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Scientists discover earth-like planet

Summary

1 October 2010

Astronomers¹ have discovered a planet that could support crucial conditions needed for life. They say it could be more Earth-like than any other found outside our solar system.

Reporter:

Neil Bowdler

Report

Gliese 581g is the sixth planet to be found circling a dwarf² star some 20 light-years away, in the constellation³ of Libra. On paper it looks good – three times the mass of the Earth with possibly a rocky surface and enough gravity to hold on to an atmosphere.

The researchers also promised shirt-sleeve weather in some regions, but not everywhere. One side of the planet is almost always in sunshine; the other almost always in darkness and estimated temperatures range from minus four degrees Celsius⁴ to a very hot 71 degrees. A year meanwhile would go by in just 37 days.

Of course, whether life could really be supported on Gliese 581g will need much more investigation⁵ and, most probably, technologies which don't exist yet. But the astronomers say planet hunting is getting easier and they were surprised how quickly they detected the tell-tale signs of this distant body, using ground-based telescopes.

Neil Bowdler, BBC science reporter