Exoplanets: Latest News About Alien Worlds

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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This Week's Top Space Stories!

April 21, 2018 | Countdown

NASA's new exoplanet satellite launches successfully, Saturn played a part in the formation of Jupiter's four largest moons and the Senate finally confirms the new NASA administrator. These are just some of the top stories this week from Space.com.
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To Seek Out New Life: How the TESS Mission Will Accelerate the Hunt for Livable Alien Worlds (Kavli Roundtable)

April 20, 2018 | Article

The just-launched Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) could soon provide the breakthrough identification of dozens of potentially habitable exoplanets right in our cosmic backyard.
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What's Next for NASA's TESS Exoplanet Hunter?

April 19, 2018 | Article

NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is in space, but its science work won't start until June. Here's what the spacecraft will be doing until then.
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NASA's TESS Satellite Launches to Seek Out New Alien Worlds

April 18, 2018 | Article

NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) launched today (April 18) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, rising off the pad atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 6:51 p.m. EDT (2251 GMT).
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Launch of NASA's TESS Exoplanet Hunter Delayed by Rocket Issue

April 16, 2018 | Article

The launch of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, which was scheduled to take place this evening (April 16), has been delayed by at least 48 hours due to an issue with the spacecraft's rocket ride, a SpaceX Falcon 9.
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SpaceX Rocket Launching NASA's TESS Exoplanet Hunter Today: Watch Live

April 16, 2018 | Article

NASA's next exoplanet-hunting mission is scheduled to launch today (April 16) atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, and you can watch the action live.
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All Systems 'Go' For Launch of NASA Exoplanet Mission Monday

April 15, 2018 | Article

NASA's next exoplanet-hunting spacecraft is primed for an on-time liftoff Monday (April 15) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
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NASA's TESS Satellite Will Supercharge Search for Nearby, Earth-Like Worlds

April 15, 2018 | Article

On Monday, April 16, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) will launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. NASA's new exoplanet hunter will train its sights on nearer, brighter stars than its predecessors did.
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How NASA's Planet-Hunting TESS Telescope Will Find Habitable Worlds

April 14, 2018 | Article

NASA's next planet-hunting telescope will swing between different parts of the sky, searching for worlds that could be habitable.
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SpaceX Rocket Is Ready to Launch NASA's Next Planet-Hunting Telescope

April 13, 2018 | Article

SpaceX is gearing up to launch NASA's next big exoplanet hunter on Monday (April 16), with a successful test-fire of its Falcon 9 rocket under its belt.
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