but for kepler-11. they are not super close and they are around a faint star so mhod the second method is one that has only been used twice for kepler-9 and kepler-11 and that is as bill mentioned in his talk the transit timing variation to see what they areth exerting on one another, and you can't have that in the triple star system because they would say the stars are much more massive. so that's the second way which like the radio velocity and if it also gives the mass. the but it's only on systems where the planets are big enough or that it's psible. close enough that it's possible. so the third method we just used on a couple objects the third planet around kepler-9, the sixth planet around kepler-11 is fieldight to look painstakingly yet the field right part of the start and look at it characterized asas much far as muc h as we can and will at get the details of the shape of the planet and showed that theill shape and the details just don't make sense for any falsereasable ch positive model of any

but for kepler-11. they are not super close and they are around a faint star sod the second method is one that has only been used twice for kepler-9 and kepler-11 and that is as bill mentioned in his talk the transit timing variation to see what they areth exerting on one another, and you can't have that in the triple star system because they would say the stars are much more massive. so that's the second way, which like the radio velocity and if it also gives the mass. but it's only on systems where the planets are big enough or t. close enough that it's possible so the third method we just used on a couple objects, the third planet around kepler-9, the sixth planet around kepler-11 is to look painstakingly yet the field right part of the start and look at it characterized ash far as muc h as we can and will get the details of the shape of the planet and showed that theil shape and the details just don't make sense for any falsereasablh positive model of any reasonable chance of occurring and we're the

are there, in fact, immediate steps that kepler... using kepler or anything else to find out, to answer some of these still-unanswered questions? >> well, kepler will keep looking and keep doing this census. but this this announcement really gives a lot of momentum and a lot of push for the follow-on mission, the terrestrial planet find which nasa would like to fly. another mission called darwin. and those missions will come up with ways of looking at these planets in a direct way, actually observing them directly. it's very difficult when that you have bright star nearby and the planets that we're finding are pretty close to the star relatively speaking, particularly from the distance we're looking. so it's difficult to move that out. there are ways to do that. it's not inexpensive but scientifically can you think of a more fundamental and exciting question to have an answer to: are we alone? >> lehrer: and that's really what it's about, right, miles? if we are going to find out one way or another if we are alone and that's all we're

and kepler 11 has been absolutely staggering with its results. with these five plants in the system, this will be momentous. this shows a planetary system with several small planets seemed to be common. the third thing, this is reaching out to a different part of the milky way galaxy. i think that this shows us that the neighborhood of the galaxy looks a lot like our own neighborhood. this is important if we're trying to make extrapolations about life. and i can talk about the enthusiasm of the public. we were so excited when we saw this, that we had teamed up with the citizens alliance, and the milky way galaxy. we were letting the public participate in discovering these plants. we discovered this among ourselves. and there was a 50-50 chance that this project would not be working. galaxies show was beautiful pictures. we see the brightness measurements of these stars. we have 16,000 designated users. this is in turkey and russia, in brazil and argentina, one country after another. we have 1.3 million classifications. we have identified hundreds

they were spotted by kepler satellite. >> the deeper we look, the more we find. they are not just stars in their billions, but orbiting around them plants as well. they are new world's emerging from the dark in far greater numbers. this is what is behind the latest wave of discoveries, the campus space telescope aimed at one piece of sky -- the kepler space telescope aimed at one piece of sky. the largest batch was found in one go. this really is as good as it gets. >> of this, to us, seems like the most important time in solar plants since -- in excess solar planets -- in exosolar planets since 1995. >> the technique has found more than 500 planet's already, with another 1235 possible and an astonishing 54 that are not too warm and not too cold. >> 3, 2, engines start. >> it was nearly three years ago when a rocket sent the kepler telescope into space. here they specialize in making photographic sense of the tiny devices. people are delighted at what they're finding. >> it is fantastic. it is something that you cannot find working in any other industry. this is

the kepler 11 system is supercalifragelisticexpialodocio us. i will hand it over to deborah, to give you the outside view of what we have been announcing today. >> this is an amazing era of discovery, before these planets in particular. there is no doubt that this search is motivated by the search for life. we would especially like to find communities and technological life, and we can see that there is only one plant that is inhabited. fighting another planet like earth is like finding something that is friendly to the evolution of life. the primary goal is listed as the occurrence of a small terrestrial world. in march 2009, when i was here, i remember commenting that these were beginning to roll out of the kepler mission. i began to expect to see these planets, to see these begin to roll out and then -- i am amazed to see that this is reaching a milestone discovery, more quickly than i anticipated. this week feels much differently than last year. there is a reason that i say this. this.

and this is what is behind the latest wave of discoveries, the kepler space telescope aimed at one piece of sky and unearthing a new solar system with six planets circling unusually close to their star, the largest batch found in one go. this really is as good as it gets. this to us seems like the most important find since 1995 when the first extra solar planet was discovered. >> the mission of hunting for planets is picking up speed. the telescope works by watching stars to see if planets move in front of them. if they do, the stars get very slightly dimmer, the equivalent of looking at a car headlight and seeing a flea cross it. the technique has found more than 500 planets already with another 1,235 possible, an astonishing 54 hospitable to light, not too warm and not too cold. >> three, two, engines start. >> it was nearly two years ago that the rocket blasted the kepler telescope into space. onboard an incredibly sensitive camera. its key components are made here in britain in these clean rooms at a high-tech firm. here they specialize in making photo graphic sensors, tiny devices.

that kepler mission also found dozens of earth-like planets.hy that discovery could pose an interesting decision for our grandchildren. that's when our next newscast is, the 5:00 news. thanks for watching. have a great day. Ñz ;

the numbers were calculated from the planet hunting kepler telescope.here on earth, an update on a two-year-old dog that disappeared near sacramento. he was reunited with his owner after turning up more than 700 miles away. bear disappeared on tuesday. his owner didn't think he would see his dog again but a woman found bear and took him to the humane society in tacoma, washington. he drove to tacoma as soon as he got the news. >> somebody picked him up to keep him. he had a name tag on him, phone numbers, and i got no phone calls. >> alan: the humane society used the dog's microchip to track down brian. no one knows how bear got to tacoma, but one thing for sure, he probably hitched a ride somewhere along the way there. >> leigh: probably glad to be home. >> alan: looks like everything is clearing out,. >> leigh: everything starting to clear out. boy, it's going to be a cold night out there. here's a live shot from the high definition tamalpais camera, and expected temperatures right near the freezing mark by early tomorrow morning. live doppler 7hd pre

in washington, nasa holds a briefing on the kepler mission's latest findings about planets that could life outside the solar system. the smithsonian museum of history will receive a donation including the red swimsuit from farrah fawcett's iconic sports illustrated picture. >>> and on this day in 1953, the dutch incorporated new amsterdam. about a decade later, the country renamed the town new york city. >>> all day long, you can stay on top of the very latest developments in those stories and others as they break on msnbc. and tonight be sure to watch brian williams with nbc "nightly news." >>> and, finally, here's a look at what's coming up later this morning on the "today" show. al roker is live from chicago with his storm forecast and tips for dealing with the ice and know. >>> and find out the latest details on halle berry's bitter custody battle. >>> now keep it on this channel for continuing local news, weather, sports and more. i'm lynn berry. thanks for watching "early today," just your first stop of the day today on your nbc station. have a good one. -- captions by vitac --

. >> this animation shows what it will look like when the johannes kepler robot fighter purchase theinternational space station. the fully automated freighter will deliver much-needed supplies and push the station into a higher orbit. it carries about 5 tons of fuel, plus maintenance equipment, tools, scientific instruments, clothing, and food for the crew. in all, the cargo will weigh about 7 tons, three times more than the russian progress capsule often used to supply the station. >> the atv is a key pillar in the international space station logistics. >> three months after being filled with the space station's garbage, it will be destroyed on reentry into earth's atmosphere. >> i will be back after a short >> i will be back after a short break. >> italy has placed soldiers on alert and ask to brussels for a bid to cope with an influx of thousands of tunisian refugees. the mediterranean island is 130 kilometers of the tunisian coast. more than five dozen migrants have landed there by boat in the last week. it is a dangerous journey. by the standards of most to nations, it is very e

six planets in orbit around a star a mere 2,000 lightyears away, but also spotted by the new kepler space telescope at least 54 planets, which exist in what's calls the goldilocks zone-- not too cold, not too hot, just right, theoretically, to support life. now to another heavenly body this one discovered back in the 1970s. 12 million of these posters of farrah fawcett were sold back then. today the bathing suit she was wearing in that picture was enshrined in the smithsonian institution. fawcett, who died in 2009, would have turned 64 today. i'm harry smith in new york. katie will have more from cairo right after this. this. vzñ ,, fate of the historic claremont hotel. next on cbs 5 >> couric: back now from cairo. antigovernment protesters first took to the streets on tuesday of last week, inspired by the overthrow of tunisia's dictator but the roots of this egyptian uprising trace back further to that, to last june, when a young man was murdered in alexandria. chief foreign affairs correspondent lara logan picks up the story from there. >> reporter: this is 28-year-old khaled said. and

according to new information from nasa's kepler telescope there are more than 1,000 possible new planets outside of our solar system! that is double more than the previous count. the telescope has been orbiting the sun searching for more earth-like planets since last year. >> cool stuff. >>> the nation's most famous weathercaster has made his annual prediction just a few minutes ago. >> ladies and gentlemen, punxsutawney phil! [ applause and cheers ] >> there it is. punxsutawney phil says, spring is just around the corner! try telling that to people in chicago and the midwest. >> i know. >> right... phil did not see his shadow so that means an early spring, at least in pennsylvania. but don't bet on it. phil's accuracy rate is only 39%. come on. he has been sleeping. hasn't been watching lawrence, you know, with our forecast. >> i feel like he hasn't said its going to be an early spring in a long time. >> he is sleepy. >> who are all these funny people? [ laughter ] >>> that's really scary to think that a rodent is more popular than you are. >> i thought you were the most popular weather

. >> which included information on the kepler mission which is searching a small section of the galaxy for earth like planets. >> we chose 150,000 stars. >> the doctor helps manage the program. she described her work that its their research, too. >> deserve it, tweet it, read it tweet back. >> wayne freedman, "abc 7 news." >> let's talk about our forecast one more day. >> we have winter coming back for next week and beyond that. if you head outside it looks nice, lake tahoe, temperatures there pretty chilly. we're talking tahoe valley airport 21 and blue canyon, 48. sunny skies. calm winds. that is all going to change by mid-week bringing several feet of new store for the presidents' day holiday and golden gate bridge. more sunshine. yeah, we gave it away but enjoy it because we are looking at more winter weather, rain that we do need. current temperatures right now, 50 degrees san francisco. 45 for n the south bay and mid 40s? san jose. up 12 degrees above average in the south bay. santa clara valley. just the same in oakland so another warm afternoon. this morning already starting ou

the kepler telescope was launched in 2009 and is or git bitting the sun between earth and mars searching for earth like planets outside the solar system and they have identified a bunch of potential keabts. candidates. >>> a bay area record company that has become an institution is celebrating and anniversary this weekend. some music rooted firmly in the bay area, too. don sanchez has that story. ♪ >> reporter: at the blue on tilmore. >> jesse fuller singing about san francisco bay. it was music most of america had not heard but in 1960 one man with a microphone and tape recorder started making music history. >> i was fascinated with the variety of regional music in the country. >> kris had come here from germany after the war. there was nothing like this music there. >> especially african american powerhouse rhythms, we never encountered that. ♪ >> reporter: he launched records 50 years ago in pursuit of the sound of america's roots. it caught the ears of emerging musicians like bob dillon. he recorded country joe that donald's biggest hit in his living room. chris got publishing rights

the kepler space telescope, aimed at one piece of sky and unearthing a new solar system with six planetseir star. the largest batch found in one go. the mission of hunting for planets is picking up speed. the telescope watches stars to see if planets move in front of them. if they do, the stars get very slightly dimmer. the equivalent of looking at a car headlight and seeing a flea across it. the technique has found more than 500 planets already with another 1,235 possible and an astonishing 54 hospitable to life. not too warm and not too cold. >> three, two, engines start. >> reporter: it was nearly two years ago that a rocket blasted the kepler telescope into space. on board an incredibly sensitive camera. its key components made here in britain in these clean rooms at a high-tech firm at chelmsford and essex. here they specialize in making photographic sensors, tiny devices. this is one of them. and people here are delighted at what they're finding. >> it's fantastic. it's something that you can't get working in any other industry really besides the space environment where we get to s

. >> this animation shows what it will look like when the johannes kepler robot fighter purchase the international space station. the fully automated freighter will deliver much-needed supplies and push the station into a higher orbit. it carries about 5 tons of fuel, plus maintenance equipment, tools, scientific instruments, clothing, and food for the crew. in all, the cargo will weigh about 7 tons, three times more than the russian progress capsule often used to supply the station. >> the atv is a key pillar in the international space station logistics. >> three months after being filled with the space station's garbage, it will be destroyed on reentry into earth's atmosphere. >> i will be back after a short break. >> italy has placed soldiers on alert and ask to brussels for a bid to cope with an influx of thousands of tunisian refugees. the mediterranean island is 130 kilometers of the tunisian coast. more than five dozen migrants have landed there by boat in the last week. it is a dangerous journey. by the standards of most to nations, it is very expensive. we spoke to one man p

nasa is release information from the kepler telescope that shows there's 1,000 planets outside the solarr the planet count shows most planets are bigger than earth but smaller thanuppy ter, which is the large -- than jupiter which is the largest in our solar system. >>> all right. one more time we want to check in with sal castanedo. >> we do have the crash on the bridge. heading toward marin and newschopper2 is -- actually, we want to go back to newschopper2 -- well, we were gonna show you the backup there -- there it is. look how bad that backup is, westbound 580, very, very slow coming all the way back. i mean this backup is just humongous. the accident is out of the way. it's orb the shoulder. look at that -- it's on the shoulder. where does it in 508 getting up to marin, that's gonna be very, very slow this morning the give yourself plenty of extra time. westbound bay toll plaza nasa back the up to the middle of the park -- backed up to the middle of the parking lot. >>> let's go to steve. we have a lot of sunshine, a little breezy to windy at times but not all locations will be in

partner on the war on terror and a kepler in the mideast peace process. he will then head to israel where leaders are worried this could jeopardize israel's peace treaty with egypt. the egyptian military says it does plain to honor all foreign agreements. >>> the uprising is resonate engine other middle eastern countries like iran. but iran's president is praising the revolution, while blocking any attempt in his own country. >> reporter: iranian president mahmoud ahmadinejad praising the egyptian revolution as a sale briggs in tehran. protestors forced president hosni mubarak out on the same day the shaw was toppled 32 years ago. >> with the gris of god and thanks for the resistance of the nation, the new middle east will be realized soon without the american and zionist regime. the arrogant powers will have no place in our middle east. >> but behind the public celebration, the white house says tehran is blocking any attempt by people demonstration inside iran, fearful and willing to crush even the idea of protests. >> they're arresting people in iran. t

the kepler space telescope continues to find new planets orbiting other sons. later the messenger spacecraft will arrive at mercury. the mars science laboratory is set to launch early in 2012 taking the most advanced payload of scientific gear every used to the surface of mars. the president has responsibly invested in a nasa of the future and we are proud to be part of our nation's reinvigorated research technology and innovation agenda. nasa technology investments will stimulate the economy and build america's global economic competitiveness through the creation of new products and services, new business and industry and high-quality sustainable jobs. by investing in high payoff, high risk technology that we cannot tackle today nasa matures technology required for its future missions while proving the capabilities and lowering the cost of other government and commercial space activities. through these technological investments nasa and our nation will remain on the cutting edge and outinnovate all of our competitors. our work is not without challenges and it

the kepler spacecraft, the space telescope continues to find new planets orbiting other sons. a leader this year the messenger spacecraft will arrive at mercury and the more science laboratory set to launch early in fiscal year 2012 taking the most advanced payload of scientific gear ever used to the surface of mars. the president responsibly insisted on the nasa of the future and we are proud to be part of the nation's reinvigorated research technology and innovation agenda. the technology investments will stimulate the economy and build america's global economic competitiveness through the creation of new products and services. new business and industries and high-quality sustainable jobs. by investing in the high pay off, i risc technology that the industry cannot tackle today, nasa matures the technology required for its future missions while proving the capabilities and a lowering of the cost of other government and commercial space activities. through these technologies nasa and our nation will remain on the cutting edge and will out innovate of our competitors. our work

. >>> the kepler telescope doubled the number of potentially life sustaining planets from what was previously thoughts in a announced this morning. with the new data the site is believed there are more than 1,000 planets outside of our solar system. >>> the most famous sandbar in biscayne bay is getting more attention today. first it was, of course, that mysterious piano. well, now, a day after it was removed a table set for a fancy dinner has taken its place. and maybe because he couldn't get a reservation in miami a traffic helicopter caught a man that kayaked to the spot waiting to be served. oh, my goodness. it is 7:20. let's go back to matt and may meredith. a sense of humor. >> somebody has too much time on their hands. >> i think it is clever, actually. >> let us head back out to snowy chicago. al is out there as he has been the last day or so. al, how is it going? >> well, matt, i will tell you. we have another squall line coming in. this one dumped about two inches of snow in -- at o'hare. now it is here and we may actually move up from the biggest snowstorm to the third biggest. it