Discovered a planet similar to Earth

Astronomers have discovered a planet outside our solar system very similar to our Earth.
According to the team leader of European research, the average temperature of this "exoplanet" is presumably located between 0 and 40 degrees Celsius.
This may mean that there is water in the super

The planet was discovered by European scientists of the Geneva Observatory in Switzerland. Has five times the weight of the Earth and its radius would be approximately 1, 5 times that of Earth. Revolves around a red star, the Gliese 581, in the constellation Libra, more than 20 light years from our planet. Near-Earth, in space terms.

This is the first time discovered a planet outside our solar system that meets the conditions to be habitable. A surprising discovery, says Professor Daphne Stam, a researcher at the Foundation for Space Research Netherlands (SRON by its acronym in Dutch). "We all hope that such planets exist, but it is really the first time that we discover one. It is the first that has the proper temperature for allowing the existence of water on the surface. That is very special."

Temperature between zero and forty degrees make the existence of water on the planet "

Surprising discovery

Dwarf star, a star much cooler than our sun is the center of a system of several planets. The researchers discovered in 2005 as a gas giant next to Gliese 581. It is assumed that the system has a third gaseous planet. Thanks to the low temperature of the star, the ambient conditions are relatively pleasant. According to the Swiss researcher Stephane Udry of the European research team, the temperature is between zero and forty degrees centigrade. Temperatures like ours on Earth allow for the presence of water, and therefore of life. Something very peculiar considering that the rocky planet near the star. Thirteen days entire land complete a lap around the dwarf star.

SOLAR SYSTEM

The planet was discovered using a powerful telescope the European Southern Observatory (ESO stands for English) in Chile. The device recorded changes in the behavior of the dwarf star, which could prove the existence of the planet. Scientists can not ensure that life is possible in the new world because, for the distance to be found, it can not be visible even with the most modern telescopes. The current knowledge on the rocky planet is based on calculations, explains the scientific Stam. "The temperature of this planet can be deduced from the distance between planet and star. We know the amount of light and heat that radiates the star, and from there you can calculate the temperature of the planet's surface. And the temperature between zero and forty degrees make the existence of water on the planet. "

There is growing interest in the first planets discovered outside our solar system. The so-called exoplanets are a subject of growing interest among researchers who hope to find extraterrestrial life in the universe. The first was discovered in 1995 in the constellation of Pegasus by the Swiss astronomer Michel Mayor. Have so far been discovered about 200 exoplanets, but all were too hot or too cold to permit the existence of living beings.

Late last year, the European space ESA launched the French Corot space telescope. Another step in the search for extraterrestrial life. Corot is primarily aimed at the Milky Way and the constellation of Orion.

In addition, the U.S. space organization NASA and the European ESA are building two huge space telescopes whose mission is to search for habitable exoplanets. "Sphere" will be launched around 2010, and "Darwin" in 2018. Mainly there are high expectations of the latter, says Daphne Stam of SRON. "Darwin" is capable of determining the composition of the light from the planet. According to the proportions between the different colors, one can deduce whether there is water in liquid form. "

Astronomers hope that the space telescope "Darwin" may reveal much more about the rock block in the constellation Libra. Stam also hopes that by the time the "Darwin" is launched into space, have been found more habitable planets.