Confirmed By NASA! Exoplanet Number Now Reaches 6,000

The number of exoplanets now stands at 6,000 (photo: dock. NASA)

JAKARTA The number of exoplanets or planets outside the solar system is now officially up to 6,000. This milestone was reached after NASA, the US space agency, officially confirmed a number of exoplanets.

Basically, not a single planet is considered the 6,000th planet because this calculation comes from the findings of scientists around the world. However, the number of planets and proof of their presence is monitored by NASA's Exoplanet Science Institute (NExScI).

Actually, there are 8,000 exports that are candidates and only 6,000 have just been confirmed. Thousands of other planets are still candidates and are waiting to be confirmed. Although there are many planets that still have to be monitored, this shows great achievements.

This discovery comes thirty years after the first exoplanet was discovered orbiting a Sun-like star in 1995. Previously, several planets were found orbiting a collapsing star. Over time, the number of planets continues to grow.

According to Shawn Domagal-Goldman, Acting Director of the Astrophysical Division at NASA Headquarters, these findings are important for scientists observing the cosmic for decades. This is also a milestone for NASA whose telescopes are often used.

"One step at a time, from discovery to characterization, NASA's missions have built a foundation to answer fundamental questions (about the universe)," Shawn said, quoted by NASA on Thursday, September 18.

Meanwhile, according to NASA's Head of the Exoplanet Exploration Program (ExEP), Dawn Gelino, thousands of planets outside the solar system provide different information. This will help NASA find more exoplanets going forward.

"Each type of planet we found gives us information about the conditions of planet formation and, in the end, how common planets like Earth are," Dawn said.

Since most planets are very faint, there are less than 100 exoplanets that can be photographed directly. Four other detection methods are indirect, such as transit methods. The method detects planets by observing a dim star shortly as a planet passes in front of them.

The rate of exoplanet discovery has continued to increase rapidly in recent years. Three years ago, this database only reached 5,000 exoplanets. This indicates how rapidly the discovery of astronomical objects has been in recent years.