Latest News About Alien Planets

An alien planet orbits a star other than our sun, and is sometimes called an "exoplanet." Learn more about the types of alien planets, including exoplanets and extrasolar planets, and get the latest news.

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Number of Confirmed Alien Planets Nears 1,000

This artist's illustration represents the variety of planets being detected by NASA's Kepler spacecraft.

September 26th, 2013

Four of the five main databases that catalog exoplanet discoveries now list more than 900 confirmed alien worlds, and two of them peg the tally at 986 as of today (Sept. 26). So the 1,000th exoplanet may be spotted in a matter of days or weeks.

The Strangest Alien Planets (Gallery)

This artist's concept of Kepler-10b shows the smallest known exoplanet, announced in January 2011.

September 26th, 2013

Among the more than 900 planets found beyond our solar system, there are volcanic Super-Earths, gas giants that dwarf Jupiter and worlds with multiple sunsets. Here are some of the most incredible.

Planet Hunter Sara Seager Wins $625,000 'Genius Grant'

Planet Hunter Sara Seager

September 25th, 2013

The 24 awardees represent a diverse group of scientists, artists, writers, academics and activists. Seager was selected for her groundbreaking exoplanet research, which has led to ever-better models of the atmospheres and interiors of alien worlds.

Number of Confirmed Alien Planets Nears 1,000

This artist's illustration represents the variety of planets being detected by NASA's Kepler spacecraft.

September 26th, 2013

Four of the five main databases that catalog exoplanet discoveries now list more than 900 confirmed alien worlds, and two of them peg the tally at 986 as of today (Sept. 26). So the 1,000th exoplanet may be spotted in a matter of days or weeks.

The Strangest Alien Planets (Gallery)

This artist's concept of Kepler-10b shows the smallest known exoplanet, announced in January 2011.

September 26th, 2013

Among the more than 900 planets found beyond our solar system, there are volcanic Super-Earths, gas giants that dwarf Jupiter and worlds with multiple sunsets. Here are some of the most incredible.

The Drake Equation Revisited: Interview with Planet Hunter Sara Seager

Artist's View of Alien Earth at Red Dwarf

September 4th, 2013

MIT's Sara Seager talks about a new equation meant to help people think about the odds of finding signs of life on a distant planet in the next decade. The original Drake equation, drawn up in the 1960s, dealt only with intelligent alien life.

On Giant Blue Alien Planet, It Rains Molten Glass

Artist’s Impression of the Deep Blue Planet HD 189733b

August 30th, 2013

There's a "blue marble" alien planet just 63 light years from Earth, but the world is anything but friendly to life. Researchers say the blue color in the atmosphere likely comes from a rain of molten glass.

The Strangest Alien Planets (Gallery)

This artist's concept of Kepler-10b shows the smallest known exoplanet, announced in January 2011.

September 26th, 2013

Among the more than 900 planets found beyond our solar system, there are volcanic Super-Earths, gas giants that dwarf Jupiter and worlds with multiple sunsets. Here are some of the most incredible.

Planet Hunter Sara Seager Wins $625,000 'Genius Grant'

Planet Hunter Sara Seager

September 25th, 2013

The 24 awardees represent a diverse group of scientists, artists, writers, academics and activists. Seager was selected for her groundbreaking exoplanet research, which has led to ever-better models of the atmospheres and interiors of alien worlds.

The Drake Equation Revisited: Interview with Planet Hunter Sara Seager

Artist's View of Alien Earth at Red Dwarf

September 4th, 2013

MIT's Sara Seager talks about a new equation meant to help people think about the odds of finding signs of life on a distant planet in the next decade. The original Drake equation, drawn up in the 1960s, dealt only with intelligent alien life.