Discovering a New Planet: The Search for Hidden Worlds
Lesson Express
Q: How did Professor Udry and his team detect the first exoplanet outside our Solar System?
A: They noticed the star's light "wobbling," which indicated the gravitational pull of a planet orbiting it.
Q: Why was the discovery of this exoplanet significant?
A: It marked the first time a planet outside our Solar System was detected, opening new possibilities for the search for life beyond Earth.
Q: What conditions of the discovered exoplanet make it different from Earth?
A: The planet is massive, with an orbit of only four days and surface temperatures of 1,000°C, much hotter than Earth.
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In How Rare Is Our Planet: Earth’s Uniqueness in the Universe, Dr. Lynn Rothschild explains the delicate balance that makes Earth unique. She focuses on the habitable zone — the perfect distance from the Sun that allows liquid water to exist allowing life to thrive. This exact positioning results in a tiny wobble in the star, which makes it extremely challenging to find another planet with conditions similar to Earth’s.
In How Rare Is Our Planet: Earth’s Uniqueness in the Universe, Dr. Lynn Rothschild explains the delicate balance that makes Earth unique. She focuses on the habitable zone — the perfect distance from the Sun that allows liquid water to exist allowing life to thrive. This exact positioning results in a tiny wobble in the star, which makes it extremely challenging to find another planet with conditions similar to Earth’s.