ASTRONOMY
FEBRUARY 2015
The Search For Exoplanets
What is an Exoplanet?
An extrasolar planet, or an exoplanet is just a planet that revolves around a star or star-like object different from our own sun. Just like Earth! Exoplanets can create all kinds of elliptical shapes with their rotations around their stars. Proximity to the star also plays a role- they can be so close that their surfaces are capable of melting iron, or so far away that the climate reaches sub-zero temperatures. When I talk about a planetary distance away from a star that is “just right,” I’m really talking about an exoplanet being located around a star’s “habitable zone.” A planet that revolves around a star's habitable zone is the best possible candidate for supporting life.
How do you find an Exoplanet?
For centuries scientists have speculated that exoplanets have existed, but only recently have technological advancements allowed astronomers to search for search for them better, and oh man have they've found a-lot of them! Scientists have been able to find over 1,800 exoplanets in the past 23 years alone!
By Aziz Hamza
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