Learning about Exoplanets

It is interesting to see how scientists are researching and finding Earth like habitable planets outside our solar system.

What is an exoplanet?

Planet that orbits a star (like Sun) outside our solar system.

How many exoplanets have been discovered so far?

Nearly 4000+ exoplanets have been discovered so far! Not all of them are habitable though! While the temperature and weather are high, some are very close their star (like our Earth being as close as 1% of its current distance to our Sun).

NASA Exploration

Picture courtesy – NASA

This picture tempts us to explore space and find out what lies out there! Is there a possibility for life to exist outside of Earth? How many such planets exist? What forms of life exist in them?

Temperature of the planet and presence of water seem to be two specific attributes that seems to matter during the search!

Effect of natural elements on the way exoplanets evolve

It is interesting to see the importance of the basic natural elements – Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen and Carbon dioxide. The composition of these can change the way planets evolve into greenhouses, deserts or water worlds.

Study warns of 'oxygen false positives' in search for signs of life on  other planets

Interestingly, we are all connected to each other biologically, chemically to Earth & all the exoplanets & atomically to the universe!

Observing the below exoplanets, colors seem to signify composition of gases broadly.

Students Uncover 24 new Exoplanets - Planetary Habitability Laboratory @  UPR Arecibo

A video map of the exoplanets released by NASA in 2019, shows how beautifully they align and where the concentration of the faster moving exoplanets seem to lie. Why would they be concentrated in the blue spot zone? What environmental attributes seem to work in their favor would be an interesting study.

Video by NASA (Year 2013) -> https://www.techexplorist.com/nasa-just-released-stunning-video-map-of-all-4000-exoplanets/24803/

Universe is huge, we have a limited time as an individual and as mankind to explore, marvel & learn!

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