exoplanets – Page 15

New space telescope will continue search for Earth-like worlds

April 9, 2013 by Paul Scott Anderson

Artist's conception of TESS. Credit: Chet Beals / MIT Lincoln Lab — Artist’s conception of TESS. Credit: Chet Beals / MIT Lincoln Lab

The Kepler space telescope has already found thousands of exoplanets orbiting other stars, and now the next space telescope to join the search has been announced.

Read MoreNew space telescope will continue search for Earth-like worlds

Are alien oceans common?

March 21, 2013 by Paul Scott Anderson

Oceans may be common early in the formation of rocky planets. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech

One of the unique characteristics of Earth which sets it apart from other known planets is its oceans. Such large bodies of surface water have not yet been found elsewhere, although a number of moons, including Europa, Enceladus and Titan and possibly others, are thought to have subsurface oceans and or seas.