<p>Apparently the term is being used as a more common way to say exoplanet. Here is an <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/39-super-bowl-astronomy-39-conference-kicks-off-162254438.html" rel="nofollow">Article</a> with a hyperlink to the term Alien Planet. The <a href="http://www.space.com/17738-exoplanets.html" rel="nofollow">hyperlink</a> then references an article on exoplanets: worlds beyond our solar system.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-05T18:48:07.710Z
However it's being used, it's not a scientific terminology.
Eduardo Serra
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-05T16:05:50.187Z
2014-01-05T16:05:50.187Z
chaonomy
<p>Very interesting article!. The term <strong>alien planet</strong> is not a scientific one, so I think you already answered your own question by saying that it <em>was used in the article to generate more buzz</em>.</p>

<p>In the English language the word is used to describe something that's not familiar, so you could argue that this is in fact an alien planet, but because of the subject in question being an exoplanet I would bet they did this as a technique to get more attention.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-28T02:33:42.963Z
2013-12-28T02:33:42.963Z
Eduardo Serra
<p><a href="http://www.space.com/23985-alien-planet-nearby-brown-dwarfs.html" rel="noreferrer">This article</a> left me wondering what do they mean by the term alien planet? Aren't all planets simply alien by default, or do they mean planets outside our solar system are alien? Do they mean there is alien life there? Is this a a new keyword the astronomy community is using to generate more buzz and get more attention to their articles? </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-29T19:47:16.200Z
cyberspace is a similar term. that's why android smartphones dont have a cyberspace browser and a cyberspace wifi connection. it's too sensationalist and dramatic sci fi terminology for scientists to take themselves seriously. If a scientist tried to publish serious research about "alien" things, he would be using more fictional terms than science ones. exoplanet sounds even more technical.
bandybabboon
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-29T19:23:19.500Z
This term definitely seems to be in use at least by article authors as here is another one using the same term by a different author a couple of days later http://news.yahoo.com/strange-worlds-amazing-alien-planet-discoveries-2013-191856422.html
chaonomy
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-03T17:22:55.263Z
Another different author, another article about alien planets, this term is really gaining traction http://www.foxnews.com/science/2014/01/03/hubble-telescope-super-planets-alien-clouds/?intcmp=features
chaonomy
<planet><exoplanet>
What does the term alien planet actually refer to?
chaonomy
# What does the term alien planet actually refer to?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-12-28)

[This article](http://www.space.com/23985-alien-planet-nearby-brown-dwarfs.html) left me wondering what do they mean by the term alien planet? Aren't all planets simply alien by default, or do they mean planets outside our solar system are alien? Do they mean there is alien life there? Is this a a new keyword the astronomy community is using to generate more buzz and get more attention to their articles?

**Tags:** planet, exoplanet

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: This term definitely seems to be in use at least by article authors as here is another one using the same term by a different author a couple of days later http://news.yahoo.com/strange-worlds-amazing-alien-planet-discoveries-2013-191856422.html  
> **username_0**: Another different author, another article about alien planets, this term is really gaining traction http://www.foxnews.com/science/2014/01/03/hubble-telescope-super-planets-alien-clouds/?intcmp=features  
> **username_1**: cyberspace is a similar term. that's why android smartphones dont have a cyberspace browser and a cyberspace wifi connection. it's too sensationalist and dramatic sci fi terminology for scientists to take themselves seriously. If a scientist tried to publish serious research about "alien" things, he would be using more fictional terms than science ones. exoplanet sounds even more technical.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2014-01-05. Score: 0 | Accepted answer

Apparently the term is being used as a more common way to say exoplanet. Here is an [Article](http://news.yahoo.com/39-super-bowl-astronomy-39-conference-kicks-off-162254438.html) with a hyperlink to the term Alien Planet. The [hyperlink](http://www.space.com/17738-exoplanets.html) then references an article on exoplanets: worlds beyond our solar system.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: However it's being used, it's not a scientific terminology.  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2013-12-28. Score: 6

Very interesting article!. The term **alien planet** is not a scientific one, so I think you already answered your own question by saying that it *was used in the article to generate more buzz*.

In the English language the word is used to describe something that's not familiar, so you could argue that this is in fact an alien planet, but because of the subject in question being an exoplanet I would bet they did this as a technique to get more attention.


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