The field of exoplanetary science has experienced remarkable growth in recent decades, with thousands of planets orbiting stars beyond our solar system discovered. This article chronicles the key milestones in the detection of exoplanets, including the development of various detection methods such as the transit method and the radial velocity method. We discuss the diversity of exoplanet properties discovered to date, ranging from gas giants to rocky terrestrial worlds, and explore the implications of these findings for our understanding of planetary formation and evolution. Furthermore, we highlight the ongoing search for potentially habitable exoplanets and the advancements in characterizing their atmospheres to look for biosignatures. The discovery of exoplanets has profound implications for our place in the universe and the possibility of life beyond Earth. This summary outlines the exciting progress in exoplanetary research and the future prospects for unraveling the mysteries of distant worlds.
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Last updated: May 15, 2025