PLANET IDENTIFIED SIMILAR TO EARTH

PLANET IDENTIFIED SIMILAR TO EARTH:

A planet similar to the size of earth has been observed orbiting Alpha Centauri, the nearest star to the earth at over four light years away, but which would still take us 40,000 years to reach with the latest technology.

However, this new mystery world circling Alpha Centauri B is thought too be much hotter in order to support, with surface temperatures of around 1,500 dgrees Celsius.

Tthe astronomers say it could be probably the part of a more extensive solar system consisting of other planets, one or more of which might be habitable.

At a distance of just 4.3 light years from the Sun, Alpha Centauri B is only a step away in astronomical terms; but still, with the present propulsion technology, it would take a probably 40,000 years to get there.

Xavier Dumusque, of the Geneva Observatory in Switzerland, said: "This result represents a major step towards the detection of a twin Earth in the immediate vicinity of the Sun. We live in exciting times."

The planet was identified by European Southern Observatory (ESO) astronomers who measured tiny wobbles in the motion of Alpha Centauri B caused by a gravitational tug of war with the orbiting planet.

-With inputs from IANS