exoplanet
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Researchers use novel method to find a distant exoplanet
Astronomers have discovered a new exoplanet — but this time, the way they found it may be as significant as the discovery itself. Researchers used a breakthrough combination of indirect and direct planetary detection to locate the distant world known as HIP 99770 b.
The Webb Telescope's first confirmed exoplanet is 99 percent the diameter of Earth
We peered 41 light years into the cosmos and found a planet in the Octans constellation with a diameter 99 percent that of Earth itself — say hello to LHS 475 b.
James Webb Space Telescope detects carbon dioxide in a distant planet's atmosphere
It's the first evidence of the gas on a planet outside of our solar system.
Three 'known' Kepler exoplanets are more likely to be stars
Scientists have learned that three 'known' exoplanets are really stars.
Scientists study a 'hot Jupiter' exoplanet's dark side in detail for the first time
Scientists have studied the dark side of a 'hot Jupiter' exoplanet for the first time, revealing likely iron clouds and other surprises.
3D map of an exoplanet's atmosphere may help find Earth-like worlds
Scientists have created a 3D map of an ultra-hot exoplanet that could help discover habitable worlds.
Scientists describe a tiny, molten metal exoplanet in unprecedented detail
Scientists have determined that a small, super-hot exoplanet is as dense as iron — and it's the smallest alien world ever measured this way.
Astronomers may have spotted a planet in another galaxy for the first time
Scientists have used X-rays to spot what might be the first planet detected beyond the Milky Way galaxy.
Astronomers directly observe one of the youngest planets to date
Scientists have directly observed one of the youngest planets yet seen at 'just' several million years old.
Planet orbiting a dead star previews our own solar system's fate
Scientists have spotted a Jupiter-like exoplanet orbiting a dead star that was once like our Sun.
NASA's TESS spacecraft has already found 2,200 possible planets
NASA's TESS spacecraft has already found 2,200 potential planets, surpassing its original goal and raising hope of finding Earth-like worlds.
Scientists find a cloudless 'hot Jupiter' exoplanet with a four-day year
Researchers have discovered a strange Jupiter-like planet that's cloudless and has a four-day year.
NASA smallsat concepts will study galaxy evolution and exoplanets
NASA has picked four missions for smallsats and a balloon that will study galaxy evolution, exoplanets, neutron stars and neutrinos.
Strange exoplanet discovery makes a case for the elusive 'Planet Nine'
Hubble researchers have determined that a jovian world has such a strange orbit that it might explain our Solar System's theoretical 'Planet Nine.'
Astronomers find the first known exposed core of a gas giant
Scientists have discovered what's believed to be the first known exposed core of a gas giant.
Scientists find a likely Earth-like planet orbiting a Sun-like star
Astronomers have discovered an exoplanet that's not only comparable to Earth, but is orbiting a Sun-like star.
Scientists find an Earth-like planet hiding in old Kepler data
The newly discovered Kepler-1649c is a close parallel to Earth, but whether or not it supports life is another story.
NASA decommissions Spitzer Space Telescope after 16 years of service
NASA is flipping the switch on the Spitzer Space Telescope today. The observatory has made groundbreaking discoveries about the universe since its launch in 2003, from imaging some of the oldest stars in the universe to detecting the light reflected by exoplanets. The Spitzer was previously scheduled to go offline in 2018, but has continued operating due to NASA's followup telescope being postponed. With the James Webb Space Telescope nearing completion, Spitzer's mission is over.
Study casts doubt on the chances of life on watery alien planets
Scientists searching for habitable planets often see the presence of water as a key sign, but they might not want to raise their hopes too high. A recently published study has indicated that there was no clear evidence of extremophiles (life that can survive extreme conditions) in Ethiopia's Danakil Depression, home to some of the world's most acidic, saltiest and superheated water. In other words, the mere existence of water isn't enough -- the conditions have to be at least slightly conducive to life. Accordingly, water that was 'just' very salty included numerous forms of extremophiles, including several newly discovered examples.
Scientists discover water vapor on an exoplanet with a rocky core
Water vapor is common in gas giants; Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune all have H2O floating around in their atmospheres. But water on a rocky planet is exceedingly rare, making the discovery of water vapor -- and possibly even rain -- on the exoplanet K2-18 b a surprising breakthrough.
