Strange Planets !
Other Earth like planets in the neighboring solar systems ,
which are supposed to have life,
Among the more than 400 planets found beyond our solar system, there are volcanic Super Earths, gas giants that dwarf Jupiter, and worlds with multiple sunsets.
Here are 20 of the most incredible, starting with the very first alien world - 51 Pegasi b was the first planet
discovered in orbit around a normal star other than our Sun. It was found in 1995.
Here are 20 of the most incredible, starting with the very first alien world - 51 Pegasi b was the first planet
discovered in orbit around a normal star other than our Sun. It was found in 1995.
The largest exoplanet ever discovered is also one of the strangest and theoretically should not even exist, scientists say. Dubbed TrES-4, the planet is
about 1.7 times the size of Jupiter and belongs to a small subclass of so-called puffy planets that have extremely low densities. The planet is located
about 1,400 light years away from Earth and zips around its parent star in only three and a half days.
Epsilon Eridani b orbits an orange Sun-like star only 10.5 light years away from Earth. It is so close to us telescopes might soon be able to photograph it.
It orbits too far away from its star to support liquid water or life as we know it, but scientists predict there are other stars in the system that might be good candidates for alien life.
It orbits too far away from its star to support liquid water or life as we know it, but scientists predict there are other stars in the system that might be good candidates for alien life.
This planet, CoRoT-7b, was the first confirmed rocky world outside our solar system, but it doesn't look like a particularly pleasant place to live. It is tidally
locked to its parent star, and sees hellish 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,200 degrees Celsius). It may also rain rocks and be the core of a vaporized gas giant.
Luke Skywalker's home planet of Tatooine in Star Wars had two suns, but that's paltry compared to a Jupiter-like planet 149 light-years from Earth.
This planet has three suns, with the main star similar in mass to our own sun. The triple-star system is known as HD 188753.
Like Tatooine, the planet there is likely pretty hot. It orbits very close to the main star, completing one orbit every 3.5 days.
The youngest exoplanet yet discovered is less than 1 million years old and orbits Coku Tau 4, a star 420 light-years away. Astronomers inferred
the planet's presence from an enormous hole in the dusty disk that girdles the star. The hole is 10 times the size of Earth's orbit around the
Sun and probably caused by the planet clearing a space in the dust as it orbits the star.
The oldest known planet is a primeval world 12.7 billion years old that formed more than 8 billion years before Earth and only 2 billion years after the Big Bang.
The discovery suggested planets are very common in the universe and raised the prospect that life began far sooner than most scientists ever imagined
Astronomers are finding many worlds now in a category of worlds called Super-Earths, which are between 2 and 10 times the mass of our own Earth.
A world called HD156668b is the second smallest after Gliese 581 e. Some scientists think such worlds could be more susceptible to forming the
conditions for life because their cores are hot and are conducive to volcanism and plate tectonics.
A planet called WASP-12b is the hottest planet ever discovered (about 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit,
or 2,200 degrees Celsius), and orbits its star closer than any other known world. It orbits its star once every
Earth day at a distance of about 2 million miles (3.4 million km). WASP-12b is a gaseous planet, about 1.5 times the mass of Jupiter,
and almost twice the size. It is 870 light-years from Earth.
or 2,200 degrees Celsius), and orbits its star closer than any other known world. It orbits its star once every
Earth day at a distance of about 2 million miles (3.4 million km). WASP-12b is a gaseous planet, about 1.5 times the mass of Jupiter,
and almost twice the size. It is 870 light-years from Earth.
With a surface temperature of -364 degrees Fahrenheit (-220 degrees Celsius), the extrasolar planet known as OGLE-2005-BLG-390L b is likely
the coldest alien world. It is about 5.5 times as massive as Earth and thought to be rocky.
It orbits a red dwarf star about 28,000 light-years away, making it the most distant exoplanet currently known.
the coldest alien world. It is about 5.5 times as massive as Earth and thought to be rocky.
It orbits a red dwarf star about 28,000 light-years away, making it the most distant exoplanet currently known.
When astronomers observed WASP-18b, they may have seen it in the cosmic moment before its death.
This planet whips around its star in less than one Earth day. Scientists think that this speed coupled with the planet's heft yields strong
gravitational tugs that can alter the planets orbit. If the planet orbits faster than its star spins, it should gradually be moving inward towards its sun, and its doom. Credit: C. CARREAU/ESA/Nature
This planet whips around its star in less than one Earth day. Scientists think that this speed coupled with the planet's heft yields strong
gravitational tugs that can alter the planets orbit. If the planet orbits faster than its star spins, it should gradually be moving inward towards its sun, and its doom. Credit: C. CARREAU/ESA/Nature
Astronomers have been able to detect the atmospheres around several exoplanets, including HD 189733b, one of the first alien words to have
its atmosphere sniffed to determine its composition. Glowing methane, which can be produced naturally or possibly signal a biological byproduct,
has been detected on the planet. Credit: ESA, NASA and G. Tinetti
its atmosphere sniffed to determine its composition. Glowing methane, which can be produced naturally or possibly signal a biological byproduct,
has been detected on the planet. Credit: ESA, NASA and G. Tinetti
The extrasolar planet GJ 1214b is a rocky planet rich in water that sits about 40 light-years away. It orbits a red dwarf star.
It is the only known Super-Earth exoplanet — worlds that have masses between Earth and Neptune — with a confirmed atmosphere. The planet is about
three times the size of Earth and about 6.5 times as massive. Researchers think it is likely a water world with a solid center. Credit: David A. Aguilar, CfA
It is the only known Super-Earth exoplanet — worlds that have masses between Earth and Neptune — with a confirmed atmosphere. The planet is about
three times the size of Earth and about 6.5 times as massive. Researchers think it is likely a water world with a solid center. Credit: David A. Aguilar, CfA
SWEEPS-10 orbits its parent star from a distance of only 740,000 miles, so close that one year on the planet happens every 10 hours.
The exoplanet belongs to a new class of zippy exoplanets called ultra-short period planets, which have orbits of less than a day.
The exoplanet belongs to a new class of zippy exoplanets called ultra-short period planets, which have orbits of less than a day.
Most planets orbit in a plane that corresponds to their parent star's equator. But XO-3b orbits with a crazy tilt of 37 degrees from its star's equator.
The only other known example of such an oddly angled orbit was Pluto, until its demotion to dwarf planet status. There is, however, a planet known to
orbit backwards around its parent star. Credit: NASA. ESA, amd G. Bacon (STScI)
The only other known example of such an oddly angled orbit was Pluto, until its demotion to dwarf planet status. There is, however, a planet known to
orbit backwards around its parent star. Credit: NASA. ESA, amd G. Bacon (STScI)
While Neptune has a diameter 3.8 times that of Earth and a mass 17 times Earth's, this Super-Neptune world (named HAT-P-11b) is
4.7 times the size of Earth and has 25 Earth masses. The newfound world orbits very close to its star, revolving once every 4.88 days. As a result,
it is baked to a temperature of around 1100 degrees F. The star itself is about three-fourths the size of our Sun and somewhat cooler.
4.7 times the size of Earth and has 25 Earth masses. The newfound world orbits very close to its star, revolving once every 4.88 days. As a result,
it is baked to a temperature of around 1100 degrees F. The star itself is about three-fourths the size of our Sun and somewhat cooler.
A planet lighter than a ball of cork is one of the puffiest alien planets known to date. Called HAT-P-1, the planet is about half as
massive as Jupiter but about 1.76 times wider-or 24 percent larger than predicted by theory. It could float in water, if there was a tub large enough to hold it.
massive as Jupiter but about 1.76 times wider-or 24 percent larger than predicted by theory. It could float in water, if there was a tub large enough to hold it.
One of the several planets within the Gliese 581 star system, called Gliese 581 d, may be one of the most habitable alien worlds known.
Its orbit is at just the right distance for water to potentially exist on the surface. Water is a key ingredient for life as we know it. Gliese 581 is a red dwarf star
20.5 light-years from Earth. It is about 8 times the mass of Earth, and located in an orbit just right for liquid water
Its orbit is at just the right distance for water to potentially exist on the surface. Water is a key ingredient for life as we know it. Gliese 581 is a red dwarf star
20.5 light-years from Earth. It is about 8 times the mass of Earth, and located in an orbit just right for liquid water
One of the densest exoplanets to date is a world known as COROT-exo-3b. It is about the size of Jupiter, but 20 times that planet's mass, making it about
twice as dense as lead. Scientists have not ruled out that the COROT-exo-3b may be a brown dwarf, or failed star.
twice as dense as lead. Scientists have not ruled out that the COROT-exo-3b may be a brown dwarf, or failed star.
