Astronomical breakthrough: Seven planets 'larger than earth' discovered

In a groundbreaking revelation, NASA has announced that astronomers have discovered a system (named Kepler-385) of seven blazing planets, each one larger than Earth and bathed in more radiant heat than any planet in our solar system, encircling a Sun-like star about 10% larger and 5% hotter than the Sun.

"A system of seven sweltering planets has been revealed by continued study of data from NASA’s retired Kepler space telescope: Each one is bathed in more radiant heat from their host star per area than any planet in our solar system. Also unlike any of our immediate neighbors, all seven planets in this system, named Kepler-385, are larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune," NASA said.

"At the center of the Kepler-385 system is a Sun-like star about 10% larger and 5% hotter than the Sun. The two inner planets, both slightly larger than Earth, are probably rocky and may have thin atmospheres. The other five planets are larger – each with a radius about twice the size of Earth’s – and expected to be enshrouded in thick atmospheres," NASA also wrote.

The discovery is a result of meticulous analysis of data obtained by NASA's retired Kepler space telescope. This pivotal breakthrough is detailed in the paper titled “Updated Catalog of Kepler Planet Candidates: Focus on Accuracy and Orbital Periods,” with the lead author being Jack Lissauer, a research scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center.