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In a groundbreaking announcement that has electrified the scientific community and space enthusiasts alike, NASA has confirmed the discovery of a second Earth-like planet—Kepler-452b—orbiting a sun-like star in the constellation Cygnus. Initial discovery date was: July 2015 (according to NASA / Wikipedia)…
🌌 A New World in the Habitable Zone
Kepler-452b, now affectionately dubbed “Earth 2.0,” situated approximately 1,400 light-years from Earth. What makes this exoplanet extraordinary is its position in the habitable zone—the “Goldilocks” region around a star where conditions might be just right for liquid water to exist.
NASA scientists describe Kepler-452b as a super-Earth, about 60% larger in diameter and roughly five times more massive than our planet. Despite its size, it is believed to have a rocky composition, making it one of the most promising candidates for habitability ever discovered.
The planet orbits Kepler-452, a G-type star remarkably similar to our own sun but 1.5 billion years older. This aging star is about 10% larger and 20% brighter, yet Kepler-452b remains within its habitable zone, completing an orbit every 385 days—eerily close to Earth’s 365-day year
🔭 A Triumph of Technology and Patience
This discovery is the result of years of meticulous observation by NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope and scientists at the Ames Research Center. The mission’s goal: to find Earth-sized planets in the habitable zones of sun-like stars. Kepler-452b is a shining success of that mission.
While no signs of life have been detected, the discovery of Kepler-452b reignites the age-old question: Are we alone in the universe? With future missions like the James Webb Space Telescope and next-gen spectrographs, scientists hope to analyze the planet’s atmosphere for biosignatures—chemical hints of life.
The first Earth-sized exoplanet found in the habitable zone of another star was Kepler-186f. This discovery was announced by NASA on April 17, 2014. Kepler-186f is located 490 light-years away from Earth and orbits a red dwarf star. The fact that it is Earth-sized and within the habitable zone makes it a promising candidate for potentially being habitable, even if it’s not yet confirmed to be habitable.
