NASA Ames Research Center scientists announced the discovery of Kepler-22b, a new planet that just might be earth’s twin. Located approximately 600-light-years away from earth, its “temperature is around 72 degrees Fahrenheit and its radius is 2.4 times Earth’s; the planet completely orbits its star, which is similar to our sun, every 290 days, just 75 days shy of an Earth year.” Click here for more pictures. Continue reading for the news report.
Previous research hinted at the existence of near-Earth-size planets in habitable zones, but clear confirmation proved elusive. Two other small planets orbiting stars smaller and cooler than our sun recently were confirmed on the very edges of the habitable zone, with orbits more closely resembling those of Venus and Mars.
[via HuffingtonPost – GPB – io9]
