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What Star Has the Largest Number of Known Planets?

-- | August 1, 2015

Question: Someone asked “How many planets a stellar-planetary system can accommodate safely into a stable orbit around that star? What are the factors it depends on?” What I’m asking is what is the largest number of planets have been observed orbiting a star? I understand it’s in principal a nearly infinite number “could” orbit a star. What is the solar system with the most known planets? Thank you.  — Michael

Answer: Looking at the NASA Exoplanet Database, it appears to me that the current confirmed extrasolar planetary system with the most planets orbiting a single star is KOI-351 with seven planets.  Of course, our solar system is the champ with 8 planets and a host of dwarf planets if you want to count all stars with planets.

Jeff Mangum