The most recent planet discoveries proved once again that Earth's solar system is far from unique after planet-seekers spotted 28 new planets orbiting other stars in the past year.

After this discovery scientists dare to claim ever more ardently that there could be billions of habitable planets.

The most recent planet discoveries bring the number of known exoplanets -- planets outside our solar system - to 236, the researchers told a meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Honolulu Monday.

New techniques allow astronomers to detect planets that are not enormous although Earth-sized objects cannot yet be seen, said the researchers.

Four of the newly spotted systems also have multiple planets, like Earth's own with its sun, eight planets and smaller orbiting objects.

One of the discovered ones, the Neptune-like planet orbiting the star Gliese 436 has intrigued scientists because it appears to be covered with water - albeit rock-hard, hot water in a most un-Earthlike chemical state because of the intense pressures on the planet.

Earlier this month, Swiss and Belgian researchers imaged the star as this planet crossed between it and the Earth.

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