The shifting title of our nearest celestial neighbors

Space · Published 22 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Since 1995, the crown for 'closest exoplanet' has changed hands multiple times. This video tracks that evolution, explaining how new discoveries constantly redefine our understanding of our place in the cosmos.

Dr. Becky Smethurst explores the history of proximity records in exoplanetary science. As technology improves and surveys expand, planets previously hidden from view are discovered closer to our solar system than those found earlier.

The video contextualizes these discoveries by focusing on the methodology of astrophysics—how we identify these worlds and what their shifting positions reveal about the density of habitable zones and planetary systems in our galactic neighborhood.

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