eksoplaneetan

An exoplanet is a planet that orbits a star outside of our solar system. The term "exoplanet" is derived from the Greek words "exo" meaning "outside" and "planet." The first confirmed exoplanets were discovered in the early 1990s, orbiting a pulsar. Since then, thousands of exoplanets have been detected, and many more are suspected.

The discovery of exoplanets has revolutionized our understanding of planetary systems and the potential for life beyond Earth. Exoplanets vary widely in size, mass, and orbital characteristics. Some are gas giants similar to Jupiter, while others are rocky planets comparable in size to Earth. Their orbital periods can range from a few days to thousands of years.

Methods used to detect exoplanets include the transit method, where a planet's dimming of its star's light is observed as it passes in front, and the radial velocity method, which detects the wobble of a star caused by the gravitational pull of an orbiting planet. Future telescopes and observatories are expected to further enhance our ability to discover and characterize exoplanets, potentially even detecting biosignatures in their atmospheres. The study of exoplanets continues to be a rapidly evolving field, pushing the boundaries of astronomical knowledge and our place in the universe.