Extrasolar Planets
Lopsided Disk Around a Young Star
If you look at drawings of our Solar System, you'll notice all the planets are lined up nicely in a…
Large Outer Planets are Rare
One of the big surprises the Universe had in store for extrasolar planet hunters is the number of enormous planets…
If There’s Oxygen, There’s Life
If aliens visited our Solar System, it would only take them a moment to figure out which planet is the…
Water Vapour Discovered in an Extrasolar Planet
Scientists have reported the first conclusive evidence of water vapour in the atmosphere of an extrasolar planet. Before we load…
Imagining Plants on another Planet
If and when astronomers finally start discovering life on other worlds, they'll be wondering what kinds of lifeforms are there.…
Hidden Planet Disturbs a Ring of Dust
You can't see it, but there's a Neptune-sized planet hidden in a ring of dust around the star Fomalhaut. At…
Stable Star Gives the Best Chance for Life
One of the biggest news stories of the year was an Earth-sized planet orbiting Gliese 581. Even more importantly, this…
Amateurs Help Discover a Planet that Might be a Brown Dwarf
Another new planet has been announced this week that crosses the line between planet and brown dwarf. This time, the…
Metal Poor Star Found With Planets
When you look at the ground beneath your feet, you're looking at matter created in the heart of stars at…
Neptune-Sized Planet Covered in Superhot Ice
One of the most dramatic extrasolar planetary discoveries of the year was announced this week; unfortunately, with little fanfare. Planet…