6,000 Worlds and Counting: What Exoplanets Teach Us About the Univeres

I still remember the day I read in an encyclopedia that the only star system with planets was our own. That statement, so confident at the time, now seems almost poetic in its naiveté. In 1995, the discovery of a planet orbiting a sun-like star changed everything. It wasn't just a scientific breakthrough, but a shift in perspective. Suddenly, our solar system was no longer unique. The night sky became a map of possibilities. Today, NASA has confirmed more than 6,000 worlds outside the solar system. Each of those planets represents a possibility, a story, a question. And each discovery brings us closer to understanding whether we are alone in the universe—or if, perhaps, life is a cosmic constant waiting to be found.

Why does it matter?

This milestone isn't just about numbers. It's about the accelerating pace of discoveries and the tools we've created to explore the cosmos. Missions like the James Webb Space Telescope have already analyzed the atmospheres of more than 100 exoplanets. And with the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope and the Habitable Worlds Observatory on the horizon, we're preparing to study planets that could resemble Earth, not only in size, but also in habitability.

The pace of discovery is accelerating

Just three years ago, we had confirmed 5,000 exoplanets. Today there are more than 6,000. And there are more than 8,000 candidates awaiting confirmation. 

A community of curiosity

NASA's The Exoplanet Science Institute (NExScI) and the NASA Exoplanet Exploration Program (ExEP) are leading this initiative, but they rely on a global network of scientists and observers.

This achievement would not be possible without the telescopes that have expanded our view of the cosmos:

• Kepler Space Telescope: Discovered more than 2,600 exoplanets by detecting tiny diminutions in light as planets passed in front of their stars.

• TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite): Continues Kepler's legacy, scanning the sky for planets around nearby stars.

• Hubble Space Telescope: Pioneer in the study of exoplanet atmospheres using ultraviolet and optical instruments.

• Spitzer Space Telescope: Provided key infrared observations for understanding the temperature and composition of distant worlds.

• James Webb Space Telescope: Has already analyzed the chemistry of more than 100 exoplanet atmospheres with unprecedented infrared precision.

• Ground-based observatories: Such as Keck (Hawaii), Magellan II (Chile), Palomar (California), Kitt Peak (Arizona), and ARTEMIS (Tenerife), which confirm and characterize exoplanets with high-resolution spectroscopy.

This reminds us that cosmic exploration is a collective effort that invites educators, artists, and storytellers to join in.

What's next?

As we search for biosignatures (signs of life in distant atmospheres), we also deepen our understanding of our own planet. Earth becomes not only our home, but our point of reference. And each confirmed exoplanet becomes a mirror reflecting the diversity of worlds that could exist.

My reflection at this moment

This breakthrough is the culmination of centuries of curiosity and decades of technological innovation. We've moved from philosophical speculation to hard-data science. We are living in the era in which humanity is taking its first real steps toward becoming a species that explores the galaxy, not just with ships, but with minds and technology.

It's no exaggeration to say that the history books of the future will look back on this period as the moment the cosmos ceased to be a canvas of points of light and became a catalog of worlds to explore. It's incredible!

NGC 281 — The Bright Face of Cosmic Pac-Man

NGC 281, also known as the Pac-Man Nebula, is located in the constellation of Cassiopeia and owes its nickname to its unusual shape, reminiscent of the classic video game character. This emission nebula hosts the open cluster IC 1590 and several Bok globulins, small dark clouds where new stars are born.

During my 61-minute session, I managed to capture the central structure with its filaments of ionized gas and the contrast between the bright areas and the shadows that outline Pac-Man's "mouth." Despite the relatively short exposure, the image reveals the interaction between young stars and the surrounding gas, a testament to the stellar life cycle in action.

This object was discovered in 1883 by E.E. Barnard and remains a favorite in astrophotography for its visual and symbolic richness.

The Magic Shop by H. G. Wells

 In The Magic Shop (1903), H. G. Wells takes us on a surreal journey with a father and his son, Gip, into a shop that seems to defy reality. What begins as a simple outing to buy toys turns into an experience that challenges logic, perception, and emotional safety.

Real Magic, Not Just Illusion

The shop is filled with impossible objects: distorting mirrors, spring-loaded hats, crystal balls that appear out of thin air. Gip is delighted. The father, however, grows uneasy. This isn’t stage magic—it feels alive.

Who Controls the Magic?

The shopkeeper, with his strange appearance and cryptic behavior, offers no clear answers. The father realizes he’s no longer in control. The shop becomes a liminal space, where the rules of the outside world no longer apply. Is he dreaming? Trapped? And why does Gip seem so at ease?

Reflection: What Happens When Adults Face the Unexplainable?

Wells invites us to explore the tension between adult logic and childlike openness. Magic, he suggests, is real—but only for those willing to see it. The father leaves unsure of what happened. But Gip knows. And that’s enough.

“Magic isn’t explained. It’s experienced.”

The Obliterated Man by H. G. Wells

In The Obliterated Man, H. G. Wells introduces Egbert Craddock Cummins, a shy, reserved young man who is pressured by his editor to become a drama critic. He’s never attended a play before, and his first experience leaves him bewildered by the exaggerated emotions and theatrical gestures. But discomfort soon turns into something more disturbing.

Personality as Performance

Cummins begins unconsciously mimicking the actors. His speech, movements, and demeanor become theatrical. His fiancée, Delia, notices the change and ends their engagement. The once-genuine young man becomes a parody of himself—a personality “plated over” by the stage, as Wells describes.

Reflection: Who Are We When We Imitate Too Much?

This story raises a timeless question: how much of our identity is real, and how much is performance? In an age of social media, professional personas, and public roles, The Obliterated Man remains strikingly relevant. Can we lose ourselves in the roles we play?

Mr. Brisher’s Treasure by H. G. Wells

In Mr. Brisher’s Treasure, H. G. Wells introduces us to a dubious narrator—a man who, between drinks and sighs, shares a tale of lost love, buried silver, and choices that left him empty-handed. But is the treasure really the point?

A Storyteller Full of Gaps and Gestures

Mr. Brisher, with his rumpled mustache and boozy breath, speaks of a woman named Jane, a broken engagement, and a trunk filled with half-crown coins. His story is scattered, theatrical, and possibly exaggerated. Is he telling the truth—or clinging to a tale to justify his solitude?

The Treasure Never Taken

Brisher claims he found a chest of silver worth thousands. Yet out of fear, hesitation, or respect for Jane’s family, he never took it. The treasure remains buried—like his past, like the chances he never seized.

Reflection: What Treasures Do We Leave Behind?

Wells invites us to consider that the real treasure may not be silver or gold, but the lives we could have lived, the people we let go, and the stories we tell ourselves to endure.

“What’s more valuable: buried wealth or the unlived life?”

The Treasure in the Forest: Greed, Maps, and Poison in Wells’ Jungle

In his haunting short story The Treasure in the Forest (1894), H. G. Wells plunges us into a tropical wilderness where two Englishmen, Evans and Hooker, chase after hidden treasure using a stolen map. What begins as an exotic adventure quickly turns into a grim parable about greed, ignorance, and the consequences of acting without understanding.

The Map and the Illusion of Gold

Evans and Hooker have murdered a Chinese man, Chang-hi, to obtain a map that supposedly leads to Spanish treasure. The map—old, faded, and cryptic—symbolizes not just ambition but a lack of foresight. Strange markings on the paper hint at danger, but the lure of gold blinds them to caution.

The Jungle as Moral Reckoning

The story unfolds in a natural setting that seems to judge and punish. At the site marked by three palm trees, they find a corpse—blue and lifeless, likely poisoned. Evans, driven by greed, begins collecting gold bars, unaware that the surrounding thorns are laced with venom. Hooker, though more hesitant, is also doomed by complicity.

Reflection: What Is Wells Telling Us?

This tale isn’t just a jungle adventure. It’s a warning. Wells reminds us that unchecked greed can lead us to ignore vital signs, commit terrible acts, and ultimately destroy ourselves. The treasure, far from being a reward, becomes a deadly trap.

“The end of greed is destructive.” — a distilled message from the story

For Thought and Conversation

• What treasures do we chase today without understanding the risks?
• What warnings do we overlook in our pursuit of success?
• How can we read life’s “maps” with more care and ethical awareness?

NGC 6995 — Eastern Veil Fragment

NGC 6995 is part of the Veil Nebula complex, a supernova remnant in the constellation of Cygnus. This section, also known as the Bat Nebula, displays delicate filaments of gas expanding from the explosion of a massive star some 8,000 years ago.

With a 118-minute exposure, I was able to capture the ethereal texture of ionized gases, especially hydrogen (Ha) in reddish hues and doubly ionized oxygen (OIII) in blue. The image reveals the dynamism of interstellar matter, where supernova remnants continue to shape the galactic environment.

This object, although less well-known than other Veil objects, offers a subtle and complex beauty that rewards the astrophotographer's patience.