Astronomers have long dreamed of discovering Earth 2.0, and recent discoveries suggest that the Milky Way contains many rocky worlds similar to our planet.
In 1995, astronomers discovered the first known planet outside the solar system. Such worlds are called exoplanets, and since then scientists have discovered more than 5 thousand such objects. Although the second Earth has not yet been discovered, the Space publication offers to get acquainted with the worlds most similar to it.
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More than half of the known exoplanets were discovered by the Kepler space telescope, which operated from 2009 to 2018. Its mission was to discover planets outside the solar system that were as similar to Earth as possible.
Astronomers have long dreamed of discovering Earth 2.0, and recent discoveries suggest that the Milky Way contains many rocky worlds similar to our planet.
For a planet to be considered potentially habitable, it would need to be relatively small and rocky, and orbit within the habitable zone of its star. This means that given current conditions, water on the surface of such a planet could exist in liquid form.
Here are the 10 planets that are considered the most Earth-like worlds discovered to date.
Planet Gliese 667 Cc
This world is 22 light years away and has a mass 4.5 times that of Earth. The planet completes one revolution around its star in just 28 days. However, the planet is believed to be in the habitable zone of its star due to being a red dwarf. It is a star with a temperature lower than the Sun. Some scientists believe that Gliese 667 C c may be very close to its star and therefore subject to frequent powerful radiation emissions.
Planet Kepler-22 b
This world is 600 light-years away and about 2.4 times the size of Earth. The planet orbits its star in 290 days, which is very similar to Earth’s 365-day orbital period. Although the planet orbits a Sun-like star, it is smaller and has a lower temperature. Astronomers are still unsure whether Kepler-22 b is a rocky or gaseous world.
Planet Kepler-69 c
This exoplanet is located 2,700 light-years away from Earth and is 70% larger than Earth. The planet has an orbital period of 242 days, which is similar to the time it takes Venus to orbit the Sun. Since the star Kepler-69c orbits is 80% brighter than the Sun, astronomers believe this world is in the star’s habitable zone.
Planet Kepler-62 f
This planet orbits the red dwarf every 267 days and is within the habitable zone of its star, although it is much closer to the star than Earth is to the Sun. Only this red dwarf emits much less radiation. In terms of size, the planet Kepler-62 f is 40% larger than Earth and is located 1,200 light-years away. Astronomers suggest that this planet may have oceans of liquid water.
Planet Kepler-186 f
This rocky world lies on the edge of the red dwarf star’s habitable zone and receives only 30% of the energy that Earth receives from the Sun. The planet is 500 light-years away and is only 10% larger than Earth.
Planet Kepler-442 b
Scientists believe that the conditions necessary for a large biosphere to exist on this planet are present, given the amount of light it receives from its star. Kepler-442 b is 1,194 light-years away from us. This world is 33% larger than Earth and has an orbital period of 112 days.
Planet Kepler-452 b
This planet was discovered 9 years ago and is the first world close to Earth-sized to orbit a star very similar to our Sun. Kepler-452 b is about 60% larger than our planet and only 10% larger than its host star, the Sun. Located 1,400 light-years away, the rocky planet has an orbital period of 385 days.
Planet Kepler-1649 c
Initially, astronomers believed it was not a planet, and only 2 years after the completion of the Kepler telescope mission, it was revealed to still be a rocky world. The exoplanet is only 6% larger than Earth and orbits within the habitable zone of its star. Located 300 light-years away, Kepler-1649c receives 75% of the light that Earth receives from the Sun from its star.
Planet Proxima Centauri b
This exoplanet is the closest to Earth of all known alien worlds. It is only 4 light-years away from us. The planet is 27% more massive than Earth and is located in the habitable zone of the star Proxima Centauri. However, given that the planet has an orbital period of only 11.2 days, it is very close to its star and is exposed to very strong ultraviolet radiation.
TRAPPIST-1 Planet e
The planets orbiting the star TRAPPIST-1 are the most Earth-sized worlds discovered in the habitable zone of their star. This planetary system consists of seven worlds.
The water on most of these planets likely evaporated early during the formation of the planetary system. However, astronomers believe that some of these planets may have oceans filled with liquid water, which would be more abundant than the oceans on Earth. TRAPPIST-1 e is considered the most suitable planet to support life as we know it.
As I already wrote FocusAstronomers believe that in the distant past the Moon was closer to the Earth and had “twins.” Scientists believe that similar moons could have orbited distant exoplanets at the beginning of their formation.
Source: Focus
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.