Planet GJ1214 has been found by astronomers recently only 40 light years away with a mass about six times that of Earth. The planet's interior is likely mostly made of water ice surrounded by a thick but very hot atmosphere, which makes it inhospitable for life as we know it on Earth, according to the European Southern Observatory and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. NASA JLP now notes that 403 exoplanets have been discovered outside of Earth's solar system. Popular Science notes that many more exoplanets are soon to be found with perhaps the Earth-like twin planet not far ahead.
Scientists say they will soon find such a rocky planet in the habitable region, or "Goldilocks zone," of a star, where its orbit will make it "not too hot" and "not to cold" to theoretically support life. One estimate today is that an erath-like planet will be found orbiting a star within the next 24-months or less.
The Universe is an interesting place!
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