Exoplanet

Exoplanets are celestial bodies that orbit a star outside of our solar system. Their study constitutes a major field of modern astrophysics, utilizing various indirect detection methods such as the transit method, which measures the slight dimming of a host star's light as the planet passes in front of it, or the radial velocity method, which detects stellar 'wobbles' caused by gravitational tugs from the orbiting planet. These newly discovered worlds exhibit immense diversity in size, orbital period, and composition, ranging from super-Earths to gas giants. Analyzing the characteristics of these systems helps scientists understand planet formation theories and the prevalence of planetary systems throughout the galaxy.