Exoplanets and Their Characteristics

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What is an exoplanet?

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Any planet that circles a star beyond our own Sun.

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What is the 'Hot Jupiter' surprise?

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Large gas giants (like Jupiter) found orbiting extremely close to their stars, often with orbital periods of just a few days.

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What are Super-Earths?

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Rocky or gas-enshrouded planets with masses between 1 and 10 times that of Earth; this planet type is missing from our solar system.

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What are Mini-Neptunes?

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Worlds up to twice the size of Earth but smaller than Neptune; they may have thick hydrogen atmospheres or be rich in water.

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What are Rogue Planets?

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Free-floating worlds that do not orbit any star and wander the galaxy alone.

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How do exoplanet orbits compare to our system?

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Most exoplanets have highly elliptical (eccentric) orbits, whereas our solar system planets have nearly circular orbits.

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What is the 'Hot Neptunian Desert'?

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A mysterious region close to stars where very few Neptune-sized planets are found, likely because stellar radiation strips their atmospheres.

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How does exoplanet density vary compared to ours?

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Exoplanets span a wider range, from 'puffy' low-density gas giants to compact rocky worlds as dense as pure iron.

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What is a 'Water World' (Ocean Planet)?

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A world where water provides a significant portion of its mass (up to 50%), potentially covering the entire surface in an ocean 60–130km deep.

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How does 'Differentiation' affect exoplanet structure?

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Like Earth, heavy metals sink to the core while lighter silicates float to the surface, creating a layered metallic core and silicate mantle.