The Homunculus Nebula
European astronomers have discovered three Earth-like planets which circle a star and another two solar systems, along with several other small orbiting planets. The results strengthen the argument that the Earth (and possibly life) is not unique. Each single star could have its planets. The star is 42 light-years away from the Doroto and Pictor constellations. The planets are bigger than Earth (respectively 4.2, 6.7 and 9.4 times) and they orbit their sun in respectively 4, 10 and 20 days, against the 365 days of our planet. Over 270 planets have been discovered outside our own solar system and in most cases they are giant planets, the size of Jupiter and Saturn. The smaller planets, like Earth, are harder to find. These planets are just the tip of the iceberg. The data of all star systems show that around a third of the stars are similar to Sol and have super-Earths or satellites with a revolution of less than 50 days.
Rocky planets, possibly with conditions suitable for life, may be more common than previously thought in our galaxy, a study has found. New evidence suggests more than half the Sun-like stars in the Milky Way could have similar planetary systems. There may also be hundreds of undiscovered worlds in outer parts of our Solar System, astronomers believe. If there are hundreds of planets and dwarf planets waiting to be discovered in the outer reaches of our own solar system, untold billions in the rest of the milky way.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7249884.stm