Planet same size as Earth found right outside solar system

Cebu : Philippines | Oct 17, 2012 at 3:20 AM PDT

By skooter

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Skooter reporting 10/17/12

A planet closest to Earth in location and size was discovered just outside our solar system by European astronomers. They’ve been searching for this type of planet across the Milky Way galaxy and they found it orbiting a star right next door which is 25 trillion miles away. However, the newly found Earth-like planet is so hot, its surface may be like molten lava and therefore, life cannot survive the 2,200 degree heat of the planet, so close to its star that it circles it every few days.

Nevertheless, the astronomers who found it didn’t loss hope saying that they still believe there are likely other planets circling the same star system of Alpha Centauri B, possibly a little farther away where it may be cool enough for water and life. And those planets might fit the not-too-hot, not-too-cold description sometimes call the Goldilocks Zone.

Alpha Centauri B can be seen at night from Earth without the help of a telescope. But it's still so far that a trip there availing the current technology would take tens of thousand of years.

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This artists impression made available by the European Southern Observatory shows a planet, right, orbiting the star Alpha Centauri B, center, a member of the triple star system that is the closest to Earth. Alpha Centauri A is at left. The Earth's Sun is visible at upper right.

skooter is based in Cebu, Central Visayas, Philippines, and is an Anchor for Allvoices.

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This artists impression made available by the European Southern Observatory ...
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