Exoplanets

Definition

Exoplanets are planets that orbit stars outside our solar system. They vary widely in size, composition, and distance from their parent stars.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The first confirmed detection of an exoplanet was in 1992.
2. Exoplanets are discovered using methods such as the transit method and radial velocity method.
3. Some exoplanets exist in the habitable zone of their stars, where conditions might support liquid water.
4. Kepler Space Telescope has significantly contributed to the discovery of thousands of exoplanets.
5. Exoplanet atmospheres can be studied through spectroscopy to determine their composition.

Review Questions

• What are exoplanets and how do they differ from planets in our solar system?
• Name two primary methods used to detect exoplanets.
• Why is the habitable zone important when studying exoplanets?

Related terms

Transit Method:

A technique for detecting exoplanets by measuring the dimming of a star as a planet passes in front of it.

Radial Velocity Method:

A technique for finding exoplanets by observing Doppler shifts in the spectrum of the planet's parent star.

Habitable Zone:

The region around a star where conditions may be just right for liquid water to exist on a planet's surface.