Click on an image above for more details and credits. Image Credits: NASA-JPL/Caltech and others.
The Universe is huge. Trying to understand it can be a monumental task.
So, below are many articles that will introduce you to the cosmos and our attempts to venture out into it.
On This Page
Featured Articles
Featured Articles For Kids
The Solar System & More
The Solar System
- The Solar System (NASA Solar System Exploration)
- About The Planets (NASA Science)
- Worlds of the Solar System (NASA’s Night Sky Network)
- Solar System 101 (National Geographic/YouTube)
- The Solar System (FAS Astronomers Blog)
- Moons of the Solar System (FAS Astronomers Blog)
- Our Solar System Lithograph Set (NASA STEM Engagement)
- The Nine Planets
- How Many Dwarf Planets Are There? (Mike Brown)
Books About The Solar System
The Solar System for the Kids
Illustrated Books About The Solar System
The Moon
- The Moon (NASA Space Place)
- The Moon (NASA)
- The Moon (FAS Astronomers Blog)
- Moon Features (Planetary Society)
- Moon Phase and Libration, Current Moon (NASA/GSFC Scientific Visualization Studio)
- Supermoon, Blood Moon, Blue Moon and Harvest Moon (NASA Space Place)
- Traditional Full Moon Names (Timeanddate.com)
Here is a handout summarizing information about the planets and moons of the Solar System.
Astronomy & Space
Astronomy Terminology and Overview
The Cosmos for the Kids
Space Exploration & Telescopes
Space Missions (Mars)
- Perseverance Rover (NASA Mars). 2020 to present.
- Curiosity Rover (NASA). 2011 to present.
- Insight (NASA Mars). 2018 to 2022.
- MAVEN (NASA Mars). 2013 to present.
- Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (NASA). 2005 to present.
- Mars Odyssey (NASA). 2001 to present.
- Mars Global Surveyor (NASA). 1996 to 2006.
Space Missions (Other)
- JUNO to Jupiter (SWRI). 2011 to present.
- Galileo to Jupiter (NASA). 1989 to 2003.
- Europa Clipper to Jupiter (NASA) Arrival 2030.
- JUICE to Jupiter (ESA) Arrival July 2031.
- Cassini to Saturn (NASA). 1997 to 2017.
- Dragonfly to Titan (NASA) Launch July 2028.
- SOHO to The Sun (NASA). 1995 to present.
- Parker Solar Probe (NASA). 2018 to present.
- New Horizons to Pluto (JHUAPL) Flyby 2015.
- DAWN to Ceres (NASA) Flyby 2015.
Ground Based Telescopes
The ARTEMIS Program
- Artemis Program (NASA)
- Space Launch System (NASA)
- Orion Spacecraft (NASA)
- Return to the Moon with Artemis (FAS Astronomers Blog)
- Return to the Moon with Artemis, Part II (FAS Astronomers Blog)
The Apollo Program
- The Apollo Missions (NASA)
- The Apollo Program (NSSDC/GSFS/NASA)
- What was the Apollo Program? (NASA)
- Project Mercury (NASA)
- Project Gemini (NASA)
- Project Apollo (NASA)
- Apollo 50th Anniversary (NASA)
- Project Mercury (FAS Astronomers Blog)
- Project Gemini (FAS Astronomers Blog)
- Project Apollo (FAS Astronomers Blog)
SpaceX
Space Telescopes
- James Webb Space Telescope (FAS Astronomers Blog)
- Hubble Space Telescope (Hubble Site)
- SPHEREx (FAS Article) 2025 to present.
- Gaia (ESA) 2013 to 2025.
- Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (NASA/GSFC) Launch 2027.
- The Great Observatories (FAS Astronomers Blog)
- TESS (NASA). 2018 to present.
- Kepler Space Telescope (NASA). 2009 to 2018.
Dinosaurs and More
Earth’s History (including Dinosaurs)
- Chart of Earth’s History (International Commission on Stratigraphy)
- Dinosaurs (Natural History Museum)
- Dinosaurs (National Geographic)
- Learn About the Different Dinosaur Periods (Bob Strauss/ThoughtCo)
- The most notorious scientific feud in history (Lukas Rieppel/TED)
Books on Dinosaurs (and more)
- Bill Bryson. A Short History of Nearly Everything. Broadway Books. New York. 2003.
- Riley Black. The Last Days of the Dinosaurs: An Asteroid, Extinction, and the Beginning of Our World. St. Martin’s Press. April 26, 2022.
- Riley Black. The Shortest History of the Dinosaurs: The 230-Million-Year Story of Their Time on Earth (The Shortest History Series). The Experiment. June 10, 2025.
- Michael J. Benton. Dinosaurs Rediscovered: The Scientific Revolution in Paleontology. Thames & Hudson. June 11, 2019.
- Steve Brusatte. The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A new History of a Lost World. Mariner Books. April 24, 2018.
- Steve Brusatte. The Rise and Reign of Mammals: A New History. Mariner Books. June 6, 2023.
- Donald R. Prothero. The Story of the Dinosaurs in 25 Discoveries. Columbia University Press. New York. 2019.
Illustrated Books about Dinosaurs
- Christopher A. Brochu, John Long, Colin McHenry, John D. Scanlon, and Paul Willis. Dinosaurs, The Time-Life Guides. Time, Life Books. Weldon Owen Publishing. 2000.
- Dougal Dixon. World Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs & Other Prehistoric Creatures. Lorenz Books. 2005.
- Dougal Dixon. The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs & Prehistoric Creatures. Lorenz Books. January 1, 2014.
- Dinosaurs, a visual encyclopedia. DK Smithsonian. April 3, 2018.
- John Woodward. The Dinosaur Book. DK Smithsonian. September 18, 2018.
- Hazel Richardson. Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Life. DK Smithsonian Handbook. October 12, 2021.
Dinosaur Videos
- “Dinosaurs: Dinosaur Basics.” PBS Science Trek/YouTube.
- “Dinosaurs 101.” National Geographic/YouTube.
Dinosaur Videos for Kids
- “Dino Road Trip.” National Geographic Kids.
- “Dinosaur Train.” PBS Kids.
- “Dinosaurs for Kids | Learn about Dinosaur History, Fossils, Dinosaur Extinction and more!” Learn Bright/YouTube. October 3, 2018.
- “14 Dino-mite Dinosaur Videos To Share in Your Classroom.” We Are Teachers.
See The FAS Astronomers Blog for discussions about astronomy, science, and the universe.
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