Exoplanets: Worlds Beyond Our Solar System

"An enticing overview of tools, techniques, and discoveries in what the author rightly characterizes 'a red-hot field in astronomy.' Alas; it is perhaps too red-hot. Not only is Kenney's count of accepted and potential exoplanets (as of May 2016) well out of date already, but her claim that 'Wolf-1061' (sic: that's actually the name of the star and its system) is the nearest Earthlike planet in the habitable 'Goldilocks Zone' has been trumped by the recent discovery of a closer candidate orbiting Proxima Centauri. Still, along with describing in nontechnical terms each tool in the researcher's kit--from space- and ground-based telescopes of various types to instruments that detect subtle stellar wobbles, spectrum changes, microlensing, and other telling signs--the author fills in the historical background of exoplanet research and profiles some of its weirder findings. She also casts side glances at extremophile life on Earth and other, at least tangentially related, topics. The small format gives the assortment of photos, artists' renditions, diagrams, and generic star fields a cramped look, but readers curious about how researchers could possibly detect such dinky, distant objects as planets belonging to other star systems will come away satisfied and intrigued. A concise companion and update to Vicki Oransky Wittenstein's Planet Hunter (2010)."--Kirkus Reviews

"Meet GJ 504b (the Pink Planet), 55 Cancri e (the Oozer), TrES-4 (the Cork Planet), and other exoplanets recently identified and now chronicled in this slim volume. This deceptively small book is packed with current information on exoplanets--those planets orbiting stars beyond our own solar system. Kenney gives a nuts and bolts account of how they came to be discovered. Before that, a brief history of astronomy, including the birth of the telescope, is discussed. The best hope for extraterrestrial life is the so-called Goldilocks zone, a habitable area that is neither too hot nor too cold for sustaining life. The author explains that while humans will not be able to visit an exoplanet anytime soon, as technology improves, scientists will be better able to understand exoplanets. While the hard science here can be a bit dense, charts, photos, and artists' renderings abound and help clarify the topic. VERDICT: Perfect for outer space enthusiasts and out of this world for report writers."--School Library Journal