The Stuff that Planets Are Made of

NCCR PlanetS: Researchers of the NCCR PlanetS at the University of Zürich have analyzed the composition and structure of far-away exoplanets using statistical tools. Their analysis indicates whether a planet is earth-like, made up of pure rock or a water-world. The larger the planet, the more hydrogen and helium surround it. Possible model of exoplanets with a rocky core and gaseous atmosphere (Artist's impression). (Image: UZH) Is there a second Earth out there in space? Our knowledge of plane...