Kepler telescope team finds 11 new solar systems

**Jackie (Admin)** Fri Jan 27, 2012 11:35 am

Kepler telescope team finds 11 new solar systems

"By Irene Klotz
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida | Thu Jan 26, 2012 5:45pm EST
(Reuters) - NASA's planet-hunting Kepler space telescope has found 11 new planetary systems, including one with five planets all orbiting closer to their parent star than Mercury circles the Sun, scientists said on Thursday.

The discoveries boost the list of confirmed extra-solar planets to 729, including 60 credited to the Kepler team. The telescope, launched in space in March 2009, can detect slight but regular dips in the amount of light coming from stars. Scientists can then determine if the changes are caused by orbiting planets passing by, relative to Kepler's view.

Kepler scientists have another 2,300 candidate planets awaiting additional confirmation..."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/26/us-space-planets-idUSTRE80P27W20120126