Discovering the planet is very similar to the earth

NASA's Kepler telescope discovered eight new distant planets, including the most Earth-like planet found to date , according to information released at the American Astronomical Society conference.

Images comparing newly found planets.(Photo: NASA)

The planet Kepler 438b is considered by most scientists to be the most Earth-like, more similar to the planet Kepler 186f - once considered our planet as twins. Kepler 438b is 12% larger than Earth, also larger than Kepler 186f and has a temperature close to our planet's temperature. Kepler 438b can receive more heat from its sun than earth 40%.

Dr. Dough Caldwell of California State Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute (SETI) says the new planet is 475 light years away and it is uncertain what the composition is. However, he stated the hypothesis that this planet is a mass of earth like earth.

Of the eight newly discovered planets, Kepler 438b belongs to three planets within the group that have the potential to contain life or the "Goldilocks" area - where the planet has its distance from the sun just enough to be capable of water gathering but not too far away for water to freeze.

Scientists admit it is difficult to find out more details about these planets. Dr. Caldwell said: 'From Kepler's measurements and the calculations of the scientific world, we do not know whether on these planets there is a sea with fish in it, or whether there are trees on the continent. All we know is just its size and the energy that these planets get from the stars involved. '