As of 2024, thousands of exoplanets have been discovered orbiting stars outside our solar system. These discoveries have been made possible through missions like Kepler and TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite), which have greatly expanded our understanding of the variety and nature of these distant worlds. These exoplanets are notable for their diverse characteristics and the unique conditions of their host stars, making them key targets in the study of exoplanetary systems and the search for potentially habitable worlds:
- 1. Proxima Centauri b
Star: Proxima Centauri
Distance from Earth: 4.24 light-years
Mass: 1.17 Earth masses
Orbital Period: 11.2 days
Radius: Estimated to be similar to Earth
Type: Rocky planet
- 2. TRAPPIST-1e
Star: TRAPPIST-1
Distance from Earth: 39.5 light-years
Mass: 0.692 Earth masses
Orbital Period: 6.1 days
Radius: 0.91 Earth radii
Type: Rocky planet
- 3. Kepler-186f
Star: Kepler-186
Distance from Earth: 561 light-years
Mass: ~1.4 Earth masses (estimated)
Orbital Period: 129.9 days
Radius: 1.11 Earth radii
Type: Rocky planet
- 4. Kepler-22b
Star: Kepler-22
Distance from Earth: 620 light-years
Mass: ~2.4 Earth masses (estimated)
Orbital Period: 289.9 days
Radius: 2.38 Earth radii
Type: Super-Earth
- 5. 55 Cancri e
Star: 55 Cancri A
Distance from Earth: 41 light-years
Mass: 8.08 Earth masses
Orbital Period: 0.74 days
Radius: 1.91 Earth radii
Type: Rocky planet (possible carbon planet)
- 6. GJ 1214 b
Star: GJ 1214
Distance from Earth: 48 light-years
Mass: 8.17 Earth masses
Orbital Period: 1.58 days
Radius: 2.85 Earth radii
Type: Mini-Neptune
- 7. HD 209458 b (Osiris)
Star: HD 209458
Distance from Earth: 157 light-years
Mass: 0.69 Jupiter masses
Orbital Period: 3.5 days
Radius: 1.38 Jupiter radii
Type: Hot Jupiter
- 8. WASP-12b
Star: WASP-12
Distance from Earth: 870 light-years
Mass: 1.39 Jupiter masses
Orbital Period: 1.09 days
Radius: 1.79 Jupiter radii
Type: Hot Jupiter
- 9. HD 189733 b
Star: HD 189733
Distance from Earth: 64.5 light-years
Mass: 1.13 Jupiter masses
Orbital Period: 2.22 days
Radius: 1.14 Jupiter radii
Type: Hot Jupiter
- 10. K2-18b
Star: K2-18
Distance from Earth: 124 light-years
Mass: 8.92 Earth masses
Orbital Period: 33 days
Radius: 2.61 Earth radii
Type: Super-Earth (possible water world)