Over 30 New Planets Found Outside the Solar System

With the ever-present hope of finding extraterrestrial life in mind, scientists have been busy logging a host of new planets outside of the solar system. European scientists have recently discovered 32 previously-unknown planets using the European Southern Observatory telescope. This find is said to be a record for planets found at one time. So far, reports are that the planets are larger than Earth and are devoid of qualities that would harbor life. The new findings bring the total number of known planets outside of the solar system to greater than 400.

Many of the new planets are significantly bigger than Earth, with the smaller ones being about five times larger than Earth, and the largest one five times the size of Jupiter. Scientists are excited about the new findings because they say that they add significantly to the number of planets around sun-like stars that are close to Earth’s size.

University of Geneva astronomer Stephane Udry was quoted as saying: “I’m pretty confident that there are Earth-like planets everywhere. Nature doesn’t like a vacuum. If there is space to put a planet there, there will be a planet there.”

Unfortunately there were no photos taken of the new planets, but the findings are certainly exciting in the world of space observation. Until we have our first encounter with little, green men, new planetary discoveries are some of the most exciting news coming from the great beyond. [via AP] [Photo: ComputerHotline]