Discovery! Earth-Size Alien Planet at Alpha Centauri Is Closest Ever Seen

[Eugene]

Source: SPACE.com

Discovery! Earth-Size Alien Planet at Alpha Centauri Is Closest Ever Seen

by Mike Wall, SPACE.com Senior Writer
Date: 16 October 2012 Time: 01:00 PM ET

The star system closest to our own sun hosts a planet with roughly Earth's mass and may harbor other alien worlds as well, a new study reports.

Astronomers detected the alien planet around the sunlike star Alpha Centauri B, which is part of a three-star system just 4.3 light-years away from us. The newfound world is about as massive as Earth, but it's no Earth twin; its heat-blasted surface may be covered with molten rock, researchers said.

The mere existence of the planet, known as Alpha Centauri Bb, suggests that undiscovered worlds may lurk farther away from its star — perhaps in the habitable zone, that just-right range of distances where liquid water can exist.

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Read more: http://www.space.com/18089-earth-size-alien-planet-alpha-centauri.html

[rivegauche]

1. that's where the Robinsons landed in the Jupiter II. ;-)

[exboyfil]

3. Probably a couple of planets out

This baby must look like a huge Mercury.

[longship]

4. Danger! Danger!

.

[littlemissmartypants]

2. So much better

than my lame radioactive post...thanks Eugene. LMSP

[Odin2005]

5. Holy crap!

[eppur_se_muova]

6. Bb major or minor ?

Or is it one of those weird Greek modes like Mixolydian ?