"The latest batch of results from Kepler is both illuminating and baffling
A group led by Erik Petigura of the University of California, Berkeley, having crunched the numbers, told the meeting that around a fifth of sun-like stars in the Milky Way are likely to host planets roughly the size and temperature of Earth. By the researchers’ definition, sun-like stars are a fifth of the total, so that means only about one star in 25 would have such a planet. But the galaxy is a big place, so if they are right there are billions of Earthlike planets in it. The closest is expected to be less than 12 light-years from Earth…. …"(Emphasis supplied)
Imagine just 12 light years away...Wow!
For full article please click at the following link: http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21589384-latest-batch-results-kepler-both-illuminating-and-baffling-my-god
