48 FAQs about Other Planetary Systems (The Astronomy Cafe)

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 Back to the Astronomy Cafe - 365 of the most popular questions since 1996. Over 1 million page requests!

Beginner:

  1. Is considered a proven fact that there are planets around other stars?
  2. What can you say about the new planets that have been found around other stars?
  3. Will space probes ever be sent to visit the newly-discovered planets around other stars?
  4. What are the scales of the newly-discovered solar systems compared to ours?
  5. What is an "Epistellar Jovian Exoplanet"?
  6. What is the latest count on the number of extra-solar planets?
  7. Which is the nearest planetary system to the Sun?
  8. Is there a place on the Internet where I can get an update on the number of extra-solar planets discovered so far?
  9. Is NASA planning to develop telescopes to search for planets around other stars?
  10. Could the Hubble Telescope see planets around other stars?
  11. Have planets in binary star systems been detected yet?
  12. What is the naming convention for planets around other stars?
  13. How many Earth-like planets do astronomers now think there are?
  14. How many planets do you think there are with intelligent life?
  15. What does "MOP" have to do with "SETI"?
  16. Have there been any new discoveries of life in outer space?
  17. Could life exist by extracting energy from its environment by some other means than what terrestrial organisms do?
  18. Are any of the newly discovered planets around other stars suitable for humans to live on?
  19. Do you believe in the theory that there is life on other worlds?
  20. Can life exist without water?
  21. What is the best evidence for intelligent life in space?
  22. Is there a possibility that life exists on other planets?
  23. Do you believe there is life on other planets?
  24. Will more solar systems form in the far future than in today's universe?
  25. Are the planets discovered around other stars gas giants like jupiter, or are the big balls of rock?
  26. How would we know if a distant planet had an Earth-like atmosphere?
  27. Do big stars have more planets than small stars?
  28. Will a planet orbiting a red giant star always be tidally locked?
  29. Does there exist a planet called 'Wormwood'?
  30. If rogue planets exist, do they wander the universe or just stay put?
  31. Why can't we get pictures of planets outside the solar system?
  32. How do we know the new planets aren't just mini-stars because they are so massive?
  33. Will we ever find another planet we can colonize with some of Earth's population?

Intermediate:

  1. Is there compelling evidence that there is a planet orbiting 51 Pegasi?
  2. How do astronomers know they are dealing with one planet not many in studying distant solar systems?
  3. Could planets be in a stable orbit in the Sirius star system?
  4. What method is used to discover planets around other stars?
  5. Are planets with highly elliptical orbits easier to detect than ones in circular orbits?
  6. Could a solar system form around a brown dwarf?
  7. Can Bode's Law be generalized to apply to other planetary systems?
  8. Where can I get an update on the detection of amino acids in interstellar clouds?
  9. Is there a correlation between 'body plan' and whether ETs can have technology?
  10. Can stars other than G-type have habitable planets around them?

Advanced:

  1. How would the discovery of an Earth-like planet actually be made by astronomers?
  2. How is the "Msin(i)" factor determined for planets around other stars using the Doppler technique?
  3. How can planets be present around pulsars which are exploded stars?

 

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