Astronomers Watch as New Earth-Like Planet Forms
(Newser Summary)
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A massive belt of dust swirling around a young star 424 light-years away could be evidence of a second Earth in the making, Space.com reports. Astronomers observing the area through a NASA space telescope say many of the conditions for forming an Earth-sized planet are present, including moderate temperatures allowing for liquid water.
Roughly 10 million years old, the star is the right age for forming a potentially habitable planet, and the dust around it is the proper mix for a rocky orb. "The timing for this system to be building an Earth is very good," one astronomer said. This year, scientists discovered possibly two Earth-like planets around a star 20.5 light-years away.
Source:
Space.com
