NASA Discover Another Planet Like Earth 1,400 Light Years Away

NASA’s planet-hunting Kepler telescope has spotted an Earth-like world 1,400 light years away, the space agency has announced.

According to a Sky news report, Kepler-452b is 60% larger in diameter than Earth and orbits a sun-like star in the constellation Cygnus, said Nasa.

The new world sits squarely in the so-called habitable zone – where life could exist because it is neither too hot nor too cold to support liquid water.

Its mass and composition have not yet been established, but researchers believe there’s a good chance Kepler-452b is made of rock.
NASA scientist Jon Jenkins said: “We can think of Kepler-452b as an older, bigger cousin to Earth, providing an opportunity to understand and reflect upon Earth’s evolving environment.

“It’s awe-inspiring to consider that this planet has spent six billion years in the habitable zone of its star; longer than Earth.
“That’s substantial opportunity for life to arise, should all the necessary ingredients and conditions for life exist on this planet.”

The Kepler mission launched in 2009 to search for planets outside our solar system, particularly those like Earth.
On Thursday, NASA added more than 500 new possible planets to the 4,175 already found by the space telescope.