The biggest planets hogged a lot of the raw materials and were fully formed first.
Pilgrims take a dip in the sacred waters of Sangam, at the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers during the Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj on Jan.13, 2025.
Niharika Kulkarni/AFP via Getty Images
Ritual bathing at the confluence of large rivers has long held special significance in Hindu rituals. Sangam, where the Ganga and Yamuna are believed to meet the fabled Saraswati, is the most revered.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with its Crew Dragon capsule launches from Cape Canaveral, Fla., in January 2024.
Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images
From exploring the Moon to revealing mysteries of the solar system, space agencies around the world are gearing up for an exciting year of launches and flybys.
Artist’s impression of L 98-59 d, a sulphurous world around a red dwarf star.
Agnibha Banerjee
On October 10, Europa Clipper will take off on a long journey to Jupiter’s moon Europa. The icy moon could potentially host alien life – and there’s only one way to find out.
We’re going to get up close and personal with three of Jupiter’s largest moons like never before.
Jupiter has more than 80 moons, the largest of which were discovered by Galileo. Many will be studied in depth by the scientific instruments of ESA’s JUICE mission.
ESA, NASA, JPL, ATG, DLR, University of Arizona, University of Leicester
Europa Clipper and the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer missions will arrive at Jupiter in the 2030s and provide researchers with unprecedented access to the moons orbiting the gas giant.