Exoplanets

Astronomers detect first atmosphere on rocky exoplanet LHS 1140b

Researchers led by Collin Cherubim identified a helium-rich atmosphere on the rocky exoplanet LHS 1140b, marking a milestone in the study of terrestrial worlds.

Science · 756 words

Barnard’s Star planets found to be uninhabitable and mineral-rich

Scientific analysis has ruled out habitability for the four exoplanets orbiting Barnard's Star due to extreme heat, volatile geology, and atmosphere loss.

Science · 567 words

Beta Pictoris hosts a newly discovered faint planet after decade-long search

Researchers identified the dimmest planet ever directly imaged, uncovering a cold gas giant within the Beta Pictoris system after it remained hidden for 11 years.

Science · 523 words

Beta Pictoris d discovered as the faintest exoplanet imaged from Earth

Researchers have confirmed the discovery of Beta Pictoris d, a gas giant 63 light-years away, while a separate study revealed four previously obscured stellar remnants.

Science · 693 words

Astronomers discover two Jupiter-sized super-puff planets

Researchers have identified a pair of low-density exoplanets, TOI-791 b and c, that challenge existing theories on how planetary systems form and evolve.

Science · 626 words

GJ 3378b identified as potentially habitable super-Earth 25 light-years away

New research indicates that GJ 3378b is a rocky super-Earth rather than a gas giant, making it a key candidate for future studies of habitability.

Science · 613 words

NASA TESS mission identifies first exoplanet using gravitational microlensing

NASA's TESS satellite has successfully utilized gravitational microlensing to discover a super-Jupiter 40,000 light-years away, marking an evolution in its capabilities.

Science · 611 words

Euclid telescope captures 60-million-star image of Milky Way center

The ESA has unveiled a high-resolution mosaic of the Milky Way’s galactic bulge captured by the Euclid space telescope. This detailed image of 60 million stars provides researchers with a critical tool for identifying and characterizing planets beyond our solar system.

Science · 566 words

Astronomers identify largest and lowest density super-puff exoplanets yet

Researchers have identified a pair of exceptionally low-density gas giants that defy existing astronomical theories regarding how massive planets form. These super-puff worlds, located 1,110 light-years away, possess vast radii despite having only a small fraction of Jupiter's mass.

Science · 581 words

Astronomers found two rare super puff planets lighter than cotton candy

Researchers have identified two giant exoplanets with densities comparable to shaving foam, marking them as some of the lightest worlds ever discovered. These rare super-puffs challenge existing models regarding how giant planets form.

Science · 462 words