it is my understanding that the current planet detection tools/methods are more likely to discover planets that have either a large gravitational tug on their host star, or are large enough and aligned just right for us to detect a transit of the planet between its host star and us. i believe the transit method takes at least three observed transits before it can be confirmed. please note that i am not a scientist or astronomer, just a person interested in this subject!

it seems that these methods, by design are so far just sensitive enough to detect hot jupiters and transitors that are aligned just right, with some exceptions.

while these discoveries have been exciting and huge for science, i do not understand why people are surprised that solar systems similiar to ours have not been detected, especially since we do not yet have the proper tools to detect them yet! of course our extrasolar planetary inventory will weigh heavy on the hot jupiter side until we have the proper tools necessary to detect solar systems similiar to ours.

imo, once we have the ability to detect solar systems with similiar eliptical but nearly circular planetary orbits and smaller mass terrestrial planets at 1 AU or more from their star, i would be shocked if many similiar solar systems like ours were not found within the milky way galaxy. this will take patience since the orbital period for the only known habital planet is one year.

this has to be the most exciting time ever to be a human! just imagine what new discoveries and inventions we will see and participate in within the next 20-30 years!!!