What is really spectacular about this planet, found by NASA’s Kepler mission, is that, in addition to its great kinship in size with Earth, it orbits a star similar to the Sun. According to scientists, the planet has been detected within of the so-called habitable zone defined around each star, that is, the one in which liquid water, and possibly life, could occur on the planet’s surface.
But what makes the new star twin to the Sun? NASA experts have been able to show that the star around which the newly discovered planet orbits – which they have named Kepler 452b – is of the G2 type, that is, it is at about 5,800 degrees Kelvin (about 5,500 degrees Celsius) temperature , just like our Sun.
The one qualified as “cousin” of the Earth is 1,400 light years away . Jon Jenkins, head of data analysis for the Kepler mission, has pointed out that it is 60% larger than Earth, so the gravity on its surface would be twice that of ours . Scientists define it as rocky, probably with a denser atmosphere and a significant concentration of active volcanoes. Another peculiarity is that the planet receives 10% more energy from its star than the Earth, since the star is in a more advanced stage of its life, so it emits more brightness and is larger.
Given its characteristics, the former head of NASA Operations in Spain, Carlos González Pintado , sees possible that there is life in Kepler 452b , although he has acknowledged that it is still unknown if there is intelligent life. Of course, in order to find out, in his opinion “a very important technological leap is needed”.
