Incredible exoplanets: picture a planet made of diamond, another with five stars shining in its sky, another still where stones rain down...

Pure science fiction? Think again. Thanks to their numerical simulations, astronomers are beginning to glimpse the extraordinary diversity hidden beyond the solar system. These 7 spectacular examples are proof. Created by Christophe Martin.

Illustrations created for Science & Vie No. 1183, April 2016

Exoplanets with five suns
Exoplanets with five suns
Double exoplanet
Double exoplanets with a nearby twin sister
Rogue exoplanet
Rogue exoplanets outside any solar system
Black exoplanet
Black exoplanets
Exoplanet where stones rain down
Exoplanets where lava stones rain down

Diamond exoplanet
Exoplanet covered in diamonds.

illustrator: Christophe Martin

INCREDIBLE EXOPLANETS.

Read it in Science & Vie No. 1181, April 2016.