Kepler planet candidates by size as of July 2015.
The number of new candidate exoplanets – planets that orbit other stars – has increased by 521 from the analysis of observations conducted from May 2009 to May 2013, raising the number of planet candidates detected by the Kepler mission to 4,696. Candidates require follow-up observations and analysis to verify they are actual planets.
Twelve of the new planet candidates have diameters between one to two times that of Earth, and orbit in their star’s habitable zone. Of these, nine orbit stars that are similar to our sun in size and temperature.
Kepler planet candidates by size as of July 2015.
Credit: NASA Ames/W. Stenzel