Why Don't We Know If There Are More Planets Around Alpha Centauri?

Alpha Centauri is the closest star system to Earth other than our own sun.  So one would think if it had planets, we would know by now, right?  Wrong, apparently.  Astronomers just announced the discovery of an Earth-sized planet in Alpha Centauri, although it's closer to its star than Mercury is to our sun.  What's more, they think there may actually be even more planets further out!  So why are we only just now discovering planets in our nearest neighboring solar system, and why don't we know yet if there are more? read more

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