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an illustration of a brown-and-red-striped planet on a starry background
Astronomers detect rare 'free floating' exoplanet 10,000 light-years from Earth

By Charles Q. Choi Published

Astronomers have detected a "free floating" rogue planet the size of Saturn drifting through the Milky Way some 10,000 light-years from Earth.

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An artist's illustration of the various exoplanets found, with rows of colorful planets of all colors and sizes over a dark background
The most exciting exoplanet discoveries of 2025

By Sharmila Kuthunur Published

New discoveries and fresh looks at familiar worlds show how far exoplanet science has come — and how much remains unknown.

Exoplanets
an illustration shows PSR J2322-2650b, a strange lemon-shaped exoplanet orbiting a pulsar
James Webb Space Telescope discovers a lemon-shaped exoplanet unlike anything seen before: 'What the heck is this?'

By Robert Lea Published

"This was an absolute surprise. It's extremely different from what we expected."

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Exoplanets
An illustration of the Tatooine-like planet HD 143811 AB b as it orbits its twin parent stars
Astronomers discover images of rare Tatooine-like exoplanet with a strange 300-year orbit: 'Exactly how it works is still uncertain'

By Robert Lea Published

The planet formed 50 million years after the dinosaurs died, making it incredibly young in cosmic terms.

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A small brown exoplanet is seen in space to the right of a sun-like star
James Webb Space Telescope finds strongest evidence yet for atmosphere around rocky exoplanet: 'It's really like a wet lava ball'

By Sharmila Kuthunur Published

Astronomers have found the strongest evidence yet of an atmosphere around a rocky exoplanet.

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Exoplanets
An illustration of the twin tails of WASP-121b
James Webb Space Telescope discovers a hot Jupiter exoplanet leaking twin gas tails that defy explanation

By Robert Lea Published

"We are only beginning to discover the true complexity of these worlds."

Exoplanets
A heat map with a purple background and yellow dots showing an exoplanet
The Subaru Telescope just made its 1st discoveries: a 'failed star' and an exoplanet

By Julian Dossett Published

Check out the first findings from the Subaru Telescope.

Exoplanets
Seven Earth-like planets orbit the Trappist-1 star.
One of the most promising Earth-like worlds may not have an atmosphere after all

By Sharmila Kuthunur Published

New simulations suggest TRAPPIST-1e's possible methane atmosphere may be a false signal from its star, raising fresh questions about the planet’s habitability.

Exoplanets
An illustration of an exoplanet with blue and green
Could alien life be found in the clouds of an exoplanet?

By Stefanie Waldek Published

It's based on the colorful microorganisms that live in the clouds on Earth.

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Exoplanets
A red giant star will consume planets close to it, but leave others just right for life.
Aging stars destroy their planets more often than we thought: What does this mean for Earth?

By Robert Lea Published

"We expected to see this effect, but we were still surprised by just how efficient these stars seem to be at engulfing their close planets."

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