There are currently eight confirmed planets in NASA’s solar system, though there are likely many more yet to be discovered. NASA’s Kepler space telescope has discovered over 1,200 potential planets, and there are many methods of discovery yet to be employed. The current methods of discovery are limited, so it is hard to say definitively how many planets there are in the solar system. However, with continued technological advances and exploration, we are sure to find many more fascinating planets in the coming years.
As of October 2018, NASA has discovered a total of 8 planets beyond our own.
How many planets have been discovered by NASA?
In the 1990s, scientists discovered the first exoplanets. As of 2022, the tally stands at just over 5,000 confirmed exoplanets. These planets are located outside of our solar system and orbit other stars. Many of these planets are very different from the planets in our solar system, and this has led to a greater understanding of the diversity of planetary systems.
As of September 2020, there have been a total of 5272 confirmed exoplanets discovered, with 2708 of those being discovered by the Kepler project. There are still 2054 Kepler project candidates yet to be confirmed, and 9786 candidates discovered by K2 yet to be confirmed.
What planets have NASA explored
The solar system is full of a variety of planets and objects. From top to bottom, the planets in our solar system are: Mercury, Venus, Earth (and moon), Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Each of these planets has been explored by various spacecraft, and each has its own unique features and characteristics.
Astronomers have now confirmed more than 5,000 exoplanets – planets beyond our solar system. But it’s just a fraction of the likely hundreds of billions of such planets in our Milky Way galaxy.
Powerful telescopes, in space and on the ground, have allowed astronomers to find these exoplanets. But there are probably many more out there waiting to be discovered. With better technology, we may one day find that there are billions of habitable worlds in our galaxy alone.
Is there a planet like Earth found?
This new planet, called TOI 700 e, is an exciting discovery for scientists because it is so similar to Earth in size and shape. Additionally, its location within its star’s habitable zone suggests that it may have water on its surface. This makes it a potentially habitable planet for life as we know it. Further study will be needed to confirm whether or not this planet does indeed have water and if it is capable of supporting life.
We may expect to find either 2625 or 14 billion planets with the potential to create and maintain life. The exact number is not important as we are dealing with an estimate that contains large uncertainties.
Do we have 14 planets?
There are currently eight planets in our solar system. The inner, rocky planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. NASA’s newest rover – Perseverance – landed on Mars on Feb 18, 2021. The outer planets are gas giants Jupiter and Saturn and ice giants Uranus and Neptune.
Other galaxies exist beyond our own galaxy, the Milky Way. The nearest galaxy to ours is Andromeda, which is on a collision course with the Milky Way. In about 4 billion years, the two galaxies will merge into one. The Milky Way is just one of the 30 galaxies that make up the Local Group.
This is fascinating news! It’s possible that there is another planet out there, deep in the solar system, that we haven’t discovered yet. This planet would be similar in size to Neptune, and would orbit our Sun in a very elliptical orbit. This is an exciting discovery and it will be interesting to see if more evidence is found to support this theory.
On August 24, 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) reclassified Pluto as a “dwarf planet.” This was based on the following three new definitions:
A “planet” is a celestial body that
– is in orbit around the Sun,
– has sufficient mass for its gravity to pull it into a nearly round shape, and
– has “cleared the neighborhood” around its orbit.
Pluto does not meet the third criterion, because its orbit overlaps with that of Neptune.
A “dwarf planet” is a celestial body that
– is in orbit around the Sun,
– has sufficient mass for its gravity to pull it into a nearly round shape,
– has not “cleared the neighborhood” around its orbit, and
– is not a satellite.
Pluto meets all four of these criteria.
A “satellite” is a celestial body that
– is in orbit around a planet or dwarf planet.
Pluto’s moon, Charon, meets this criteria.
Did NASA find a planet outside our galaxy?
This is an incredible discovery and a testament to the power of the Kepler telescope and the team of astronomers who operate it. The ability to find and study these two planets will help us to better understand the formation and evolution of planets in general, and perhaps even our own. The knowledge and tools NASA has developed to study life on Earth will be a great asset to the study of planets beyond our solar system.
The Solar System does not contain any known super-Earths because Earth is the largest terrestrial planet in the Solar System. All larger planets either have masses that are at least 14 times that of Earth or have thick gaseous atmospheres without well-defined rocky or watery surfaces. In other words, they are either gas giants or ice giants, not super-Earths.
How much of space have we not explored
Most of the universe is still a mystery to us. We have only been able to explore a small portion of it so far. The rest is an unknown universe of new particles and forces that awaits discovery. It is possible that there are many more wonders out there waiting to be discovered. We may never know for sure unless we continue to explore and learn more about the universe.
It’s disappointing that the search for Planet Nine has come up empty once again, but it’s not surprising. This planet is incredibly elusive and may be hidden deep in a cloud of icy rocks far beyond the orbit of Neptune. It’s going to take a lot more work to find it, but astronomers are determined to keep looking.
Which planet can humans live?
There are many reasons why Earth is the only known planet to host life. One reason is its distance from the sun. Earth is just the right distance from the sun to receive the right amount of heat and light. This means that our planet is not too hot and not too cold. If Earth were too close to the sun, the water would evaporate. If Earth were too far from the sun, the water would freeze.
Another reason why Earth is the only known planet to host life is its atmosphere. The atmosphere of Earth protects us from the dangerous ultraviolet rays of the sun. It also contains the right amount of oxygen for us to breathe.
Finally, Earth has the right amount of water. Water is essential for life. Earth has just the right amount of water to support life.
These are just a few of the reasons why Earth is the only known planet to host life.
Scientists believe that there are many worlds out there that could contain alien life. Here are some of the most promising ones:
1) Kepler 186f: This world is thought to be very similar to Earth, and is even in the same star system as our own. It’s the closest known world to us that could potentially be habitable.
2) Kepler 283c: This world is a little further out from us, but is still thought to be within the habitable zone of its star. It’s thought to be slightly larger than Earth.
3 & 4) Gliese 667C f AND 667C e: These two worlds are both in the same star system, and are thought to be within the habitable zone. They’re both a little larger than Earth.
5 & 6) Kepler 62e AND Kepler 62f: These two worlds are both in the same star system, and are thought to be within the habitable zone. They’re both a little smaller than Earth.
7) Gliese 581d: This world is thought to be within the habitable zone of its star, and is a little larger than Earth.
Conclusion
NASA has discovered a total of eight planets in our solar system.
Nasa discovered a total of eight planets.
