Super-Earth Exoplanets

Discovery Alert: ‘Super-Earth’ Swings from Super-Heated to Super-Chill – NASA Science

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Discovery Alert: ‘Super-Earth’ Swings from Super-Heated to Super-Chill – NASA Science

The Discovery A possible “super-Earth” orbits a relatively close, Sun-like star, and could be a habitable world – but one of extreme temperature swings, from scorching heat to deep freeze. Key Facts The newly confirmed planet is the outermost of three detected so far around a star called HD 20794, just 20 light-years from Earth. … Read more

NASA Data Reveals Possible Reason Some Exoplanets Are Shrinking – NASA

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NASA Data Reveals Possible Reason Some Exoplanets Are Shrinking – NASA

A new study could explain the ‘missing’ exoplanets between super-Earths and sub-Neptunes. Some exoplanets seem to be losing their atmospheres and shrinking. In a new study using NASA’s retired Kepler Space Telescope, astronomers find evidence of a possible cause: The cores of these planets are pushing away their atmospheres from the inside out. Exoplanets (planets … Read more

Why NASA’s Roman Mission Will Study Milky Way’s Flickering Lights – NASA

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Why NASA’s Roman Mission Will Study Milky Way’s Flickering Lights – NASA

NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will provide one of the deepest-ever views into the heart of our Milky Way galaxy. The mission will monitor hundreds of millions of stars in search of tell-tale flickers that betray the presence of planets, distant stars, small icy objects that haunt the outskirts of our solar system, isolated … Read more