Extrasolar Planets
Since 1995, astronomers have discovered more than 100 planets orbiting stars beyond our Sun. These extrasolar planets, or "exoplanets," are only a fraction of the countless planets thought to exist beyond our Solar System.
The challenge is finding them. Their small size, faintness, and proximity to
bright stars make extrasolar planets very difficult to detect directly.
Instead, scientists search for indirect clues, such as a slight shift in the
position of a host star caused by the gravitational tug of an orbiting planet.
In the coming years, advanced instruments like NASA's Terrestrial Planet
Finder will seek out more exoplanets, study how they form, and explore whether
they harbor life.
To visit the known exoplanets, take this interactive tour of the Milky Way Galaxy, which uses real data from the Digital Galaxy Project, a collaboration of NASA and the American Museum of Natural History to create an accurate three-dimensional map of the visible universe. The Digital Galaxy includes dozens of datasets collected by the Museum and is constantly updated.
To visit the known exoplanets, take this interactive tour of the Milky Way Galaxy, which uses real data from the Digital Galaxy Project, a collaboration of NASA and the American Museum of Natural History to create an accurate three-dimensional map of the visible universe. The Digital Galaxy includes dozens of datasets collected by the Museum and is constantly updated.