"Astronomers announced today the first discovery of a new class of planets beyond our solar system about 10 to 20 times the size of Earth - far smaller than any previously detected. The planets make up a new class of Neptune-sized extrasolar planets.
In addition, one of the new planets joins three others around the nearby star 55 Cancri to form the first known four-planet system."
+ Read News Release (JPL)
+ Read News Release (Carnegie Institution)
+ Read News Release (McDonald Observatory)
The importance is the size which had been leaked a few days ago of only being near neptune or uranus size about 10+ Earths to 15 or so.
The main part of the Nasa web broadcast that I veiwed yesterday dealt with more of the logistics of who found what when with official research papers and referees.
In terms of planetary systems and the search for life it becomes more practical and more likely that as the systems look simular in ratios to ours that the chances go up with each discovery.
Well, since we are able to see a 14 x Earth with a very small telescope maybe we have finally found a way by which to link telescopes to finally actually see them that are much larger.
One can only hope to see another blue marble around an alien sun...
Posted by: Harold LaValley at September 1, 2026 05:15 AM