Planet Hunters May Have Discovered Most Earth-like Planet

Posted on September 29, 2010

Planet hunters have discovered a planet that could be the most Earth-like planet yet discovered. The Telegraph says Gliese 581g is an Earth-sized planet orbiting a star 20 light years away from Earth. The image above shows how the Gliese 581 solar system matches our own. The planet's orbit falls in the star's "habitable zone," which means liquid water could exist on the Gliese 581g's surface.

The most interesting of the two new planets is Gliese 581g, with a mass three to four times that of the Earth and an orbital period of just under 37 days. Its mass indicates that it is probably a rocky planet with a definite surface and that it has enough gravity to hold on to an atmosphere, according to Prof Vogt.

Science magazine says the planet would have a perpetual sunset. Take a look:

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