500th Alien Planet Could Be Discovered This Month

[Moontanman]

500th Alien Planet Could Be Discovered This Month

 

 

Less than 20 years after first finding a planet beyond our solar system, astronomers are poised to hit a big milestone — the discovery of alien world No. 500.

 

As of Tuesday (Oct. 12), the confirmed tally stands at 494 extrasolar planets, with more than 70 discovered so far in 2010 alone. At that rate, No. 500 could be announced before October is out — just a month or so after another watershed moment, the discovery of the first potentially habitable alien planet.

 

 

 

 

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/alien-planet-number-500-101012.html