Verifying against the live site and live WHOIS/DNS…
Common questions
Is planetary.org legit or a scam?
planetary.org was registered Apr 26, 1995 (31 years old), per public registration records. AboutUs doesn't label sites "legit" or "a scam": this page lists the dated registration, DNS, HTTPS, mail-authentication and safety checks we could verify, each with its source, so you can decide for yourself.
Who owns planetary.org?
Nobody has completed AboutUs's owner verification for planetary.org. That's true of most sites here — it isn't itself a warning sign.
When was planetary.org registered?
planetary.org's registration dates to Apr 26, 1995 (31 years old), per public registration records. Network Solutions, LLC is the registrar on record today.
Correct a description, link or other detail. Submissions are reviewed before publication.
Lifeline · planetary.org over time
Checked in the last 30 daysOlder, dated recordFrom registration records
Registered 31 years ago · on AboutUs since 2006 · 1 registrar change since Jul 6, 2011 · 2 registrant changes since 2011 · last checked Nov 9, 2026.
Registration
RegisteredApr 26, 1995planetary.org was registered on Apr 26, 1995.Source: RDAP, fetched Nov 9, 2026
AboutUs record
AboutUs wiki pageAboutUs wiki pageJun 21, 2006 – Nov 6, 2013An AboutUs wiki page described planetary.org from Jun 21, 2006 to Nov 6, 2013 (3 edits).Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006–2023Said about itself in 2006Jul 1, 2006
Registrar
Network Solutions LLC (R63-LROR)Jul 6, 2011 – Feb 20, 2012Registrar Network Solutions LLC (R63-LROR) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for planetary.org, from Jul 6, 2011 to Feb 20, 2012.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)Network Solutions, LLC
Registrant
Registrant recordsJul 6, 2011 – Jun 5, 2026Registration records for planetary.org are held from Jul 6, 2011 to Jun 5, 2026 (101 records). 2 changes of registrant name or organization are marked. Privacy-service and redaction changes, renames of the same organization and new contacts at it are not counted.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Zone file
No nameserver records held, Feb 2012 – Dec 2016Nameservers: mdnsservice.comJul 6, 2011 – Feb 20, 2012Registration records listed mdnsservice.com nameservers (ns1.mdnsservice.com, ns2.mdnsservice.com) for planetary.org from Jul 6, 2011 to Feb 20, 2012.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Certificate
DigiCert IncMar 5, 2026 – Nov 14, 2026DigiCert Inc issued 2 certificates for planetary.org from Mar 5, 2026, the latest valid until Mar 4, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)Let's EncryptMar 28, 2026 – Nov 14, 2026
200020102020Jan ’26Oct ’26← last 12 months, drawn wider
Every dated fact on this lifeline (19)
Apr 26, 1995Registration: planetary.org was registered on Apr 26, 1995.Source: RDAP, fetched Nov 9, 2026
Jun 21, 2006 – Nov 6, 2013AboutUs record: An AboutUs wiki page described planetary.org from Jun 21, 2006 to Nov 6, 2013 (3 edits).Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006–2023
Jul 1, 2006AboutUs record: “A nonprofit organization devoted to the exploration of the solar system and the search for extraterrestrial life.”Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006
Jul 6, 2011 – Feb 20, 2012Registrar: Registrar Network Solutions LLC (R63-LROR) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for planetary.org, from Jul 6, 2011 to Feb 20, 2012.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
Jul 6, 2011 – Jun 5, 2026Registrant: Registration records for planetary.org are held from Jul 6, 2011 to Jun 5, 2026 (101 records). 2 changes of registrant name or organization are marked. Privacy-service and redaction changes, renames of the same organization and new contacts at it are not counted.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Jul 6, 2011 – Feb 20, 2012
“A nonprofit organization devoted to the exploration of the solar system and the search for extraterrestrial life.”
Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006
Current AboutUs recordJun 26, 2026 – Nov 9, 2026 (latest)Authority and Safety last refreshed Nov 9, 2026.Source: AboutUs checks
Network Solutions, LLC
Dec 9, 2016 – Nov 11, 2026 (latest)
Registrar Network Solutions, LLC (IANA 2) in the registration data recorded, first on Dec 9, 2016 and most recently on Nov 11, 2026.
Source: RDAP, fetched Nov 9, 2026
Registrant changeJun 25, 2020The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Jun 25, 2020. That can be a rename, a new contact or a sale; the record alone does not say which.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Registrant changeJun 27, 2022The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Jun 27, 2022. That can be a rename, a new contact or a sale; the record alone does not say which.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
2 registrant changes, 2011–2026
Nameservers: worldnic.comDec 9, 2016 – Aug 30, 2017Registration records listed worldnic.com nameservers (ns95.worldnic.com, ns96.worldnic.com) for planetary.org from Dec 9, 2016 to Aug 30, 2017.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
DNS moved to worldnic.comDec 9, 2016planetary.org's nameservers moved from mdnsservice.com to worldnic.com at some point between Feb 20, 2012 and Dec 9, 2016. Last seen at mdnsservice.com: Feb 20, 2012 (registration record). First seen at worldnic.com: Dec 9, 2016 (registration record). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the about 5 years in between, so the date of the move is not known more closely.Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Nameservers: CloudflareNameservers: CloudflareNov 20, 2017 – Jun 5, 2026Registration records listed Cloudflare nameservers (chip.ns.cloudflare.com, jule.ns.cloudflare.com) for planetary.org from Nov 20, 2017 to Jun 5, 2026.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
DNS moved to CloudflareNov 20, 2017planetary.org's nameservers moved from worldnic.com to Cloudflare at some point between Aug 30, 2017 and Nov 20, 2017. Last seen at worldnic.com: Aug 30, 2017 (registration record). First seen at Cloudflare: Nov 20, 2017 (registration record). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the 3 months in between, so the date of the move is not known more closely.Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Let's Encrypt issued 85 certificates for planetary.org from Mar 28, 2026, the latest valid until Feb 6, 2027.
Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Google Trust ServicesApr 10, 2026 – Nov 14, 2026Google Trust Services issued 10 certificates for planetary.org from Apr 10, 2026, the latest valid until Jan 3, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
AmazonSep 5, 2026 – Nov 14, 2026Amazon issued 1 certificate for planetary.org from Sep 5, 2026, the latest valid until Mar 21, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Certificate from Google Trust ServicesOct 5, 2026 – Nov 6, 2026 (latest)Google Trust Services certificate valid Oct 5, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027, as seen on Nov 6, 2026.Source: TLS check, Nov 6, 2026
Zone file: Registration records listed mdnsservice.com nameservers (ns1.mdnsservice.com, ns2.mdnsservice.com) for planetary.org from Jul 6, 2011 to Feb 20, 2012.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Dec 9, 2016 – Nov 11, 2026Registrar: Registrar Network Solutions, LLC (IANA 2) in the registration data recorded, first on Dec 9, 2016 and most recently on Nov 11, 2026.Source: RDAP, fetched Nov 9, 2026
Dec 9, 2016 – Aug 30, 2017Zone file: Registration records listed worldnic.com nameservers (ns95.worldnic.com, ns96.worldnic.com) for planetary.org from Dec 9, 2016 to Aug 30, 2017.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Dec 9, 2016Zone file: planetary.org's nameservers moved from mdnsservice.com to worldnic.com at some point between Feb 20, 2012 and Dec 9, 2016. Last seen at mdnsservice.com: Feb 20, 2012 (registration record). First seen at worldnic.com: Dec 9, 2016 (registration record). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the about 5 years in between, so the date of the move is not known more closely.Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Nov 20, 2017 – Jun 5, 2026Zone file: Registration records listed Cloudflare nameservers (chip.ns.cloudflare.com, jule.ns.cloudflare.com) for planetary.org from Nov 20, 2017 to Jun 5, 2026.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Nov 20, 2017Zone file: planetary.org's nameservers moved from worldnic.com to Cloudflare at some point between Aug 30, 2017 and Nov 20, 2017. Last seen at worldnic.com: Aug 30, 2017 (registration record). First seen at Cloudflare: Nov 20, 2017 (registration record). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the 3 months in between, so the date of the move is not known more closely.Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Jun 25, 2020Registrant: The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Jun 25, 2020. That can be a rename, a new contact or a sale; the record alone does not say which.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Jun 27, 2022Registrant: The registrant name or organization in the registration record changed; first recorded Jun 27, 2022. That can be a rename, a new contact or a sale; the record alone does not say which.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Mar 5, 2026 – Nov 14, 2026Certificate: DigiCert Inc issued 2 certificates for planetary.org from Mar 5, 2026, the latest valid until Mar 4, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Mar 28, 2026 – Nov 14, 2026Certificate: Let's Encrypt issued 85 certificates for planetary.org from Mar 28, 2026, the latest valid until Feb 6, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Apr 10, 2026 – Nov 14, 2026Certificate: Google Trust Services issued 10 certificates for planetary.org from Apr 10, 2026, the latest valid until Jan 3, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Jun 26, 2026 – Nov 9, 2026AboutUs record: Authority and Safety last refreshed Nov 9, 2026.Source: AboutUs checks
Sep 5, 2026 – Nov 14, 2026Certificate: Amazon issued 1 certificate for planetary.org from Sep 5, 2026, the latest valid until Mar 21, 2027.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Oct 5, 2026 – Nov 6, 2026Certificate: Google Trust Services certificate valid Oct 5, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027, as seen on Nov 6, 2026.Source: TLS check, Nov 6, 2026
Registered 1995 · site is live · HTTPS valid
Planetary.org world's largest space-interest society
A nonprofit organization devoted to the exploration of the solar system and the search for extraterrestrial life.
Authority 83/100— ahead of 83% of the August 2026 scored sampleClear
Why this authority score
83 is a percentile: higher than 83% of sites we score.
How it's calculated
Prominence (Tranco rank #23,840)+7
Verified continuity: 31.6 years (RDAP registration)+11
Identity corroboration (capped)+4
Security & email hygiene+5
Calibration adjustment (published map)+15
Model score: 42/99 — what these reason lines add up to.
Published Authority (percentile): 83/100 — this site's rank against the August 2026 scored sample. Public Authority is capped at 99.
What planetary.org said about itself, 2006
Quoted from the site's AboutUs wiki page in each year it changed (1 version). These are the page's own words at the time, not AboutUs's assessment. New words · dropped words
2006
A nonprofit organization devoted to the exploration of the solar system and the search for extraterrestrial life.
Site history
Dated record — historical facts always carry their date.
1995
Domain registered (Apr 26, 1995).
2006
First tracked by AboutUs (Jun 21, 2006); profile edited 3 times through 2013.
✓ domain continuity 31 years registered✓ live verified Nov 14, 2026
Safety evidence
Retained threat-feed result (recorded about 5 days ago); name-similarity check available (recorded about 5 days ago); 3/3 transport and email checks available (oldest recorded about 5 days ago). This is evidence coverage, not a probability that a website is safe.
No caution flags in the available scoring observations; this is not a complete safety assessment