An exoplanet is a planet that is not orbiting our star. An exoplanet could look like Earth, Mars, or even Jupiter.
To be classified as an exoplanet, a body must fulfill almost all of the requirements to be a planet: it must be rounded by its own gravity and have cleared its own orbit.
Exoplanets are interesting for several reasons.
First, they give researchers insights into how other planets might interact with stars. We only have seven planets to study in our solar system. But by looking at exoplanets, we can see almost every possibility.
For example, we could see what a planet twenty times the size of Jupiter looks like orbiting a red dwarf.
Second, they can tell us about the life of planets. We can look through our telescopes and see a planet that is just forming, or see a dead planet at the end of its life.
Finally, there is a possibility that some of the exoplanets can sustain life! We find out this information through a method called spectroscopy, which you can learn more about here: https://theastroenthusiast.com/all-about-spectroscopy/. It is always really interesting when a nearby planet turns out that it can support life.
Interesting exoplanets
This exoplanet, Kepler-186f, was the first rocky (Earth-like) planet to be found in a habitable zone!
This exoplanet, Kepler-16b, is the first planet to be discovered orbiting two stars, just like Tatooine. This is called a circumbinary orbit.
This exoplanet, Kepler-444, is the oldest exoplanet ever found!
In case you were wondering, “Kepler” is the telescope that discovered them, and the number after is just an ID number.
Do you have any cool exoplanets that you know of? Share them in the comments below!
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