Originally published February 23 2006
Newly discovered planet has Earth-like qualities
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
A frozen, rocky planet that is the most Earth-like planet yet discovered outside the solar system, has been detected orbiting a distant star, suggesting other Earth-like planets -- perhaps even planets capable of sustaining life -- may exist outside our solar system.
The most Earth-like planet yet discovered beyond the solar system has been detected orbiting a distant star, boosting the chances that life exists elsewhere in the galaxy.
The icy, rocky world is just five times larger than our own, making it the smallest and most similar to Earth of all the 160 "exoplanets" around other stars that astronomers have found so far.
The planet, which has been given the unglamorous name OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb, is considered an unlikely candidate for life, as it has a surface temperature of -220C (-364F) that precludes the presence of the liquid water thought necessary to sustain organisms.
Nevertheless, the discovery is an important breakthrough in the search for extra-terrestrial life, as it suggests that small, rocky planets like the Earth are relatively common around other stars.
"The new planet confirms that we can now find small cool planets down to the mass of the Earth," said Professor Keith Horne of the University of St Andrews, a member of the international team that identified the planet.
"Our next goal is to find more of them, with lower masses, in order to measure the abundance of cool Earths and determine if habitable planets like Earth are abundant or rare.
"The team has discovered the most Earth-like planet yet, and more importantly, has demonstrated the power of a new technique that is sensitive to detecting habitable planets.
OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb was discovered using a technique called gravitational microlensing, in which the gravity of a large star acts as a natural telescope, bending light to magnify dim objects that lie behind it.
It takes the first part of its name from the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE), one of three international groups that is using the technique to search for distant planets.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml