New solar systems spring up for Milky Way watchers

A new report says that the Milky Way is suddenly filling up with far-off solar systems never seen before. Astronomers see more and more planets of all shapes and sizes, wheeling in orbits around their own stars, the report added.

Astronomers have cited the discovery of 28 new planets all at once this week. The question now is whether our own solar system is really alone. They are scanning 70 more stars right now to seek still more of the increasingly common objects.

The 28 planets discovered bring the total number of ‘exoplanets’ to 236. It all started when the first one was detected barely a dozen years ago.

Besides the 28 planets discovered during the past one year, astronomers have also found around seven brown dwarfs. Strange objects much larger than Jupiter, which scientists term failed stars have also been cited.

A study report said that among the confirmed solar systems detected during the past one year, four of the stars hold at least two planets in orbit. There could be more undetected ones too.

Significantly, two other stars hold objects which could be giant gas planets or brown dwarfs. Studies have started to extend into this territory. Reports say that only with more sensitive instruments will scientists be able to identify them.

One extraordinary planet that orbits a star called Gliese 436 has been found much like our own sun and only 30 light-years away. The planet, discovered two years ago, was found to be crossing the face of its sun recently.

One this is for certain. Many of the properties of our own solar system are suddenly noticeably common among planetary systems in general. Astronomers believe that our solar system is structurally common with others elsewhere in the galaxy and its planetary inhabitants must have a common composition.