Survey of Exo-Neptunes Defines System Gravitational Evolution

Exoplanet surveys are useful for more than just astrobiology or increasing the tally of known planets in other solar systems. They can also help us understand the evolution of planetary systems themselves. That’s what a new paper from researchers led by astronomers at the University of Geneva and published in Astronomy & Astrophysics attempts to do – by looking at a large population of “exo-Neptunes” they are attempting to understand the intricacies of how planetary systems are formed.