Articles tagged with Exoplanets
The European Space Agency's PLATO mission aims to find nearby potentially habitable worlds around Sun-like stars. The space telescope will blast into orbit in December 2026 and study the stars using a range of techniques, including asteroseismology, to work out their masses, radii, and ages.
Researchers discovered a highly eccentric exoplanet named TIC 241249530 with an orbital eccentricity of 0.94, causing extreme temperature variations. The planet's unusual backward-orbiting motion provides insight into the formation history and future trajectories of hot Jupiters.
Astronomers at MIT and Penn State have discovered a new 'progenitor' of hot Jupiters, a highly eccentric planet with an orbit providing clues to its evolution. The planet, TIC 241249530 b, is expected to become a scorching hot Jupiter in about 1 billion years.
A team of astronomers has discovered an exoplanet with an elongated and backwards orbit, which holds clues to the formation history and future trajectories of high-mass gas giants. The exoplanet, named TIC 241249530 b, is approximately five times more massive than Jupiter and orbits its host star in a highly eccentric path.
Researchers using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope have confirmed a significant temperature difference between the morning and evening atmosphere of WASP-39b, with the evening appearing hotter by roughly 300°F (200°C). The planet is tidally locked, resulting in constant dayside and nightside conditions.
Researchers detected distinct 'morning' and 'evening' sides on the exoplanet WASP-39b using James Webb Space Telescope data. The study found that the morning side was significantly cooler (600°C) compared to the evening side (800°C), with cloudier conditions also prevalent in the morning.
Researchers detected hydrogen sulfide in HD 189733 b's atmosphere using the James Webb Space Telescope, shedding light on sulfur's role in planetary formation. The study also measured oxygen and carbon levels, providing insights into how planets form and evolve.
A study by University of Texas at Dallas geoscientist Dr. Robert Stern and colleague Taras Gerya suggests that plate tectonics, oceans, and continents are necessary for the evolution of intelligent civilizations. The researchers propose refining the Drake equation factor to account for these requirements, which could explain the Fermi ...
Researchers used high-energy laser experiments to study magnesium oxide's melting point and phase transitions under ultra-high pressures. The findings suggest the mineral could be the earliest solid to crystallize in forming super-Earths.
The 2024 Kavli Prize Laureates have made significant contributions to our understanding of exoplanet atmospheres, nanoscale materials for biomedical applications, and the localization of brain areas specialized for face recognition. Their work has broadened our knowledge of planetary life beyond Earth.
Astronomers have discovered a sulfurous atmosphere on the smallest and coldest exoplanet known, providing clues to its formation process. The planet's unique orbit and composition offer insights into how planets are created.
The James Webb Space Telescope has captured evidence of a cataclysmic asteroid collision in the Beta Pictoris star system, which is thought to be similar to our own solar system's early stages. The collision is believed to have occurred about 20 years ago and pulverized the asteroids into fine dust particles.
The MIRI Mid-INfrared Disk Survey (MINDS) discovered a large variety of carbon-rich gases in the disk surrounding a very low-mass star. This finding suggests that rocky planets with Earth-like characteristics may form more efficiently than Jupiter-like gas giants in such disks.
The newly discovered exoplanet, nicknamed Phoenix, has a surprisingly large and dense atmosphere, challenging current understanding of planetary evolution in extreme environments. Scientists estimate that the planet will survive for only 100 million years before dying due to its proximity to the star.
Researchers used the TESS-Keck Survey to detect and characterize 126 exoplanets, including 15 new ones. The study utilized both the transit method and radial velocity technique to determine the planets' masses. This collaboration provides new insights into the makeup of exoplanet systems and their host stars.
A team of UH astronomers has discovered a diverse range of exotic exoplanets using the TESS-Keck Survey, which provides new insights into their properties and environments. The study reveals rare worlds with extreme environments and potentially habitable planets.
The NASA TESS-Keck Survey catalog features 126 exotic planets with detailed measurements allowing for comparisons with our solar system. Several planets stand out as touchstones for deepening astronomers' understanding of planetary formation and evolution.
Astronomers have discovered an Earth-like exoplanet 40 light-years away with a surface temperature of 42°C (107°F), making it potentially habitable. The discovery of Gliese 12 b offers insights into the evolution of habitability on planets across our galaxy.
The James Webb Space Telescope has provided the first measurements of an exoplanet's core mass, with WASP-107 b showing a thousand times less methane than expected. The planet's super-sized core and turbulent atmosphere are being studied to better understand how planetary atmospheres behave in extreme conditions.
The James Webb Space Telescope has provided new insights into the mysterious case of WASP-107 b, an exoplanet that defies explanation due to its inflated size. Data collected by Webb shows surprisingly little methane in the planet's atmosphere, indicating a significantly hotter interior and core mass than previously estimated.
The SPECULOOS project has discovered an Earth-sized exoplanet around SPECULOOS-3, a nearby ultra-cool dwarf star. The planet, named SPECULOOS-3 b, is similar in size to our own planet and orbits the star in just 17 hours, resulting in constant day and night conditions.
A new study has revealed the mechanisms behind hydrodynamic escape in low-mass exoplanets, which is a process that can lead to significant changes in a planet's mass and climate. The research proposes a new classification method for understanding these escape processes and provides insights into the habitability of distant worlds.
The discovery of SPECULOOS-3 b is the second of its kind around an ultra-cool dwarf star and offers opportunities for life on orbiting planets to develop due to the star's long lifespan. The planet takes 17 hours to complete an orbit, making days and nights endless.
The newly discovered SPECULOOS-3b is an Earth-sized, likely airless planet orbiting a nearby ultracool dwarf star. The planet's extremely close proximity to its star has likely vaporized any atmosphere, allowing scientists to study its surface composition and history in unprecedented detail.
Scientists have discovered a new planet called WASP-193b that is 50% bigger than Jupiter yet has a density comparable to cotton candy. The planet's low density makes it an outlier among the over 5,400 planets discovered so far.
A team of researchers using the James Webb Space Telescope has detected signs of an atmosphere around 55 Cancri e, a rocky exoplanet. The planet's surface is estimated to be molten, but the team believes it may have a secondary atmosphere that could provide insights into habitable planets.
A new rocky planet, TOI-6713.01, has been found to be covered with active volcanoes, making it glow with a fiery, glowing-red hue. The planet's surface temperature reaches 2,600 degrees Kelvin due to gravitational forces that cause it to experience tidal energy.
Researchers using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope have detected atmospheric gases surrounding 55 Cancri e, a hot rocky exoplanet. The discovery provides evidence for the existence of any rocky planet atmosphere outside our solar system, a long-standing mystery in exoplanet characterization.
A recent study suggests that 55 Cancri e's atmosphere may be composed of carbon-rich vapor, contradicting its initial uninhabitable status. The discovery was made possible by the James Webb Space Telescope and demonstrates the potential for future telescopes to study distant rocky planets in detail.
A new study led by Dr. Assaf Hochman uncovers ozone's impact on atmospheric stability and temperature distribution on Proxima Centauri b, a habitable exoplanet tantalizingly close to Earth's solar system. The research highlights the importance of considering interactive ozone in understanding Earth-like exoplanets.
A new study challenges the initial detection of a biosignature gas on K2-18b, suggesting that the data may be inconclusive. However, researchers believe it's possible for life to produce detectable levels of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) in the planet's atmosphere.
Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi have discovered thick clouds and a surprising lack of methane on the planet's nightside, while ubiquitous water presence was found throughout its atmosphere. The discovery reveals the first observation of clouds on the nightside of WASP-43b, a giant gas-filled exoplanet.
A team of astronomers and citizen scientists has discovered a planet in the habitable zone of an unusual star system, including two stars and potentially another exoplanet. The newly discovered planet, TOI 4633 c, boasts the second-longest orbit of any planet discovered with TESS data.
A new study led by Durham University researchers proposes that strong stellar magnetic fields can dissipate gravitational tides, leading to the orbital decay of 'hot Jupiter' exoplanets. The findings suggest certain nearby stars may be good targets for searching additional hot Jupiter planets on decaying orbits.
Researchers introduce a new model that suggests dense stellar clusters can eject pairs of giant planets, which remain gravitationally bound to each other as they float through space. This discovery fills a critical gap in our understanding of planetary evolution and challenges prevailing theories of planet formation.
Researchers have successfully determined the size and atmospheric composition of exoplanet WASP-39b by including a star's magnetic field in model calculations. The study improves upon previous observations by providing a more precise understanding of the planet's signal in light curves.
Astronomers have detected a 'glory', a luminous phenomenon like a rainbow, in the atmosphere of WASP-76b, an ultra-hot giant exoplanet. The phenomenon occurs when light is reflected by clouds made up of perfectly uniform droplets, which could be iron or water.
A group of high school students from the Galaxy Explorer program made contributions to exoplanet research using backpack-sized digital smart telescopes. They observed and confirmed a warm and dense sub-Saturn planet, TIC 139270665 b, orbiting a metal-rich star.
A team of astronomers has shed new light on the process of planet formation through a groundbreaking survey of over 80 young stars. The research provides a wealth of data and unique insights into how planets arise in different regions of our galaxy, revealing diverse patterns of planet-forming discs.
Researchers applied Bayesian network analysis to a corpus of 142 science fiction works, investigating the representation of extrasolar planets. They found that after the discovery of real exoplanets in 1995, fictional exoplanets became less Earth-like, reflecting the scientific reality of vast numbers of diverse exoplanet types.
Researchers have discovered water vapor in the disc around a young star exactly where planets are forming. The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) enabled detailed images and spatially resolved observations, revealing three times as much water as Earth's oceans in the inner disc of the HL Tauri star.
The study, published in The Astrophysical Journal, tested the future LIFE mission's capabilities on real spectra using data from NASA's Aqua Earth observation satellite. It demonstrated that a space telescope like LIFE could detect signs of a temperate, habitable world on Earth-like exoplanets.
Astronomers have discovered an extreme Earth-like planet with lava oceans that orbits its sun-like star every four days. The young planet, just 500 million years old, is the nearest Earth-sized planet found so far and could provide valuable insights into the evolution of planets similar to our own.
Research suggests that planetary migration is the key to explaining the mysterious gap in the size distribution of super-Earths. Simulations show that sub-Neptunes' evolution contributes to the observed radius valley, while rocky planets 'shrink' by losing their atmosphere.
Researchers have identified a CO-rich atmosphere on exoplanets that could support life. The study reveals a 'gap' in atmospheric conditions where CO levels are higher than expected, indicating potential habitability.
Researchers from Ohio State University tested upcoming telescopes' ability to detect chemical traces of oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane and water on 10 rocky exoplanets. The study found that two nearby worlds, Proxima Centauri b and GJ 887 b, are highly adept at detecting biosignatures with advanced telescopes.
Researchers have discovered a multi-planet system that provides a rare glimpse into the formation of planets around a young star. The system consists of six confirmed planets and potentially a seventh, all forming under similar conditions at an age of just 700 million years.
Astronomers have discovered a small, cold exoplanet with an orbital period of 146 days, providing insight into planetary formation and evolution. The planet, HD88986b, is about twice the size of Earth and orbits a star similar to the Sun.
Researchers used the James Webb Space Telescope to analyze the atmospheric composition of HAT-P-18 b, detecting water vapour and carbon dioxide. They also found a cloud deck that mutes the signals of many molecules, and their findings suggest the star's surface is covered by dark spots. The study highlights the importance of considerin...
Researchers have discovered a Jupiter-sized planet, WASP-69b, with a comet-like tail that trails the planet for at least 350,000 miles. The tail is shaped and pushed in the direction of Earth by radiation and an outflow of gas from its host star, providing a rare opportunity to study planetary mass-loss in real time.
Researchers detected complex structure with three concentric rings in the innermost region of the disk, rich in dust and minerals. The discovery suggests two planets may be forming within the gaps, with masses similar to Jupiter.
Researchers have devised a new method to identify habitable planets and potentially inhabited planets by comparing atmospheric CO2 levels, which suggests the presence of liquid water. This signature can be detected with current telescopes, providing a path to identify life on exoplanets.
Scientists propose searching for depleted carbon dioxide in planetary atmospheres as a sign of liquid water and potentially life on other planets. A study suggests that low carbon abundance relative to neighboring planets could indicate habitability.
Scientists simulated the runaway greenhouse effect, transforming habitable climates into hostile environments, with significant changes in atmospheric structure and cloud coverage. The study provides key insights for the search of life elsewhere, as it demonstrates a critical water vapor threshold beyond which a planet cannot cool down.
Researchers have observed the atmospheres of seven hot Jupiters using NASA's CUTE spacecraft, revealing that some planets lose significant gas while others remain unchanged. The findings suggest a combination of planetary size and stellar activity plays a role in atmospheric escape. CUTE's precise measurements provide valuable insights...
New research from the Max Planck Institute challenges previous claims of giant exomoons around Kepler-1625b and Kepler-1708b. The study uses a computer algorithm to analyze observations, finding that 'planet-only' interpretations are more conclusive than initially thought.
Astronomers have discovered a rare six-planet system, HD110067, that exhibits an orbital resonance pattern, repeating every three and four orbits. This unique configuration provides valuable information on how sub-Neptunes form, evolve, and potentially support liquid water on their surfaces.
Researchers created lab-made haze to understand how it affects observations of distant planets, which could lead to misinterpretations of global temperatures and biological activity. The new data offers a better understanding of exoplanet atmospheres, helping scientists focus on specific planets and improve their search for life.
The James Webb Space Telescope observed the exoplanet WASP-80 b and detected methane gas and water vapor in its atmosphere. This is the first detection of methane in an exoplanet's atmosphere using space-based spectroscopy.
The NASA Hubble Space Telescope has measured the size of LTT 1445Ac, an Earth-sized exoplanet passing in front of a neighboring star. The planet's diameter is found to be 1.07 times that of Earth, indicating a rocky world with surface gravity similar to our own.