Earth-like planet discovered

Scientists have discovered a Earth-like planet just outside our solar system.European astronomers found the planet orbiting a single star and believe it may have a tropical climate that could support water and potentially life.Swiss professor Michel Mayor, said: "We have discovered a very low mass planet. In fact, it is the lowest mass ever discovered. It's only five times the mass of the Earth."This planet is probably a rocky planet, maybe 50 per cent larger than the Earth, orbiting the star with a period of 13 days."Although the investigators have not yet seen their discovery, they said its measurements indicate it has a planet not much bigger than Earth pulling on it.Astronomer Claudio Melo said finding the planet - which is thought to be orbiting a red dwarf star called Gliese 581 - is a significant discovery."It is the first time that a planet is discovered with a mass similar to that of Earth's. It is not the same kind of mass but very close and, once again, with a distance that permits us to think that there may be water in the form of liquid," Mr Melo said.There are many scientific teams searching for planets that can support life like Earth but most of the 200 or so spotted outside the solar system have been gas giants like Jupiter.© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

ITN | April 25, 2007

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