48 Systems and Extrasolar Planets

Illustration of an Extra-Solar Planet.
Public Domain | Image courtesy of NASA.

Are their other planets orbiting other stars?

Yes. We have found evidence of Extrasolar Planets (or Extra-Solar … 2 words ). These are planets orbiting other stars outside our solar system, thus the term “Extrasolar.” Extrasolar planets are also called Exoplanets , the more-commonly used term.

Instead of calling these solar systems, they are called Stellar Systems . Why? Because the solar system is the proper name for our sun, its planets, satellites, asteroids, comets, debris, etc.

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