Space telescope mission
Appears in 2 stories
Operating in second extended mission
For centuries, astronomers assumed most stars were loners like our Sun. Over the past decade, space telescopes have steadily revealed that multi-star systems are not only common but can be packed together in arrangements that strain the limits of gravitational stability. Now a Hungarian-led team has found the most extreme example yet: four stars orbiting within a region that would fit between our Sun and Jupiter, the tightest '3+1'-type quadruple system ever recorded.
Updated Apr 23
Operational since July 2018
NASA confirmed its 6,000th exoplanet in September 2025, marking a milestone exactly 30 years after astronomers discovered the first planet orbiting a Sun-like star. The tally jumped from 5,000 to 6,000 in just three years—an acceleration driven by space telescopes and AI analysis. Over 8,000 additional candidates await confirmation.
Updated Jan 7
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