44. Exoplanets
Exoplanets are planets outside our solar system, that could support life. They come in a variety of different shapes, sizes and even colours and weather patterns. Some exoplanets even are getting stripped away by their own star!
Exoplanets are categorised into four different categories: Super Earths, Terrestrials, Hot Jupiters and Neptune like planets. Super Earths are Earth like exoplanets that are in any size between Jupiter and Earth. Terrestrials are small, rocky planets that orbit a star, much like the first four planets of our solar system, Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars.
Hot Jupiter are planets almost entirely made out of gasses, such as Hydrogen and Helium. If you were to take away all the gas, it would be tiny. They also have to be really big in size, like Jupiter and Saturn, and are very close to their star. Neptune like is basically Hot Jupiter, but freezing cold, around 180 degrees celsius.
Proxima Centauri B is a well known exoplanet to scientists. it is located 4.2 light years away on the Orion arm of the milky way. Proxima Centauri B is in the star system, Proxima Centauri, which consists of another planet, Proxima Centauri C and a hypothetical planet, which is unnamed because we're not certain if it's there.
Wasp 12 is an exoplanet that's long life is coming to an end. it has gotten way too close to its own star, which is distorting it into an oval shape and stripping away it's atmosphere. Wasp 12 is in the Hot Jupiters category, which explains why it is so close to its star. It is so close it goes around its star every five days!
Exoplanets are discovered in many different ways. some are even by accident! The two most common ways an exoplanet is found are radial velocity and transits. Transits occur when a planet passes between its star from our point of view. Radial velocity is when the planet appears to "wobble" the stars orbit and affect the way we are looking at it. These events don't happen often, but when it does, it is always exciting.
I hope you enjoyed reading about exoplanets! To find out more I recommend going to space.com or nasa.gov to go deeper.
Until next time, Give Me Space!
Henry.
Alpha Centauri was mentioned by Ptolomey in about 200 AD! Even if we could travel at a tenth of the speed of light it would take over 40 years to get there.
To the naked eye it looks like a single star.
Another good article Henry.
I wonder how scientists see outside our solar system, seems incredible. Well done on another blog