Astronomer Has Helped Discover 100 Exoplanets Through His Backyard Observatory
By Lexi Lane
Published on April 19, 2026.
Australian astronomer Chris Stockdale has discovered over 100 exoplanets through his backyard observatory. Stockdale uses a "telescope mounted on a precision tracking system" to monitor star fields and other sky. He spots exoplanetarys through tracking changes in a star's brightness, which dims when a planet passes in front of it. Stockden has been awarded the 2026 Berenice and Arthur Page Medal by the Astronomical Society of Australia.
Related Articles
NASA's Curiosity rover finds building blocks of life on Mars. Scientists aren't sure how they got there
Nasa's Curiosity rover has discovered a diverse mix of organic molecules, potentially indicating ancient life, in clay-rich regions of Mars.
NASA rover adds to the list of organic compounds detected on Mars
The Curiosity Mars rover discovered seven new organic compounds, including carbon monoxide, in rock samples from a dried lakebed, adding to the ongoing search for potential life-bearing environments on Mars.
Aspirin can reduce the risk of cancer – and we're starting to understand why
Aspirin, a 4,000-year-old painkiller, has significant benefits like cancer prevention and cardiovascular disease, changing health policies and improving treatment options for vulnerable patients.