A team of astronomers that includes Penn State scientists has discovered the first Earth-size planet orbiting a star in the "habitable zone," the distance from a star where liquid water might pool on the surface of an orbiting planet. The discovery was made with NASA's Kepler Space Telescope. The discovery of this Earth-size planet, now named Kepler-186f, confirms -- for the first time -- that planets the size of Earth exist in the habitable zone of stars other than our sun. Read more
The most Earth-like planet yet has been discovered, scientists report in the journal Science. The rocky planet, Kepler 186f, is close to the size of Earth and has the potential to hold liquid water, which is critical for life, the team says. Nestled in the Milky Way, it is part of a five-planet system that orbits around a cool dwarf star. Read more
The National Science Foundation-funded Gemini observatory helps confirm the first potentially habitable earth-sized exoplanet. Researchers say this discovery is unique because the planet, called Kepler-186f resides in a temperate region around its host star where water could exist and could possibly sustain life. Earth-sized planets are very difficult to detect because of contrast with their host stars. Read more
NASA's Kepler Discovers First Earth-Size Planet In The 'Habitable Zone' of Another Star
Using NASA's Kepler Space Telescope, astronomers have discovered the first Earth-size planet orbiting a star in the "habitable zone" -- the range of distance from a star where liquid water might pool on the surface of an orbiting planet. The discovery of Kepler-186f confirms that planets the size of Earth exist in the habitable zone of stars other than our sun. Read more