Atmospheric characterization of directly imaged planets has thus far been limited to ground-based observations of young, self-luminous, Jovian planets. Near-term space- and ground- based facilities ...

The exploration and study of exoplanets have advanced significantly in recent years, leading scientists to reconsider how these distant worlds are classified. As our understanding deepens, so does the ...

Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto in 1930; however, in 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) reclassified it as a dwarf planet, a decision sparking debate among astronomers and planetary ...

Astronomers are proposing a new, more quantitative definition of what makes a planet. The new definition looks more directly at the object's mass — but it would still leave Pluto out of the running.