News Astronomy

Oldest solar system unearthed by Kepler

Small rocky planets formed throughout the history of the universe

Kepler 444

OLD WORLDS  Five small rocky planets orbit Kepler 444 (illustrated), a cool red star that is 11.2 billion years old.

Tiago Campante/Peter Devine

By Christopher Crockett

- More than 2 years ago

Some planets were already billions of years old when Earth was a mere twinkle in our sun’s eye.

The Kepler space telescope has unearthed the oldest known solar system.