About 20 years have passed now since the discovery of the first extrasolar planet orbiting a solar type star in 1995. Applying different observational strategies the number of confirmed detections of exoplanets has nearly reached 2000 as of today. These observations have given us new insight as to the extraordinary diversity of the exoplanetary systems in our Milky Way.

Planets come in very different masses and sizes and show interesting Dynamics in their orbits.

Full planetary systems with up to 7 planets have been found as well as planets in binary stars systems, making science fiction become a reality.

At the same time, it has become possible to study so called protoplanetary disks in unprecedented detail. Being composed by a mixture of about 99% gas and 1% dust, these disks hold the reservoir of material from which planets may form, and are indeed considered to be the birthplaces of planets.