SUNSET: 
How a White Dwarf Is Vaporizing Its Giant Planet
Astronomers have long suspected that white dwarfs eat their planetary companions. Now, indirect observations show the process in action.
New Method May Expedite Search for Exoplanets with Atmospheres
A team of astronomers propose screening exoplanets by their temperatures to determine whether they host an atmosphere — and are worth following up.
Observations Confirm Lensing Planet Discovered by Amateur
Follow-up observations of an amateur-discovered exoplanet show that the planet orbits its star at the snow line, where ice giants may form.
Astronomers Monitor Exoplanet-Scale Collision
New infrared observations probe a system that underwent a planetary-scale collision tens of thousands of years ago.
Two Eyes to Hunt Stray Planet Masses
How can we measure the masses of free-floating planets wandering around our galaxy? A new study identifies one approach that combines the power of two upcoming missions.
Milestone: Astronomers Discover Water Vapor on a Super-Earth
Two independent teams of astronomers have discovered the signature of water vapor in the atmosphere of super-Earth K2-18b.
Planet WASP-12b Might Be on a Death Spiral into its Parent Star
A mere 3 million years from now — a cosmic eye-blink away — the star WASP 12 might consume its exoplanet WASP-12b.
Have Astronomers Detected Exomoons At Last?
Have astronomers detected two giant exomoons? The answer depends on how convincing you deem newly presented results — and how you define a moon.
Beta Pic's New Planet, Jupiter’s Fuzzy Core & An Ancient Star
Astronomers announce another planet around Beta Pictoris, simulations explain Jupiter's large and fuzzy core, and observations reveal an ancient star.
TESS's First Year of Science
NASA’s latest exoplanet hunter has found more than two dozen new worlds, at least one of which might be habitable.
Exomoon or No Exomoon?
Last October, the first discovery of a potential exomoon was announced. But is Kepler-1625b-i an actual moon in another solar system? Or just an artifact of data reduction?
Youngest Confirmed Exoplanet Provides Clues on Its Formation
Observations of the youngest confirmed planet, CI Tau b, suggest it's still hot from its birth — a point in favor of a quick-start model of formation.
Astronomers Directly Detect Newborn Planets
Infant planets are coming together in a system 370 light-years away, and they’re shedding light on the early lives of Saturn and Jupiter in our solar system.
Found: Exoplanet in the "Hot Neptune Desert" & Exocomets Around Beta Pictoris
Two teams of astronomers have announced the discovery of a Neptune-size planet in an unexpected orbit and three exocomets whizzing around nearby star Beta Pictoris.
Solar System "Twin" Is Missing Its Baby Jupiters
Exceptional new images of the LkCa 15 system, a young, Sun-like star thought to host infant gas giant planets, shows those planets don't exist.
Third Planet Found Orbiting Binary Star System Kepler 47
Astronomers have found a third planet circling a pair of stars in the Kepler 47 system.
Best View Yet of Baby Giant Exoplanet
Astronomers have taken the best spectrum yet of exoplanet HR 8799e, a gas giant in its infancy.
Inflating a Super-Puff Planet
Super-puffy exoplanets are a problem. They shouldn’t exist — and yet we've detected half a dozen of them. Here's what theory might be getting wrong.
Tilted Exoplanets Could Explain Odd Orbits
Scientists think a significant fraction of exoplanets may be rolling on their sides. If they were, it would explain a longstanding mystery.
Scientists Question Popular Planet Formation Theory
New studies are challenging the core accretion theory, the primary model astronomers use to understand how worlds form in our solar system and beyond.