Planetary science in the United States has seen significant developments and challenges this week. According to The Planetary Society, early May brought the official announcement of historic budget cuts proposed for NASA, with the agency potentially facing its largest single-year reduction since 1961. The White House proposal suggests a twenty five percent cut overall and an even steeper forty seven percent reduction for NASA’s science programs. These cuts, if enacted, could dramatically impact ongoing and future planetary science missions and are currently being met with strong resistance from scientific organizations and advocacy groups working to build coalitions in defense of NASA’s science portfolio.

Despite budgetary uncertainty, US-led planetary science operations continue. NASA’s SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, having launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida in April, recently completed its thirty second commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station. The Dragon undocked from the Harmony module and is scheduled to splash down off the coast of California. This mission returns nearly six thousand seven hundred pounds of scientific materials, including samples from the Multipurpose International Space Station Experiment known as MISSE twenty. The hardware returned to Earth includes materials exposed to space for studies in radiation shielding, solar sails, and thermal protection, providing crucial insights into how spacecraft materials withstand the harsh conditions of the space environment.

On the research front, Science News reports that Uranus emits more heat than previously thought, with two recent studies showing that Uranus radiates more energy than it receives from the Sun. These findings could alter scientific understanding of the atmospheric and internal processes of ice giant planets, providing new context for future missions and planetary models.

Skywatching opportunities this month abound, according to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Mars and Jupiter are visible in the western sky for several hours after sunset, with Mars staying up later as Jupiter sets earlier each night. Venus and Saturn can be seen together in the early morning eastern sky, gradually moving apart through the month. The Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaked on May sixth, though moonlight made viewing more challenging. Astronomers are also keenly anticipating a rare nova explosion in the Corona Borealis constellation, expected to become visible in the coming months and providing a unique event for both scientists and the public.

Internationally, China is set to launch its Tianwen two mission to study a quasi-moon asteroid and a comet, marking another milestone in worldwide planetary science efforts. These events reflect a time of both excitement and uncertainty for planetary science, highlighting the critical role of continued observation, research, and advocacy in shaping the field’s future.

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