exoplanets
Of the Two Stars in Alpha Centauri, One is Probably More Habitable than the Other
A new study has shown that the Alpha Centauri is not likely to support life and that one of its…
How Large Can A Planet Be?
When it comes to planets, the largest planet in the universe probably isn't the most massive.
Tatooines everywhere? Many of the Exoplanets Already Discovered are in Multi-Star Systems
Right now, we know of about 4,000 confirmed exoplanets, mostly thanks to the Kepler mission. TESS, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey…
TESS Has Now Captured Almost the Entire Southern Sky. Here’s a Mosaic Made of 15,347 Photographs
NASA has just released a beautiful panoramic image of the southern sky, which is composed of images taken by the…
It Seems Impossible, But Somehow This Planet Survived its Star’s Red Giant Phase
Astronomers working with TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) data have found a planet where it shouldn't be: in the space…
Astronomers See the Wreckage from a Collision Between Exoplanets
The history of our Solar System is punctuated with collisions. Collisions helped create the terrestrial planets and end the reign…
Planet Sizes Matter for Habitability Too.
In order to be considered habitable, a planet needs to have liquid water. Cells, the smallest unit of life, need…
A Red Dwarf Star Has a Jupiter-Like Planet. So Massive it Shouldn’t Exist, and Yet, There It Is
Thanks to the Kepler mission and other efforts to find exoplanets, we've learned a lot about the exoplanet population. We…
Better Than Earth? Are There Superhabitable Worlds In The Milky Way?
I’ve said many times in the past that the Earth is the best planet in the Universe. No matter where…
Water Discovered in the Atmosphere of an Exoplanet in the Habitable zone. It Might Be Rain
Astronomers using the Hubble space telescope have discovered water in the atmosphere of an exoplanet in its star's habitable zone.…