Move over TRAPPIST-1: New planetary system of 7 Super-Earths discovered

Move over TRAPPIST-1 – there’s an exciting new planetary system in town. Meet Kepler-385, home to seven Super-Earths that were just discovered in existing data.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, ScienceTags: Exoplanet, Planet, TRAPPIST-1, Kepler Mission,… Continue reading Move over TRAPPIST-1: New planetary system of 7 Super-Earths discovered

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

Water worlds: Best evidence yet of new type of exoplanet

Get Kevin Costner on the phone – astronomers may have found some water worlds. Two nearby planets have been found to be covered in deep global oceans under hot, steamy atmospheres.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, ScienceTags: Exoplanet, Planet, Water, … Continue reading Water worlds: Best evidence yet of new type of exoplanet

Brave New Worlds: The age of exoplanet discovery

The hunt for planets beyond our solar system has truly taken off over the last few decades, so it’s no surprise that exoplanet news has become a staple of New Atlas’ science coverage. With the recent discovery of the 5,000th exoplanet coinciding with o… Continue reading Brave New Worlds: The age of exoplanet discovery

NASA confirms discovery of 5,000th exoplanet – with billions more to find

The hunt for planets beyond our solar system has now reached a major milestone. Astronomers report the discovery of the 5,000th exoplanet – with potentially hundreds of billions left to find.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, ScienceTags: Exoplanet, Plan… Continue reading NASA confirms discovery of 5,000th exoplanet – with billions more to find

Up to 300 million planets in the Milky Way may be habitable

Based on data from the Kepler Space Telescope and the Gaia mission, there may be up to 300 million habitable planets in the Milky Way galaxy, according to a team of scientists from the SETI Institute, NASA, and other international organizations. The re… Continue reading Up to 300 million planets in the Milky Way may be habitable

24 “super-habitable” exoplanets potentially better than Earth identified

A team of scientists led by Washington State University (WSU) geobiologist Dirk Schulze-Makuch has identified two dozen exoplanets that could be more favorable to life than the Earth. Based on data from the Kepler mission, these super-habitable worlds … Continue reading 24 “super-habitable” exoplanets potentially better than Earth identified

Astronomers confirm 50 new exoplanets using machine learning algorithm

For the first time, astronomers have used a machine learning algorithm – a form of self-teaching AI – to confirm the existence of exoplanets in data collected by the now-retired Kepler space telescope. The algorithm, which was designed to differentiate… Continue reading Astronomers confirm 50 new exoplanets using machine learning algorithm

Is the Sun always this quiet or is it just a phase?

To get a sense of how “normal” the Sun may be, astronomers have compared the Sun to hundreds of similar stars. It turns out that it’s actually far less active than its peers – but is this a permanent personality, or is it just going through a phase?Con… Continue reading Is the Sun always this quiet or is it just a phase?

Kepler data reveals most Earth-like exoplanet in size and temperature yet

A review of early data returned by NASA’s Kepler mission has revealed one of the most Earth-like exoplanets discovered so far. Located 300 light-years away, the new planet is slightly larger than our own, is estimated to have a similar temperature, and… Continue reading Kepler data reveals most Earth-like exoplanet in size and temperature yet