Kepler detects more than 1,000 exoplanets
Posted: Thu, Feb 3, 2011, 6:54 AM ET (1154 GMT)
Scientists analyzing data from NASA's Kepler spacecraft announced Wednesday that they have now found in excess 1,000 potential extrasolar planets orbiting other stars, including dozens of planets about the size of the Earth. The discoveries come from observations of more than 156,000 stars in one portion of the sky over several months in 2009. Scientists said they have found 1,235 "planet candidates" orbiting those stars, including 68 Earth-sized worlds. In addition, 54 of the exoplanet candidates found to date orbit their stars' habitable zones; five of the 54 are Earth-sized while the rest are larger. Among the findings in the discovery is one solar system, orbiting a star designated Kepler-11, featuring six planets that orbit the star closer than Venus orbits the Sun.
Scientists analyzing data from NASA's Kepler spacecraft announced Wednesday that they have now found in excess 1,000 potential extrasolar planets orbiting other stars, including dozens of planets about the size of the Earth. The discoveries come from observations of more than 156,000 stars in one portion of the sky over several months in 2009. Scientists said they have found 1,235 "planet candidates" orbiting those stars, including 68 Earth-sized worlds. In addition, 54 of the exoplanet candidates found to date orbit their stars' habitable zones; five of the 54 are Earth-sized while the rest are larger. Among the findings in the discovery is one solar system, orbiting a star designated Kepler-11, featuring six planets that orbit the star closer than Venus orbits the Sun.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Friday, August 7
SES advances next-generation MEO strategy following successful completion of IRIS² Rendez-vous 1
SES — 6:43 am ET (1043 GMT) Commission accelerates IRIS² deployment with enhanced security and expanded satellites network?
European Commission — 6:41 am ET (1041 GMT) EU adds 66 satellites to IRIS² in push for secure connectivity
EurActiv — 6:40 am ET (1040 GMT) The team behind Europe’s latest weather satellite
ESA — 6:40 am ET (1040 GMT) Russia Is Building Its Own Starlink. How Big a Threat Is Rassvet?
United24 Media — 6:37 am ET (1037 GMT) |
