Last year saw a great many exciting developments in
space exploration.
Starting with our own solar system, we discovered that Venus
(our nearest planetary neighbour, depending on the relative orbits
of Venus and Earth around the Sun at a given time) shows some
evidence that it may have once had oceans that may have supported
life.
Our next planetary neighbour, Mars, has been the subject of
significant exploration for many years, including by many robotic
probes that have landed on its surface. Each exploration yields new
insights, with last year's discoveries including an ice sheet
over 170 metres thick.
New evidence for oceans on other planets, dwarf planets and
moons also came to light last year, including suggestions of an
ocean on Pluto.
