Extrasolar Planets
There Are Now Officially Over 1,000 Confirmed Exoplanets!
It was just last week that we reported on the oh-so-close approach to 1,000 confirmed exoplanets discovered thus far, and…
Weekly Space Hangout – October 18, 2013: Penny4NASA, SpaceX Plans, ISON Lives!
This week for the Weekly Space Hangout, we were joined by an impressive team of space journalists and special guest…
Exoplanets and the Search for Life in the Universe: Q&A with author Lee Billings
As far as our understanding of life in the Universe goes, right now, we’re it. But the past decade has…
Detecting the Magnetic Fields of Exoplanets May Help Determine Habitability
Astronomers may soon be able to observe the shockwaves between the magnetic fields of exoplanets and the flow of particles…
Planet Evaporates Due to Stellar Flare
Solar flares – huge eruptions of charged particles from the Sun – present little threat to Earth. On a few…
New Exoplanet Research: Magnetic Fields Significantly Affect Hot Jupiter Atmospheres
Determining weather patterns in exoplanet atmospheres – hundreds to thousands of light years away – is extremely difficult. However, given…
“Blue” Exoplanet Now Seen in X-rays for the First Time
In the medical field, X-rays are used for finding and diagnosing all sorts of ailments hidden inside the body; in…
Water-Trapped Worlds Possible Around Red Dwarf Stars?
Hunters of alien life may have a new and unsuspected niche to scout out. A recent paper submitted by Associate…
Hubble Confirms Exoplanet Has a Blue Atmosphere
Since its discovery in 2005, exoplanet HD 189733b has been one of the most-observed planets orbiting another star, as its…
60 Billion Habitable Planets in the Milky Way Alone? Astronomers say Yes!
A new study suggests that the number of habitable exoplanets within the Milky Way alone may reach 60 billion. Previous…