Exoplanets
An exoplanet is a planet that orbits a star outside our Solar System. The first confirmed exoplanet was discovered in 1992 around a pulsar, followed by the first one around a sun-like star in 1995. Today, astronomers have confirmed thousands of exoplanets. These discoveries matter greatly because they help us understand planetary formation and search for life beyond Earth. Scientists are particularly interested in exoplanets located in a star's habitable zone, where conditions might allow liquid water to exist on the planet's surface. About 1 in 5 sun-like stars are estimated to have an "Earth-sized" planet in the habitable zone, suggesting billions of potentially habitable worlds exist in our galaxy alone.
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org: “An exoplanet or extrasolar planet is a planet outside the Solar System.”
- en.wikipedia.org: “The first confirmed detection of an exoplanet was in 1992 around a pulsar, and the first detection around a main-sequence star was in 1995.”
- en.wikipedia.org: “The discovery of exoplanets has intensified interest in the search for extraterrestrial life.”
- en.wikipedia.org: “About 1 in 5 Sun-like stars are estimated to have an "Earth-sized" planet in the habitable zone.”