Space Exploration and Astronomy

Exoplanets are planets that orbit stars outside our solar system. Common detection methods include the transit method (observing the dimming of a star as a planet passes in front of it) and the radial velocity method (detecting the wobble of a star caused by a planet's gravity).

Astronomy is the broader scientific study of celestial objects, space, and the physical universe as a whole. Astrophysics specifically focuses on the physics of celestial objects and phenomena, applying physical laws and theories to understand them.

A nebula is a giant cloud of dust and gas in space, primarily composed of hydrogen and helium. They are the birthplaces of stars, as gravity causes denser regions within the nebula to collapse and eventually ignite nuclear fusion.

A black hole is a region of spacetime where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape. The event horizon is the boundary around a black hole beyond which escape is impossible.

The JWST is designed to observe the universe primarily in infrared light, allowing it to see farther back in time to the first galaxies and stars, and to study exoplanet atmospheres. Hubble primarily observes in visible and ultraviolet light.

A planet has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit, meaning it is gravitationally dominant. A dwarf planet has not cleared its orbital neighborhood.