exoplanets
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Water Vapour Detected In The Atmosphere Of A Potentially Habitable Super-Earth
For the first time ever, astronomers have detected water vapour in the atmosphere of a rocky exoplanet. Intriguingly, the planet is in the so-called habitable zone of its star, making it one of the most promising places in the galaxy to look for signs of extraterrestrial life.
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This Could Be The Most Earth-Like Exoplanet Discovered Yet
Scientists have discovered a pair of temperate, Earth-sized exoplanet candidates around a nearby star, according to a new paper. What makes this planetary system stand out from all the others discovered in recent years is just how similar one of its planets may be to Earth.
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Water Worlds Could Have Mind-Bogglingly Deep Oceans, New Models Suggest
Scientists have good reason to believe that so-called water worlds—exoplanets with surfaces covered entirely by a single gigantic ocean — are common in the galaxy. But a new computer simulations suggests that not only are water worlds prevalent, they’re also teeming with water — and at mind-boggling scales. Imagine oceans that are hundreds, and even…
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Too Much UV Light Could Turn Gas Planets Into Sad Rocky Cores
The atmosphere of a gas giant exoplanet located 163 light-years from Earth is being blasted into space by its host star, forming a ghostly tail. Excessive ultraviolet radiation is responsible for the celestial phenomenon, according to a new study, a discovery that could provide new insights into planetary formation.