Endless Facts, One Snippet at a Time
Exoplanets: Worlds Beyond Our Solar System
- Exoplanets are planets that orbit stars outside our solar system.
- The first confirmed exoplanets were discovered in 1992 around a pulsar.
- Thousands of exoplanets have been detected using telescopes like Kepler and TESS.
- Detection methods include transits, radial velocity, and direct imaging.
- Exoplanets come in many types, from rocky Earth-like worlds to massive gas giants.
- Some exoplanets orbit in their star’s habitable zone, where liquid water could exist.
- “Hot Jupiters” are gas giants that orbit extremely close to their stars.
- Exoplanet atmospheres can be studied to look for water, oxygen, or methane.
- Exoplanet discoveries help us understand planet formation and the diversity of planetary systems.
- Future missions aim to find Earth-sized planets that could potentially support life.