Detection of an Earth-like planet at another planetary system

A team of european astronomers working at the ESO has just made public the first detection of an Earth-like planet very likely remaining inside the habitable zone of its system, around the star Gliese 581. It is the smallest extrasolar planet detected to date and, according to models, it is entirely rocky. Moreover, it is the first one where the calculated temperature lies inside the interval which permits the existence of liquid water: between 0 and 40 ºC in this case. Because of this feature, essential for the development of life as we know it, this new planet, named Gl581 c, will be a prioritary target for future space missions devoted to the detection of extraterrestrial life: ESA's Darwin satellite and NASA's TPF .

Artist's impression of the planetary system around Gliese 581
Courtesy of ESO Press