Extrasolar Planets
A Small Step Toward Discovering Habitable Earths 
University of Arizona researchers snapped images of a planet outside our solar system with an Earth-based telescope using essentially the same type of imaging sensor found in digital cameras instead of an infrared detector.
Dimer Molecules Aid Study of Exoplanet Pressure, Hunt for Life
Astronomers at the University of Washington have developed a new method of gauging the atmospheric pressure of exoplanets, or worlds beyond the solar system, by looking for a certain type of molecule.
Every Red Dwarf Star Has at Least One Planet
Three new planets classified as habitable-zone super-Earths are amongst eight new planets discovered orbiting nearby red dwarf stars by an international team of astronomers from the UK and Chile.
Water Vapor Detected in the Atmosphere of a Hot Jupiter
Although liquid water covers a majority of Earth's surface, scientists are still searching for planets outside of our solar system that contain water.
Photosynthetic Potential of Planets in 3:2 Spin Orbit Resonances
Photosynthetic life requires sufficient photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) to metabolise. On Earth, plant behaviour, physiology and metabolism are sculpted around the night-day cycle by an endogenous biological circadian clock.
Earth as an Extrasolar Transiting Planet: Detection of Water Vapor & Biogenic Species
The atmospheric composition of transiting exoplanets can be characterized during transit by spectroscopy.
Migration of Earth-size planets in 3D Radiative Discs
In this paper, we address the migration of small mass planets in 3D radiative disks. Indeed, migration of small planets is known to be too fast inwards in locally isothermal conditions.
Possibilities of Life Around Alpha Centauri B
We make a preliminary assessment on the habitability of potential rocky exoplanets around Alpha Centauri B.
Dynamical Test for Terrestrial Planets in Habitable Zone of HD 204313
With improvements in exoplanet detection techniques, the number of multiple planet systems discovered is increasing, while the detection of potentially habitable Earth-mass planets remains complicated and thus requires new search strategies.
Thermal-orbital coupled tidal heating and habitability of Martian-sized extrasolar planets around M stars
M type stars are good targets in the search for habitable extrasolar planets. Because of their low effective temperatures, the habitable zone of M stars is very close to the star itself.
Tides, planetary companions, and habitability: Habitability in the habitable zone of low-mass stars
Earth-scale planets in the classical habitable zone (HZ) are more likely to be habitable if they possess active geophysics.
The Status of Spectroscopic Data for the Exoplanet Characterisation Missions
The status of laboratory spectroscopic data for exoplanet characterisation missions such as EChO is reviewed. For many molecules (eg H2O, CO, CO2, H3+, O2, O3) the data are already available.
First Planet Found Around Solar Twin in Star Cluster Messier 67
Astronomers have used ESO's HARPS planet hunter in Chile, along with other telescopes around the world, to discover three planets orbiting stars in the cluster Messier 67.
Volatiles in Protoplanetary Disks
Volatiles are compounds with low sublimation temperatures, and they make up most of the condensible mass in typical planet-forming environments.
Possibilities of Life Around Alpha Centauri B
We make a preliminary assessment on the habitability of potential rocky exoplanets around Alpha Centauri B.
Solving a Temperature Mystery on Extrasolar Planets
Astrobiologists supported by the NASA Astrobiology Institute have found that a peculiar feature in the atmosphere of Earth could also be present on billions of extrasolar planets.
Exocomets in the circumstellar gas disk of HD 172555
The source HD172555 is a young A7V star surrounded by a debris disk with a gaseous component.
The Atmospheres of Earth-like Planets after Giant Impact Events
It is now understood that the accretion of terrestrial planets naturally involves giant collisions, the moon-forming impact being a well known example.
Spitzer Probes Weather on Brown Dwarfs
Swirling, stormy clouds may be ever-present on cool celestial orbs called brown dwarfs. New observations from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope suggest that most brown dwarfs are roiling with one or more planet-size storms akin to Jupiter's "Great Red Spot."
Habitable Zones with Stable Orbits for Planets around Binary Systems
A general formulation to compute habitable zones for binary stars is presented.
Top stories from March.
Calendar
Recent Articles
Masthead
Tip your editors
tips@spaceref.com