Exoplanet Exploration

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slide 1 - Illustration of the surface of a rocky exoplanet

Top Story

Extreme close-up

Want to see the surface of another Earth? An exciting new theory says we can use the Sun as a magnifying lens to do just that. Read more ›

slide 2 - Illustration of a giant planet in a disk

News

Look for giants

Astronomers hunting for new worlds have established a possible signpost for giant exoplanets. Full story ›

slide 3 - illustration of a possible ninth planet

Blog

Super Nine

Is there another ninth planet? The oddly tilted orbits of our solar system may hint at a super-Earth-sized world just out of sight. Read more ›

slide 4 - origami starshade

Feature

Origami in space

The ancient art of origami has taken on new shape at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where it may help find new worlds. Read more ›

slide 5 - Illustration of a black planet orbiting its star.

Paint it black

Astronomers have discovered a known egg-shaped exoplanet also reflects almost no light, making it appear pitch black. Read more ›

3,529

Confirmed
4,496

Candidates
2,633

Solar Systems
874

Terrestrial

News and Features

NASA researchers say they have passed a major milestone in their quest to detect the atmospheres of giant planets outside our solar system.

Photo of scientist with instrument

NASA team passes major technological milestone for characterizing exoplanets

The first science targets for the powerful Webb telescope have been announced, and they include the TRAPPIST-1 system.

Artist's concept of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope.

Icy moons, galaxy clusters, and distant worlds! Oh my!

The flying SOFIA telescope has found a planetary system that has similar architecture to our own, in the system Epsilon Eridani.

Illustration of Epsilon Eridani

SOFIA confirms nearby planetary system is similar to our own

A star among planet hunters, Natalie Batalha wields a formidable weapon: NASA’s Kepler space telescope.

Natalie Batalha

Role models, footsteps, and the search for life

"I think when you find a question you’re interested in pursuing, be brave and pursue it." The co-lead of NASA’s Kepler space telescope, Jessie Dotson, has pursued asteroids and exoplanets, and a lot more besides.

Jessie Dotson

A fearless astronomer behind a game-changing telescope

NASA has selected 28 fellows for its prestigious Einstein, Hubble and Sagan fellowships.

Photo of Raphaelle Haywood, new Sagan Fellow.

NASA announces astronomy and astrophysics fellows for 2017

A team of scientists led by the Carnegie Institution for Science has released the largest collection of observations for hunting exoplanets to the public.

Illustration of an exoplanet.

Scientists make huge dataset of nearby stars available to public

University of Warwick researchers have identified a white dwarf pulsar – a star type which has eluded astronomers for half a century.

Illustration of binary star pair

Mysterious white dwarf pulsar discovered

The vortex coronagraph has the potential to image planetary systems closer to their host stars than any other instrument in the world.

Direct image of a brown dwarf

New planet imager delivers first science

New results from the 229th American Astronomical Society meeting reveal that Earth-sized planets can be made of minerals that are distinctly not Earth-like.

An artist's rendition of the interior compositions of planets around the stars Kepler 102 and Kepler 407.

Can garnet planets be habitable?

Our nearest neighboring star Proxima Centauri bears a startling resemblance to our own sun, raising questions about conditions on its Earth-sized planet.

An illustration of a star, with a cutout showing its interior.

Proxima Centauri might be more sunlike than we thought

A discovery one-ups Tatooine by finding twin stars which host three giant exoplanets.

Illustration of three pink gas planets orbiting two stars.

Three giant worlds found orbiting twin suns

Go beyond what's possible; that's the Spitzer Space Telescope's motto. Designed for a two-year mission, 13 years later it's still searching the skies for new discoveries.

An artist's concept of the Spitzer Space Telescope.

Spitzer Space Telescope begins 'Beyond' phase

The relatively nearby planet GJ 1132b may have an atmosphere despite being baked to a temperature of around 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

An artist's illustration of the planet curve with its star in the background.

Venus-like exoplanet might have oxygen atmosphere, but not life

Astronomers have pinpointed which planets discovered by the NASA Kepler mission may sustain liquid water on their surfaces.

An illustration of Kepler-186f.

Astronomers help focus research in the search for another Earth

To find Earth-like planets, NASA will face a challenge that seems impossible: build a space telescope so stable, it moves less than the width of an atom.

At a Goddard cleanroom, technicians unveil the James Webb Observatory’s segmented mirror.

The next generation of telescopes are almost impossibly accurate

A young star's stellar outburst brings its water snow line into view. The bizarre idea of snow orbiting in space is fundamental to planet formation.

A bright star is surrounded by an inner circle of dust and a glowing snowy outer circle.

Snow line discovered in bright baby solar system

Astronomers from UC Santa Cruz have found the first strong evidence of water vapor or ice in the the coldest known object outside our solar system– a brown dwarf five times the size of Jupiter.

An artist's concept shows the coldest object outside our solar system as blue in color, with the band of the Milky Way in the background.

Astronomers find water clouds in cold Jupiter-like object

How do some gas giant planets end up so feverishly close to their stars? NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope finds new clues.

How do some gas giant planets end up so feverishly close to their stars? NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope finds new clues.

In space 'Jupiter' planets burn hot, not cold

A giant 'Tatooine' discovered by NASA's Kepler mission is the largest world yet discovered that circles two stars.

Kepler illustration

New planet is largest discovered that orbits two suns

The organic molecule methyl alcohol (methanol) has been found for the first time in a young planet-forming disc.

This artist’s impression shows a protoplanetary disc, with an inset of the organic molecule methanol.

First detection of methyl alcohol in a planet-forming disc

A team of astronomers has found that there are far more planets of the hot Jupiter type than expected in a dense cluster of stars called Messier 67.

A hot Jupiter orbits close to its star

Unexpected excess of giant planets in star cluster

Venus has an “electric wind” that may have played a significant role in stripping Earth’s twin planet of its oceans.

An artist's concept of the electric wind at Venus. Rays represent the paths that oxygen and hydrogen ions take as they are pulled out of the upper atmosphere.

‘Electric wind’ can strip potential Earths of oceans, atmospheres

New research suggests that aging stars can warm previously frozen Hoth-like planets into supporting life.

An artist's concept of a burning exoplanet. New research suggests that aging stars can warm previously frozen Hoth-like planets into supporting life.

Giant red stars may heat frozen worlds into habitable planets

The Search for Life

Finding potential life-bearing worlds among the stars is NASA's next big challenge.

Exoplanets 101

Habitable Zones

Life Signs

Inventing the Future

The Search for Life

Finding potential life-bearing worlds among the stars is NASA's next big challenge.

Exoplanets 101

What is an exoplanet? Where are they located and how do we find them?

Learn more about Exoplanets 101 ›

Habitable Zones

Where's the best place to look for life-bearing planets among the stars?

Learn more about Habitable Zones ›

Life Signs

Find evidence of life on distant planets will require advanced technology and a little luck.

Learn more about Life Signs ›

Inventing the Future

Learn about the futuristic technology NASA is developing to explore alien worlds.

Learn more about Inventing the Future ›

Ask a Question

Exoplanet Exploration Program

Exoplanet Exploration Program

NASA's science, technology and mission management office for the exploration of exoplanets. The program's primary goals, as described in the 2014 NASA Science Plan, are to discover planets around other stars, to characterize their properties and to identify planets that could harbor life.

Explore Alien Worlds

Exoplanet Travel Bureau

This set of travel posters envision a day when the creativity of scientists and engineers will allow us to do things we can only dream of now.

Strange New Worlds

Explore an interactive gallery of some of the most intriguing and exotic planets discovered so far.

A planetary tour through time. The ancients debated the existence of planets beyond our own; now we know of thousands.

Historic Timeline

A planetary tour through time. The ancients debated the existence of planets beyond our own; now we know of thousands.