They present two extrasolar planets similar to Earth – HOME

Recreation of one of the eight planets announced today. / David A. Aguilar (CfA)

A group of astronomers has announced the discovery of eight new extrasolar planets in the area known as Goldilocks , orbiting at a distance where liquid water could exist on the planet’s surface. This doubles the number of small planets (less than twice the diameter of Earth) that are believed to be in the habitable zone of their stars. Among these eight planets are two that, according to researchers, are the most similar to Earth found so far.

The finding, by the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) in the United States, announced today at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society, but has not yet been published by any scientific journal. “Most of these seem rocky planets like Earth,” said lead researcher Guillermo Torres, the CfA.

The more similar two planets to Earth are Kepler and Kepler-438b-442b . The two orbiting red dwarfs are smaller and cooler than our sun. Kepler-438b as every 35 days, while Kepler-442b makes every 112.

Kepler-438b has a diameter 12% larger than Earth, and 70% chance of being rocky, according to researchers. The planet receives 40% more light than the Earth, and astronomers believe it has a 70% chance of being in the habitable zone of its star. Kepler-442b, meanwhile, is a larger than Earth, with 60% chance of being rocky third

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We are not sure if any of these planets are really living “

” We are not sure if any of these planets are really habitable, “says David Kipping, CfA . “All we can say is they are promising candidates.”

Before these two planets, the most Earthlike were discovered Kepler-186f, about 500 light years from our planet, and Kepler -62f, which is 1.4 times larger than Earth and receive a 41% more light. To be in the habitable zone of its star, an exoplanet must receive at least the same light as the Earth. If you get too much, water will evaporate. If it is too little, it will freeze.