Articles tagged with Exoplanets
Researchers found that equatorial regions on planets like Proxima b and TRAPPIST-1d might trap ozone, hiding signs of life from telescopic observations. This discovery highlights the challenges in detecting life beyond Earth, requiring a more nuanced strategy for searching for life.
Researchers suggest hunting for cruder signatures of potentially habitable worlds, which would be easier to detect with current resources in less time. They look for atmospheres rich with water vapor and nitrogen, and oxygen, as these are basic molecules that are biologically friendly and have strong infrared emitting power.
A citizen scientist has discovered a comet's tail streaking past a distant star using data from the Kepler Space Telescope. The discovery marks the first time an object as small as a comet has been inferred by observing dips in a star's light.
Researchers use Hubble Space Telescope to find 'sunscreen snow' on hot giant planet outside solar system, where titanium dioxide condenses into clouds. The discovery sheds light on exoplanet climates and may aid in gauging Earth-size planets' habitability.
Researchers used a new model to simulate atmospheric conditions in three dimensions, revealing a key role for stellar radiation in creating moist greenhouse states on exoplanets. This process could make planets closer to their stars habitable despite intense radiation and tidal forces.
Astronomers have discovered an exoplanet, GJ 436b, with a huge gas cloud resembling a comet's tail, caused by intense stellar irradiation. The planet's atmosphere loses hydrogen due to the star's radiation, forming a massive cloud that absorbs UV radiation.
KFU astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery of an exoplanet orbiting a red giant star HD208897, located 210 light years away from Earth. The planet has a mass of 1.4 Jupiter masses and an orbital period of 353 days, marking the first time in Russian astronomy such a discovery was made using spectroscopic methods.
A team of scientists identified 68 exoplanets where observers can see the planets in our Solar System transit the Sun. Nine of these are ideally placed to observe Earth's transits, although none are habitable.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington predicted an additional Earth-like planet in the Gliese 832 system, with stable orbital configuration and mass range of 1-15 Earth masses. The team analyzed simulated data using injected Earth-mass planet to find a habitable zone for potential new world.
Astronomer Rory Barnes finds that tidal locking is a major factor in the evolution of potentially habitable exoplanets, suggesting they may be more common than previously thought. The research suggests that even Earth's 'twin' could be tidally locked.
TESS will survey stars up to 100 times brighter than Kepler, finding thousands of new exoplanets around bright nearby stars. The mission will provide ideal targets for follow-up observations with the James Webb Space Telescope.
Scientists have found a stratosphere on an enormous gas giant exoplanet WASP-121b with an atmosphere hot enough to boil iron. The discovery was made using spectroscopy to analyze the planet's brightness at different wavelengths of light, revealing glowing water molecules.
Researchers have found compelling evidence for a stratosphere on the enormous planet WASP-121b, hot enough to boil iron. The discovery was made using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and indicates a strong stratosphere on this gas giant exoplanet.
The Planetary Spectrum Generator (PSG) is being enhanced with additional databases to provide more accurate predictions of instrument performance. This will enable scientists to design and plan future missions more efficiently, reducing costs and resources.
A computer model suggests that Proxima b's atmosphere could be lost 10,000 times faster than Earth's due to extreme ultraviolet radiation from its host star. The study considers factors like thermosphere temperature and magnetic field orientation to understand the impact of stellar physics on habitability.
Astronomers have discovered an exoplanet, HIP65426b, using the SPHERE/VLT instrument for the first time. The planet is located at three times the Earth-Neptune distance from its star and has a mass 6 to 12 times higher than Jupiter.
Research suggests that exoplanets near cool, low-mass stars require strong magnetic fields to shield their atmospheres from harmful X-rays and extreme pressure. The study models CMEs in a cool star system and finds that most CMEs are trapped by the star's surface, posing a significant threat to planetary habitability.
A team of astronomers advocates for a statistical comparative approach to find habitable planets and life beyond the solar system. By studying large numbers of exoplanets with less detailed measurements, they can estimate the frequency of habitable environments and life on those planets.
Two exoplanets, WASP-67 b and HAT-P-38 b, have distinct atmospheric compositions, with one being cloudier than the other. The team's findings suggest that their past formation histories may be responsible for these differences.
Scientists have discovered an exoplanet, KELT-9b, hotter than most stars, with a day-side temperature of 4,600 Kelvin. The planet's atmosphere is being evaporated due to intense ultraviolet radiation from its host star.
Researchers used the Met Office Unified Model to simulate Proxima B's climate, finding it could have a habitable atmosphere and stable climate regime. The team also explored different atmospheric compositions and orbital configurations, suggesting the planet could support life.
Astronomers have found clear signs of water in the atmosphere of HAT-P-26b, a Neptune-sized exoplanet. The presence of water suggests that the planet's gaseous envelope formed late in its formation process, with little to no pollution by impacting debris.
Astronomers predict that combining NIRISS and NIRSpec on James Webb Space Telescope will maximize information content about exoplanet atmospheres. This combination allows for the observation of key chemical compounds such as water, methane, and carbon dioxide.
A team of researchers discovered that SIMP J013656.5+093347 is a planetary mass object, rather than a brown dwarf, due to its mass being at the boundary between brown dwarf-like and planet-like properties. This finding offers new insights into the atmospheres of gas giant exoplanets.
A rocky super-earth, LHS 1140b, has been discovered orbiting an M-type star in the habitable zone, making it a promising candidate for atmospheric study and search for life. The planet's size and mass indicate a rocky composition, and its distance from the star allows for relatively cool temperatures.
Astronomers have discovered a super-Earth orbiting a quiet red dwarf star, LHS 1140, in the habitable zone where liquid water can exist. The exoplanet's large size and dense iron core suggest it may have retained an atmosphere long after its star calmed down.
The DFG is funding six new research units and two humanities centers focusing on topics such as plant morphodynamics, Russian lyric poetry, and trace element interactions. These initiatives aim to advance knowledge in various fields and tackle pressing issues.
A team of scientists led by Jonathan Gagné has found evidence of undetected giant exoplanets in the TW Hya star association, approximately 100 light years from Earth. The researchers used an initial mass function to calculate the distribution of mass in the group and predict the number of undiscovered objects.
A team of scientists has released the largest collection of observations made with radial velocity to be used for hunting exoplanets. The dataset includes almost 61,000 measurements of more than 1,600 nearby stars and has detected over 100 potential exoplanets, including one orbiting GJ 411.
The international team released a large dataset of exoplanet-detecting observations using the radial velocity method, identifying over 100 potential planets, including one orbiting the fourth-closest star to our Solar System. The data will enable astronomers around the globe to search for new planets and follow up on existing signals.
Researchers at Yale University developed a novel approach to detect exoplanets by analyzing signal fluctuations in star spectral intensity. By studying all signal information together, they can refine the search for Earth-like planets and improve traditional methods.
A team of researchers from the University of Toronto has developed a novel machine learning approach to determine whether planetary systems are stable or not. This method is 1,000 times faster than traditional methods and can provide valuable information about exoplanets, including their mass and orbital eccentricity.
Scientists successfully measured the orbital period of K2-3d with high precision, enabling precise predictions of future transits. This improved forecast accuracy paves the way for searching for extraterrestrial life in the atmosphere of the planet.
A team of OU researchers collaborated with citizen scientists to discover a rare circumstellar disk, the oldest of its kind, around a red dwarf star. The discovery provides insights into why M dwarf disks appear so rare and may hold clues about the possibility of extrasolar planets.
A team of citizen scientists and professional astronomers have discovered an unusual exoplanet hunting ground, finding the oldest known circumstellar disk orbiting a young star. The discovery, led by Steven Silverberg, reveals a red dwarf star with a warm disk that has sustained its disk for an exceptionally long time.
Researchers at Ibaraki University used ALMA to observe the disk around TW Hydrae, finding multiple gaps that match theoretical predictions for planet formation. The team estimates a massive, icy giant planet similar in size to Neptune, with a mass likely more than that of Neptune.
Gros has investigated the possibility of bringing life to planets with temporary habitability, proposing an automated gene laboratory on board a probe. The Genesis mission could be achieved within decades with interstellar unmanned micro spacecraft, potentially allowing for the development of complex life forms.
Astronomers confirm 104 exoplanets outside our solar system using NASA's Kepler spacecraft on its K2 mission. The discoveries include a planetary system with four promising rocky planets orbiting the M dwarf star K2-72.
Researchers from KU Leuven show that surface composition and atmosphere interaction on exoplanets affect their temperature and habitability. A well-functioning 'air conditioning' system can make even planets with permanent day and night sides potentially habitable.
Recent exoplanet discoveries by NSF-supported graduate researchers expand our understanding of how planets form and orbit stars. These breakthroughs include the detection of a unique planet in a triple-star system, one of the youngest fully formed exoplanets ever discovered.
Researchers directly detected a gas giant planet with a wide orbit in the young triple star system HD 131399, challenging existing knowledge about exoplanet detection. The unusual arrangement of the three stars and the planet's size, containing water and methane, may have formed through interactions between planets or binary stars.
Astronomers have discovered a planet in a unique position between three stars, experiencing constant daylight or triple sunrises and sunsets. The planet, HD 131399Ab, is one of the youngest exoplanets discovered to date and has a wide orbit within a multi-star system.
Researchers use SPHERE instrument to image first planet in wide orbit inside a triple-star system, suggesting such systems may be more common than thought. The planet, HD 131399Ab, has an unstable orbit and is estimated to be around 16 million years old, making it one of the youngest exoplanets discovered.
Researchers suggest that hot, rocky planets could alter their bulk composition, density, and internal structure due to steam atmosphere loss. This process may have implications for understanding the early Earth's evolution and character.
A team of Caltech-led researchers has discovered the youngest fully-formed exoplanet ever detected, K2-33b, which orbits a young star at 5 to 10 million years old. The planet's proximity to its star and large size suggest it may have formed quickly or challenged the migration theory.
Astronomers have discovered a newborn exoplanet, K2-33b, which is five-10 million years old and orbits its star once every five days. The discovery provides an extraordinary snapshot of the planet formation process, allowing researchers to study how planets form and develop.
Astronomers at Lund University propose that Planet 9, a mysterious object in our solar system, may be an exoplanet captured by the sun. The study suggests that the sun stole the planet from its original star during a close encounter.
A new approach aims to identify planets orbiting nearby stars that support life by focusing on creating a comprehensive list of molecules in their atmospheres. Researchers have searched for thousands of potentially biogenic gas molecules, sparking new research into identifying larger molecules and their potential as signs of life.
A new optical technology developed by Russian physicists can significantly improve the detection of exoplanets, allowing for direct observation of their images. The 'smoothed' light technique uses adaptive optics to remove atmospheric distortions, enabling telescopes to resolve the faint signals of Earth-type planets.
A Penn State-led research group has been selected by NASA to build a new instrument to detect planets orbiting stars outside our solar system. The NEID instrument will use the tiny gravitational tug of planets on their stars to discover and measure the orbits of rocky planets with liquid water.
Scientists have observed an exoplanet named HD 80606 b that orbits its star at incredible distances, experiencing scorching temperatures and then plummeting to extremely cold temperatures as it moves away. This unique system challenges existing theories on the formation of hot Jupiters and may require alternative explanations.
Astronomers have measured the rotation rate of a massive exoplanet using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, revealing patchy and colorless cloud layers. The super-Jupiter completes one rotation every 10 hours, similar to Jupiter, with temperatures reaching 2,200-2,600 degrees Fahrenheit.
Astronomers at the University of Arizona have taken the first direct, time-resolved images of an exoplanet using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. The young exoplanet, 2M1207b, has a patchy cloud pattern and rotates twice as fast as Earth.
The Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) will aid researchers in unraveling the secrets of the universe by studying dark energy and dark matter. The observatory will discover new worlds outside our solar system and advance the search for life-suitable planets.
Astronomers have studied ten hot Jupiter-sized exoplanets in detail using Hubble and Spitzer telescopes. The results show that planetary atmospheres are more diverse than expected, with some planets containing clouds and haze that hide water from view. This solves the mystery of why some exoplanets appear to have less water than expected.
Scientists have finally shed light on the atmospheres of a group of planets orbiting stars outside our solar system. A team of experts analyzed observations from NASA and ESA telescopes, revealing that water was hidden by haze and cloud on some hot-Jupiter exoplanets.
A newly discovered exoplanet, HD 106906 b, may have been violently ejected from its birthplace close to its star due to a recent gravitational disturbance. The planet is surrounded by a large dust ring or shroud, which could be evidence of the violent episode.
The Visible Nulling Coronagraph (VNC) technology has demonstrated improved sensitivity over a broader spectral range, making it a stronger contender for a future astrophysics mission. The instrument will enable spectroscopy to study exoplanet atmospheres and identify signs of life.
Researchers found that a fractal hydrocarbon haze on early Earth could have resulted in a moderate, possibly habitable average global temperature. The haze also would have absorbed ultraviolet light, shielding the planet from deadly radiation.
The discovery of GJ 1132b, an Earth-size exoplanet located just 39 light-years away from our Solar System, is a significant milestone in the search for alien life. The planet's proximity to its star and size make it an ideal laboratory for studying small, potentially livable worlds.