A new study reported in today’s journal Science finds that one out of four of nearby stars in the galaxy may be supporting Earth-like planets that may potentially have life. However, scientists say that technical complications have failed to notice them so far.
U.S. astronomers spent five years looking at 166 stars that were similar to the Earth’s sun and were only 80 light years from the Earth.
A large portion of these worlds may exist in the Goldilocks zone, an orbital path where the environment is suitable, not too hot or cold, to support water and possible life forms.
Many small planets were detected with the largest ones being the size of “super Earths,” or planets with 3 to 10 Earth masses. More Earth-size planets could be found at further distances beyond the Goldilocks zone.
With technology advancing in the ways that astronomers search for planets and the increasing power of telescopes, new Earth-like planets could soon be discovered revolving around faraway stars. For this study, astronomers detected planets by calculating the planet’s gravity’s tugging effect on its star.
Previous studies have shown inhabitable “desert” areas in the inner zones of the solar system, but these zones may actually have the most number of planets.
U.S. astronomers spent five years looking at 166 stars that were similar to the Earth’s sun and were only 80 light years from the Earth.
A large portion of these worlds may exist in the Goldilocks zone, an orbital path where the environment is suitable, not too hot or cold, to support water and possible life forms.
Many small planets were detected with the largest ones being the size of “super Earths,” or planets with 3 to 10 Earth masses. More Earth-size planets could be found at further distances beyond the Goldilocks zone.
Previous studies have shown inhabitable “desert” areas in the inner zones of the solar system, but these zones may actually have the most number of planets.
Bagikan
Many Earth Like Planets Could Exist in Galaxy
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