NASA finds 'Earth's bigger, older cousin' - CNN.com

Kepler-186f-0417 Horizontal Large[/caption] . Earth in the constellation Cygnus. It's about 60% bigger than Earth, NASA says, and is located in its star's habitable zone -- the region where life-sustaining liquid water is possible on the surface of a planet. A visitor there would experience gravity about twice that of Earth's, and planetary scientists say the odds of it having a rocky surface are "better than even." While it's a bit farther from its star than Earth is from the sun, its star is brighter, so the planet gets about the same amount of energy from its star as Earth does from the sun. And that sunlight would be very similar to Earth's, Jenkins said. The planet "almost certainly has an atmosphere," Jenkins said, although scientists can't say what it's made of. But if the assumptions of planetary geologists are correct, he said, Kepler-452b's atmosphere would probably be thicker than Earth's, and it would have active volcanoes.

via NASA finds 'Earth's bigger, older cousin' - CNN.com.
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This diagram shows the system of planets around the star Gliese 667C.

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            Welcome back My Dear Shoevians to The Other Shoe. Well if this isn't welcome news, then I have no idea that is! NASA's Kepler spacecraft has discovered the very first closest 'earth-like' planet ever. Situated in the constellation Cygnus a mere 500 light-years away. This planet is no more than a 10th larger than our Earth. With a rotational year of 385 days per year, and a gravity just about twice that of our Earth.

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This artist's impression shows the view from the exoplanet Gliese 667Cd looking towards the planets

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The Kepler project has, so far, found two 'earth-like' planets since its launch in 2009. It has discovered more than 1,000 planets of which only twelve were earth-sized and in, what is referred to as, the 'habitabal-zone'. The one viable planet, prior to this discovery, was Kepler-425b. Its work will continue for years to come, but I just thought that this discovery merited mention and notice by you, My Dear Shoevians. 

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Habitable Zone Kepler

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As always, I am happy that you have dropped by and read and enjoy the great images. Have a great end-of-week and I look forward to bringing you more... today, tomorrow.. and for many many days, week,s months and years to come.
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Earth's Bigger Older Cousin

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Adieu! 

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Thank you!

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Danny Hanning Writer, Editor, Research Staff and Publisher at The Other Shoe

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