Scientists searching for planets orbiting distant stars have found the smallest planets yet beyond the solar system, a key step toward being able to detect Earth-size worlds that would have the best chance of containing life.
More than 30 planets have been found in orbit of stars outside the solar system, but the two planets announced Wednesday are the first to be smaller than Jupiter, astronomers said here.
The new planets are thought to be hot, gaseous giants, rapidly orbiting their stars and are probably devoid of life, he said.
“This is an important milepost” in the search for Earth-size planets that orbit stars other than the sun, said R. Paul Butler, a Carnegie Institute staff scientist. “This suggests there will be many more small planets out there.”
