Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Open Course Ware: Courses: Extrasolar Planets: Physics and Detection
A university-level course that examines the atmospheres and interiors of extrasolar planets, or exoplanets. The course also looks at the search for planets that could support life. Includes lecture notes and assignments.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: A Strange New Planet
This video segment adapted from NOVA features the first planet to be discovered outside our solar system. Its surprisingly large size and short orbit sent scientists back to their data and led them to discover similar planets. [3:06]
NASA
Nasa: Jet Propulsion Laboratory: Planet Quest: Exoplanet Exploration
Constellation of articles, images, diagrams, posters, videos, and more on the subject of the search for planets, particularly Earth-like planets, outside our solar system.
NASA
Nasa: Hubble Finds 16 Exoplanet Candidates
In the past, extrasolar planets have either been too far away to detect or conditions did not allow them to be seen. Hubble has made this possible and has determined that planets are as abundant in other areas of the milky way as they...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: 3 Planets That Shouldn't Exist
Scishow explores several exoplanets whose features suggest that they shouldn't even have been able to form in the first place! [5:06]
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: The Search for Other Earth Like Planets
Olivier Guyon examines the possibility of finding other planets within astronomical numbers, some potentially rife with life. [6:21]
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Life's Really Big Questions: Planetary Problem Solving
Explore the possibility of life on planets outside our solar system. Create an extrasolar planet, then make the necessary adaptations for it to be capable of supporting human life.
NASA
Nasa: Space Place: Where Does Interstellar Space Begin?
Find out about interstellar space, and what characterizes this part of space outside of the heliosphere.
Other
Space Science Institute: Alien Earths: Planet Quest
New technologies are continually being developed to help us look deeper into space to discover new planets and to search for other intelligent life forms. Learn about some of these initiatives here.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Jupiter: Earth's Shield
Jupiter's immense gravity protects Earth from asteroids. In this video segment adapted from NOVA, scientists searching for signs of life in the universe identify solar systems with Jupiter-like planets that may be shielding smaller...
NASA
Nasa Space Place: What Is an Exoplanet?
Defines exoplanets and explains how astronomers go about looking for them.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation: News in Science: Astronomers Find 28 More Exoplanets
From ABC News in Science, Maggie Fox's article explores a new string of "exoplanets" discovered orbiting distant stars. This research leads to numerous possibilities, one of which being the existence of planetary systems containing life...
NASA
Nasa: Space Place: The Lone Planet
Find out about the lonely planet without a star that space scientists have discovered.
DOGO Media
Dogo News: Week of 11 19 12: Scientists Discover First 'Homeless' Planet
A team of astrophysicists recently discovered a planet that is not bound by the gravity of a single star. This anomaly has allowed scientists to study the new qualities of this errant planet.