Kepler Space Telescope's Alien Planet Bonanza Explained (Infographic)

Explanation of new exoplanets found by Kepler Space Telescope.

A powerful new technique for hunting alien planets yields a major new crop of new worlds. (Image credit: By Karl Tate, Infographics Artist)

Armed with a new method for validating multiple-planet solar systems, scientists have identified a new batch of 715 previously unknown exoplanets. This raises the total of verified planets to 1,700.

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Karl's association with Space.com goes back to 2000, when he was hired to produce interactive Flash graphics. From 2010 to 2016, Karl worked as an infographics specialist across all editorial properties of Purch (formerly known as TechMediaNetwork). Before joining Space.com, Karl spent 11 years at the New York headquarters of The Associated Press, creating news graphics for use around the world in newspapers and on the web. He has a degree in graphic design from Louisiana State University and now works as a freelance graphic designer in New York City.