Exoplanets
An exoplanet is a planet which orbits a star outside our solar system. The discovery of Gliese 581c caused excitement because the exoplanet's surface is the right temperature to support alien life. In 1995 astronomers were amazed to see over 3,000 galaxies when they pointed the Hubble Space Telescope to a dark corner of Ursa Major. If an average galaxy contains 100 billion stars, and there is a one per cent chance of a star being orbited by an Earth-like habitable planet, that's a pretty good chance of extra-terrestrial life.
This ‘rogue’ planet is now the fastest-growing world we've ever seen
It might be a planet, but it’s growing up more like star
Astronomers have spotted a solar system being born for the first time
This discovery marks the earliest building blocks of planets we've ever seen taking shape around a star
Groundbreaking study could reveal secrets of how planets are born
The discovery could reveal in greater detail where another planet like Earth is forming.
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Massive planet collision identified from bizarre space 'afterglow'
The mysterious phenomenon was spotted by an astronomy-enthusiast on social media.
Exoplanet shaped like a rugby ball spotted by Cheops telescope
The discovery could help to shed light on the internal structure of planets.
Inside the mission to spot an alien city by harnessing the Sun’s colossal gravity
Astronomers generally view the Sun as an obstacle to the objects they want to study. But it might just be the key that enables them to observe Earth-like exoplanets located many light-years away.
Planet Earth may be far more special than we think
Very few potentially habitable planets meet the conditions necessary to produce an atmosphere suitable for the evolution of complex life as we know it, study says.
Discovery of exoplanet’s bizarre orbit may help us track down Planet Nine
14 years of Hubble Space Telescope data finally confirm HD 106906 b exoplanet’s orbit, with exciting parallels to what we expect from Planet Nine
ESA announces plans for space telescope to study exoplanet atmospheres
Ariel, which will launch in 2029, will focus on planets unlikely to host life as we know it.
Can life exist around a black hole?
New research suggests that 'Goldilocks zones', where planets could have the perfect conditions for life, could exist near supermassive black holes.
I will survive | Giant exoplanet intact after star's death
No intact planets have previously been detected orbiting a collapsed star, the researchers say.
Distant stars could be home to up to seven habitable exoplanets
Currently only a handful of stars are known to have multiple planets in their habitable zones.
Exoplanets | First image of multi-planet system around Sun-like star
The star and two exoplanets are located 300 light years away and could help us understand more about our own Sun.
Naked gas giant offers first ever glimpse of a planetary core
The exposed planetary core is named TOI-849b.
Giant exoplanets found to orbit star in 'gravitational dance'
The planets orbit a Sun-like star about 800 light-years away, in the constellation of Hercules.
Exoplanets | Two "super Earths" discovered orbiting nearby star
The new exoplanets, called GJ 887b and GJ 887c, were found using a high-precision, planet-finding instrument on the European Southern Observatory’s 3.6-metre telescope at La Silla in Chile.
What does it mean if an exoplanet is 'habitable'?
Habitable doesn't mean inhabited.
Astronomers spot first direct evidence of planet forming
The new world is in the process of being formed 520 light years away from Earth.
Exoplanet atmospheres
The Hubble Space Telescope was first to detect the atmosphere of one of these alien worlds.
Exoplanet discovered with molten iron rain
WASP-76b is tidally locked with its star, with temperatures on one face reaching 2,400°C or more.
Mini-Neptune exoplanet K2-18b ‘could have the right conditions for life’
Astronomers say their findings open the search for life up to planets significantly larger than Earth, but smaller than Neptune.
Jupiter-like exoplanet orbits its star in only 18 hours
The discovery may help solve the mystery of whether such exoplanets are in the process of spiralling towards their suns to their destruction.
Peter van de Kamp | The astronomer who was wrong in all the right ways
Though the planets van de Kamp claimed to find were not there, the method he devised was on the right track.
Potential second exoplanet discovered orbiting closest star to the Sun
Proxima c is approximately half the size of Neptune and orbits Proxima Centauri, scientists say.