This artist’s impression shows a view of the planet Proxima b orbiting the red dwarf star Proxima Centauri, the closest star to the solar system.
ESO/M. Kornmesser
Beyond the outer edge of the Solar System, mysterious, unknown worlds await by the thousands. Astronomers can now finally find them and explore them - but will we find another Earth?
Several of the newly-discovered exoplanets orbiting a small star appear to be locked in an intricate dance that hints at how such planetary systems can form.
The ruddy hue of our moon in a total lunar eclipse.
Shutterstock/Chris Collins
The red hue of the moon during a total lunar eclipse gives astronomers at cue on how to find out more about the planets being discovered around other stars.
Imagined view from the surface of one of the newly discovered planets, with ultracool dwarf star TRAPPIST-1 in the background.
ESO/M. Kornmesser
We don’t need to look for Earth-like planets exclusively around Sun-like stars. Tiny, dim TRAPPIST-1 has only 11 percent the diameter of the Sun and is much redder.
If you’re looking for life, you’d do well to look for some moons.
Maxwell Hamilton
As the list of known planets beyond our solar system grows, the search for their moons is intensifying. One reason: they might hold the key to finding life elsewhere in the universe.
Artist’s depiction of the newly discovered Jupiter-like planet orbiting the star HD 32963.
Stefano Meschiari
Jupiter had a big influence on how our solar system’s planets formed. New research – led by a high school student – tried to nail down how rare Jupiter analogs really are in other planetary systems.