Other Worlds Around Other Stars

Exoplanets are planets that orbit stars outside our Solar System. Thanks to advanced telescopes, astronomers have found thousands of these distant worlds, some of which may have the right conditions for life.

How Do We Find Exoplanets?

Scientists look for tiny dips in a star’s brightness when a planet passes in front of it, or for the wobble in a star’s movement caused by an orbiting planet’s gravity.

Searching for Life

Astronomers search for planets in the “habitable zone,” where temperatures might allow liquid water to exist. They also study atmospheres for gases like oxygen or methane that could hint at life.

Impact on Our Understanding

Discovering exoplanets helps us answer the big question: Are we alone in the universe?