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By David Liu '25
Abstract:
Since the rise of new technology such as more powerful telescopes, scientists have been able to view other planets outside of our solar system. These observations have dated back all the way to the 1980s and a new area of study emerged: exoplanets. The field of exoplanets takes on studying planets that orbit stars other than our sun. This is important for a number of reasons such as finding out how other planets behave, how those solar systems formed, and potentially answering the age-old question of whether we are alone in the universe or not.
Introduction:
The field of exoplanets revolves around studying planets in different solar systems than ours. This process is complex and there are many different aspects that can be observed. For example, scientists will analyze the orbit of the exoplanets, the elements present on the surface, the atmosphere, the planets or stars around it, and much more. Through studying these many parts, scientists are not only able to examine how the exoplanet functions and develops in its own environment, but they are also able to compare it to the planets in our solar system to better understand them as well.
One question that many scientists in the study of exoplanets are trying to answer right now is if there are any exoplanets similar to our Earth that can sustain life as well. Since planets need a certain ideal condition to sustain life, scientists have to make sure that each of the planet’s features meets the criteria for being habitable. One feature that researchers look for is the location and whether or not the planet is in the habitable or Goldilocks zone. This zone is where it is just the right temperature for water on the planet to remain a liquid, which is crucial for life to form. Some other features that are vital for life on a planet include a circular orbit, stable rotational axis, signs of water, and a magnetic field to protect the planet.
One such planet that has almost all of these features and is sometimes referred to as Earth 2.0 is Kepler-452b. First discovered in 2015, this planet has sparked interest huge interest in not just the scientific community but the whole world. Kepler-452b is similar to Earth in that it is also in the habitable zone and is around the same size. There have been a few other planets with the same characteristics, but what makes Kepler-452 unique from the others is that the star it orbits has a very similar temperature and size to our sun. Although it is highly probable that Kepler-452b contains water, we do not yet know for sure. As technology advances and future space exploration efforts are made, more observations will be made on this interesting planet, and we may even discover other life forms. For now, we can only just look up into the night sky and wonder if we are truly alone in the universe.
References:
Schilling, G. (2021, April 23). What makes a planet habitable? Www.skyatnightmagazine.com. https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/space-science/what-makes-a-planet-habitable
NASA. (2019). What is the habitable zone or “Goldilocks zone”? – Exoplanet Exploration: Planets Beyond our Solar System. Exoplanet Exploration: Planets beyond Our Solar System; NASA. https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/faq/15/what-is-the-habitable-zone-or-goldilocks-zone/
Exoplanet-catalog – Exoplanet Exploration: Planets Beyond our Solar System. (2015). Exoplanet Exploration: Planets beyond Our Solar System. https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/exoplanet-catalog/5471/kepler-452-b/
Historic Timeline | Explore. (n.d.). Exoplanet Exploration: Planets beyond Our Solar System. https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/alien-worlds/historic-timeline/#first-planetary-disk-observed
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