Study says solar systems like ours may be common

The researchers found increasing numbers of smaller planets, down to the smallest size detectable today – planets called super-Earths, about three times the mass of Earth.  The census, funded by NASA and the University of California, is the most extensive of its kind to date... 

Keck Observatory

"Yale astronomer Debra Fischer, a co-author and member of the research team notes that "This result encourages us to re-double our effort to detect rocky planet analogs of our home world."  Fischer's team is researching instrument innovations to obtain higher precision in exoplanet surveys. Yale University has a share of 15 nights per year of valuable Keck time that is used by faculty, postdocs and graduate students.