[Franklin] Hmm.
There are lots of promising leads for life in our solar system,
but so far, nothing definite.
That's why NASA and its international partners run overlapping missions.
So they can follow as many different leads as possible.
So maybe we need to think even bigger and look outside the solar system.
I thought you'd never ask, Charles.
As this map shows, the galaxy is pretty big.
[both yelp]
Hmm?
- [gasps, gulps] - [gulps]
Our solar system is right about there.
By that speck of dust?
It is that speck of dust.
[gasps]
[grunting]
Where are all these planets hiding?
When you look at the night sky, all you see is space and stars.
True, but each of those stars is a sun that might have its own planets.
[clatters]
Exactly!
[all gasp]
Sorry about that. [chuckles]
I've been working on my dramatic entrances.
[chuckles] But Marcie is right.
Every star is a sun,
and the planets orbiting those distant suns are called exoplanets,
or planets outside of our solar system.
NASA has been looking for them for years.
The search for exoplanets is one of NASA's most exciting projects. The search for exoplanets is one of NASA's most exciting projects.
One way we look for them is to study distant stars
to see if there's a little dip in their brightness.
That dip could indicate a planet passing by as it orbits the star.
We can follow up with other telescopes that look for a little wobble in the light
that could also be caused by a planet.
When we do find a planet,
we use very powerful space telescopes, like Hubble or the James Webb Telescope,
to examine the planet more closely,
to see if it might be able to support life.
We've already recorded quite a few exoplanets.
Have a look.
[grunting]
[yelps]
[both] Oh!
[all] Whoa! Wow!
Here's a planet that orbits the star once every 18 hours.
That means a year is only 18 hours long! That means a year is only 18 hours long!
It would be your birthday every day.
♪ Happy birthday to me ♪
[inhales, blows]
[watch ticking]
♪ Happy birthday to me ♪
[hums "Happy Birthday"]
Unfortunately, Sally, that planet is incredibly hot,
and the surface is made out of gas.
Not the best spot for a birthday party.
Oh, well, I'd probably get a stomachache from all that cake anyway.
Here's an exoplanet that has two suns.
Imagine how fast my garden would grow.
[slurps]
[sighs] Nothing beats a double sunny day and some hard work in the garden.
Phew!
[slurps] [slurps]
[groans] I'm tired just thinking about it.
[CARA] Don't let the two suns fool you, Lucy.
The average temperature on that planet is much too cold to grow your garden.
Also, minor point, it has no soil.
[sighs]
These exoplanets don't seem very promising so far.
That's only two. It says here NASA has discovered over 4,000.
4,000?
[whirring, beeping]
And that's just the ones we know about. The actual number is probably closer to--
A jagillion?
That's not a real number.
More like a hundred billion.
And that's just in the Milky Way.
Which is one of billions and billions of galaxies!
[gulps] Billions and billions?
Just when you think you understand the universe.
[alarm beeping] [alarm beeping]
[yells]
[gasps] Those are the controls for a high-powered telescope.
Charlie Brown!
[groans] I hope I didn't break it.
I don't think my allowance can cover the cost of a NASA telescope.
[electronic twittering]
Hang on.
Hmm. Interesting.
I may be wrong,
but it looks like the light from that star is dipping a bit.
Checking coordinates.
Beep-bop, boop-boop-boop, beep-bop-boop.
[gasps] Outstanding.
Charlie Brown,
I think you may have just discovered a brand-new exoplanet.
- [gasps] - [CARA] Congratulations.
My-- My very own exoplanet?
- Way to go, Charlie Brown! - Nice work.
- [cheering] - Awesome! Yeah!
It's about time.
[Peppermint Patty] Charlie Brown does it again. [Peppermint Patty] Charlie Brown does it again.
It looks like it's almost the same size as Earth
and about the same distance from its star as Earth's distance from the sun.
That means it could be a perfect planet for life to exist.
A perfect planet?
["Charlie Brown" playing]
Are all those valentines for you, big brother?
There's even one from The Little Red-Haired Girl. [sighs]
Before we start, I just want to say how much I appreciate you, Charlie Brown.
No charge today.
[song continues]
Say what you will about Charlie Brown, he knows how to fly a kite.
[Franklin] Strike three! You're out!
Wow, you pitched a perfect game, Charlie Brown.
We won!
[all] Charlie Brown. Charlie Brown.
- Charlie Brown! - [music stops]
I mean, wow, an exoplanet.
How soon can we get there?
Get there? [chuckles] It would take hundreds of years.
Entire generations.
It's a terrific discovery, Charlie Brown,
but going there is pretty much impossible with today's technology.
Rats.
[grunts]
[strains]
[engine starts]
Whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!
[Marcie] Hey!
Has anyone seen my map of the galaxy?
How do you lose a whole galaxy?
[Snoopy, Woodstock chattering]