Roman set to ID our furthest-known exoplanet in its uncharted-space jaunt

With a field of view 100 times greater than the Hubble, NASA’s anticipated Roman Space Telescope is set to measure light from a billion galaxies, perform a microlensing survey deep in the Milky Way to find thousands of exoplanets, monitor hundreds of m… Continue reading Roman set to ID our furthest-known exoplanet in its uncharted-space jaunt

James Webb analyzes atmosphere of first TRAPPIST planet

The James Webb Space Telescope has achieved one of the first major science goals announced for it way back in 2017. The infrared instrument has now probed the atmosphere around one of the TRAPPIST-1 exoplanets.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, ScienceTa… Continue reading James Webb analyzes atmosphere of first TRAPPIST planet

In a first, water found in disc where Earth-like exoplanets are forming

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has scored another first, detecting evidence of water in a planet-forming disc circling another star where at least two terrestrial-class proto-planets seem to be forming.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, ScienceTags: E… Continue reading In a first, water found in disc where Earth-like exoplanets are forming

Titanium clouds glitter on shiniest exoplanet ever found

Collectors of trading cards or Pokémon are always on the hunt for super-rare shiny variants – and now astronomers have found the exoplanet equivalent. The shiniest planet ever found, LTT9779 b, is an ultra-hot, cosmic disco ball thanks to clouds made o… Continue reading Titanium clouds glitter on shiniest exoplanet ever found

Zombie planet somehow survives apocalypse Earth will eventually face

Astronomers have discovered a planet that seems to have somehow survived an apocalyptic scenario. The “Hot Jupiter” closely orbits a giant star that by all logic should have engulfed it, but the team has a few hypotheses about how it’s still standing.C… Continue reading Zombie planet somehow survives apocalypse Earth will eventually face

New findings suggest hundreds of millions of planets may harbor life

When Meatloaf sang “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad” in 1977, we’re all but certain he was not doing the math on the potential of planets in the galaxy having the right conditions to harbor life. Because new findings suggest that two out of three are actual… Continue reading New findings suggest hundreds of millions of planets may harbor life

New Earth-sized planet discovered, and it may be able to support life

A new, Earth-sized planet has been discovered only 90 light-years away from us. In astronomical terms, that’s right next door. What’s more, it might be capable of supporting life.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, ScienceTags: Exoplanet, TESS, Spitzer, v… Continue reading New Earth-sized planet discovered, and it may be able to support life

Astronomers witness an apocalypse from across the galaxy

Astronomers have witnessed an apocalypse from across the galaxy, as a planet crashed into its host star. It’s an event that’s long been assumed to happen in many star systems – including our own someday – but this is the first time it’s ever been seen … Continue reading Astronomers witness an apocalypse from across the galaxy