An artist's illustration of an Earth-like planet. The search for planets that are similar to Earth is one of NASA's main goals. Many planets have already been discovered orbiting other stars, but so far only larger planets (the size of Jupiter or larger) have been found. New missions are being planned by NASA which will be able to detect smaller Earth-sized planets. Some of these missions will also try to detect signs of life on these planets by studying emissions in their atmospheres.
BILLIONS OF EARTHS COULD BE OUT THERE!!

7/4/10

Weird Worlds

Could planets made of diamond or iron exist? While hundreds of exoplanets have already been discovered, it could just be a matter of time before we find some truly bizarre ones. Click to read.

Gallery — Strangest Alien Planets
Extrasolar Planet Art Gallery Click here.

NEWS ABOUT: Extrasolar Planets update: 20 Oct 2010
Astronomers find weird, warm spot on an exoplanet‏ new!
Surprise Discovery: Two Planets, Two Stars, One System new!
Vast solar system found 127 light years away new!
First-Ever Photo Of Alien Planet Finally Confirmed (PICTURE) new!
'Superstorm' rages on exoplanet new!
Exoplanet spotted in motion around its 'sun' new!
Weird Orbits of Alien Planets Could Affect Chances for Life new!
Aack, No Brakes! Giant New Exoplanet Goes the Wrong Way new!
Astronomers find sun-like star eating Jupiter-sized planet new!
Sun-like star's 'oddball' planet
Planet Found Orbiting Same-Size Star
Hidden planet discovered in old Hubble data
Ancient Solar Systems Found Around Dead Stars
Top 5 Most Extreme Exoplanets
Planet found orbiting puffed-up star
Astronomers capture first images of new planets
Diamond Planets: Rich Possibilities for Other Worlds
Planet-Forming Disk Discovered Orbiting Twin Suns
First Planet Under Three Suns Is Discovered
Solar System's 'look-alike' found
Has the youngest known planet been spotted?
Faraway Planets Collided, Study Suggests
Young Planet Orbits Sun-Like Star
Largest extrasolar planetary system discovered
Largest Known Exoplanet Discovered
Alien planet 'could float on water'
In a Strange Universe, We Stick to Search For Familiar Life
'Clear Signs of Water' on Distant Planet
Strange alien world made of 'hot ice'
First sign of water found on an alien world
Strange New Planet Baffles Astronomers
Strange 'twin' new worlds found
Strange New Worlds Could Make Miniature Solar Systems
Faraway planetary system may be habitable
'Big' Discovery: Hypergiant Stars Might Harbor Planets
Strange New World Unlike Any Other
Strange Miniature 'Solar Systems' Revealed
Planet hunters find new Neptunes

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