Articles tagged with Exoplanets
Researchers detected water vapor signatures on K2-18b, a planet in the habitable zone around a small red dwarf star. The findings suggest liquid water could pool on its surface if it's terrestrial in nature.
Researchers at the University of Bern discover hints of a volcanically active exomoon, or exo-Io, orbiting the hot giant planet WASP-49b. The presence of sodium gas at an anomalously high-altitude suggests the existence of a small rocky moon that could be responsible for the observed phenomenon.
Two McGill University astronomers have assembled a transit spectrum of Earth, a fingerprint of the planet's atmosphere in infrared light. This detection could help scientists identify planets capable of supporting life, such as TRAPPIST-1 system with seven habitable zone planets.
Researchers found exoplanet oceans with efficient upwelling rates could host globally abundant and active life. The discovery suggests that Earth might not be optimally habitable and life elsewhere may enjoy a more hospitable planet.
A new study provides the most accurate estimate of the frequency that planets similar to Earth occur around sun-like stars, which will be important for designing future astronomical missions. The researchers' novel approach allows them to account for several effects not included in previous studies.
Astronomers have developed a model showing the James Webb Space Telescope can detect the atmospheres of all seven TRAPPIST-1 planets in just 10 transits or fewer, even with cloud cover. The telescope's Near-Infrared Spectrograph will help identify gas spectral fingerprints to determine atmosphere composition.
Astronomers propose a new method to detect hidden life on exoplanets, utilizing biofluorescence induced by stellar UV flares. This novel approach could reveal biomarkers on planets orbiting active M stars, making them ideal targets for future searches.
The SISTINE mission aims to identify signs of life on exoplanets by analyzing the radiation from their host stars. Astronomers have found that false-positive biomarkers can be created through non-biological processes, making it essential to study the star's spectrum to distinguish between true and false positives.
Astronomers have characterized a super-Earth discovered by the TESS satellite, which orbits a dwarf star every 55.7 days and may support liquid water on its surface. The planet's conditions could provide insight into Earth's heavyweight planetary cousins.
The discovery of TOI-270 includes two sub-Neptunes that could be an intermediate size between Earth and Neptune, providing insights into planetary formation. Astronomers also found a rocky super-Earth with a three-day orbit, adding to the system's potential for studying exoplanet dynamics.
Researchers have discovered a young exoplanet orbiting one of the brightest young stars known, providing valuable information on planetary body formation. The exoplanet, DS Tuc Ab, is about six times the size of Earth and orbits its main star in just eight days.
Researchers have created a new tool to understand exoplanet evolution, using Earth's biosignatures as a 'cheat sheet' to detect signs of life. By analyzing the colors produced by different organisms on Earth, scientists can now look beyond vegetation and detect surface biota dating back billions of years.
The study suggests that massive planets form through slow material accumulation, while brown dwarfs come about due to rapid gravitational collapse. The discovery advances the idea of bottom-up planet formation and highlights the differences in planetary systems beyond our own.
The Gemini Planet Imager survey discovered six planets and three brown dwarfs orbiting 300 stars, offering new insights into the formation of Jupiter-like planets and their distribution around high-mass stars. The findings suggest that wide-orbiting giant planets are more common around high mass stars, but rare around sun-like stars.
A new study analyzing 300 stars finds that Jupiter-like gas giants congregate between 3 and 10 astronomical units from their stars. This 'sweet spot' is where most large planets are found, peaking in occurrence rate around 3-10 AU.
Researchers at Penn State have found that gravitational forces within protoplanetary disks can cause super-Earths to migrate closer to their host star. This simulation shows that chaotic interactions among planets and the gas disk can lead to synchronized orbits, resulting in super-Earths being pushed towards the star.
Sub-Neptune exoplanets are likely to be water worlds due to simulations of planetary growth. These planets contain at least 25% water-dominated ices or fluids, rather than gas dwarfs with a rocky core surrounded by a gaseous envelope.
The TESS mission has discovered its first Earth-sized exoplanet, HD 21749c, which orbits a nearby star in just 7.8 days. The planet is likely a rocky, uninhabitable world with surface temperatures of up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit.
The discovery of an Earth-sized planet and a warm sub-Neptune-sized world in the HD 21749 system marks a significant milestone for NASA's TESS mission. The planets have distinct orbital periods, with the sub-Neptune taking 36 days to complete its orbit.
New study models UV environments of nearby exoplanets, finding they could support life despite high radiation levels. The researchers argue that life has survived similar conditions on Earth and suggests the possibility of life existing today on planets like Proxima-b.
Researchers found evidence of a giant exoplanet orbiting an evolved binary system, with a mass approximately 13 times that of Jupiter. The discovery was made possible by analyzing variations in eclipse timing and orbital period using Kepler Space Telescope data.
The GRAVITY instrument has made the first direct observation of an exoplanet, revealing a complex atmosphere with clouds of iron and silicates swirling in a planet-wide storm. This achievement showcases the unique possibilities for characterising many known exoplanets.
Astronomers confirm the existence of a hot Jupiter-like planet, Kepler-1658 b, orbiting an evolved star. The discovery, led by University of Hawaii graduate student Ashley Chontos, provides new insights into planetary interactions and the rarity of planets around similar stars.
Researchers propose that obliquity is a key factor in the formation of pairs of over-tilting exoplanets, leading to extreme seasons and weather patterns. The study could have significant implications for estimating the structure, climate, and habitability of these planets.
New analysis offers insights into the nature of Planet Nine, estimating its mass as five times that of Earth and orbital semimajor axis of approximately 400 AU. The findings suggest that Planet Nine is likely to be reminiscent of a typical extrasolar super-Earth.
Astronomers from UCI and other institutions have successfully used the Habitable Planet Finder to discover and confirm the existence of exoplanets. The new technique has been demonstrated on a recently discovered super-Earth orbiting Barnard's star, expanding the selection of stellar targets for exoplanet hunting.
The Kepler 107 system's inner planets may have formed from a massive impact that stripped away their outer layers. This study uses seismic analysis to support the hypothesis that Kepler 107c, the densest planet, was created by such an event. The findings highlight the importance of stellar physics in understanding exoplanetary research.
The protection of extraterrestrial life is not stipulated in international space research agreements. However, launching miniature interstellar probes poses a risk to habitable but sterile oxygen planets. Research suggests that these planets are unlikely to support life due to the corrosive effect of free oxygen.
A team of astronomers has found an intermediate-mass exoplanet, OGLE-2012-BLG-0950Lb, with a mass of 39 times that of Earth, which contradicts the current understanding of planet formation. The discovery was made using microlensing, a method sensitive to sub-Saturn planets in Jupiter-like orbits.
Scientists have discovered a new planet, HD 21749b, with the longest orbital period of three planets so far identified by TESS. The planet, about three times the size of Earth and 23 times as massive, is likely a dense, gaseous 'sub-Neptune' world.
Researchers have observed a warped disk around an infant protostar, suggesting that misalignment of planetary orbits could be caused by distortions in the planet-forming disk. The discovery provides new insights into how planets form and could explain why many extrasolar systems have planets not lined up in a single plane.
The MuSCAT2 instrument will use multi-color transit observations to separate actual exoplanets from eclipsing binary stars. This technique is essential for confirming a large number of new transiting exoplanet candidates, including Earth-like habitable planets orbiting stars near the Sun.
Researchers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have discovered a medium-sized exoplanet, GJ 3470b, losing mass at a rate 100 times faster than similar planets. The study advances knowledge of planetary evolution and suggests that half of the planet may be gone in a few billion years.
Astronomers use Hubble to detect a second 'very warm' Neptune losing its atmosphere at an unprecedented rate, shedding light on the mysterious hot-Neptune deficit. The planet's evaporation may be linked to its star's intense radiation and age.
Researchers from UNIGE have detected helium in the atmosphere of an exoplanet, HAT-P-11b, which is swollen like a balloon due to stellar radiation. The discovery was made using the Carmenes spectrograph on a 4-metre telescope, and supported by numerical simulations that track the trajectory of helium atoms.
The giant exoplanet WASP-69b carries a comet-like tail made of helium particles escaping its gravitational field propelled by ultraviolet radiation from its star. The team analyzed the planet's atmosphere using the CARMENES instrument, revealing a stronger and longer-lasting dimming of starlight in a region where helium gas absorbs light.
Researchers have detected helium escaping from the atmosphere of HAT-P-11b, a planet equivalent in size to Neptune, revealing an extended cloud that is inflating the planet like a balloon. The study provides new insights into the extreme atmospheric conditions found around the hottest exoplanets.
An international team of astronomers has confirmed over 100 exoplanets using a combination of space-based and ground-based telescopes. The discovery includes ultra-short orbital period planets and low-mass rocky exoplanets, offering insights into their formation processes.
Astronomers have found a candidate planet, named Barnard's star b, orbiting the red dwarf star every 233 days. The cold super-Earth is estimated to be around 3.2 times the size of Earth and has a temperature of -150°C.
Astronomers have discovered a cold Super-Earth orbiting around the Barnard's star, which is about six light-years away from Earth. The planet candidate has a minimum of 3.2 Earth masses and orbits its red star every 233 days near the snow-line.
Astronomers have discovered a planet, known as Barnard's star b, which orbits around its host star every 233 days. The 'super-Earth' is estimated to be a frozen world with surface temperatures of -170 degrees Celsius, but could potentially become more hospitable if it has a substantial atmosphere.
Chris Fox, a space buff since childhood, and his team discovered exoplanet Kepler 159d by analyzing the orbits of nearby planets. The exoplanet has a mass similar to Saturn's and likely consists of gases with no solid surface.
Researchers use Earth's geological record to identify vegetation signatures on exoplanets, which can indicate the presence of life. The study found that as plants evolved on Earth, their signature became stronger, making older exoplanets more promising targets for detecting vegetation.
TESS has shared its first science image, revealing a wealth of stars and other objects in the southern sky. The image captures systems previously known to have exoplanets, highlighting the mission's potential to discover new worlds.
Researchers used data from NASA's Kepler Space Telescope to discover Wolf 503b, an exoplanet with a radius near the 'Fulton gap', and is part of a class of 'super-Earths'. The discovery provides insights into the origin of this size gap and the nature of these planets.
Scientists have found that many exoplanets, especially those between two to four times the size of Earth, are likely to be water-rich. This suggests that water worlds may be common, with implications for the search for life in our Galaxy.
Researchers measured compositions of 18 planetary systems up to 456 light years away, finding similar proportions of elements to those on Earth. The study suggests that Earth-like planets may exist elsewhere in the galaxy.
Astronomers have detected iron and titanium vapors in the atmosphere of KELT-9b, an ultra-hot Jupiter, using spectroscopy. The high temperatures break apart molecules, making these atomic species visible.
Researchers have developed a reference catalog of light spectra and albedos for 19 solar system bodies. By comparing this catalog to exoplanet observations, scientists can characterize new worlds in reference to our own diverse planetary system. The catalog offers insights into the challenges of categorizing rocky and icy exoplanets.
TESS starts its search for planets, monitoring the nearest and brightest stars for periodic dips in their light, which suggest a planet may be passing in front of its star. The mission aims to discover thousands of exoplanets, some potentially supporting life.
Scientists have found a new exoplanet, 2MASS 0249 c, that is nearly identical to the well-studied gas-giant planet beta Pictoris b. The two planets share similar mass, brightness, and spectrum but differ in their formation environments, with one orbiting a bright star and the other a pair of faint brown dwarfs.
The James Webb Space Telescope will observe the atmospheres of gas giant exoplanets, including WASP-79b and WASP-43b, to detect water, carbon monoxide, and other molecules. The telescope aims to understand the physical processes responsible for these variations and their implications for potentially habitable planets.
Researchers have determined the detailed chemical abundances of Ross 128, a red dwarf star that hosts an exoplanet similar to our Solar System's Jupiter. This helps estimate the makeup of Ross 128 b, indicating it should be rocky with a temperate climate.
Scientists estimate that planets around almost every star in the galaxy may harbor life, prompting new research to identify biosignatures. Researchers propose solutions to detect gases and light signatures produced by life on exoplanets.
The UCR team's guidebook outlines three types of biosignatures that astrobiologists have proposed as markers for life on other planets. The review articles provide a comprehensive framework for scientists searching for signs of life, called biosignatures, in the data they collect from future telescope observations.
An international team of astronomers detected molecules on an exoplanet, allowing it to be visualized. The technique reveals the planet's surface composition and temperature, providing new insights into planetary atmospheres. Future spectrographs will enhance this method, enabling more accurate characterization of planets.
A team of astronomers has developed a new technique to find young extrasolar planets by analyzing the motion of gas in protoplanetary disks. The method successfully confirmed the existence of two Jupiter-mass planets around star HD 163296, providing insight into planet formation and the process that shaped our own solar system.
A Rutgers-led ENIGMA team will investigate the evolution of protein nanomachines, which may have arisen before life began, using a $6 million NASA grant. The team aims to understand the earliest processes that support life, including the movement of electrons and hydrogen atoms.
The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has completed a lunar flyby, providing a gravity assist to help it reach its final working orbit. As part of camera commissioning, TESS snapped a two-second test exposure revealing over 200,000 stars in the southern constellation Centaurus.
Scientists discovered a new hot Jupiter exoplanet, KPS-1b, using data from an amateur astronomer. The exoplanet orbits a star similar to the Sun and has a mass and size close to that of Jupiter. Its proximity to its parent star results in extremely high temperatures in its atmosphere.