perihelion Mars gets close to the Sun August 3, 2020

Jupiter at Opposition II A big new storm joins the club July 13, 2020

More Moon and Mars Dusting up the surface of Mars June 12, 2020

Moon and Mars Layers and layers of ice June 11, 2020

Moon and Saturn Powering up some “mid”-sized storms May 12, 2020

Moon and Venus Windy skies for the “evening star” February 27, 2020

MAVEN Watching Mars’s atmosphere get away September 21, 2019

Neptune at Opposition Dark spots for a giant planet September 6, 2019

Moon and Jupiter Jupiter’s “weepy” red eye August 9, 2019

Saturn III Heating up a giant planet July 9, 2019

Saturn at Opposition Giant storms for a giant planet July 7, 2019

Lightning Lightning’s “cosmic” connection June 29, 2019

Moon and Mars How’s the weather up there? June 5, 2019

Moon and Saturn Cold rains on a chilly world November 10, 2018

Moon and Venus Changing the day on Venus November 4, 2018

Moon and Mars A dark season on Mars October 17, 2018

Moon and Jupiter Hefty storms for a hefty planet May 27, 2018

Moon and Venus Beautiful but deadly clouds April 17, 2018

Moon and Mars Dusty skies for the Red Planet April 7, 2018

More Neptune Taking a spin on a giant planet September 4, 2017

Neptune at Opposition Turning a giant planet blue September 3, 2017

Hot Weather Hot weather on failed stars July 20, 2017

Twilight Dark, darker, and darkest skies June 18, 2017

Saturn at Opposition III Sculpting sand dunes on a cold world June 14, 2017

Saturn at Opposition II Lighting up the skies on another planet June 13, 2017

Moon and Jupiter White ovals and red spots June 3, 2017

Featured Images

Rocket Clouds October 10, 2022
selfies show Martian dust coating InSight

Martian Cover-up August 18, 2022
fire encroaches on kitt peak national observatory

In Harm's Way June 19, 2022
dust storms and clouds on mars

Dusty Skies June 10, 2022
dark landscape of venus below an orange-colored sky and dark clouds

Hot Planet December 29, 2021

Dry Lake December 21, 2021
a spacecraft approaches mars

Bad Timing November 27, 2021
clouds pass above a cliff face on Mars

Cloudy Skies June 6, 2021
Juno view of Jupiter's Great Red Spot, Oval BA

Double Storms April 25, 2021
artist's concept of high-altitude lightning on jupiter

Stormy Giant April 6, 2021
New Horizons view of haze in Pluto's atmosphere

Changing Skies? February 3, 2021
Cloud streaming from Arsia Mons, a volcano on Mars

Long Cloud September 4, 2020
dust storm on Mars

Dusty Skies August 3, 2020
The moons Titan and Dione in front of Saturn

Hazy Moon June 8, 2020
Artist's concept of a super-heated planet

Scalding Planet August 2, 2019
Saturn, its rings, and a hexagonal storm at its north pole, 2013

Stormy Skies July 7, 2019
Lighting seen from the International Space Station

Colorful Lightning June 29, 2019
Clouds pass over InSight on Mars

Cloudy Day May 11, 2019
Bright cloud streak on Mars

Martian Streaker October 28, 2018
Thickening dust storm above the Opportunity rover on Mars

Getting Dark June 13, 2018
Cassini view of Titan lakes, clouds

Cold Moon May 30, 2018
Cyclones at the north pole of Jupite

Cyclone Haven May 27, 2018
Daytime and nighttime views of Venus

Venusian Skies April 17, 2018
Martian dust storm

Dusty Skies April 7, 2018
Noctilucent clouds over the north pole

Glowing Skies July 29, 2017

Hot Weather July 20, 2017
Twilight over McDonald Observatory

A Civil Sky June 18, 2017
Voyager 1 view of white oval storms on Jupiter

Jovian Pearls June 3, 2017
Sunset over the Davis Mountains

Earliest Sunsets December 1, 2016
Jupiter above Europa

Water World July 8, 2016
Saturn's giant hexagon

Planetary Geometry May 30, 2016
Jupiter's Great Red Spot and surrounding cloud bands

Deep Surface May 15, 2016
Cassini view of a giant storm in Saturn's northern hemisphere

Stormy Skies June 28, 2015
Sunset at Gale Crater, Mars, April 2015

Blue Skies May 14, 2015
Cassini view of Jupiter from 6 million miles

Turbulent Giant February 6, 2015