New coverage, press releases, popular summaries, and blogs discussing our research.
Here we report the sizes and masses of three planets orbiting Kepler-138, a star much fainter and cooler than the Sun. We determine that the mass of the Mars-sized inner planet, Kepler-138 b, is $0.066^{+0.059}_{-0.037}$ Earth masses. The middle and outer planets are both slightly larger than Earth…
The diagram compares the planets of our inner solar system to Kepler-186, a five-planet star system about 500 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. The five planets of Kepler-186 orbit an M dwarf, a star that is is half the size and mass of the sun. The Kepler-186 system is home to Kepler-186f, the first validated Earth-size planet orbiting a distant star in the habitable zone – a range of distance from a star where liquid water might pool on the planet's surface.
![[ Planets and orbits releative to solar system. Image credit: NASA Ames/JPL-Caltech ]](../../img/outreach_files/742666main_Kepler-62-Diagram_lg_full.jpg)
Press Coverage Two planets ... Two stars: Nasa detects strange new solar system : Daily Mail, August 30, 2012 Tatooine Now: NASA Finds Planet Orbiting Binary Star System : Time, August 29, 2012 Astronomers spot multiplanet system with 2 'suns': CBC News, August 29, 2012 Astronomers Find Double-Planet, Double-Star System: Wired Science, August 29, 2012 Alien planets found with twin suns like Luke Skywalker's homeworld: August 29, 2012 Kepler Space Telescope Discovers Tatooine-Like Twin Star/Twin Planet System: Slate, August 29, 2012 Double Planets Found Orbiting Twin Stars: National Geographic Daily News, August 29, 2012 NASA Finds Multiple Planets Circling Binary Star System: Forbes, August 29, 2012 Tatooine-like double-star systems can host planets: BBC News, August 29, 2012 Astrophile: Two planets with two suns up odds for life: New Scientist, August 29, 2012 'Star Wars' planetary system found: ABC Science, August 29, 2012 In a first, astronomers see two planets orbiting binary stars: LA Times, August 28, 2012 Exoplanet pair orbits two stars: Science News, August 28, 2012 How 'Tatooine' Planets Orbit Twin Stars of Kepler-47: Space.
Zooming in on Fomalhaut This video sequence starts with a wide-field view of the sky around the star Fomalhaut in the constellation of Piscis Austrinus (The Southern Fish). Fomalhaut is the brightest star in the constellation and one of the brightest stars known to have an orbiting planet. It lies about 25 light-years from the Earth and is surrounded by a huge disc of dust. The final view of this video shows a new ALMA image of the disc (orange) and the new results from ALMA have given astronomers a major breakthrough in understanding a nearby planetary system and provided valuable clues about how such systems form and evolve.
Planets in Systems from NASA’s Kepler Mission The image above depicts multiple planet systems discovered by NASA’s Kepler mission and confirmed by transit timing variations (as of January 2012). Out of hundreds of candidate planetary systems, scientists had previously verified six systems with multiple transiting planets (denoted here in red). Now, Kepler observations have verified planets (shown here in green) in 11 new planetary systems. Many of these systems contain additional planet candidates that are yet to be verified (shown here in dark purple).
Planets in Systems from NASA’s Kepler Mission The image above depicts multiple planet systems discovered by NASA’s Kepler mission and confirmed by transit timing variations (as of January 2012). Out of hundreds of candidate planetary systems, scientists had previously verified six systems with multiple transiting planets (denoted here in red). Now, Kepler observations have verified planets (shown here in green) in 11 new planetary systems. Many of these systems contain additional planet candidates that are yet to be verified (shown here in dark purple).
Planets in Systems from NASA’s Kepler Mission The image above depicts multiple planet systems discovered by NASA’s Kepler mission and confirmed by transit timing variations (as of January 2012). Out of hundreds of candidate planetary systems, scientists had previously verified six systems with multiple transiting planets (denoted here in red). Now, Kepler observations have verified planets (shown here in green) in 11 new planetary systems. Many of these systems contain additional planet candidates that are yet to be verified (shown here in dark purple).
When an exoplanet transits across the face of its host star atoms and gases in its atmosphere absorb some of the starlight at specific wavelengths. These absorption wavelengths form a unique fingerprint, allowing researchers to identify the presence of Potassium.
Press Coverage Kepler Discovery Establishes New Class of Planetary System: NASA Press release, Jan 11, 2012. NASA's Kepler mission and UF astronomer find two new planets orbiting double suns: UF press release, Jan 11, 2012. Kepler Finds More Planets Orbiting Two Stars: New York Times, January 11, 2012 Kepler Finds Two More Two-Sun Planets: RedOrbit, January 12, 2012. There Are Actually Millions of Tatooines In Our Galaxy: Gizmodo, January 11, 2012.
Press Coverage Hidden Worlds: Astronomers Find Invisible Planet 650 Light-Years Away: Time, September 9, 2011. Astronomers Discover 'Invisible' Planet With New Technique: International Business Times, September 9, 2011. Transit planet search reveals doubly-tilted solar sytem: USA Today, September 9, 2011. NASA's Kepler spacecraft finds "invisible world": Digital Journal.com, September 8, 2011. "Invisible" planet discovered with new technique: Kepler probe detects alien world by its gravitational influence on a neighbor: MSNBC.
Press Coverage Real-life 'Star Wars' planet seen: MSNBC, September 16, 2011 NASA Detects Planet Dancing With a Pair of Stars: New York Times, September 16, 2011. From 'Star Wars' to reality: Astronomers discover Tatooine world with two suns: Washington Post, September 15, 2011. Week Brings Hail of Planets: Wall Street Journal, September 16, 2011. Here Come The Suns: New Planet Orbits Two Stars: NPR, September 16, 2011. Like Tatooine in 'Star Wars,' Planet Found With Twin Suns: ABC News, September 16, 2011.
Press Coverage Scientists Discover Solar System With 6 Planets: AOL News, February 2, 2011 Sun-Like Star With Six Planets Is Found 2,000 Light-Years Away: Bloomberg News, February 2, 2011 NASA Finds Six-Planet Solar System: International Business Times, February 3, 2011. NASA hails 'amazing' exoplanetary system: The Register, February 3, 2011 Clues may lurk near a far star: Detroit Free Press, February 6, 2011. UF research team discovers six planets: Alligator, February 3, 2011.
Press Coverage Dance of the planets gets intimate: Discovery News.com, July 30, 2010. Dancing Around a Dying Star: Astrobiology Magazine, July 30, 2010 Astronomers find planets locked in 'dance': UPI, July 29, 2010. Alien planets found locked in close embrace: MSNBC.com, July 28, 2010. Planets found around dying star: Astronomy Now, July 28, 2010. Alien Planets Gather Close Around Dying Star : Space.com, July 28, 2010. Caltech Astronomer Finds Planets in Unusually Intimate Dance around Dying Star: Caltech press release, July 28, 2010.
Press Coverage A Tidal Wave of Exoplanet Candidates: Sky & Telescope.com, June 17, 2010 NASA finds potential planetary bonanza: CBC News, June 16, 2010 Latest Kepler data includes over 700 exoplanet candidates: Ars Technica, June 16, 2010 Kepler Craft Reports Apparent Planetary Bonanza: US News & World Report, June 16, 2010 An avalanche of alien planets: MSNBC, June 15, 2010 Mass Transits: Kepler Mission Releases Data on Hundreds of Possible Exoplanets: Scientific American, June 16, 2010 NASA: Neptune-sized planets orbiting other stars: USA Today, June 15, 2010 Kepler craft reports apparent planetary bonanza: Science News, July 3, 2010.
Press Coverage WUFT, August 30, 2010. Recipe for a planetary system: Inside Nova, August 27, 2010. Planet Hunters Bag Systems With Super-Earths and Double Saturns: Wired Science, August 26, 2010. Kepler telescope finds two planets & a possible new use: Christian Science Monitor, August 26, 2010. Astronomers Identify Two New Solar Systems: NPR, August 27, 2010. Kepler Telescope Detects Possible Earth-Size Planet: New York Times, August 26, 2010. Kepler spies Saturn-sized worlds: BBC News, August, 26, 2010.
Press Coverage Storm Worlds: Alien Wind on National Geographic Channel, May 2010. WUFT. September 30, 2009. WCJB TV-20 (ABC Affiliate). September 28, 2009. One Planet, Two Parents?: ScienceNow Daily News, October 6, 2009. A Small Observatory Helps with a Big Discovery: Astro Guyz Blog, October 2, 2009 Exoplanet Transits: Maxing Out Our Resources: Centauri Dreams, September 29, 2009. Tiny telescope, big observations: Gainesville Sun, September 28, 2009. Sea level stargazing: Astronomers make key sighting with Florida telescope: UF Press Release, September 28, 2009.
![[Picture NVIDIA Tesla Fermi GPU Card ]](../../img/outreach_files/Tesla_Fermi.jpg)
Press Coverage Ocean Glints Could Reveal Alien Planets: Space.com, August 7, 2008 Twinkle, Twinkle, Alien Ocean: Astrobiology Magazine, August 7, 2008 Distant Mirrors: Seed Magazine, May/June 2008 Checking the Weather of Alien Planets: Optics & Photomics Focus, March 9, 2008 Astronomers ponder Earth from E.T.'s perspective: Ottawa Citizen, January 4, 2008 Saben 'ellos' que hay vida aqui: Publico (Madrid), December 28, 2007 Tierra: solo un pixel vista por un extraterrestre: United Press International (Buenos Aires), December 26, 2007 Exoplanetary Weather: From a Single Pixel: Centauri Dreams, December 24, 2007 Aliens may be watching us: Sydney Morning Herald (via Australian Associated Press), December 24, 2007 Nubes revelan misterios celestes: Prensa Libre (Guatemala), December 24, 2007La tierra seria solo un pixel vista por un extraterrestre: El Pais (Madrid), December 24, 2007 Aliens have eyes on us: Web India, December 22, 2007 Could An ExtraTerrestrial Find Earth with a Telescope?
Press Coverage Apsidal: Systemic (UCSC Astronomy's Prof. Greg Laughlin's blog), November 7, 2006 He Thinks We're Alone Now: Chicago Reader, November 11, 2005. -- Scattered Planet: Sky & Telescope, August 2005 How planet orbits became so eccentric: Observer Online, April 28, 2005 Researchers say key to life may lie in planets' orbits: Daily Northwestern, April 22, 2005 Mystery of extrasolar planets' eccentric orbits: Spaceflight Now, April 19, 2005 A Planetary Family Feud: Kansas City Infozine, April 18, 2005.
Press Coverage Earth from Afar: A Tiny Flickering Dot: Astrobiology News, February 27, 2002 Student sees way to get E.T.’s weather report: San Francisco Chronicle, September 4, 2001. Other Earths, Philadelphia Inquirer, February 24, 2002 Is There Another Earth Out There For Us To Find?, Boston Globe, September 4, 2001. Earth’s Light Show Is A Clue To Finding Habitable Neighbors: Science Daily, August 30, 2001. Novo telescopio vai permitir apontar planetas do tipo da Terra: Folha de S.
Press Coverage Search for New Planets Yields Confusion: New York Times, March 2, 1999. The Chance of Finding Aliens: Sky & Telescope, December 1998 Worlds Around Other Stars Shake Planet Birth Theory: Science Magazine, May 30, 1997. CTC Visualizations Help Explain the Mysteries of Deep Space: Cornell Theory Center Press Release, April 7, 1997. Mysteries of Deep Space - The Search for Alien Worlds: PBS miniseries, April 1997. Scientists Step Up Search For Extrasolar Planets: New York Times, February 9, 1997.
![[ An illustration of the orbital distances and relative sizes of the four innermost planets known to orbit the star 55 Cancri A (bottom) in comparison with planets in own inner Solar System (top). Both Jupiter and the Jupiter-mass planet 55 Cancri d are outside this picture, orbiting their host star with a distance of nearly 5 astronomical units (au), where one au is equal to the average between earth and sun. Credit: Center for Exoplanets Habitable Worlds, Penn State University ]](../../img/outreach_files/image_preview(1))