Interested in space? Curious about what’s beyond our solar system? Now you can explore the beauty and vastness of space at the Kyle Public Library in a unique way.

Paul Waak of the Central Texas Library System (CTLS) came to the Kyle library to install its interactive display, “Discover Exoplanets – The Search for Alien Earths.” It lets users learn about exoplanets, which are earth-like planets outside our solar system.  So far the kiosk has visited Pflugerville, Taylor, Wells Branch, Harker Heights and Johnson City. It will move on to other Texas libraries at the end of July. 

The Exoplanet display is an interactive exhibit encouraging patrons of all ages to learn through a user-friendly touch screen that lets users explore the wealth of information from the Keplar and other planet-finding missions.

Astronomers had long theorized exoplanets existed but didn’t find proof until the 1990s. More than 3,000 have now been discovered. The single largest finding to date came just this May when NASA verified 1,284 new exoplanets were discovered by the Keplar mission, which is the single largest finding of planets to date. 

“Before the Kepler space telescope launched, we did not know whether exoplanets were rare or common in the galaxy. Thanks to Kepler and the research community, we now know there could be more planets than stars,” said Paul Hertz, Astrophysics Division director at NASA headquarters. “This knowledge informs the future missions that are needed to take us ever-closer to finding out whether we are alone in the universe.”

So come in to the Kyle Public Library and see what’s out there.