Astronomers have identified an exoplanet that appears to be the long lost "twin" to Jupiter that orbits a star in a system similar to our own.
According to Space.com, the researchers spotted HIP 11915 while searching the cosmos for solar systems that resemble ours. Their study is published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.
"The quest for an Earth 2.0, and for a complete Solar System 2.0, is one of the most exciting endeavors in astronomy," study co-author and team leader Jorge Melendez, of the Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil, said in a press release. "We are thrilled to be part of this cutting-edge research, made possible by the observational facilities provided by ESO."
The European Southern Observatory's release described HIP 11915's host star as a twin to our sun, which is "similar in mass to the Sun, but is also about the same age."
For their study, the researchers used the ESO's 3.6-metre telescope at the La Silla Observatory in Chile. They used the telescope's HARPS instrument, which is considered one of the most reliable "planet-hunting instruments" available.
"After two decades of hunting for exoplanets, we are finally beginning to see long-period gas giant planets similar to those in our own Solar System thanks to the long-term stability of planet hunting instruments like HARPS," study lead author Megan Bedell, from the University of Chicago, said in the release. "This discovery is, in every respect, an exciting sign that other solar systems may be out there waiting to be discovered."
