Extrasolar planets discovered with the richest planetary system similar to our Solar System

Extrasolar planets discovered with the richest planetary system similar to our Solar System Astronomers of ESO have discovered a remarkable extrasolar planetary system that has some striking similarities to our own Solar System (one of the new extrasolar worlds could be only 1.4 times the mass of the Earth) At least five planets are orbiting the Sun-like star HD 10180, and the regular pattern of their orbits is similar to that observed for our neighbouring planets. This is indeed fascinating news, but it does beg a rather interesting question. HD 10180 is about 127 light years away from earth, so how the heck do you detect planets at that distance. Remember Carl Sagan's "Pale Blue Dot", the famous picture that shows earth as a tiny little dot from the outer fringes of our solar system? Well, what exactly do you use to go on a planet hunt when the distance is not just a hop across the solar system, but is 127 light years? Attribuitions CC License (http://www.eso.org/public/copyright/) http://www.eso.org/public/videos/eso1035a/ ESO. Visual design and editing: Martin Kornmesser and Luis Calçada. Editing: Herbert Zodet. Web and technical support: Lars Holm Nielsen and Raquel Yumi Shida. Written by: Henri Boffin. Narration: Dr. J. Music: movetwo. Footage and photos: ESO. Directed by: Herbert Zodet. Executive producer: Lars Lindberg Christensen.