Astronomers have wondered for centuries about the possibility of Earth-like planets in the neighboring Alpha Centauri star system, but only recently did their ongoing search bear fruit. European astronomers have discovered a planet with about the mass of Earth orbiting a star in Alpha Centauri. Observations made over more than four years have revealed “a tiny, but real, signal from a planet orbiting Alpha Centauri B every 3.2 days,” explained researcher Xavier Dumusque. “It’s an extraordinary discovery and it has pushed our technique to the limit!”
Loading ...
Scorched 'Earth' Spotted in Star System Next Door
Posted by: Katherine Noyes October 26, 2012 05:00 AMAstronomers have wondered for centuries about the possibility of Earth-like planets in the neighboring Alpha Centauri star system, but only recently did their ongoing search bear fruit. European astronomers have discovered a planet with about the mass of Earth orbiting a star in Alpha Centauri. Observations made over more than four years have revealed “a tiny, but real, signal from a planet orbiting Alpha Centauri B every 3.2 days,” explained researcher Xavier Dumusque. “It’s an extraordinary discovery and it has pushed our technique to the limit!”