Astronomers have discovered an ancient solar system very similar to our own that dates back to the “dawn of the galaxy.”
Using NASA’s Kepler telescope, a team of international scientists found a star named Kepler-444 and five orbiting planets that are similar in size to Earth, the BBC reports.
Kepler-444 was formed 11.2 billion years ago, making it the oldest known system of its kind.
“By the time the Earth formed, the planets in this system were already older than our planet is today,” said Dr. Tiago Campate, the lead author of the study.
The discovery comes after four years’ of observations taken from NASA’s Kepler spacecraft.
Researchers say the discovery of older Earth-sized planets could provide scope for the existence of life on other ancient planets.
[BBC]
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- The Revolution of Yulia Navalnaya
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- What's the Deal With the Bitcoin Halving?
- If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Write to Helen Regan at helen.regan@timeasia.com