11 Least Known Planets/Exo-Planets Worldwide 2025
Explore the 11 least known planets/exo-planets around the world in 2025, unveiling mysterious worlds beyond our reach and discover what makes them truly unique.
ELEVEN (11)
Mwenda Kelvin (Chief Editor)
1/15/20257 min read
Solar System Planets (Credit: Pixabay)
Proxima Centauri b, Kepler-452 b, or perhaps the fascinating TRAPPIST-1 system are the first names that probably spring to mind when we consider planets outside of our solar system. However, what about the lesser-known exoplanets, those undiscovered treasures that do not quite grab the attention of the media???.....Even though they are frequently overlooked in favor of their more well-known counterparts, these planets are equally intriguing and puzzling. We will look at 11 of the most fascinating but little-known planets in 2025 in this blog post article, whereby these exoplanets, which range from weird, gas-rich giants to Earth-like worlds, provide a window into the unknown and stir our interest in the solar system.
Kepler-1647 b: The "Tatooine" Planet
Location: About 3,700 light-years away in the constellation Lyra
Type: Super-Jupiter
Kepler-1647 b, a huge super-Jupiter 3,700 light-years away from earth, in the constellation Lyra, is one of the most fascinating exoplanets, which is notable because, like the fictional planet Tatooine from Star Wars, it revolves around two stars. This "circumbinary" planet, which belongs to a binary star system, was found by NASA's Kepler spacecraft, although it has not received as much attention as other strange worlds. Because of its size and lengthy orbit (about 1,100 Earth days), Kepler-1647 b is a crucial object to examine in order to comprehend the behavior of planets in binary systems and for researchers looking into the possibility of life in such systems, the fact that it orbits two stars rather than one is especially intriguing, but despite these distinctive features, other, more well-known exoplanets frequently eclipse it. However, this planet has the potential to change our perception of how planets arise and change in multi-star systems.
LHS 1140 b: A Rocky Super-Earth
Location: About 49 light-years away in the constellation Cetus
Type: Rocky Super-Earth
The rocky super-Earth LHS 1140 b, which is situated in the constellation Cetus and is only 40 light-years away from earth, could be holding extraterrestrial life whereby this planet, which is in the habitable zone of its star, would be a great place to investigate an exoplanet's atmosphere, making it unique in that it is comparatively close to Earth, which makes it an excellent target for further research. Being larger than Earth but yet terrestrial, LHS 1140 b is categorized as a super-Earth, which implies that it may have a solid surface and a stable atmosphere which are two essential components for life, but despite its scientific potential, the planet does not receive the same attention as its more well-known exoplanets, despite being easier to examine due to its close proximity, making it of special interest to researchers because it may provide fresh information on the formation of rocky planets and whether life may exist on planets with similar conditions to our own.
K2-18 b: The Sub-Neptune With Liquid Water Potential
Location: About 124 light-years away in the constellation Leo
Type: Sub-Neptune
The possibility that K2-18 b, located in the constellation Leo 124 light-years away from earth, has liquid water which has drawn some interest from scientists, in the sense that scientists presumed in 2019 that this sub-Neptune-sized planet, which is in the habitable zone of its star, might have the conditions needed for life. K2-18 b is not as well-known as other exoplanets like Proxima Centauri b, despite the enthusiasm surrounding its potential whereby its designation as a sub-Neptune (a planet larger than Earth but lacking the same kind of Earth-like atmosphere) is partly to blame for this, but astronomers and astrobiologists find it to be an interesting topic due to the discovery of possible liquid water where although it is not as well-known as some of its contemporaries, this world is nevertheless one of the most fascinating areas to search for life in the coming decades.
Proxima Centauri b: The Closest Earth-Like Exoplanet
Location: About 4.25 light-years away (the closest exoplanet to Earth)
Type: Earth-like
Although Proxima Centauri b is only 4.24 light-years away from Earth, making it the closest known exoplanet, other, more well-known discoveries frequently eclipse it whereby this Earth-like planet, which orbits the star Proxima Centauri in the habitable zone, having the potential to sustain life. However, because the planet is frequently hit by radiation, the prospect of life is complicated by its closeness to its blazing star. Those who hope to discover extraterrestrial life have been inspired by Proxima Centauri b, and although it is the closest we have come to discovering a planet that might support life, we cannot just assume it is a second Earth due to the difficulties presented by its star, but until additional information is gathered, the planet will continue to be one of the most mysterious entities in our cosmic neighborhood, even if it may have numerous surprises, such as possible water reserves beneath its surface.
Trappist-1 d: An Earth-Sized Gem
Location: About 40.7 light-years away in the constellation Aquarius
Type: Earth-sized
Seven planets the size of Earth orbit a red dwarf star 40 light-years away from earth, in the constellation Aquarius, making up the well-known TRAPPIST-1 system, but greater attention should be paid to TRAPPIST-1 d, one of the least talked-about planets in this system. TRAPPIST-1 d, which is situated in its star's habitable zone, may be another option for discovering extrasolar life. The media has not covered TRAPPIST-1 d as much as other planets in the system, despite the excitement surrounding the TRAPPIST-1 system not forgetting that because of its location in the habitable zone, it may contain liquid water, which is essential for life, making it a fascinating research topic, thus, researchers may also learn more about the atmospheres of Earth-like planets surrounding red dwarf stars by examining TRAPPIST-1 d.
HD 209458 b: The First Exoplanet With Atmospheric Studies
Location: About 157 light-years away in the constellation Pegasus
Type: Hot Jupiter
HD 209458 b, also referred to as "Osiris," was one of the first exoplanets whose atmospheric composition was successfully investigated by astronomers whereby this hot Jupiter, which is 150 light-years away from earth, in the Pegasus constellation, has been the focus of a lot of research on its gaseous atmosphere, but when fresh findings have surfaced throughout time, it has been mostly ignored. An important turning point in the study of exoplanets was the finding of HD 209458 b, which gave researchers the opportunity to see atmospheric phenomena on a planet outside of our solar system with also important hints regarding the evolution of the planet and the possibility of habitable circumstances being found in its atmosphere. However, it is less comparable to Earth-like planets due to its hot Jupiter classification, which indicates that it is a gas giant near its star, and as a result, it has not received as much media coverage as other finds that are more Earth-like.
55 Cancri e: The Ultra-Hot Rocky Super-Earth
Location: About 41 light-years away in the constellation Cancer
Type: Super-Earth
55 Cancri e is a super-Earth in the constellation Cancer, 40 light-years away from earth, which is an intriguing topic for researching planetary atmospheres because it is a rocky planet with extremely high temperatures whereby unlike other super-Earths, 55 Cancri e does not frequently make the news, despite being an important force in the research of exoplanetary atmospheres, but despite being a terrible environment for life because of its tremendous heat caused by its close proximity to its star, the planet is still of great importance for studying planetary atmospheres under harsh circumstances with scientists eager to learn how such a planet came to be and why its conditions are so harsh. Even though not being the most well-known exoplanet, it provides a significant illustration of how planets can change under wildly separate surroundings.
GJ 357 d: Earth-Like and Probably Habitable
Location: About 31 light-years away in the constellation Libra
Type: Super-Earth
GJ 357 d is a super-Earth located in the habitable zone of its star, 31 light-years away from earth, in the constellation Libra, and although it might not be as well-known as other planets that resemble Earth, such as Kepler-452 b, it is still a planet that should be taken into account when looking for possible life-supporting environments, but despite being one of the more Earth-like worlds that has been found in terms of size and location, this planet is still not widely discussed, hence, GJ 357 d is a captivating candidate for further study because of its position in the habitable zone and Earth-like features which might be one of the most promising exoplanets for researching extraterrestrial life if the proper circumstances are present in its atmosphere.
Kepler-22 b: The First Earth-Like Planet in The Habitable Zone
Location: About 640 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus
Type: Earth-sized
The first planet the size of Earth was found in the habitable zone of its star, Kepler-22 b, which is situated in the Cygnus constellation 600 light-years away from earth, and although Kepler-22 b caused a stir when it was discovered, the sheer volume of new discoveries has caused it to fade into obscurity. Nevertheless, it continues to be a significant planet for comprehending the prerequisites for life and a landmark in the study of exoplanets, thus, the discovery of Kepler-22 b established a standard for locating other worlds that resemble Earth and opened the door for additional exoplanet investigation with its significance in advancing our knowledge of habitable zones and planet formation not being emphasized, despite the fact that it doe not get as much attention these days.
K2-18 c: A Super-Earth With Potential For Life
Location: About 124 light-years away in the constellation Leo
Type: Super-Earth
K2-18 c is situated in the constellation Leo, 124 light-years away from earth, just like its brother K2-18 b. Due to its size and distance from its star, K2-18 c is still less well-known than K2-18 b, which has drawn a lot of attention due to its possible liquid water. However, because of its distinctive features, it is a planet that deserves further research and because K2-18 c is located in the star's habitable zone, it may contain the conditions needed for life to flourish but despite not being as well-known as other exoplanets, it is nonetheless an intriguing world to research in the continuous hunt for extraterrestrial life.
WASP-107 b: A Planet Made of Gas
Location: About 200 light-years away in the constellation Virgo
Type: Ultra-Low Density Planet
WASP-107 b is an ultra-low density planet primarily made of gas that is situated in the constellation Virgo, about 200 light-years from earth. Compared to other exoplanets, this planet rarely makes the news despite its peculiar makeup not forgetting that it is a planet that calls for further attention because of its peculiar character, which provides important insights into the composition and development of planets with the extraordinarily low density of WASP-107 b, which is probably caused by its composition, offering crucial hints regarding the formation of gas giants in far-off star systems making it a fantastic illustration of how planetary systems' diversity may produce odd and surprising findings.
Summary: Revealing The Secret Wonders of The Universe
It is important to remember that the lesser-known exoplanets that are dispersed throughout the universe, even while well-known exoplanets like Proxima Centauri b and TRAPPIST-1 dominate discussions concerning extraterrestrial life. These planets, which range from gas giants like Kepler-1647 b to possibly habitable worlds like LHS 1140 b, deserve of our curiosity even though they are not the media's favorite. We might eventually discover the mysteries of these less known planets (worlds that might offer the answers to questions we have not even considered asking) as we continue to study the massive territory of space, thus, keep in mind that the universe is full of uncharted, enigmatic worlds just waiting to be discovered, even as the most well-known exoplanets take center stage.