Astronomers discover 32 new planets

Published on Monday 19 October 2009 20:08

ASTRONOMERS have found 32 new planets outside the solar system, adding evidence to the theory that the universe has many places where life could develop. Scientists using telescopes by the European Southern Observatory did not find any planets quite the size of the Earth, or any that seemed habitable or unusual. But their announcement increased the number of planets discovered outside the solar system to more than 400.

Six of the planets are several times bigger than Earth, increasing the population of so-called SuperEarths by more than 30 per cent. Most of the planets are bigger, Jupiter-sized or even larger.