exoplanets

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exoplanetsexoplanets
+2+2
Dinky stars don’t make giant planets, or even middle-sized giants
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Dinky stars don’t make giant planets, or even middle-sized giants

Low-mass red dwarfs show a paucity of mini-Neptunes. It’s not clear why.

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
exoplanetsexoplanets
+6+6
A new mini-moon for Earth next year, two moon-sized exoworlds collided
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A new mini-moon for Earth next year, two moon-sized exoworlds collided

We get a second moon, kinda, for a week in 2027. Also, a cosmic train wreck around another star

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
exoplanetsexoplanets
Astronomers find over ten thousand potential new exoplanets

Astronomers find over ten thousand potential new exoplanets

If confirmed, this will more than double the number known

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
exoplanetsexoplanets
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Hey, is that a failed star or a super-successful planet?

Hey, is that a failed star or a super-successful planet?

Astronomers find lightweight brown dwarfs can form like planets

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
exoplanetsexoplanets
+6+6
How big are the liquid methane waves on Titan? And another Voyager 1 instrument turned off

How big are the liquid methane waves on Titan? And another Voyager 1 instrument turned off

Very cool research shows just how gnarly surfing is on other worlds, and a venerable spacecraft is losing power rapidly

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
supernovaesupernovae
+3+3
Mini-Neptunes may be hot and solid. Also, a star blew out a LOT of stuff before exploding.
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Mini-Neptunes may be hot and solid. Also, a star blew out a LOT of stuff before exploding.

Exoplanets keep getting weirder, and a pre-supernova star expelled truly vast amounts of helium

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
exoplanetsexoplanets
+3+3
Looking for planets? On average, you’ll find one around every red dwarf
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Looking for planets? On average, you’ll find one around every red dwarf

Also: Jupiter lightning is ridiculously powerful

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
miscellanymiscellany
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Our Milky Way’s supermassive black hole has a hiccuppy past

Our Milky Way’s supermassive black hole has a hiccuppy past

It may erupt every few centuries, but don’t panic!

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
supernovaesupernovae
+6+6
An egg-shaped planet orbits a death star

An egg-shaped planet orbits a death star

And that’s not the only thing weird about it

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
exoplanetsexoplanets
+3+3
Can we detect rings around exoplanets?
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Can we detect rings around exoplanets?

Also, more evidence that Mercury may not be as dead as we thought

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
exoplanetsexoplanets
+3+3
A black hole’s one-fifth lightspeed belch, and JWST finds a lava planet with an atmosphere

A black hole’s one-fifth lightspeed belch, and JWST finds a lava planet with an atmosphere

An incredibly fast wind from a black hole, and a super-hot super-Earth may have a broiling atmosphere, too

Philip Plait
Philip Plait
exoplanetsexoplanets
+4+4
Today’s the day. Or is it?

Today’s the day. Or is it?

It depends on what you mean by “day”. Also, old stars eat their planets!

Philip Plait
Philip Plait