Exoplanets

Exoplanets, or extrasolar planets, are planets that orbit stars outside our solar system. They can vary widely in size, composition, and distance from their host stars. Exoplanets are categorized into different types based on their characteristics, such as gas giants, rocky planets, and super-Earths. The study of exoplanets is important for understanding planetary formation, the potential for life beyond Earth, and the nature of our own solar system in the context of the universe. Detection methods for exoplanets include the transit method, where a planet passes in front of its star, causing a slight dimming; the radial velocity method, which observes shifts in a star's spectrum due to gravitational pull from an orbiting planet; and direct imaging. As of now, thousands of exoplanets have been confirmed, and research in this field is rapidly expanding with advancements in technology and astronomy.