![[TOP] Time evolution of H2 mixing ratio for an atmosphere with 100% H2O. The heatmaps display vertical profiles over the 360-day simulation duration, with pressure (in bars) on the y-axis and time (in days) on the x-axis. The upper row shows results from the YMDF and FF models, while the bottom row corresponds to the FF 400 K and the CF model, as indicated on the panels. [BOTTOM] Heatmaps of CH4 mixing ratio in the atmosphere with 1% H2O over the 360-day simulation period for an atmosphere containing 100% water vapour analogous to the previous Fig. 8 -- astro-ph.EP](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Stellar-Flare-driven-Evolution.png?resize=1200%2C718&ssl=1)
Context. M dwarfs are key targets for terrestrial exoplanet studies, with prospects for atmospheric spectroscopy. However, strong stellar magnetic activity and frequent flaring require modelling efforts to assess their impact […]
Stellar Cartography
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Press Release, Stellar Cartography
Beyond The Mass-radius Plane: Integrated Radiative-convective And Interior Structure Simulations Of The Exoplanet Continuum
Static structure models, which map mass-radius constraints to bulk planet composition, are frequently used to categorise exoplanets due to their computational efficiency and the high-level insight they offer into planetary […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Status Report, Stellar Cartography
ExoNet: Multimodal Deep Learning for TESS Exoplanet Candidate Identification via Phase-Folded Light Curves, Stellar Parameters, and Multi-Head Attention Fusion
NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has identified thousands of exoplanet candidates, yet many remain unconfirmed due to the limitations of manual vetting processes.
Posted inImaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Space Weather & Heliophysics, Stellar Cartography
Interstellar Spacecraft Voyager 1 Instrument Shut Down to Assure Continued Mission Operations
On April 17 2026, engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California sent commands to shut down an instrument aboard Voyager 1 called the Low-energy Charged Particles experiment, […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, PLATO, Status Report, Stellar Cartography
Variability Classification Of TESS Targets in LOPS2, The First Long-term Pointing Field Of PLATO. Version 1 of The Public Variability Catalogue
The PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars (PLATO) mission is expected to launch in January 2027. A total of 8\% of its data rate will be dedicated to complementary science […]
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets, Ice Giant, Status Report, Stellar Cartography
Origin And Characterization Of Super-Earths And Sub-Neptunes
Super-Earths and sub-Neptunes represent the most common class of exoplanets discovered to date in our galaxy, yet they have no direct analogues in the Solar System. Since 2014, researchers within […]
Posted inAstrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Gas Giants, Status Report, Stellar Cartography
Webb Redefines The Dividing Line Between Planets And Stars
Planets, like those in our Solar System, form in a bottom-up process where small bits of rock and ice clump together and grow larger over time. But the heftier the […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release, Stellar Cartography
Long-period Transiting Exoplanets: Advances In Detection And Characterization
Most detected transiting planets have orbits which would fit within the one of Mercury, exposing them to intense stellar irradiation and interactions that significantly alter their properties.
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report, Stellar Cartography
A Search For Wide-orbit Planets Around M-dwarfs Using Deep MIRI 15-micron Images
Wide-orbit (>10 AU) gas giant planets shape the architecture of planetary systems, yet their occurrence rate remains poorly constrained.
![Plotted here are the Kepler confirmed planets/candidates with Gaia DR2 radius improvements. Selection criteria are main-sequence host-star with temperature 5000-6500 K and planet radius errors less than ±10%. Data source: exoplanet archive (Akeson et al. 2013) (Christiansen et al. 2025) (Thompson et al. 2017) and Gaia DR2 Berger et al. (2020, 2018); Brown et al. (2018); Lindegren et al. (2018). Sub-Panels: (1): 1100+ planets fulfilling the criteria, with gray ellipse showing the typical errors in planet radius and temperature. (2) and (3): Smooth Kernel fit to data. (4): All known transiting Hot Jupiters (Rp > 8 R⊕) which have masses measured from RV surveys (e.g. WASP, HAT, HAT-P, etc.), colored by metallicity ([Fe/H]). also c.f. (Castro-González et al. 2024). -- astro-ph.EP](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Exoplanet-Orbital-Distribution-1.png?resize=1200%2C718&ssl=1)
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Status Report, Stellar Cartography
Exoplanet Orbital Distribution Around FGK Sun-like Host Stars I: Planet Occurrence Rate Derived From The Kepler Mission And Theoretical Interpretations From Planet Formation
Recent astronomical observations, in particular from the Kepler and TESS missions and their related follow-ups, have revealed an abundance of exoplanets in the size range between Neptune (4 Earth radii) […]