Extrasolar Planets
Exoplanet is Hot and Dry
Astronomers working with the Spitzer Space Telescope announced a tremendous new advance today, when they used the great observatory to…
Hubble Sees An Extrasolar Planet’s Atmosphere
Now here's a feat. The Hubble Space Telescope was able to analyze the atmosphere of a gas giant planet orbiting…
Planets Born to a Dying Star
Young stars and new planets go hand-in-hand. But that might not always be the case. An international team of astronomers…
Blizzard of Snowflake Particles Around a Young Star
The Hubble Space Telescope has imaged a ring of dust around a nearby star that will probably become a system…
On Some Planets, the Winds Go Supersonic
Think of the strongest wind you've ever experienced. No, think of the strongest wind anyone's ever experienced. It still doesn't…
Gas Giants Turn Up Early After Star Formation
New research indicates that gas giants, like Jupiter and Saturn, form quickly after their stars do. In fact, they probably…
New Planet Hunter Prepares for Launch
A powerful new instrument for finding extrasolar planets is about to launch: COROT (Convection Rotation and planetary Transits). Developed by…
Brown Dwarf Companion Seen Directly
Astronomers have directly imaged a brown dwarf companion to the star HD 3651. This star is already known to host…
Day and Night on an Extrasolar Planet
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has measured the day and night time temperatures of an extrasolar planet. This planet is located…
Super Earths Emerge From Snowy Conditions
Many extrasolar planets have been discovered circling other stars, a few of which are 5-15 times the mass of the…