Kepler scientists find 26 more exoplanets
Posted: Fri, Jan 27, 2012, 5:37 AM ET (1037 GMT)
Scientists analyzing data from NASA's Kepler spacecraft announced Thursday the discovery of 26 more extrasolar planets orbiting 11 stars. None of the planets appear similar to the Earth in size and orbit: their masses range from 1.5 times the Earth to larger than Jupiter, while all orbit closer to their stars than Venus orbits the Earth. One of the systems, Kepler-33, has five planets, while several other stars have pairs if planets in orbital resonances. Scientists said the findings help demonstrate that planets around stars are relatively common in the galaxy.
Scientists analyzing data from NASA's Kepler spacecraft announced Thursday the discovery of 26 more extrasolar planets orbiting 11 stars. None of the planets appear similar to the Earth in size and orbit: their masses range from 1.5 times the Earth to larger than Jupiter, while all orbit closer to their stars than Venus orbits the Earth. One of the systems, Kepler-33, has five planets, while several other stars have pairs if planets in orbital resonances. Scientists said the findings help demonstrate that planets around stars are relatively common in the galaxy.
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