Who / What
An exoplanet is a planet that orbits a star outside our Solar System. It is a celestial body that follows a star other than the Sun in its orbit.
Background & History
The concept of exoplanets dates back to the first confirmed detection in 1992, when a planet was found orbiting a pulsar. In 1995, astronomers discovered the first exoplanet orbiting a normal main‑sequence star. Another planet, detected in 1988, was later confirmed in 2003, marking early milestones in exoplanet science.
Why Notable
Exoplanets broaden our understanding of planetary system formation and the potential for life beyond Earth. The discovery of thousands of such planets has led to new fields such as comparative exoplanetology and astrobiology, and has influenced theories about the dynamic evolution of planetary orbits.
In the News
Recent space missions such as NASA’s TESS and ESA’s PLATO are set to continue the high‑precision search for exoplanets, promising new discoveries and more detailed atmospheric studies. These missions aim to expand the catalog of worlds and refine our estimates of habitable conditions in the galaxy.
