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planetaria

habitability

What’s the recipe for a habitable exoplanet?

October 2, 2018 by Paul Scott Anderson

We often hear the term “habitable” next to the word exoplanets. Which exoplanets are habitable; that is, which are capable of supporting life? But how do scientists determine that? Are there different kinds of habitability? Rice University announced on September 17, 2018 that – to …

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Plate tectonics not necessary for alien life?

August 11, 2018 by Paul Scott Anderson

Plate tectonics have long been thought to have been necessary for the development of life on Earth, in part due to making it easier for volcanoes to release essential gases into the atmosphere. But now, new research suggests that may not be the case after …

Read MorePlate tectonics not necessary for alien life?

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Scientists identify best exoplanets for Earth-like life

August 10, 2018 by Paul Scott Anderson

Thousands of exoplanets are now being discovered – there are 3,815 confirmed as of August 1, 2018 – but how many of them have the right conditions to life? The data so far shows that the most common planets are super-Earths (larger than Earth but …

Read MoreScientists identify best exoplanets for Earth-like life

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The case for a habitable moon

August 2, 2018 by Paul Scott Anderson

Could there have been life on the Moon in the distant past? Our airless, mostly dry moon certainly isn’t the first place that comes to mind when it comes to searching for life elsewhere. Today, its radiation-blasted surface is inhospitable to life as we know …

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Innovative new instrument to seek habitable worlds

July 16, 2018 by Paul Scott Anderson

As more and more exoplanets are discovered, the technology used to help find them keeps advancing as well. This is especially true when it comes to smaller – and potentially habitable – planets, like Earth. The National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS) Astrobiology Center in …

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These 2 exoplanets might have seasons and stable climates

July 10, 2018 by Paul Scott Anderson

We sometimes hear the term Earth-like in describing exoplanets that might be similar to our own world. The terms “Earth-like” or Earth analog conjure up visions of alien oceans and continents, teeming with life. But how similar to Earth might such distant worlds really be? …

Read MoreThese 2 exoplanets might have seasons and stable climates

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About Planetaria

About Planetaria

Pluto backlit by the Sun, as seen by New Horizons in 2015

Planetaria (formerly The Meridiani Journal) is a chronicle of planetary exploration, both in our own Solar System and beyond. Many continuing discoveries, such as the geysers of Enceladus, the subsurface ocean of Europa, the methane rivers, lakes and seas of Titan, the mountains and glaciers of Pluto, the cold but beautiful deserts of Mars and the thousands of exoplanets orbiting other stars make this an exciting time of exploration and discovery.

I publish Planetaria as a personal blog, a complement to my other freelance space writing for EarthSky and AmericaSpace.

- Paul Scott Anderson

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Exoplanet Count

Exoplanet Count

Current Confirmed: 3,869
Current Candidates: 2,898
Potentially Habitable: 55

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