Extrasolar Planets
Organic Molecules Seen in an Extrasolar Planet
The Hubble Space Telescope has turned up evidence for organic molecules on a planet orbiting another star. Organic molecules? Like…
Could AA Tauri Hold the Biochemical Key to Extra-Terrestrial Life?
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has measured huge quantities of water and organic compounds surrounding the star AA Tauri, 450 light…
Are There Planets Around Alpha Centauri?
We're holding out hope for the next generation of planet-finding observatories to locate Earth-sized planets orbiting other stars. But hold…
Planet Hunter Prepped for Tests
If you think the discoveries made by planet hunters is exciting already, just you wait. There are some missions in…
Rocky Planets May Form Around Most Sun-like Stars
Astronomers have found numerous Jupiter-like planets orbiting other stars. But because of the limits of our current technology, they haven't…
Another Solar System Found with Saturn and Jupiter-Sized Planets
As the search for extrasolar planets continues, researchers are finding systems more and more like our own Solar System. And…
Lightweight Disk Could Harbour Planets
Astronomers are looking for planets around other stars, but they're also looking for the conditions where planets might be forming…
Deep Impact Begins Searching for Extrasolar Planets
NASA's Deep Impact completed its main mission. Back in July 2005, the spacecraft's impactor carved a hole great big hole…
Astronomers Could Detect Oceans on Extrasolar Planets
Imagine if astronomers could tell the difference between Earth-like extrasolar planets just by seeing the reflected light from their oceans?…
Using Gravity to Find Planets in the Habitable Zone
Astronomers have several techniques to discover planets. But one of the least used so far, gravitational microlensing, might be just…