Today, astronomers have announced the discovery of small planets orbiting low-mass stars. These previously unknown planets are some of the smallest exoplanets yet found, and they provide an exciting new opportunity to learn more about the formation and development of planetary systems. The planets, which range in size from 1.5 to 4 times the size of Earth, are located in the Milky Way, and are believed to have formed from the same protoplanetary disk that gave birth to our Solar System. With their small masses, these planets may offer insight into the processes that lead to the formation of terrestrial planets like Earth. Further study of these newly discovered planets may also provide clues to how and why some planets are able to form and survive while others are not.

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source: Phys.org