HATFIELD, England — In the search for Earth-like planets, astronomers zeroed in Tuesday on two places that look awfully familiar to home.
European researchers said they not only found the smallest exoplanet ever, called Gliese 581 e, but realized that a neighboring planet discovered earlier, Gliese 581 d, was in the prime habitable zone for potential life.
Gliese 581 e is only 1.9 times the size of Earth — while previous planets found outside our solar system are closer to the size of massive Jupiter.
Geoff Marcy of the University of California praised it as "the most exciting discovery” so far of exoplanets — those outside our solar system.
by the associated press
European researchers said they not only found the smallest exoplanet ever, called Gliese 581 e, but realized that a neighboring planet discovered earlier, Gliese 581 d, was in the prime habitable zone for potential life.
Gliese 581 e is only 1.9 times the size of Earth — while previous planets found outside our solar system are closer to the size of massive Jupiter.
Geoff Marcy of the University of California praised it as "the most exciting discovery” so far of exoplanets — those outside our solar system.
by the associated press
