Big Question for 2012: Will We Find Earth 2.0? As part of a year-end series, Ian O’Neill asks the big question for next year. On Tuesday, astronomers using NASA’s Kepler space telescope announced the discovery of two Earth-size worlds orbiting a star 1,000 light-years away. Kepler has detected many more candidate worlds of this size, but this was the first time confirmation of small rocky worlds with terrestrial dimensions had been announced. Does this mean Kepler’s mission has been accomplished? Is this proof that Earth 2.0 exists? It is after all Kepler’s prime objective to seek out Earth-like worlds — or “Earth-analogs.” Isn’t this exoplanetary duo “Earth-like”? read more

Big Question for 2012: Will We Find Earth 2.0?

As part of a year-end series, Ian O’Neill asks the big question for next year.

On Tuesday, astronomers using NASA’s Kepler space telescope announced the discovery of two Earth-size worlds orbiting a star 1,000 light-years away.

Kepler has detected many more candidate worlds of this size, but this was the first time confirmation of small rocky worlds with terrestrial dimensions had been announced.

Does this mean Kepler’s mission has been accomplished? Is this proof that Earth 2.0 exists? It is after all Kepler’s prime objective to seek out Earth-like worlds — or “Earth-analogs.” Isn’t this exoplanetary duo “Earth-like”?

read more

Source: news.discovery.com

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    On Tuesday, astronomers using NASA’s Kepler space telescope announced the discovery of two Earth-size worlds orbiting a...
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  16. chrissc85 said: Does this mean we can all move to New Earth and the hospitals will be run by nuns who are giant cat people? Doctor Who dreams come true!!
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