Space Scientists Find Earth’s Twin

Space Scientists Find Earth’s Twin

The possibility of life on other planets has always entranced mankind since the birth of civilization. An international team of researchers have now discovered the first planet that has Earth’s dimensions and is located within the habitable zone of another star. This exo-planet has been named Kepler-186f. It was first spotted through the Kepler telescope created by NASA. The exo-planet in question is located at a distance of nearly 500 light years from Earth. It orbits around a star at a distance that is just right for the presence of liquid water, according to scientists.

The fact that this exo-planet is capable of supporting life is attracting the interest of space scientists and citizens alike. Finding life on a planet is a dream that remains unfulfilled so far. Numerous attempts to establish contact with other potential life forms in the universe have not been met with any positive response so far. Kepler-186f is an earth sized planet which is one of the 5 that is orbiting a star. The star that it is orbiting is cooler than the sun.

It is located in a temperate region where water could be present in liquid form. This exo-planet is nearly 1.1 times the size of the earth. This is very helpful in predicting the composition of the atmosphere as well as the surface of this outer planet. Planets which are 1.5 times the size of our planet or larger than this have a thick hydrogen and helium layer like Saturn. These are big planets with a huge number of gases.

Kepler-186f is the outermost planet which is orbiting the star. The star is named Kepler-186. It is on the far edge of the habitable zone in our solar system. Scientists are currently debating whether the surface temperature of the planet may not be able to prevent water from becoming frozen. The earth is smaller than Kepler-186f. This means that it may have a heavier atmosphere that gives extra insulation. It is possible that this outer planet could support human life.

This outer planet was first discovered when scientists used the NASA Kepler telescope to track transits which are shadows crossing in front of the star. The WM Keck and Gemini Observatories were also able to confirm this discovery. However, a huge stumbling block is that prevalent technology is not advanced enough to observe the celestial body directly or analyse its composition. Its atmosphere cannot be examined scientifically either due to this reason.

Another factor is the dimness of the star Kepler-186. It is the reason why Kepler-186f may not be right for follow-up studies to examine its composition. Research suggests that planets circumnavigating the brighter stars may be our best bet if we want to find life in other parts of the universe. What is also interesting is that nearly 1,800 planets have been detected over the last 20 years. Out of these, only 20 of them orbit the earth within the habitable zone.

An interesting fact is that all these planets that are located within the habitable zone are larger in size as compared to the earth. This makes it a matter of considerable discussion as to whether they are gas giants. Kepler-186f has been the most popular and plausible contender for the possibility of harbouring life or being capable of supporting life forms so far.
This planet is massive in size however. Its diameter is around 8,700 miles. This is as much as 10% wider than earth. Another interesting facet of the discovery is that the orbit of this planet lies within the Goldilocks zone of the star. The Goldilocks zone is indicative of the distance needed to ensure that temperature on the planet is not either too hot or cold. This avoidance of extremes of temperature makes it ideal for supporting life.

This is the first scientifically validated planet which could be capable of supporting life. It has the right properties and it is located within the correct distance for having liquid water and life. While such discoveries are exciting for astronomers and space enthusiasts, they are also of enormous interest to the average man. After all, it is not every planet that can have the capability to support life forms. Earth is special and possibly unique. Mankind should remember this and take care of its home with commitment and dedication.