Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Astronomers Find Earthlike Planet, but at 3,500 Degrees, It’s Too Hot to Visit

For the first time, astronomers have found a planet that is similar in size and material as Earth. This planet, Kepler 78b, is thought to be made out of the same mixture of rock and iron that Earth is made out of, and orbits a sun similar to that of our sun. However, it is almost impossible to visit this planet. Kepler 78b is less than a million miles from the sun, and has temperatures of about 3500 to 5000 degrees Fahrenheit, well above the temperature where rock melts.  The discovery of this planet further increases the idea that there are planets, other than earth, in the universe that can sustain life. And scientists, whether we are for it or against it, will continue to explore and discover more of the unknown universe.

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