Exoplanets
Nearby Brown Dwarf System May Harbor Closest Exoplanet to Earth
In 2012 astronomers announced the discovery of an Earth-like planet circling our nearest neighbor, Alpha Centauri B, a mere 4.3…
Three New Exoplanets Found In a Star Cluster
So far, just a handful of planets have been found orbiting stars in star clusters – and actually, astronomers weren’t…
The Most Common Exoplanets Might be “Mini-Neptunes”
If the dataset from the Kepler mission is any indication, the most common type of exoplanets in our galaxy aren’t…
Super-sensitive Camera Captures a Direct Image of an Exoplanet
The world's newest and most powerful exoplanet imaging instrument, the recently-installed Gemini Planet Imager (GPI) on the 8-meter Gemini South…
Kepler Finds an Earth-Sized “Gas Giant”
Gas planets aren't always bloated, monstrous worlds the size of Jupiter or Saturn (or larger) they can also apparently be…
How Scientists Confirmed The Mass Of An Invisible Exoplanet
Planets are so very tiny next to stars outside of the solar system, making it really hard to spot exoplanets…
Why Exoplanet-Hunting Is ‘Like Seeing A Flea In A Lightbulb’
Exoplanets are really tiny compared to their host star, and it's hard to imagine sometimes how astronomers can even find…
This Exoplanet Is Turning Planetary Formation Scenarios Upside Down
What the heck is that giant exoplanet doing so far away from its star? Astronomers are still trying to figure…
How Do We Learn About An Alien Planet’s Size And Atmosphere?
The fun and challenge of exoplanet science is the planets are so far away and so tiny. Figuring out what…
Hubble Finds ‘Clear Signal’ of Water in 5 Exoplanet Atmospheres
For the first time, astronomers have found conclusive evidence of water in the hazy atmospheres of planets orbiting other stars.…