Exo Planets
By Zak S.
What Are They?
Exoplanets are planets that are outside our solar system. They are planets that orbit a different sun but are in the same galaxy. Each sun has an average of 1.6 planets in its system. Scientists began discovering exoplanets in 1992. Since then, they have discovered 837 planets. 90% have been found using Doppler spectroscopy.
Why are they important?
Exo planets can hold valuable resources that can be used to improve our world like fossil fuels to make gas for cars. Also other planets can help in research and new inventions.
What's Out There?
NASA has found the first Earth size planet Kepler-186. It appears that it has water and a dryer land than Earth. Kepler is only 10% bigger than earth and its the right distance from the sun 130 days orbit. Most exoplanets don't resemble Earth. Usually they resemble Jupiter or Neptune.
Kepler-186f : First Earth-size Planet Discovered in the Habitable Zone of Another Star [HD]
sources
"Exoplanet Orbit Database | Exoplanet Data Explorer." Exoplanet Orbit Database | Exoplanet Data Explorer. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2014.
"Exoplanets: Worlds Beyond Our Solar System." Space.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
"New Mars Forums." New Mars Forums. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.