An artist’s impression of the three exoplanets circling pulsar PSR B1257+12.
Exoplanet is the general name that is given to any planet that orbits a star outside of our own solar system. An exoplanet is also known as an extrasolar planet.
The first confirmed exoplanets were discovered in 1992 by astronomers Aleksander Wolszczan and Dale Frail using the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. Wolszczan and Frail discovered two exoplanets circling the pulsar designated PSR B1257+12. A third exoplanet was discovered orbiting this pulsar in 1994.
The dish of the Arecibo Observatory where the first confirmed exoplanets were discovered in 1992.
More than 1,900 confirmed exoplanets have been discovered since 1992. The view in the main window shows a selection of these exoplanets relative to the location of the Sun. These exoplanets range in size from large Jupiter-sized exoplanets down to exoplanets that approach the size of Earth.
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The Nearest Exoplanet
The nearest known exoplanet is located 10.5 light-years from Earth and circles the star Epsilon Eridani. This exoplanet was first discovered in the year 2000 when astronomers noticed a wobble in Epsilon Eridani.
An artist’s conception of the nearest exoplanet to our solar system.