Space
The natural world does not end at the Earth's stratosphere.
Our own bodies are made up of elements that began their journey in the hearts of stars. The warmth of the Sun is just one of the conditions necessary to sustain life. Our planet is part of a bigger picture - a cosmos which has fascinated humans since we first gazed at the night sky.
Meet the Museum scientists working at the forefront of space research. Get answers to your pressing questions about our solar system, space missions, space travel, the search for life on Mars, planetary protection and beyond.
Explore highlights from the collections including gem-filled meteorites, extraterrestrial specimens and diamond stardust older than our solar system.
Latest astronomy and space news
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News
Dinosaur-killing Chicxulub asteroid came from the edge of the solar system
The prime suspect in the extinction of the dinosaurs was no ordinary asteroid.
15 August 2024 -
News
Origin of the Sun’s magnetic field discovered under the star’s surface
New research into the Sun's magnetism could make solar storms easier to predict.
22 May 2024 -
Science news
Potential signs of life on Mars might be easier to find than first thought
A school science experiment is answering questions that are out of this world.
12 December 2023 -
Science news
‘It’s almost like a dream’: Sample of asteroid Bennu arrives at the Natural History Museum
Welcome to the next era of natural history collections.
28 November 2023
Space missions and research
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News
James Webb Space Telescope reveals its first spectacular images of the universe
With targets spanning the birth and death of stars, the James Webb Space Telescope is set to give us our clearest view of the universe so far.
12 July 2022 -
Science news
Asteroid sample is ancestral material from the start of the solar system
Ryugu sample is one of the most pristine material from the solar system.
10 June 2022 -
News
Scientists find the most distant object ever seen from Earth
Dating back to over 13 billion years ago, HD1 could have formed shortly after the Big Bang, with properties unlike any modern galaxy.
7 April 2022 -
News
NASA rocket which will eventually take humans to the Moon unveiled
NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) is undergoing its last big test before its first flight.
18 March 2022 -
News
The universe could contain 40 trillion black holes
Black holes could make up as much as 1% of all known matter, and may be the building blocks of the largest and most powerful objects in the entire universe.
20 January 2022 -
News
Earth's water may have been formed by solar winds
Solar winds from the Sun could have produced much of Earth's water by irradiating asteroids.
2 December 2021 -
Science news
Rocks in ancient Martian lake could hold remains of life
Rocks with the potential to hold fossils of Martian life have been identified by NASA's Perseverance rover.
7 October 2021 -
News
NASA's OSIRIS-Rex spacecraft to make history in asteroid Bennu touch down
The spacecraft completed Touch-And-Go (TAG) sample collection.
21 October 2020
Meteorites
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Space
From field to Vault, how the largest Winchcombe meteorite was found
Discovering the largest Winchcombe meteorite in a field of sheep poo.
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Collections
The Imilac meteorite: a gem as old as the solar system
Dr Caroline Smith sheds light on the secrets this rock holds about the formation of our own planet.
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Space
Types of meteorites
Falling from the sky in a blaze of glory, meteorites certainly know how to make an entrance, and the stories they tell span the history of our solar system.
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Space
Meteorites and meteor-wrongs
A handy FAQ about meteorites, meteors and other small celestial bodies that Earth encounters in its travels around the Sun.
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Space
Wold Cottage: the stone that proved meteorites come from space
When an unusual rock fell to Earth in 1795, it prompted the first large-scale investigation into the origin of meteorites.
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News
Meteorites could have brought DNA precursors to Earth
Analyses of three meteorites suggest that the raw material for the origin of life may have formed in space.
26 April 2022 -
News
Fireball meteorite that blazed across the UK recovered from a driveway in Gloucestershire
For the first time in 30 years, a meteorite has been recovered in the UK
9 March 2021 -
Science news
Ancient meteorite gives a glimpse into the crust of Mars
A meteorite sample from the Museum collection is revealing more about how and when the crust of the Red Planet formed.
24 May 2018
Explore the night sky
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Space
Perseid meteor shower 2024: when and how to watch
Planetary science researcher and meteorite expert Dr Ashley King shares his tips on how to get the best view.
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Space
How to stargaze in cities
It's not easy to observe space from the middle of a big city, but it is possible. Here's how.
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Space
What is a supermoon?
A supermoon appears larger and brighter in the night sky. How often does this happen and why? Find out all about this phenomenon.
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Space
Shooting stars: How to photograph the night sky
Anyone can capture the majesty of the galaxy with a simple camera. All you need is a dark, clear night and the willingness to have a go.
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Space
Astrophotography tips for shooting the Moon
Gibbous moons really don't get the attention they deserve.
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Space
Lunar eclipse guide: What they are, when to see them and where
Here's how to view a lunar eclipse - and when the next one will be visible from your location.
Our Moon
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Space
How did the Moon form?
Before the Earth and Moon, there was a proto-Earth and Theia. Museum planetary science researcher Prof Sara Russell explains the origins of Earth's closest companion.
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Space
How does the Moon affect life on Earth?
Weeping trees, teeth stronger than Kevlar and one of Earth's most spectacular natural events are all shaped by the Moon.
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Space
How the Moon got its spots
Discover how a surface mottled with dark patches reveals the Moon's volcanic past.
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News
Plants grown in lunar soil for the first time
While the plants flowered, lunar soils negatively affected their growth, meaning there is still some way to go until farming on the Moon becomes a viable prospect.
12 May 2022 -
Space
In pictures: Apollo missions and the Museum
The Museum cares for the only piece of Apollo 17 Moon rock gifted to the UK, but our connection with NASA's missions goes back to Apollo 11.
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What on Earth?
The 1883 Krakatau eruption: a year of blue Moons
The mystery of blue Moons lies in the ashes of volcanic eruptions.
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News
Moon dust could be used to make rocket fuel
Moon dust can be used to create the materials needed to explore space.
5 May 2022 -
News
New piece of the Moon arrives at the Museum
A new lunar meteorite has joined the Museum's collection. The sample, weighing 147 grammes, will help researchers' studies into the origin and early evolution of the Moon.
21 December 2017
Travel through our solar system
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Space
Graphic guide to our solar system
Take a visual tour through our solar system's most fascinating features.
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Space
The Sun
Explore facts about the biggest and hottest object in the solar system.
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Space
Planet Mercury
Explore facts about Mercury, our solar system's fastest planet.
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Space
Planet Venus
Discover facts about Venus, the planet closest to Earth.
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Space
Planet Earth
A distinctive blue and green image of Earth reveals our planet's most remarkable features.
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Space
The Moon
Explore facts about this small but mighty celestial body.
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Space
Planet Mars
Explore facts about Mars, the red planet.
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Space
Planet Jupiter
Giant auroras, raging clouds and a storm three centuries in the making - Jupiter is every bit as dramatic as its appearance suggests.
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Space
Planet Saturn
Blue skies on a golden planet, and two of our solar system's greatest extremes – Saturn is a planet of contrasts and surprises.
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Space
Planet Uranus
Cold, dark and windswept - despite its calm appearance, the ice giant Uranus is a planet of extremes.
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Space
Planet Neptune
Our solar system's outermost planet may be last but it's certainly not least. Get the facts on this planet of extremes.
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Space
Dwarf planet Pluto
A blue atmosphere, smooth areas, and youthful mountain ranges - this dwarf planet is full of surprises.
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More space stories
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Space
What is space junk and why is it a problem?
Millions of pieces of human-caused debris are orbiting Earth. But are they an issue, and what can we do about them?
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Space
Eight ingredients for life in space
By studying how organisms survive and thrive on Earth, scientists have identified key ingredients that appear to be essential for life.
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Collections
7 fascinating stories from the Women in Science Space tour
Our new, free Women in Science: Space Tour explores the lives of women who've contributed to the study of space.
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Collections
Space highlights: Mars, Moon and meteorites
Blast off on an adventure around the galleries that are out of this world.
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Space
Meet a space researcher who's over the Moon about her work
Growing up in the Apollo era of the seventies, Prof Sara Russell fantasised about working on space missions.
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News
Greenland asteroid struck world recovering from dinosaur extinction
While its impacts are uncertain, it could have caused the world to warm significantly.
11 March 2022 -
News
James Webb telescope launched to view the early universe
The largest space telescope ever built has been launched as part of a mission to view the early years of the universe.
25 December 2021 -
News
Winchcombe meteorite driveway on its way to the Museum
The driveway onto which the Winchcombe meteorite came crashing down in early 2021 has now been recovered.
9 September 2021 -
News
Mars rover Perseverance collects first Martian rock sample
This is the first rock sample ever to be collected from the red planet.
3 September 2021 -
Science news
How to collect rocks on Mars
NASA's rover is attempting to collect first rock samples for Mars 2020 mission.
13 August 2021 -
News
Why did NASA launch a helicopter on Mars?
It could help deepen our understanding of the red planet.
20 April 2021 -
News
Mars 2020: Perseverance rover has landed
The Mars 2020 rover landed near the Jezero Crater on 18 February 2021.
18 February 2021 -
Science news
Some of the earliest organic materials ever found have been uncovered in meteorites
A meteorite from the birth of the solar system could tell us more about how life flourished on Earth.
11 December 2020 -
News
Hayabusa2 returns precious asteroid samples to Earth after six-year mission
The spacecraft Hayabusa2 is arriving back to Earth after six years' travel through the solar system.
5 December 2020 -
News
Possible signs of life found on Venus
A gas has been found in the clouds of Venus that could have been created by microbes.
14 September 2020 -
Space
Mystery of the Barwell meteorite
Discover how a meteorite fragment in the Museum collection hid a secret about the origins of our solar system.
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Space
Could life have formed on Mars?
Museum geologists investigate Iceland's volcanic landscape, and ask whether life could have formed under similar conditions on Mars.
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Space
Mars 2020: an essential guide to the mission
Where will the rover land, and will it find life on Mars?
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Science news
Ancient river systems on Mars seen in unparalleled detail
A satellite has revealed ancient Martian rivers in more detail than ever before.
5 May 2020 -
Science news
Fossil ice found in meteorite is the first direct evidence of ice in asteroids
The meteorite formed as our solar system was being born.
21 November 2019 -
News
First-ever photo of a black hole released
It is 6.5 billion times more massive than the Sun, and it is 55 million light years away.
10 April 2019 -
News
China successfully lands Chang'e-4 spacecraft on the far side of the Moon
These are the first images from the surface of the far side of the Moon.
4 January 2019 -
News
BepiColombo sends back its first images from space
The probe will help reveal some of the secrets about Mercury.
24 October 2018 -
News
Hayabusa2 lands two rovers on asteroid Ryugu
The rovers have captured the first ever images from the surface of an asteroid.
24 September 2018 -
News
Net to catch space debris around Earth is successfully deployed
Scientists are trying to clean up the tens of thousands of pieces of junk in space.
20 September 2018 -
Science news
Biggest river delta ever discovered on Mars hints at an ancient ocean
Researchers have found evidence that suggests Mars once had an ancient ocean and a water cycle similar to Earth's.
10 September 2018 -
Space
Maggie Aderin-Pocock on asteroid impacts – and how we can avoid them
Dr Aderin-Pocock talks us through asteroid sample return missions, and what experts are doing to prevent a space rock hitting Earth.
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Space
The search for life on Mars
To help us tell fact from science fiction, scientists and engineers involved in the ExoMars 2020 program discuss the latest on the search for life on Mars.
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Space
The hunt for cosmic dust
Planetary scientist Dr Penelope Wozniakiewicz is looking for micrometeorites on a remote island in the Pacific Ocean.