A New Planet like Earth
By Diana Ungureanu/ Chisinau / Moldova.ORG/ -- NASA researchers have discovered a planet that would have the characteristics of the planet on which we live. The planet Kepler-22b, named so after Kepler telescope that he discovered the planet, is a celestial body that is closer to the planet Earth, with the similar conditions.
"It is an amazing discovery that will endure in the history of mankind", commented Geoff Marcy from the University of California, one of the pioneers of "planet hunting" domain.
Newly discovered planet is found in the "Goldilocks zone", as it is called by the astronomers, an ideal region for forms of life similar to those on Earth. In the Goldilocks zone, the planet is neither too close to its star (as to keep the water), but neither too far (like water to freeze). The temperature at the surface of the planet discovered is 22 degrees Celsius, say scientists.
Kepler-22b resembles our planet for several reasons: it orbits a star similar to the Sun, at about the same distance, a year on Kepler-22b will take 290 days, and the researchers say that it is very probable that on the surface of the planet to find rocks and water.
Kepler-22b is 2.4 times bigger than our planet. Researchers say that it is possible that the planet is covered by a huge ocean. Natalie Batalha, a researcher in the Kepler team, said that "it is not impossible that the ocean holds life".
In the case of a cataclysm on Earth, its inhabitants can move on Kepler-22b, only if we manage to get on that planet, the distance that separates being of 600 light-years. With current technology, a shuttle would need 22 million years to make a journey from Earth to Kepler-22b. But let us hope that we will not be forced to leave the planet, as long as we live in harmony with nature and do not forget that any harm done turns against us.
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