exoplanetology
Exoplanetology is the scientific study of planets outside the Solar System. It covers the detection, confirmation, and characterization of exoplanets, as well as the interpretation of their diversity in the context of planetary formation and evolution. The field draws on astronomy, planetary science, atmospheric science, and astrobiology to understand the physical properties, orbital configurations, and potential habitability of worlds beyond Earth.
Main observational methods include the transit method, radial velocity, direct imaging, microlensing, and timing variations. Transits
Key topics are planet demographics, formation and migration, atmospheric composition and climate, and potential habitability. The
Historically, exoplanets were discovered in the 1990s around pulsars and, shortly after, around Sun-like stars. The