Astronomers Find Planet Only 20 Light-Years Away

Some using the term 'second Earth,' researchers detected a planet orbiting one of Earth's nearest stars, a cool red dwarf called Gliese581, 20 light years away in the constellation of Libra. Measurements of the planet's celestial path suggest it is 1½ times the size of our home planet, and orbits close to its sun, with a year of just 13 days. The planet's orbit brings it 14 times closer to its star than Earth is to the sun. Since Gliese581 burns at half the temperature of our own sun, researchers claim the planet ranges from 0-40 degrees Celsius and is likely to have an atmosphere.

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