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[[File:G1758.jpg|thumb|250px||right|The first photo taken of an exoplanet, by the Japanese "Subaru" telescope, August, 2009.  Point "B", numbered GJ758 B, has a mass of 10 to 40 times Jupiter, and orbits a star 50 light years from Earth.  Point "C" (GJ758 C) is undetermined<ref>http://www.space.com/7629-photo-object-sun-star-scientists.html</ref>.]]

[[File:G1758.jpg|thumb|250px||right|The first photo taken of an exoplanet, by the Japanese "Subaru" telescope, August, 2009.  Point "B", numbered GJ758 B, has a mass of 10 to 40 times Jupiter, and orbits a star 50 light years from Earth.  Point "C" (GJ758 C) is undetermined.<ref>http://www.space.com/7629-photo-object-sun-star-scientists.html</ref>]]

'''Extrasolar planets''', or '''exoplanets''', are planets that orbit stars other than the sun.  The search for them is one of the most exciting phases of astronomy today.

'''Extrasolar planets''', or '''exoplanets''', are planets that orbit stars other than the sun.  The search for them is one of the most exciting phases of astronomy today.

== Current count ==

== Current count ==

As of February 2014, the number of extrasolar planets detected stands at about 1,700, with NASA announcing (February 26) that the Kepler Telescope had discovered 715 during the previous year<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/science/2014/02/27/nasa-announces-mother-lode-new-planets-715/</ref><ref>http://www.space.com/24824-alien-planets-population-doubles-nasa-kepler.html</ref>. Since the detection methods devised to date favor large, gaseous planets, most of the detected planets are quite dissimilar to Earth, and they are not thought to be good candidates for finding life.  However, the planet [[Gliese_581c|Gliese 581c]] orbiting the red dwarf star Gliese 581 (approximately 20 light-years from earth) appears to be a terrestrial, i.e. rocky, planet that orbits in the "[[habitable zone]]" of space surrounding its star.

As of February 2014, the number of extrasolar planets detected stands at about 1,700, with NASA announcing (February 26) that the Kepler Telescope had discovered 715 during the previous year.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/science/2014/02/27/nasa-announces-mother-lode-new-planets-715/</ref><ref>http://www.space.com/24824-alien-planets-population-doubles-nasa-kepler.html</ref> Since the detection methods devised to date favor large, gaseous planets, most of the detected planets are quite dissimilar to Earth, and they are not thought to be good candidates for finding life.  However, the planet [[Gliese 581c]] orbiting the red dwarf star Gliese 581 (approximately 20 light-years from earth) appears to be a terrestrial, i.e. rocky, planet that orbits in the "[[habitable zone]]" of space surrounding its star.

==See also==

==See also==

{{Exo-Planets}}

{{Exo-Planets}}

[[category:astronomy]]

[[Category:Astronomy]]