Planets around other stars

Over the last few years, intensified research and improved observational techniques have led to the discovery of stars which are orbited by companions of very low mass.  The data so far available indicate that at least the majority of these have masses comparable to that of Jupiter, the largest planet in our own solar system. Efforts to discover more planetary companions to other stars in the Milky Way galaxy are being vigorously pursued and will no doubt feature prominently in astronomical research over the next several decades.

The IAU, through its Division III: Planetary Systems Sciences, provides a forum for international discussion and coordination of research in this exciting new branch of astronomy.

In order to facilitate international research in the field, and as part of these discussions, the IAU is also developing a system for clear and unambiguous scientific designation of these bodies at all stages during their study, from tentative identification to fully-characterized objects.  Such a system must take into account that discoveries are often tentative, later to be confirmed or rejected, possibly by several different methods, and that several planets belonging to the same star may eventually be discovered, again possibly by different means.  Thus, considerable care and experience are required in its design.

In response to frequent questions about plans to assign actual names to extra-solar planets, the IAU sees no need and has no plan to assign names to these objects at the present stage of our knowledge.  Indeed, if planets are found to occur very frequently in the Universe, a system of individual names for planets might well rapidly be found equally impracticable as it is for stars, as planet discoveries progress.

Read more on the  Naming Astronomical Objects IAU Theme.