Kepler

The star system Kepler 90 is like a compact version of our own solar system. The star itself is quite similar to the Sun. And it’s encircled by a family of at least seven planets — none of which is farther from the star than Earth is from the Sun. It’s the largest planetary family yet seen beyond the solar system.
The planets were discovered by one of the most productive space telescopes in history.
NASA PAO: One, zero, and liftoff of the Delta II rocket with Kepler, on a search for planets in some way like our own...
Kepler was launched five years ago this week. Its main mission was to hunt for Earth-sized planets orbiting Sun-like stars. Along the way, it was expected to find thousands of planets of all kinds, helping scientists begin to understand how planets form — and the likelihood that some planets might be inhabited.
Kepler stared non-stop at 150,000 stars in a small patch of sky. It looked for the stars to dim a tiny amount as planets passed directly in front of them. Kepler’s