exoplanetrelated

Exoplanet-related research covers topics connected with planets outside the solar system and the environments that shape their formation and evolution. It includes discovery, confirmation, and characterization of exoplanets, as well as studies of their host stars and the architectures of planetary systems.

Detection methods include radial velocity, transit photometry, direct imaging, gravitational microlensing, and astrometry. Space missions such as Kepler, K2, and TESS have dramatically increased the known exoplanet census, with follow-up observations from ground-based facilities refining measurements of mass, radius, and atmosphere.

Exoplanets range from rocky super-Earths to gas giants. Orbits vary from ultra-short periods to wide, multi-year paths. Population studies examine distributions of size, mass, temperature, and orbital characteristics, informing models of planet formation and migration and highlighting the diversity of planetary systems.

Atmospheric studies use transmission and emission spectroscopy to probe composition and weather, aided by space telescopes and large ground-based telescopes. The search for habitability focuses on planets in or near the habitable zone and on understanding atmospheric stability, water content, and potential biosignatures, while recognizing current observational limits.

Challenges include selection biases, incomplete samples, and degeneracies in interpreting data. Ongoing and planned missions aim to improve occurrence rate estimates, atmospheric characterization, and the identification of potentially habitable worlds.