The discovery of exoplanets
Exoplanets are planets beyond our Solar System that orbit other stars. More than 6,400 have been confirmed: as of October 8, 2026, the NASA Exoplanet Archive counted 6,445. The original claim of more than 4,000 was accurate but outdated. The count changes as astronomers confirm new candidates.
AI-generated illustration; the transit is schematic and does not imply direct imaging.