Listen&Learn: Exoplanets

Learn about planets outside of our solar system.

Pre-listening vocabulary

• solar system: the planets that orbit the Sun
• observe: to notice something
• independent: existing on its own
• resource: something that is useful
• habitable: safe to live in
• potentially: possibly capable of something

Listening activity

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:22 — 1.3MB)

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Gapfill exercise

An exoplanet is a outside of our solar system. Most exoplanets orbit different stars in the . However, astronomers have observed some planets that are independent of any star system. The first two exoplanets were discovered in 1992. Since then, scientists have been searching for exoplanets that are to Earth. This might lead to the of alien life. However, Earth-like planets are difficult to find, because the resources necessary for life only exist under very specific conditions. Our planet happens to be in the solar system’s habitable zone, where the temperature allows water to exist in form. There are over 1,700 known exoplanets, and only 16 of them are potentially habitable.

Comprehension questions

Discussion/essay questions

1. Do you believe in life on other planets? Why or why not?
2. Do you think that aliens could be discovered in our lifetime?

Transcript

An exoplanet is a planet outside of our solar system. Most exoplanets orbit different stars in the galaxy. However, astronomers have observed some planets that are independent of any star system. The first two exoplanets were discovered in 1992. Since then, scientists have been searching for exoplanets that are similar to Earth. This might lead to the discovery of alien life. However, Earth-like planets are difficult to find, because the resources necessary for life only exist under very specific conditions. Our planet happens to be in the solar system’s habitable zone, where the temperature allows water to exist in liquid form. There are over 1,700 known exoplanets, and only 16 of them are potentially habitable.