Hold onto your hats, space enthusiasts! The hunt for Earth’s cosmic twin continues, and we may be one step closer to finding it. While over 5,300 exoplanets have been identified in over 3,900 systems, none of them have been deemed a clear Earth-like candidate. Until now, that is! Recently, scientists have discovered a blank spot on the star maps that could very well be Earth 2.0.

Kepler 1649c, an exoplanet the size of Earth, was discovered in the habitable zone of its home system. Translation? This means it’s at a distance from its mother star where water can exist in durable liquid form, making it a prime candidate for Earth-like life. This is exciting news as the newly discovered world is the most Earth-like planet detected by the Kepler space telescope to date.

But wait, there’s more! In addition to Kepler 1649c, scientists have identified another potentially habitable exoplanet, TOI 700e. This Earth-sized rocky planet orbits its red dwarf within the habitable zone and is most likely a rocky planet with an orbital period of about 28 days. While its surface temperature may be higher than Earth’s due to being exposed to 1.3 times the terrestrial solar irradiance, a temperate climate is still possible.

The possibilities of discovering extraterrestrial life are closer than ever before. While there are still many unknowns, including the atmospheric composition of these exoplanets, we can’t help but get excited about the potential for life beyond Earth. Who knows what other secrets the universe holds? Stay tuned as we continue to uncover the mysteries of the cosmos!

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