South Korean research team has discovered an alien planet that seems similar to the environment of the Earth. This alien planet, which is 13,000 light years away from the Earth, has similar mass as the Earth and similar distance between a central star and a planet. This is seen as a result that will greatly contribute in searching for the ‘next Earth’.
Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI, Director Han In-woo) announced on the 26th that it has discovered an alien planet called ‘OGLE-2016-BLG-1195Lb’ that has similar mass as the Earth and similar distance from its central star as the distance from the Earth and the sun by using KMT Net (Korea Microlensing Telescope Network) and ‘gravitational lens effect’.
KASI first observed this planet in last June. It investigated an existence of a new alien planet by detecting ‘gravitational lens effect’ while observing core of our galaxy. Afterwards it had worked with NASA and found out mass of this planet, distance from the Earth, and its special physical properties by using ‘Spitzer infrared light space telescope.”
It was found out that this alien planet is the only alien planet out of all alien planets that were discovered before to have similar mass and distance from its central star as the Earth. Its mass is about 1.43 times of the mass of the Earth and it is the smallest mass out of 56 alien planets that have been discovered until now. Mass of a planet increases as there is more gas while mass of a planet decreases if a planet is made out of rocks.

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<Picture of an alien planet that was developed by KASI while observing our galaxy. Because its mass and distance from its central star are similar to the Earth, this discovery is seen as a great result in helping to find ‘next Earth’.>

Distance from its central star is 1.16 AU (Astronomical Unit, 1AU = distance from the Earth and the sun) and it is similar to distance from the Earth and the sun. Temperature of its central star is only 3,500°C, which is half of temperature of the sun, and its surface temperature is lower than Pluto. It is estimated that this central star is an icy planet where there is low chance of existence of life.
Discovery of this planet is set to provide variety of information in searching for the next Earth. First of all, KASI was able to obtain information that showed that there is a high chance that this alien planet is located on ‘disc’ part of a galaxy rather than the core of a galaxy. The Earth is also located on disc part of our galaxy. All three alien planets that were discovered by KASI through ‘gravitational lens’ method are also located on disc part of corresponding galaxies.
Through this discovery, research team was able to confirm that there is a strong possibility of existence of a planet with similar mass as the Earth with cold and small central star at the center. Earth-type alien planet called ‘TRAPPIST-1’, which was discovered by NASA in last February, is also concentrated and dispersed with a central center with temperature of about 3,500°C at the center.
“We have obtained much necessary information in searching for the next Earth by discovering an alien planet that has similar mass as the Earth and the distance between a planet and a central star.” said Director Kim Seung-lee of Optical Astronomical Headquarters Variable Celestial Group. “We are going to continue to play a leading role in search of alien planets by utilizing KMT Net and continuing to work with NASA.”
Staff Reporter Kim, Youngjoon | kyj85@etnews.com