Articles tagged with Exoplanets
Astronomers using the Gemini North telescope have detected 11 rock-forming elements in the atmosphere of WASP-76b, a Jupiter-like exoplanet. The presence and relative amounts of these elements provide key insights into giant gas planet formation and may challenge our understanding of how planets like Mercury and Earth formed.
Researchers found rock-forming elements in the atmosphere of WASP-76 b, which suggests it might have accreted a smaller Mercury-like planet. The discovery provides unprecedented insight into the presence and abundance of rock-forming elements in giant planets.
Researchers have discovered a large gas giant orbiting two stars using the radial velocities method for the first time. The newly found system, TOI-1338/BEBOP-1, is only the second binary star system known to host multiple planets ever confirmed.
Researchers have identified a second circumbinary planet, BEBOP-1c, in the TOI-1338/BEBOP-1 system using state-of-the-art instruments. The newly discovered planet has a mass 65 times larger than Earth and orbits both stars at once.
The CHEOPS satellite has successfully detected two elusive exoplanets, TOI 5678 b and HIP 9618 c, using its precise measurements. The planets have sizes similar to Neptune and Earth radii, respectively, with orbital periods of 48 days and 52.5 days.
Researchers used the NIRISS instrument on the James Webb Space Telescope to create a temperature map of the exoplanet WASP-18 b, revealing a huge temperature change from day to night sides. Water vapor was also detected in the atmosphere at various elevations.
A team of astrophysicists and citizen scientists have identified three potentially habitable exoplanets discovered during NASA's Kepler space telescope's final days of operation. The planets, including K2-416 b and K2-417 b, are between the size of Earth and Neptune and orbit their stars closely.
Astronomers at MIT and University of Wisconsin have discovered two validated planets, K2-416 b and K2-417 b, in Kepler's last week of high-quality data. The third planet candidate, EPIC 246251988 b, orbits its star every 10 days and is slightly farther away from Earth than the other two.
New analysis reveals that two-thirds of planets around small stars could be sterilized by tidal forces, leaving one-third with potentially habitable zones. Hundreds of millions of promising targets have been identified for future studies.
New research from Rice University suggests that ancient microorganisms helped cause massive volcanic events by facilitating the precipitation of minerals in banded iron formations. The study provides insight into processes that could produce habitable exoplanets and reframes scientists' understanding of Earth's early history.
A team of scientists led by NYU Abu Dhabi researcher Mohamad Ali-Dib discovered an Earth-sized exoplanet named LP 791-18 d. The planet may be carpeted with volcanoes and sustain water in liquid form, making it potentially habitable.
Astronomers have discovered an Earth-size exoplanet, LP 791-18 d, that may be covered in volcanoes. The planet's high volcanic activity could sustain an atmosphere and potentially support liquid water on its night side.
Astronomers have discovered a new temperate exoplanet, LP 791-18 d, with properties similar to those of Earth. The planet is believed to be covered in volcanoes due to tidal heating, which causes heat to build up in its interior.
The newly discovered exoplanet LP 791-18 d orbits a small red dwarf star in the habitable zone, where liquid water could exist on its surface. Volcanic activity on this planet may sustain an atmosphere and potentially lead to the formation of life.
Astronomers have discovered an Earth-sized planet, LP 791-18d, with active volcanoes that could sustain an atmosphere, potentially allowing for liquid water and life. The planet's unique tidal locking creates a permanent day and night side, with the night side possibly experiencing condensation of water vapor.
The newly discovered planet, LP 791-18d, is almost the same size as Earth and has a chaotic environment with intense temperatures and possible volcanic activity. The planet's proximity to its neighbor LP 791-18c could create hazardous gravitational forces, but also potentially seed its atmosphere with gases and water.
Astronomers have discovered an Earth-sized exoplanet, LP 791-18 d, which orbits a small red dwarf star in the constellation Crater. The planet may experience volcanic flare-ups as frequently as Jupiter's moon Io, potentially making it habitable for life. However, more research is needed to confirm its atmosphere, water content, and hab...
A team of researchers used JWST to observe GJ 1214b's atmosphere, discovering water vapor and a reflective haze. The findings suggest the planet is too hot to be habitable but likely contains significant amounts of water.
For most of its life, a Sun-like star fuses hydrogen into helium in its hot core, causing it to expand and engulf nearby planets. The first direct evidence of this event was observed using the Gemini South Adaptive Optics Imager, revealing a long-lasting outburst with ejected material containing about 33 Earth masses of hydrogen.
A team of scientists at MIT and elsewhere have observed a star engulfing a nearby planet, a phenomenon that will also befall Earth in 5 billion years. The star's outburst was followed by a colder, longer-lasting signal, indicating the presence of gas from the star condensing into dust.
Scientists at Lund University have found seven elements, including rare earth metal terbium, in the atmosphere of KELT-9 b, the galaxy's hottest exoplanet. The discovery was made possible by a new method developed to analyze exoplanets, which has opened up the possibility of studying their atmospheres in more detail.
Researchers at the University of Georgia have confirmed evidence of a previously unknown planet outside our solar system using machine learning tools. The discovery highlights the potential for artificial intelligence to enhance scientists' work and speed up analysis, with the potential to dramatically expand exoplanet discoveries.
Researchers found that metal-poor stars, with fewer heavy elements, emit less intense ultraviolet radiation into space. This allows their planets to form a protective ozone layer, making conditions more life-friendly. The study suggests that as the universe ages, it becomes increasingly unfavourable for complex life on new planets.
A UTSA-led research team has discovered a new exoplanet using indirect methods. The exoplanet, HIP 99770 b, is about 14 to 16 times the mass of Jupiter and orbits a nearly twice-as-massive star. This breakthrough opens a new avenue for scientists to discover and characterize exoplanets.
An international team of astronomers has discovered an exoplanet using a combined approach of direct imaging and precision measurements of a star's motion on the sky. The newly found planet, HIP 99770 b, is 14-16 times more massive than Jupiter and orbits just over three times further from its star.
Researchers propose that early interactions between the magma ocean and a molecular hydrogen proto-atmosphere could have given rise to Earth's signature features, including its abundant water. The study suggests that even dry rocky material collisions would generate large quantities of water through these atmospheric-magma interactions.
Astronomers observe repeating radio signal from star YZ Ceti, indicating potential magnetic field of nearby Earth-sized planet YZ Ceti b. The detection provides new insights into the environment around stars and has implications for the search for habitable exoplanets.
The James Webb Space Telescope detected the thermal emission of TRAPPIST-1 b, indicating a temperature of about 500 kelvins and no substantial atmosphere. This finding marks an important step in determining habitability around small, active stars like TRAPPIST-1.
Researchers found giant gas giants orbiting low-mass stars, challenging the widely accepted planet formation model. The study used NASA's TESS satellite data and identified 15 potential giant planets, with five confirmed as actual planets.
The study identifies five exoplanets that resemble Venus in terms of radii, masses, and atmospheric conditions. By observing these 'exo-Venus' planets using the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists hope to uncover valuable insights into Earth's future and the possibility of a runaway greenhouse climate.
Astronomers at UC Irvine have found that terminator zones on distant exoplanets could be prime sites for liquid water and potentially harbor life. The study suggests that these regions offer a unique climate stability, making them more promising than previously thought.
Scientists from the University of Cambridge have developed a model to predict a planet's interior water capacity based on its size and host star chemistry. The results suggest that larger planets may have drier rocky mantles, while smaller ones could hold more water-rich minerals.
A new study led by University of Maryland researchers found that melted meteorites have extremely low water content, ruling them out as the primary source of Earth's water. The team suggests that unmelted, or chondritic, meteorites may be responsible for delivering water to our planet.
The University of Sydney and EnduroSat are collaborating on a mission to search for habitable planets around Alpha Centauri, just four light years from Earth. The team will use a custom-designed mini satellite to explore the star system's 'Goldilocks' zone for signs of life.
A recent experiment by UC Riverside astrophysicist Stephen Kane demonstrates that a terrestrial planet in this location would have disastrous effects on the solar system. The simulation found that such a planet could destabilize Earth's orbit, making it far less habitable and potentially ejecting Mercury and Venus from the solar system.
The discovery of TOI-5205b, a Jupiter-sized gas giant, contradicts the current understanding of planet formation. The planet's existence raises questions about the role of rocky material in forming massive cores and its potential to form gas giants despite these guardrails.
New research from the University of Georgia reveals that artificial intelligence can be used to find planets outside our solar system. Machine learning can analyze environments where planets are still forming, helping scientists overcome difficulties such as distance and data thickness.
A team from UNIGE has observed a sample of planets at the edge of the Hot Neptune Desert to understand its creation. They found that most of these planets have an orbit misaligned with the stellar equator, indicating disruptive migration processes.
A new theory proposes that rocky planets form in a narrow band of the protoplanetary disk, where silicate vapors condense to form solid pebbles. This process creates a ring of material that constitutes the building blocks for planet formation, resulting in uniform systems of rocky super-Earths.
Scientists have identified a new Earth-size world, TOI 700 e, orbiting within the habitable zone of its star, making it an exciting prospect for further study. The planet is likely rocky and might be tidally locked, offering insights into our solar system's history.
Researchers have observed an exoplanet whose orbit is decaying around an aging star, providing the first look at a solar system this late in its life cycle. The doomed world, Kepler-1658b, has less than 3 million years left before colliding with its expanding star.
Researchers have spotted an exoplanet spiraling towards its star due to tidal interactions, shedding light on the late stages of planetary orbital decay. The discovery provides new insights into how evolved stars affect their planets' orbits, and may help explain why one exoplanet appears brighter than expected.
Researchers have identified two exoplanets, Kepler-138c and d, as 'water worlds,' with a significant fraction of their volume likely composed of water. The planets are about one and a half times the size of Earth and have much lower densities than our planet.
Researchers discovered that 55 Cnc e orbits its star along the equator, unlike other planets in the system. This unique orbit likely formed when the planet fell toward its star over time, resulting in a scorching surface and interior with possible diamond formation.
A new model accounts for the interplay of forces acting on newborn planets, explaining two puzzling observations: the radius valley and peas in a pod. The research suggests that giant impacts, like the one that formed our moon, are probably a generic outcome of planet formation.
A new system classifies atmospheres of distant planets to identify those suitable for future human habitation, without physically visiting them. The research study found that planet TRAPPIST-1e has a significantly more sensitive atmosphere than Earth, which could lead to extreme climate changes.
Astronomers have discovered barium in the upper layers of ultra-hot Jupiters WASP-76 b and WASP-121 b, raising questions about these planets' atmospheres. The detection challenges scientists' understanding of heavy elements' behavior in exoplanet environments.
Researchers find that airborne chemical methyl bromide is a compelling indicator of biological activity on other planets. Its detectability increases around M dwarf stars, making it an attractive target for future missions to search for extraterrestrial life.
Simulations suggest a 'day at the beach' for life on Earth-like exoplanets around red dwarfs, increasing chances of finding multiple analogs in coming decades. This discovery sheds light on the diversity of water content in terrestrial exoplanets, which is crucial for a temperate climate.
A Cornell research team synthesized 16 types of rock surfaces that may form on exoplanets, providing a tool to decipher their composition. The study's findings offer clues to early planetary evolution and the chemical makeup of distant planets.
The ExoClock project, supported by European Space Agency's Ariel mission, has presented 450 candidate exoplanet target orbits and received contributions from 217 professional and amateur astronomers. Small telescopes can successfully observe most targets, highlighting the value of amateur community involvement in space research.
The SETI Institute and Unistellar are launching a new exoplanet detection program that engages citizen scientists worldwide. Citizen astronomers will help confirm exoplanet candidates identified by NASA's TESS using Unistellar's eVscope or other telescopes.
A new study suggests that Earth's habitability could increase if Jupiter's orbit becomes more eccentric, leading to parts of the surface warming up and becoming habitable for multiple life forms. The researchers also found that this change in Jupiter's orbit could have implications for the search for habitable planets around other stars.
A new study reveals that many exoplanets around M-dwarf stars may be composed of half water and half rock, rather than having surface oceans. The discovery suggests that these planets are likely to have water embedded in the rock or in pockets below the surface.
Astronomers at the University of Birmingham have discovered two super-Earth planets, LP 890-9b and LP 890-9c, orbiting the cool star LP 890-9. The second planet, SPECULOOS-2c, is about 40% larger than Earth and has a longer orbital period, placing it in the habitable zone around its star.
The discovery of LP 890-9b and LP 890-9c, two 'super-Earth' type planets orbiting the small star LP 890-9, was made using ground-based telescopes. The planets have sizes similar to that of Earth and orbits that place them in the habitable zone around their star.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield have proposed a novel origin for Jupiter-like planets around massive stars. Massive stars can capture or steal planets from other stars in densely populated stellar nurseries, a process known as a 'planetary heist'.
Astronomers used the VLBA to trace a wobble in a nearby star's motion and discovered a Jupiter-like planet orbiting one of its stars. The planet has twice the mass of Jupiter and orbits every 284 days, with an inclined orbit of 148 degrees from the stars.
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a machine learning model to predict melting temperatures for any compound. The model enables faster and more accurate calculations of melting points, which is critical for designing high-performance materials in various industries.
The James Webb Space Telescope has captured clear evidence of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of a gas giant planet outside the solar system. The detection, made using the telescope's Near-Infrared Spectrograph, provides insights into planetary composition and formation.