Tag: microlensing
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How Astronomers Find Planets Beyond Our Solar System: A Look at Exoplanet Discovery Methods
What Is an Exoplanet and Why Finding Them Matters Exoplanets are planets that orbit stars outside our solar system. The hunt for these worlds helps scientists understand planet formation, the diversity of planetary systems, and the potential for life beyond Earth. Over the past few decades, astronomers have developed multiple complementary techniques to detect exoplanets,…
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Roman Space Telescope Surprises Scientists Before Launch
Introduction: A Pre-Launch Surprise NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, commonly known as the Roman Space Telescope, is poised to redefine what a space observatory can achieve even before it leaves Earth. With its launch window now narrowed to the next 12 to 18 months, researchers are already seeing indications that Roman will exceed early…
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6,000 and Counting: The Next 30 Years in the Exoplanet Hunt
From a Census to a Quest for Earth-Like Worlds The tally of confirmed exoplanets recently surpassed 6,000, marking a milestone in humanity’s ongoing quest to understand worlds beyond our solar system. Yet for all the numbers, the field’s real excitement lies in what comes next: a shift from sheer discovery to the deep characterization of…
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Exoplanets: 6,000 and counting — the next 30 years of discovery
Six thousand exoplanets and the long road ahead The catalog of worlds beyond our solar system has surpassed 6,000 confirmed exoplanets, a milestone that underscores both the advances in detection methods and the huge potential for future discoveries. Yet as astronomers celebrate the bounty, they are also sharpening their gaze toward the most elusive prize:…
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6,000 and Counting: The Next 30 Years in the Search for Exoplanets
Six Thousand Planets and Counting The catalog of confirmed exoplanets has just surpassed 6,000, a milestone that underscores both how far astronomy has come and how far it has yet to go. The current tally is a reminder that while we have found a great diversity of worlds—hot Jupiters, super-Earths, and mini-Neptunes—the search for a…