JPL
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
JPL Logo
JPL Logo

Exoplanet Anniversary: From Zero to Thousands in 20 Years

Oct 06, 2015
This year we celebrate the discovery of 51 Pegasi b in October, 1995. This giant planet is about half the size of Jupiter and orbits its star in about four days. '51 Peg' helped launch a whole new field of exploration.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

October 6 marks the 20th anniversary of the first discovery of a planet orbiting a sun-like, or "normal," star beyond our solar system.

October 6 marks the 20th anniversary of the first discovery of a planet orbiting a sun-like, or "normal," star beyond our solar system. The planet, called 51 Pegasi b, belongs to a class of planets now known as exoplanets. Since that momentous discovery, thousands more exoplanets have been found in our galaxy.

For details about planned public events to mark the occasion, and other related stories and graphics, visit:

http://planetquest.jpl.nasa.gov/page/20-years

As of today, there are more than 1,800 confirmed exoplanets. More than 1,000 of these were discovered by NASA's Kepler mission, breaking wide open the field of exoplanet science. Kepler has even identified some planets with Earth-like traits, such as Kepler-452b, a near-Earth-size planet found in the habitable zone of a sun-like star. The habitable zone is the region around a star where temperatures are just right for one of life's essential ingredients -- water -- to pool on a planet's surface.

NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, manages the Kepler and K2 missions for NASA's Science Mission Directorate. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, managed Kepler mission development. Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corporation operates the flight system with support from the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder.

For more information about the Kepler mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/kepler

A related feature story about other potentially habitable planets is online at:

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4666

Download infographic
Exoplanet Travel Posters

News Media Contact

Whitney Clavin

626-395-1856

wclavin@caltech.edu

2015-312

Latest News

Mars .

NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Succeeds in Historic First Flight

Mars .

NASA to Attempt First Controlled Flight on Mars As Soon As Monday

Climate Change .

NASA-Built Instrument Will Help to Spot Greenhouse Gas Super-Emitters

Stars and Galaxies .

Telescopes Unite in Unprecedented Observations of Famous Black Hole

Earth .

NASA Satellites Detect Signs of Volcanic Unrest Years Before Eruptions

Mars .

NASA’s Mars Helicopter to Make First Flight Attempt

Technology .

NASA Selects Innovative, Early-Stage Tech Concepts for Continued Study

Mars .

NASA’s Odyssey Orbiter Marks 20 Historic Years of Mapping Mars

Mars .

Say Cheese on Mars: Perseverance’s Selfie With Ingenuity

Solar System .

Probing for Life in the Icy Crusts of Ocean Worlds

About JPL
Who We Are
Executive Council
Directors of JPL
JPL History
Documentary Series
Virtual Tour
Annual Reports
Missions
All
Current
Past
Future
News
All
Earth
Mars
Solar System
Universe
Technology
Galleries
Images
Videos
Audio
Podcasts
Infographics
Visions of the Future
Slice of History
Engage
JPL and the Community
Lecture Series
Public Tours
Events
Team Competitions
JPL Speakers Bureau
Topics
Solar System
Mars
Earth
Climate Change
Stars and Galaxies
Exoplanets
Technology
JPL Life
For Media
Contacts and Information
Press Kits
More
Asteroid Watch
Robotics at JPL
Subscribe to Newsletter
Universe Newsletter
Social Media
RSS
Get the Latest from JPL
Follow Us

JPL is a federally funded research and development center managed for NASA by Caltech.

More from JPL
Careers Education Science & Technology Acquisitions JPL Store
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
Acquisitions
JPL Store
Related NASA Sites
Basics of Spaceflight
Climate Kids
Earth / Global Climate Change
Exoplanet Exploration
Mars Exploration
Solar System Exploration
Space Place
NASA's Eyes Visualization Project
Voyager Interstellar Mission
NASA
Caltech
Privacy
Image Policy
FAQ
Feedback
Site Manager: Veronica McGregor
Site Editors: Tony Greicius, Randal Jackson, Naomi Hartono