New research challenges existing theories of planet formation. Observations of exoplanet PDS 70b reveal its atmosphere contains less carbon and oxygen than expected, based on its surrounding disk. Two hypotheses are proposed: PDS 70b incorporated solid materials containing carbon and oxygen; or the disk recently became carbon-enriched. Further research is needed to determine which is correct.
Scientists have discovered the youngest exoplanet ever observed, a gas giant only 3 million years old, orbiting a misaligned protoplanetary disk. This unprecedented find, located 520 light-years from Earth, challenges existing theories of planetary formation and offers a unique glimpse into the early stages of planetary development.
Astronomers have uncovered compelling evidence for the existence of an exomoon, a moon orbiting a planet outside our solar system. This potential exomoon, located around the gas giant WASP-49 b, appears to be a volcanically active world, similar to Jupiter’s moon Io. The discovery, based on observations of a sodium cloud, suggests a hellish, volcanic landscape that could eventually lead to the moon’s disintegration.
Scientists have discovered a planet, named Barnard b, orbiting Barnard’s star, the closest star to Earth after Proxima Centauri. This sub-Earth planet, with a mass less than half of Venus, orbits its star extremely closely, completing a full orbit in just three Earth days. While exciting, its proximity to the star makes it unlikely to support life as we know it.
Astronomers have confirmed the existence of a planet, Barnard b, orbiting Barnard’s Star, a nearby red dwarf just six light-years away. This discovery, made using the ESPRESSO instrument on the Very Large Telescope, marks the first confirmed exoplanet around this star. While the planet is extremely close to its star, its surface temperature is surprisingly mild due to the star’s dimness. The researchers also detected hints of three additional potential planets in the system.
Astronomers have discovered a planet orbiting a white dwarf, providing a glimpse of what Earth might look like billions of years from now. The planet, twice the size of Earth, orbits a dying star in a system located 4,000 light-years away. This discovery offers insights into the future of our solar system, as our Sun is expected to transform into a white dwarf in the distant future.
A new study reveals the presence of high-speed iron winds on the exoplanet WASP-76b, where temperatures reach 2,400 degrees Celsius, causing iron to vaporize and rain down as molten metal. This discovery sheds light on the extreme atmospheric conditions found on ultra-hot Jupiters and helps scientists understand planetary climates in greater detail.
This groundbreaking image, captured in 2004, revealed the first direct visual proof of a Jupiter-like planet orbiting a star in another solar system. It captured the exoplanet 2M1207b orbiting a brown dwarf, offering valuable insights into planet formation and the vastness of the universe.
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has captured images of Epsilon Indi Ab, an exoplanet located 12 light-years away from Earth. This exoplanet, one of the coldest ever observed, is a gas giant slightly more massive than Jupiter and orbits a star similar to our Sun.
The James Webb Space Telescope has directly imaged a cold gas giant exoplanet, Epsilon Indi Ab, located 12 light-years away. This rare observation is significant because most exoplanets are too small and dim to be directly imaged. The planet’s relatively cool temperature, just 35 degrees Fahrenheit, made it a suitable target for Webb’s sensitive infrared instruments.
