Astronomers announced today the first discovery of a new class of planets beyond our solar system about 10 to 20 times the size of Earth ? far smaller than any previously detected. The planets make up a new class of Neptune-sized extrasolar planets. In addition, one of the new planets joins three others around the nearby star 55 Cancri to form the first known four-planet system. The discoveries consist of two new planets. They were discovered by the world renowned planet-hunting team of Drs. Paul Butler and Geoffrey Marcy of the Carnegie Institute of Washington and University of California, Berkeley, respectively; and Barbara McArthur of the University of Texas, Austin. Both findings were peer-reviewed and accepted for future publication in the Astrophysical Journal. NASA and the National Science Foundation (NSF) funded the research. "NASA, along with our partner NSF, is extremely proud of this significant planetary discovery," said Al Diaz, Associate Administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate. "The outcome of the tremendous work of the project scientists is a shining example of the value of space exploration." "These Neptune-sized planets prove that Jupiter-sized, gas giants aren't the only planets out there," Marcy said. Butler added, "We are beginning to see smaller and smaller planets. Earth-like planets are the next destination." Future NASA planet-hunting missions, including Kepler, the Space Interferometry Mission and the Terrestrial Planet Finder, will seek such Earth-like planets.

Nearly 140 extrasolar planets have been discovered. Both of the new planets stick very close to their parent stars, whipping around them in a matter of days. The first planet, discovered by Marcy and Butler, circles a small star called Gliese 436 about every two-and-one-half days at just a small fraction of the distance between Earth and the sun, or 4.1 million kilometers (2.6 million miles). This planet is only the second known to orbit an M dwarf, a type of low-mass star four-tenths the size of our own sun. Gliese 436 is located in our galactic backyard, 30 light-years away in the constellation Leo.

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Brilliant!

We're getting close now, planets are popping up al over the place. It can't be that long before they find one the same size as Earth, and same distance from the Sun....fingers crossed everyone

The better our technology gets the better the chances get. Hopefully we'll find an earthlike planet soon. Then signs of intelligent life so that just maybe the drive to get into space will begin. The way things are now until we find evidence of intelligent life it doesn't seem like we're going to be in any rush to get in space.

It's just a matter of time till we discover anothe planet that has all that's needed to sustain life as we know it.

The discoverys being made today are amazing! imagine just a while ago we thought we could never land on the moon, now we are discoving new plants outside our Solar System! I cant wait untill they discover a earth-like plant, Keep up the good work NASA people!

thats AWSOME maybe we will find one more for us and yes barman i'll keep my fingers crossed

cool, buts its when we colonise the Moon and Mars I'll really be impressed

Just imagine what we will find as our technology advances year after year, it cant be long now, soon we will find an earth like planet, that may be a one of our future homes or home of our future friends. Hers hoping its soon!!!

Maybe our solar system isn't as "rare" as people though. More and more evidence is being gathered to substantiate the liklihood that there is at LEAST one other- if not more solar systems like our... or close enough that life might be able to evolve.

The future's looking pretty good. All we have to hope now is that the ET's don't go, "Great- humans are moving onto the planet next door... there goes the solar system, and just as the property value was starting to go up!"