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Earth-like planet may support life
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A newly discovered planet is eerily similar to Earth and is sitting outside the solar system in what seems to be the ideal place for life.
About 600 light-years away, the planet is in what astronomers call the Goldilocks zone, that hard-to-find region that is not too hot or too cold, and where water, which is essential for life, does not freeze or boil. And it has a shopping mall-like surface temperature of around 22 degrees, scientists say.
The planet's confirmation was announced Dec. 5 by NASA along with other discoveries by its Kepler telescope, which was launched in 2009. It is the first planet confirmed in the habitable zone for Kepler.
The new planet, named Kepler-22b, has key aspects it shares with Earth. It circles a star that could be the twin of Earth's sun and at just about the same distance. Even the planet's year of 290 days is close to Earth's. (AP)
太陽系外に地球型惑星を確認
NASAの惑星探査機「ケプラー」が、生命が存在の可能性がある圏内で、初めて惑星を確認した。
Shukan ST: DECEMBER 16, 2011
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